Heavy metal flatwounds!? Wuhhh!?

[Vomicamonster]

I play in a three piece original act. Fall of Troy/Dinosaur Jr. esq. whatevs. It's music-ish.

My main bass for the project is an active BEAD Using RX Steels (Super-steps for my EADG bass).

I play a lot of chords to try to fill the spectrum as much as tastefully possible and those zingy harmonics are always a plus.

Last practice I pulled out my passive J style with Roto 77s just for giggles and now I'm thinking of switching the active BEAD over. It sounded amazing. Lots of finger attack. Not super muddy. But above all else it added this thickly meat to the mix that the dynamics of the rounds can't really match up with. Turned it from a tasty entree to a hearty steak dinner with all the fixins. Cholesterol galore.

Later that night I pulled of the 77s and put them on the active bass just to see the sound and albeit a loose nut (BEAD) it sounded pretty killer.

I guess my question is about the low B string. I have zero experience with a flatwound B. How does it sound? Are they typically a mud machine? Similar finger/pick attack as the rest of the set? I love the thought of a higher tension B so I'm eager to try it out. Just trying to talk myself into jumping the gun on a $40 set of flats..

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Roto 77's are great. Like the 66's but w/o the finger noise and fret clank. Tension is a bit high, sounds like that's what you want.

 

[Vomicamonster]

Have you tried a 5 string set? I'm really curious about the low B

 

[Gnal]

I have a set of Labella 760FL-B on one of my 5 strings. I love the feel, and sound. The B string is tapered which is nice. Tension is good all over and they allow for pretty low action.

Though I must admit that I have a duplicate bass strung with rounds which I play more often.

 

[GIBrat51]

I'm about to find out... My favorite luthier has my BEAD-strung Carvin LB-20 at the moment. It has 65-135 La Bella Black Tapes currently. After some fret issues are addressed, and whatever the nut needs to have done, it will get 65-135 Roto 77s. The tapes were really nice, but since the 135 B string isn't really a 135, it was always just a hair too noodle-ey for me. It worked OK, but it never felt as tight as the other strings. I'm hoping the Roto's will be what I'm looking for...

 

[Vomicamonster]

Here's for impulse buying! Hopefully will be here by next practice. Really stoked. Assuming my EQ can add enough highs to keep chords sounding tasty I think this is going to be a great match with the bass (Carvin Koa LB70). THANKS GUYS!

 

[klejst]

So....best flatwounds for metal then???

 

[MCS4]

My experience -- coincidentally, also with an LB70 and one other active jazz-style bass -- was that flats with lower tunings (my lowest was a C, rather than a B) sounded great in general but just didn't have enough attack/chime for my general rock/metal needs. If my role in a particular band were more sticking to the traditional low end, fingerstyle, etc. I'd happily use flats down to any tuning.

 

[Vomicamonster]

So....best flatwounds for metal then???

IMHO Roto 77s. my favorite go-to string and second favorite string ever (sans the Labella Super-Steps. Never had a string so drool worthy).
77s are just versatile as hell. And the mid boost is just dandy.

 

[Vomicamonster]

My experience -- coincidentally, also with an LB70 and one other active jazz-style bass -- was that flats with lower tunings (my lowest was a C, rather than a B) sounded great in general but just didn't have enough attack/chime for my general rock/metal needs. If my role in a particular band were more sticking to the traditional low end, fingerstyle, etc. I'd happily use flats down to any tuning.

Normally in heavy I look for what's going to fill more sonic space. It probably helped that I popped the passive J style in series but flats had all the atack I needed. Even with fingers. My only concern would be muddiness in any chord work I'm doing. but we'll see how that goes.

 

[BrentSimons]

I play in a three piece original act. Fall of Troy/Dinosaur Jr. esq. whatevs. It's music-ish.

My main bass for the project is an active BEAD Using RX Steels (Super-steps for my EADG bass).

I play a lot of chords to try to fill the spectrum as much as tastefully possible and those zingy harmonics are always a plus.

