bassfreakah said:
That's where I'm at right now. I put rounds back on my main bass, but kept the flats on the backup.
I'm looking for a new band right now, so for me it makes sense to be able to cover all the basses, so to speak.
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Has the bass world changed to flatwounds?
- Thread starter itsmecraigl
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That's where I'm at right now. I put rounds back on my main bass, but kept the flats on the backup.
I'm looking for a new band right now, so for me it makes sense to be able to cover all the basses, so to speak.
+1 Exactly what I have now. I am too ADHD to stay with one sound.
Folks, this thread could go on for ever... "I love flat!" "No, I hate flats!". So let's just agree that it's just a different flavor and that Flats and Rounds both have their place in our world.
To answer the OP's question, I previously read the industry has indeed observed an increase of bass players using flats, however a large majority of players is still using rounds. Between you and me it's a good thing for string makers as one don't change flatwound strings as often as roundwounds.
5 years ago I started to notice more and more pros when talking about their gear in Bass Player, mentioned using flats, most of them being young and hip players such as Justin Medal Johnsen and many young players from Alt Rock or Dub/Reggae scene. I remember going to Guitar Center and buying a set of D'Addario Chromes. I told the GC guy. "I have a feeling you are going to sell more of those". In return the guy looked at me like if I was a total idiot. But we all know how savvy those GC guys are...
Personally I like and use both depending on the type of bass. P Bass Flats, Yamaha TRB1005 rounds, Stingray Rounds...
To answer the OP's question, I previously read the industry has indeed observed an increase of bass players using flats, however a large majority of players is still using rounds. Between you and me it's a good thing for string makers as one don't change flatwound strings as often as roundwounds.
5 years ago I started to notice more and more pros when talking about their gear in Bass Player, mentioned using flats, most of them being young and hip players such as Justin Medal Johnsen and many young players from Alt Rock or Dub/Reggae scene. I remember going to Guitar Center and buying a set of D'Addario Chromes. I told the GC guy. "I have a feeling you are going to sell more of those". In return the guy looked at me like if I was a total idiot. But we all know how savvy those GC guys are...
Personally I like and use both depending on the type of bass. P Bass Flats, Yamaha TRB1005 rounds, Stingray Rounds...
No!Never!Flats are dull,dark and murky.They're stiff!Like metal rods.Plus,you can't hear and play a bass with flats unplugged.And when you slap the sound is all wrong with flats.The sound goes "Pup" instead of "Ping" with roundwounds.I love that bright springy,growling bass piano tone from roundwounds.Yes!I am RUINED by Stanley,Jaco,Anthony,Mark,Chris,and Geddy.
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I like some string diversity - 3 with rounds, 2 with nylons, 1 with flats.
For a long time I was strictly a rounds guy. Now I like them all for their differences and use them appropriately. My T-40 is really bright, and I may swap those rounds for flats when the time comes.
For a long time I was strictly a rounds guy. Now I like them all for their differences and use them appropriately. My T-40 is really bright, and I may swap those rounds for flats when the time comes.
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Here's my bass with GHS Precision flats(some of the darkest flats you can buy), no EQ or anything, just my bass. It doesn't sound dull, dark, or murky at all in my opinion, and these strings are flexible and react to slap very well. Sorry for the sloppy and noodly playing.
hell, why stop at flats....go with yarn or heavy gauge string coated with insulation and foam. Used em on a fretless cause the rounds would damage the board I would think. Sold fretless after short time of ownership. I guess they have their place, I just personally dont like the sound (or lack there of) for my personal tone. to each their own though. I am apparently part of the .5 percent of the bassplaying world that likes uber bright tone.
^^^That's exactly how I felt, for ages. I also hated the sound of a P-Bass.
Clearly, though P-Basses don't suck (it would be incredibly unlikely that I was the ONLY enlightened individual who could HEAR how cr@p they sounded!).
Each string type has its strengths. Use the right one, in the right situation, on the right bass, you'll sound GREAT. Use the wrong string/bass for the wrong situation, you'll sound LAME.
I think flats sound great on P-Basses. When I'm required to get that kind of sound, I figure I might as well go the whole hog! Rounds sound great on a Stingray. Jazz bass... well, if you're a solo-bridge kind of guy, rounds are probably your flavour. That's me. If you use the neck pup a bit more, flats could get you that sound you're seeking (though I'd probably say "buy a P!!").
All my basses are fretless with tapewounds. If not for tapes, they would be flats...
I've always used flats on my main bass. They are just my sound.
With a good amp, and a few pedals you can make then sound a bright as you want.
Right now I have 3 basses with flats. 1 with tape rounds, 1 with rounds.
With a good amp, and a few pedals you can make then sound a bright as you want.
Right now I have 3 basses with flats. 1 with tape rounds, 1 with rounds.
All my basses are strung with Nylons. Fretted.
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If I need to do a bit of slapping than its a bass with rounds, however that isnt very often these days so mostly its a jazz or a P bass with flats
I love flats and have turned on a couple of other bass players to flats, but they sure don't cover all the bases (skipping the obvious pun). Rounds really rip it up, they just don't fit what I've been doing for the past few years.
I keep one bass with flats basically to keep the option there and for recording once in a while. But live it's almost always rounds. If I want that woody flat sound I'll bring my doghouse.
for me and I never thought I would say this about flats, but flats on fretless rule!! and rounds on fretted forever! for me.
They're definitely more popular than they were 10 years ago, but I think that both rounds and flats have their place. I'm currently in a dance pop band, and flats just don't cut it. I definitely need the slap, pop, and piano brightness that you can only get from rounds. On the other hand, I love using flats for alt modern rock, and they're generally my goto string for studio work.
