Need advice after first experience with flats

[electracoyote]

There was a good post earlier on the thread about starting the LMII with totally flat EQ, no VPF or VLE. Volume full up and treble wide open on the bass.

I'd be curious to know how OP had his EQ set during the show in question.

I'd also like to know if he depends on his stage volume to fill the room or if he has PA support and is only trying to fill the stage with his rig, as in a personal monitoring situation.

Any string I play with a pick cuts through the mix by virtue of the attack, so this is strange indeed.

 

[lokikallas]

Half rounds are great.

 

[40Hz]

The knobs are there primarily, in my opinion, to adjust for different rooms and stages.

Agree 100%. But that's what they're there for when it comes to me. But some players seem to be able to use them for all sorts of interesting things besides that too.

In the end it comes down to using whatever is available to get the results you want. Which is one of the things that I like about playing bass. We get more freedom than some instrumentalists to do it the way we think best.

 

[Stranger Danger]

Also I'll throw my 2 cents in for GHS Precision Flats. Just put these on my Jazz and loving them. Best feels and low mid thump.

 

[Freekmagnet]

Flats sit better in the mix as you have less overtones and more fundamental. Rounds conflict with the other players frequency ranges (the treble is in the same range as guitars, keys, vocals, cymbals) which can make it harder to be heard.

^^ This ^^

I'm like that with one bass I own. I can dial in my working sound for that thing in about 5 seconds flat no matter what I plug it into, or where I'm playing. But I've been playing that same bass since 1974, so I know its quirks inside out.

^^ And this ^^

 

[taylor16]

Strung my Lakland Bob Glaub w/ La Bella flats for the first time a couple of weeks ago. Sounded great at home but played out on Friday night and had trouble cutting through the mix. Just a muddy mess.

Is this a) an EQ issue b) a technique issue or c) that's just how flats sound?

I played both fingerstyle and w/ a pick and neither sounded all that great. Any advice on what to do to improve the sound? Advice on EQ setup (playing through LM II and 2 112 Aguilar cabs)?

My guess is that it you are not using "big" enough gear (amp and/or cabs). How many watts is your amp? What are your cab(s)? I've never ever had a problem getting through a mix and pride myself on my tone in my hard rock/metal band with flats and a precision both with a pick or finger-style.

 

[MrLenny1]

That's how flats sound. That's why I do not use them.
Nickel rounds are my choice because they are very versatile.
They cut thru thru the mix.

 

[petrus61]

Most likely EQ related. I use Labella almost exclusively and like them particularly for their "cut" in a live context. Can't say the same for Chromes, which always seemed to lack in the low mids by comparison. TI's are very "up front" as well, but in a different way.

You can't really judge an entire category of string by one experience. No two brands of flat sound the same and where one type may not sound great on one bass, it may sound amazing in another. Chromes kept me away from flats for years because I had the misconception that they all sounded that way. I eventually discovered TI's, which more or less converted me and I finally struck the perfect balance for me with Labella DTF 45-105's.

So while you just may not be into flats, don't write them off until you've tried a few. I've found that they are the most consistent room to room in a live context and are relatively easy to dial in on the fly, whereas I find rounds a little more tricky. YMMV, etc.