Last practice I pulled out my passive J style with Roto 77s just for giggles and now I'm thinking of switching the active BEAD over. It sounded amazing. Lots of finger attack. Not super muddy. But above all else it added this thickly meat to the mix that the dynamics of the rounds can't really match up with. Turned it from a tasty entree to a hearty steak dinner with all the fixins. Cholesterol galore.

Later that night I pulled of the 77s and put them on the active bass just to see the sound and albeit a loose nut (BEAD) it sounded pretty killer.

I guess my question is about the low B string. I have zero experience with a flatwound B. How does it sound? Are they typically a mud machine? Similar finger/pick attack as the rest of the set? I love the thought of a higher tension B so I'm eager to try it out. Just trying to talk myself into jumping the gun on a $40 set of flats..

How do you like the RX steels? I've been thinking about picking up a set. I haven't been able to find much about them. Some say they are super flexible others say they are the tightest most inflexible string they have played. Its been quite some time since I used a Labella string. I bought a mixed 3 pack from Sam Ash once. It had a set of Super Steps, Hard Rockin' Steels and Slappers. Honestly I don't remember much about them except the HRS's reminded me of Rotosounds.

Yes the 77's are great! Sting used them, Macca and Steve Harris used them for the longest time before he got his signature set! Initially they are very un-flatwoundish for a flatwound.
Best wishes,
Brent

 

[Vomicamonster]

How do you like the RX steels? I've been thinking about picking up a set. I haven't been able to find much about them. Some say they are super flexible others say they are the tightest most inflexible string they have played. Its been quite some time since I used a Labella string. I bought a mixed 3 pack from Sam Ash once. It had a set of Super Steps, Hard Rockin' Steels and Slappers. Honestly I don't remember much about them except the HRS's reminded me of Rotosounds.

Yes the 77's are great! Sting used them, Macca and Steve Harris used them for the longest time before he got his signature set! Initially they are very un-flatwoundish for a flatwound.
Best wishes,
Brent

RX steels are great. Nice and bright. Even piano-like on the lower strings. Lots of highs and fretting/finger noise without the clank steels are known for. They are a little rough on the fingers, even for rounds. I'm not sure about actual tension but they sure seem flexible. It's pretty easy for me to bend up a half step on the D string and that is normally a feat. The B set I bought has a .120. It's too floppy for my taste but it isn't out-of-control. Also the B isn't tapered.. if that's your thing.

If you are looking for perfect rounds I'd say check out any of the Super Steps. But the RX steels are pretty damn awesome considering the price.

 

[BrentSimons]

RX steels are great. Nice and bright. Even piano-like on the lower strings. Lots of highs and fretting/finger noise without the clank steels are known for. They are a little rough on the fingers, even for rounds. I'm not sure about actual tension but they sure seem flexible. It's pretty easy for me to bend up a half step on the D string and that is normally a feat. The B set I bought has a .120. It's too floppy for my taste but it isn't out-of-control. Also the B isn't tapered.. if that's your thing.

If you are looking for perfect rounds I'd say check out any of the Super Steps. But the RX steels are pretty damn awesome considering the price.

Great! Thank you. I appreciate the review!
Best wishes,
Brent

 

[symbolic_acts]

steve harris uses flatwounds.

flatwounds are just better for everything imo. screw string noise. They feel way better too. I'm never playing roundwounds again i think lol.

 

[Vomicamonster]

Practice got cancelled, but man o' man this has been a blast (and a workout)!
My other set of 77s are .100s. going up to the medium .105-.130 set has been a real workout for my callouses. But I do love a good high-tension string. I do a lot of thump/thumb picking and I've always felt like the more recoil a string has the quicker I can swing down for another hit (also a drummer).

I had to tool around with the preamp so it's running in passive but it sounds so awesome with the Bart B-Axis running. Plus the tension of the low B.. I'm in heaven.

Hoping it works just as well when the we get together next week but this is fantastic. I suggest you all try it!

 

[rvsty_bones]

@Vomicamonster

Sorry for bumping an old thread, but this is the closest to an answer I've came to.

How did this set up end up working out for you? Did you ever try it in drop tuning? (AEAD)
Recently joined a band with that tuning and the thought of going back to rounds makes me die a little inside. Thanks for your time!