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How do flats die?

#61
In my experience, flats don’t die. They get ripped off the bass after a couple hours trying to drag the sound in my head out of them. I think I left a set on once overnight, just to be certain my first impression wasn’t a fluke. It wasn’t.

They’re just not my thing.
 
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#63
This is how flats die:

cuttingBassStringsOff.JPG
 
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#64
Nihilistic Milk said:
I understand rounds (arguably) die when the brightness is gone, typically after a few months of use. But how do flats die as in when or at one point do you know it’s time to change them?
Click to expand...

Only if they break. The 49-year-old flats on my 1963 P haven't died yet. Neither have any of the flats I've been installing on my electric basses since I took up playing again in 1997. Of course, that's only 24 years.
 
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#70
16200880773512223386033706722458.jpg
These Chromes are 14 years old.
I'm thinking of finally replacing them because the G string is ugly and the windings at the end of all strings are loose, I don't want one to break on stage while tuning and I suspect I might like the tone and tension of Labella's Deep Talking better, anyway.
The Chromes have been strung to three different necks, showing fret wear in three places,

But truth be told they sound pretty much the same as ever, far as I can tell.
1620087787932666934068183461439.jpg


micguy said:
In my experience, flats don’t die. They get ripped off the bass after a couple hours trying to drag the sound in my head out of them. I think I left a set on once overnight, just to be certain my first impression wasn’t a fluke. It wasn’t.

They’re just not my thing.
Click to expand...

That's the thing. I don't like roundwound strings at all until I've had them for three weeks. Breaking in a set of flatwounds will take even longer. Overnight is not enough.
 
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#76
on my '79 jazz, the first set of fender flats lasted from 1979 to ~1999.. the second set was still on it when i sold it in 2009. your mileage may vary.

edit:
to answer the question, the first set didn't die.. a tech cut them off before installing new tuners. i was seriously pissed about that, but i didn't specify that the old strings be reinstalled, so...
 
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#77
Many a great old school players never change them. I know one player who is part of the SBL guest teachers has had the same flats on his main player for over 20 years.

old flats are a point of pride and for some people are part of the point, add to the old/warm vibe.
 

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