Late 70s disco sound w/ flats

[Fender_Bender]

EH?

A piece of sponge or weatherstripping under (usually) or sometimes taped over the strings right in front of the bridge. They are finicky to set up to get the right amount of muting. Carol Kaye is the only one I saw who taped the sponge over the strings.

 

[Gunga Din]

A piece of sponge or weatherstripping under (usually) or sometimes taped over the strings right in front of the bridge. They are finicky to set up to get the right amount of muting. Carol Kaye is the only one I saw who taped the sponge over the strings.

Ah, ok.

 

[Phat Nick]

Playing technique is key here, also. Awesome stuff, I love BE.

Thank you! Huge fan here too

 

[Phat Nick]

Talking about Musicman basses with flats.. I heard that Louis Johnson used flats on the Sabre (not the Stingray) he used on Brothers Johnson’s “Light up the night”...can anybody confirm or demystify this story?

 

[mouthmw]

Just took off EB Cobalt flats and put on TI flats. Yup, definitely more old school sounding. If both of these have similarities to rounds, I'd say Cobalt flats are closer to SS rounds but without the fret noise, and TI flats are closer to worn in nickel (or nickel plated) rounds. More of that flatwound thud on the TI flats, so I'm digging them more for that old school tone. Less brightness, more mids, warmer and woodier tone. EB cobalt flats are a different type of awesome, clearer and brighter tone, but muscular.

I honestly remember TI flats being more floppy, but it's been like 4 years since I've tried them. My setup is already fitting for TIs because my A string saddle is always the highest (slightly higher than E, then the D is similar height to E and G is the lowest - fits TIs perfectly). So no fret buzz, and what's surprising, I didn't even have to adjust the truss rod one bit. Maybe I'll have to loosen it just a tad once the neck settles, but so far, really great for standard tuning. Helps that Stingray pickup is closer to the bridge than a P pickup, so playing them over the pickup is awesome on the ray. Also helps that I usually play rounds more aggressively than flats, so it all evens out.

I'd definitely recommend trying out both EB Cobalt flats and TI flats on a Stingray.

 

[MtManiac]

here is a quick test with the Optima R&B Flats on my stingray...of course I chose a Chic tune :-D recorded via Roland Go Mixer, bass eq basically flat...hope you can see it (my Facebook profile)

Really effing awesome playing, dude. Great tone too.

 

[Phat Nick]

Really effing awesome playing, dude. Great tone too.

Thank you didn’t expect everybody to like this video like this,as it’s a very quick recording...

 

[trothwell]

Thank you didn’t expect everybody to like this video like this,as it’s a very quick recording...

Your video makes me want to get a Stingray bass with flats. Well done.

 

[Phat Nick]

Your video makes me want to get a Stingray bass with flats. Well done.

Thank you! There’s always a good reason to buy a Stingray

 

[Chickenwheels]

I got some sweet BE action on my ‘78 Ray using LaBella White Nylon tapes.
I’ve gone all Denman of late and fitted Slinky 40s. Different niceness.

 

[Chickenwheels]

Talking about Musicman basses with flats.. I heard that Louis Johnson used flats on the Sabre (not the Stingray) he used on Brothers Johnson’s “Light up the night”...can anybody confirm or demystify this story?

It certainly has that pokey mid punch flats can give.
I was listening to the Bros J on the way to my gig last night. Killer. I dig singing along..!

 

[Jigmay]

I've just been through this journey for my soul/disco/funk band. Aiming for that B Edwards tone using my Old Smoothie. It came stock with EB Slinkys so I took them off and have tried:
GHS Brite Flats: great sound, punchy, clear high end, smooth feel, but kinda stiff and I wanted to hear more mids.
GHS Pressure Wounds: muscular, tight sound, punchy, but a little stiff feeling.
Fender flats (new version): great feeling string but too wanted more mids.
EB Slinkys: went back to the stock strings because they feel so good under my fingers and they have the mids and growl I wanted. Here's the thing though, using the mutes I can get REALLY close to that BE tone. In a live setting it's great.
EB Cobalt Flats: I have a set but haven't tried these yet. A great feeling string ( I took the time to clean the strings first. There's a video that was posted here by a guy who does this 3-step process to clean the EB flats and it was worth the time. They're extremely smooth and pliable in a good way).

The Old Smoothie: Have to take a second to say this is a great instrument that doesn't get a lot of props. My first MusicMan. I didn't like the active 2-band eq, but with time I have figured it out. Add the mutes and I now call it the MOST VERSATILE bass I own. The neck on this instrument is the best I own.

 

[Jigmay]

@PhatNick
Wow...great playing, great tone. Maybe I should try those Cobalts now!

 

[Phat Nick]

@FatNick
Wow...great playing, great tone. Maybe I should try those Cobalts now!

Thank you on the video I’m using Optima R&B flats...great feel,but I’d like to try also something brighter,and reading some comments here,I can give a try to Ernie Ball Flats

 

[Groove Doctor]

here is a quick test with the Optima R&B Flats on my stingray...of course I chose a Chic tune :-D recorded via Roland Go Mixer, bass eq basically flat...hope you can see it (my Facebook profile)

The video clip won’t load for me. FB link doesn’t work either. Could you repost it another way please?

 

[Phaidrus]

DR Legend flats sound good for the disco vibe. Although this particular track is not disco.