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I tried Flats but changed them after 2 days

#41
As this is the 9 millionth thread on this topic, I can offer this from me a former flats hater:

Tomastik Infeld Jazz Flats are the best sounding and feeling flats I've ever played. I have two basses with sets on them. I love rounds, but eventually all of my basses will wear TIs, price can be prohibitive.

Ernie Ball cobalt flats aren't too bad either. They're definitely not as good as TIs but they suffice if you like flats that sound similar to rounds.
 
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#42
For what it's worth, new SS strings like the 9050s take a couple of weeks of playing to wear off the loose outer oxide layer (the thing that forms and makes them stainless) before they settle in to the 'feel' they'll have afterwards. That "too smooth" thing is only temporary. They feel kinda creepy to me then, but hey, it's only once every two years or so...
 
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#43
Thom Fioriglio said:
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
Click to expand...

i haven’t had flats on a bass I own since the very early 70s- (thank you John Entwhitsle), so I understand exactly where you are coming from. As a dedicated round wound user even I have to admit there are some songs that would be very difficult to cover with rounds and sound halfway authentic if technically possible.

Try to duplicate the sticcato on What is Hip? using rounds for example. The muting required using rounds for all those 8th notes would kill your fret hand at that speed, and if not muted the part would lose that pulse.

Granted that’s a really old piece, and only you as a artist can decide what works best, but there may be situations where you should be able to function using flats.
 
#44
Speaking of which, related, I did get a set of the LaBella Deep Talkin strings, for about 6 months now, not real happy with them compared to the 9050s tone, I seem to have lost some bottom. I see quite a few TI recommendations here, any comparison? Feel-wise? Trying to see if it's worth changing.
 
#47
Ive been playing bass for 20 yrs and have never once strung up a set of flats. This very thread inspired me to just order a damn set and try em. I went with GHS precision flats, light gauge.

Ive always been a big slap guy, so I really like the pop rounds give me. Recently Ive really grown to like my sets of Elixirs and EB Cobalts. I have a set of GHS Flea signature strings on my Warwick Corvette, gotta say, I dont love em. Probably switch back to the Cobalts....man those have some serious life in them.

But first, I want to see how this flatwound goes. Ive been wanting a much warmer tone than Ive been getting, and Ive also been really trying to focus on elevating my fingerstyle with 3 and 4 plucking finger techniques. We shall see!
 
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#48
Thom Fioriglio said:
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
Click to expand...
Never liked them. Ever. Tried several different kinds. Searching for "the ones" rip them off quick. Never get more than 2 weeks.

But, I just bought a set of Optima RB Flats. They aren't bad. They're dead, and thumpy, but they're not sticky or floppy which is the biggest problems I have with flats. They always grab my fingers. These ones don't. So, I'm gonna just leave them on my kestrel, and see what happens with them. I've got my bass, it has rounds, I love it, I know what It does. I'm just gonna leave these on the kestrel and check them out for a month or two. They don't grab my fingers, so I'm able to play them (which is why I've never gotten past the break in period on any flats before) so...why not right?
 
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#49
Wow, thanks all for your opinions and sharing your experiences. I know 2 days is not a long time to give them a go. May have to put them back on a leave them for a month or so and then see how I feel. Fender strings are not expensive, so the cost isn't an issue. And what the heck, while on lockdown, might as well try a new sound.

Thom
 
#50
CB3UK said:
Ive been playing bass for 20 yes and have never once strung up a set of flats. This very thread inspired me to just order a damn set and try em. I went with GHS precision flats, light gauge.

Ive always been a big slap guy, so I really like the pop rounds give me. Recently Ive really grown to like my sets of Elixirs and EB Cobalts. I have a set of GHS Flea signature strings on my Warwick Corvette, gotta say, I dont love em. Probably switch back to the Cobalts....man those have some serious life in them.

But first, I want to see how this flatwound goes. Ive been wanting a much warmer tone than Ive been getting, and Ive also been really trying to focus on elevating my fingerstyle with 3 and 4 plucking finger techniques. We shall see!
Click to expand...
LOL, these threads will always make you spend money. I wanted a different tone as well and wanted to experiment. Hence, this thread. Will put them back on and give them another chance.

Thom
 
#51
OogieWaWa said:
For what it's worth, new SS strings like the 9050s take a couple of weeks of playing to wear off the loose outer oxide layer (the thing that forms and makes them stainless) before they settle in to the 'feel' they'll have afterwards. That "too smooth" thing is only temporary. They feel kinda creepy to me then, but hey, it's only once every two years or so...
Click to expand...
That's what I've read in a number of threads. Flats take a while to settle in. Going to put them back on and give them another chance.
 
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#52
It'd be helpful to know more about your scenario. Live or recording? Do you own one bass or several? What sound/feel do you aspire to? What is it about rounds that you are looking to do differently? Maybe split the difference & try pressure wounds or medium wounds.

Joe Jackson says You Can't Get What You Want til you Know What You Want.

Edit: sorry I posted this just as u were saying you'd give flats another go - let us know how it works out!
 
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#53
I go between electric and upright bass, and I like the consistency of feel with flat wounds on my electric. The higher tension of flats actually helps keep my grip strength for when I don't play upright for a while. Although they can be a bit sonically limiting. To me, you can EQ rounds to sound like flats more than you can make flats sound like rounds. If you play music with a 50s, 60s or early 70s influence, they just might be the sound, though.
 
#55
I had flats on my P bass for awhile but I didn't like the way they sounded, I have a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound pickup on it and it was loud but without aggression. I tried to like them for awhile but ultimately took them off. I have a set of halfrounds on a jazz bass that I play church music on that work really well for me, but only in that one context.
 
#56
I've played flats twice in my life: when I got my '74 Mustang in '78 (replaced them with RS66s quickly- never looked back) and again a few months ago when I restored it to original spec. I put LaBella Deep Talkin' flats on it with the intention of maybe selling it to someone who would actually play it, but have decided to hang onto it for now. I'm just not a flats nor a short scale guy.
 
#57
Thom Fioriglio said:
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
Click to expand...

Friction actually is higher with flats. More surface area touching your fingers equals more friction. Yes, smoother, but more friction.

Flats are not easy to accept if you like rounds. I don't like them much, either, normally.
 
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#58
This is safe haven for flats so be nice.
I usually have 1 fretted bass with flats for that specific warm hum. And obviously only flats on fretless basses. But if you're asking about all or nothing...
Count me as an Entwistle fan.

I can palm mute. I can boost the bass and sweep out the high-mid and cut the highs. I can stuff foam at the bridge. I can play fretless. I can raise the bridge mutes (with MusicMan). There are some instruments in my pile that I just couldn't imagine snuffing out with flats. There is a P that really hums with flats. But I'd be struck by lighting if I put flats on my Sabre, for example. I could probably go either way on a J, depends on the need. If it's either/or I would pick rounds because you can't brighten flats with EQ unless you want mouse squeak. You can mellow the output of rounds a dozen ways. It might come down to the style of music you want to play.

As tension is concerned, that has nothing to do with the wrap of the string. A similar brand/series round or flat would have the same tension but someone might perceive it differently because of the texture.
 
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