I tried Flats but changed them after 2 days

[Coolhandjjl]

Does anyone dare suggest the OP try TI Flats?

There was the old adage ‘flats for a single pickup bass, rounds for a two pickup bass, but really, anything goes. You are the artist, use what you wish.

 

[red_rhino]

I really wanted to like them but after 2 days I took them off and put my rounds back on. I missed the punch and the friction of the strings.

Quite a few times over the years I've made brief forays into the world of flatwounds; really trying to keep an open mind or at least serving to validate my preference for rounds. Most recently, I tried several different sets on both my P and J basses for a few weeks. I found it to be very interesting and enjoyable in some ways, but at the end of it all, I decided I was still a round wound kinda guy.

 

[beatlebass64]

If you like flats, string 'em up with flats.

If you prefer rounds, string 'em up with those instead.

Your bass, your preference.

I'm all about the flats myself. Short scale Birdsong P, I mean, C bass with flats = my tonal bliss

 

[AngelCrusher]

Hi all, just curious if others have had the same experience as me.

Over the last several weeks, I've been thinking of putting flat wounds on my Fender P Bass. I did all the research, watched comparison videos, sound samples, etc. Got a set of Fender 9050s and put them on. Right away, a very different feel - tighter tension, obviously smoother feel (maybe too smooth). I liked that I was able to lower my action. I really wanted to like them but after 2 days I took them off and put my rounds back on. I missed the punch and the friction of the strings. I seem to have more control of the tone with the rounds, and if I want that flat sound can roll off the tone knob on my bass.

Anyone else have the same experience? Should I give them another chance? There is part of me that says put them back on and give them a month.

Thanks for any thoughts you share.

Thom

I didn't like the 9050s on my P when I first got them so I took them off. Gave them another chance a while later and they've been on for over a year and still going. It's pretty weird how that can work.

 

[Jscriv]

Hi all, just curious if others have had the same experience as me.

Over the last several weeks, I've been thinking of putting flat wounds on my Fender P Bass. I did all the research, watched comparison videos, sound samples, etc. Got a set of Fender 9050s and put them on. Right away, a very different feel - tighter tension, obviously smoother feel (maybe too smooth). I liked that I was able to lower my action. I really wanted to like them but after 2 days I took them off and put my rounds back on. I missed the punch and the friction of the strings. I seem to have more control of the tone with the rounds, and if I want that flat sound can roll off the tone knob on my bass.

Anyone else have the same experience? Should I give them another chance? There is part of me that says put them back on and give them a month.

Thanks for any thoughts you share.

Thom

Hang on to em. You never know when you come across a bass they might feel right on.

 

[buldog5151bass]

All depends on the tone you want. Nothing wrong with preferring the brighter tone.

FWIW, rolling off the tone on rounds will get you somewhat close, but it isn't the same.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

There definitely has been a renewed interest in flats going back about 5 years now.

For studio work, they certainly have subtle nuances that come across well in a controlled setting and mix.

 

[Copperhead]

I ultimately ditched all the flats I tried until I found Roto 77's. But that's just one players taste.

 

[timendous]

Hi all, just curious if others have had the same experience as me.

Over the last several weeks, I've been thinking of putting flat wounds on my Fender P Bass. I did all the research, watched comparison videos, sound samples, etc. Got a set of Fender 9050s and put them on. Right away, a very different feel - tighter tension, obviously smoother feel (maybe too smooth). I liked that I was able to lower my action. I really wanted to like them but after 2 days I took them off and put my rounds back on. I missed the punch and the friction of the strings. I seem to have more control of the tone with the rounds, and if I want that flat sound can roll off the tone knob on my bass.

Anyone else have the same experience? Should I give them another chance? There is part of me that says put them back on and give them a month.

Thanks for any thoughts you share.

Thom

I've done the exact same thing on my Jazz bass at least 3 times. I keep wanting to give them a shot but just like rounds better. Usually I'll try again after hearing someone play with flats and I really like the sound, but I just can't get used to them.

 

[SB300]

My thinking is if you have one bass go with rounds. If you have 2 basses, put flats on one of them. My favorite bass tone is the plucked big piano string tone. I get this on a P bass with rounds. But I love the sound of flats too. I have the same struggle in an ice cream store: Which flavor???!!?!?

 

[Peteyboy]

Hi all, just curious if others have had the same experience as me.

Over the last several weeks, I've been thinking of putting flat wounds on my Fender P Bass. I did all the research, watched comparison videos, sound samples, etc. Got a set of Fender 9050s and put them on. Right away, a very different feel - tighter tension, obviously smoother feel (maybe too smooth). I liked that I was able to lower my action. I really wanted to like them but after 2 days I took them off and put my rounds back on. I missed the punch and the friction of the strings. I seem to have more control of the tone with the rounds, and if I want that flat sound can roll off the tone knob on my bass.

Anyone else have the same experience? Should I give them another chance? There is part of me that says put them back on and give them a month.

Thanks for any thoughts you share.

Thom

If you don't like 'em you don't like 'em, but IMO 2 days is kind of a brief window for getting comfortable with a thing like this.

 

[Briton]

Just go out and buy another P Bass and put the Flats on that.........Problem solved!

 

[4stringfarley]

I recent moved from from flats back to rounds for the first time in 10 years and I'm finding myself EQing more trying to get rid of that excessive high end that rounds seem to have. Did you give them a chance in a band setting? I remember when I first made the switch not being much of a fan until I actually heard them in a full band setting and loving how they sat tonally.

 

[michael_t]

I really wanted to like them but after 2 days I took them off and put my rounds back on. I missed the punch and the friction of the strings. I seem to have more control of the tone with the rounds, and if I want that flat sound can roll off the tone knob on my bass.

The key to making flats work for you is to approach them as something completely different from rounds, designed for achieving different tonal goals.

If you're driving a pickup truck for the first time because that's what you need to get the job done, don't keep telling yourself, "I don't know if I even like this thing because it doesn't drive like my old Honda Civic."

 

[Dragan]

Not all the flats are the same. Maybe some other flats would please you. I love flats but Fender flats also are big NO for myself. Experiment and enjoy!

 

[Dragan]

The key to making flats work for you is to approach them as something completely different from rounds, designed for achieving different tonal goals.

If you're driving a pickup truck for the first time because that's what you need to get the job done, don't keep telling yourself, "I don't know if I even like this thing because it doesn't drive like my old Honda Civic."

Fully agree. If you search for or somehow expect tone you had with rounds, you ' ll be disappointed as flats are different story.

 

[Kukulkan61]

To each his own it's a free country I think.

 

[Matty Koff]

I have a set of Rotosound flats on my P-bass, and rounds on my Sire P7.. they both sound good. The added tension of the flats doesn't bother me much. I actually like the smoothness of flats.. but I pretty much don't care as long as the bass is properly setup. Then again I'm not overly picky about tone as long as it produces the low end.

 

[getBAK]

There definitely has been a renewed interest in flats going back about 5 years now..

I chalk this up to Scott’s Bass Lessons, Ian Martin Alison, and Joe Dart from Vulfpeck.

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

So Anyway, at some time we should all play a P Bass with flats. It's an important part of our heritage.
And now you have.