Not bonding with my flatts

Not everyone likes flats. What brand and gauge did you try?

 

GHS Pressurewound ML7200 (44-58-80-102). A perfect blend of flatwound-like punch and roundwound-like crunch without excessive thump or zing.

 

I never bonded with my flats, either. Tried them on two basses and never got the sound I wanted.

 

Flats aren't going to cut through, that's not what they do. What they will do is give you a nice solid fundamental that sits in its own place in the mix without any overtones bleeding into the guitars.

As for the flexibility: they break in a little after a month or two, and you kinda get used to the stiffness. You really have to just meet them in the middle on that one.

If you're considering tapes, they'll be far more flexible than flats, but with an even mellower sound.

 

Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats give me that fat flat sound and they cut through as well. YMMV.

I use the light gauge.

 

+1

They are the ticket to flatwound paradise.

 

As long as they don't break during installation.

 

Have no idea what that's about. I installed them the same way I have for 30 years paying no attention to the included instructions. To be honest they are so good if I had an issue I would try again.

 

Cobalt flats D broke on installation

Just being a cynic, that's all.

 

Maybe you should've tried Scruggs.

 

Had to think on this one for a moment...
Brought back some memories of my younger days when I once played the mandolin in a Bluegrass band back home in Japan!

 

If tension is an issue you could try a set of TI Jazz Flats.

Interestingly enough, it's that flexibility (along with their high cost ) that turns a lot of flat players off to them.

However, if flats aren't your thing, there's no shame in that. Move on and try something else. Life is short enough as it is.

If you want something really different, try a set of LaBella White Nylons.

 

I would say that some do and some don't; depends on if you like the whole modern or classical flats thing.

I will say that one of the major appeals of TI flats to me, is that they have this natural voice that tends to really jump out in a mix. Rarely do I lose myself in a band setting with those strings, and if I do, it seems like it's and environmental issue and everyone has a hard time hearing everything.

 

Yup. +2 for the TI Jazz Flats and +1 on the La Bella White Nylons.

 

Lester, or Rascal? That may be the problem.

 

Another +1 for Cobalt flats. Perfect marriage of round zing and flat thump.

 

I've tried EB Cobalt Flats and I think they're good. They are lower tension/stiffness than Chromes (my go to strings).

La Bellla has low tension flats too, which I have not tried. I use the La Bella 1954 flats for D standard tuning, super stiff strings. They're "bright" as far as flats go.

I also have D'Addario Tape wounds and those sound like Geezer Butler. Their growl and fret "noise" sounds like an overdrive.

 

Step aside for Captain Pedantic!!! Just leave everything to me. There is a problem, and it lies in singular/plural agreement: Lester Flatt is singular; Rascal Flatts is plural. Flatt & Scruggs.

 

Check out nylon tapewounds - they're mellow like a flat but still have that zing. Very cool sound! Pricey, though. I use these D'Addario's.