Those make sense. It is literally a different instrument.
Flats are just a tone knob.
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Once you go flat, you never go back
- Thread starter GodPlayedBass
- Start date
Flats are just a tone knob.
I love my EBCFs on two of my basses, but Rotosound 66s on an Epi Thunderbird Vintage Pro do the early Bird sound like nobody’s business. The CFs are my go to string, but they won’t do everything.
My preference - half-round, quarter-round, pressurewound. For me it's the best of both worlds. Roundwounds gave me blisters (along with a "scratchy" sound), with flatwounds my fingers had a tendency to get "stuck" on the string. With half-rounds I have neither problem. I use tapewounds on my acoustic bass guitar.
I've been back and forth between rounds and flats over the years.
Every time I play rounds, I like the tone but hate the feel; every time I play flats, I love the feel but the tone leaves me unfulfilled. The Pressurewounds provide the tone I want (= roundwound) with the feel I like (= smoother than rounds).
As for half-rounds, I've tried them a couple of times but decided they're a bit too "flatwound" in their tonal character.
They are excellent. I have enjoyed the smooth texture and tone of Ernie Ball Group flats.
Yeah the tone you get is so different i like them a lot. Just got another pack. Wish they were as cheap as the rounds tho
I may have to give those pressure wound strings a try as I go back and forth between rounds and flats too. For rounds I only use the GHS BN's. The Chromes are staying and it looks like the TI flats will too. I just put Fender 9050's on the bass that generally wears the BN's. To me it seems like flats just sit better in the mix.
My personal favorites. Been using the 50-105 set for 20+ years. Makes all basses sound good. A bit on the stiff side but that’s just good for the chops in the long run.
I think this debate about flats or rounds depends on what you value in a bass sound. The EB flats gives me a good, solid foundation of the pitch I want to present. The higher frequencies are there but subdued. If I’d like more shimmering treble, I would go for the DR low riders SS but compared to the EB flats I will loose some body and projection and gain some transparent top end, also then noise and hiss.
No but I imagine one day I will if the price is right. I have a 4 and a 5 string P bass with flats on them so if either ever needs a new set I'll be keeping them in mind.
This thread is entertaining to say the least. I believe the best solution to the argument regarding flats vs. rounds, is to have a bass strung with flats and the rest strung with rounds. I have seven basses all with rounds. I'll try one of them with flats just to see what all the rage concerning flats is about.
This is what I do. One with flats, the others with rounds. Used according to the situation. Generally I like the brighter tone, and can make it thumpier as needed by where and how I pluck..
I use flats for the following reasons: flats are good for motown and classic rock. Flats have less high end and zippy string noise. Flats don't chew up frets like rounds do. I don't do slap or metal or us a pick, so excess high end is of no use to me. I use Daddario chrome flats. They sound great and last forever. Gary Stevens. GS Custom Guitars. Florida USA.
