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Once you go flat, you never go back
- Thread starter GodPlayedBass
- Start date
I have TI JF’s on my G&L L1000. They’re staying on there. I had LaBella LTF’s on my L2000. They never really did it for me. I just put a set of TI Power Bass Rounds back on. I feel like I have the best of both worlds at my finger tips. Right now I’m dealing with the set up on the L2000. Going from LTF to the TI PB’s takes some serious adjustment.
Never taken to roundwounds.
1st and 2nd basses came with flats,there were roundwounds on the 3rd but soon as I could afford them it got tapes
Then I spent 30 years lost in a sea of drink,drugs and active basses with roundwounds
Been a sober P-bass with flats/tapes player for years. Maybe there's a connection
1st and 2nd basses came with flats,there were roundwounds on the 3rd but soon as I could afford them it got tapes
Then I spent 30 years lost in a sea of drink,drugs and active basses with roundwounds
Been a sober P-bass with flats/tapes player for years. Maybe there's a connection
I usually drop a gauge with flats...
For example, I usually use D'Addario XL 45-100. With Chromes, I drop to a 40... The feel stays closer.
Nickel roundwounds. In a few weeks, they'll be dead as a carp and sound like flatwounds, so I get the best of both worlds with a minimal spend.
- Apr 30, 2002
- 544
- 396
- 61
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Howard's Crispy Fried Chicken Skins
Ya I've heard that, however it's never happened to mine, might depend on hand funk chemistry or environment
Nah. Both are awesome! I always gotta have a bass with flats and a bass with rounds.
GHS bass boomers, DR Pure Blues
TI Jazz Flats, Chromes.
“Match the string to the bass” has always been my policy for getting the best out of it.
If you go in with a preconceived notion that something like strings must “always” or “never” be a certain way, you risk depriving yourself of that opportunity.
If you go in with a preconceived notion that something like strings must “always” or “never” be a certain way, you risk depriving yourself of that opportunity.
I tried Cobalt Flats sounded pretty good but after 35+ years of using rounds the stiffness was more than I expected, smoothness of strings felt weird and unpleasant when playing. What made me get rid of them was even after a couple months they felt a little 'Sticky' [real sticky at beginning] left my finger tips blackish and left goo drops on the body finish similar to tree sap droplets on your car.
I am pretty happy with the range and overall sound I get with NPS strings Playing cover songs from multiple genres. Right now I am playing mostly Early Classic, Southern and Blues Rock [ZZ Top, Allman Bros., Trower, SRV, Bad Company Etc.] might try something like GHS Balanced Nickels.
But I am going to get some La Bella Low tension flats to 'De-Squeak' my ABG.
The best flats I heard was when I went to listen to friends band and his Bass player was using Galli Flats also some good demo's on you tube. Also Galli's are very reasonable priced for Flats.
I am pretty happy with the range and overall sound I get with NPS strings Playing cover songs from multiple genres. Right now I am playing mostly Early Classic, Southern and Blues Rock [ZZ Top, Allman Bros., Trower, SRV, Bad Company Etc.] might try something like GHS Balanced Nickels.
But I am going to get some La Bella Low tension flats to 'De-Squeak' my ABG.
The best flats I heard was when I went to listen to friends band and his Bass player was using Galli Flats also some good demo's on you tube. Also Galli's are very reasonable priced for Flats.
The past couple of weeks I've been experimenting. I have TI Jazz Flats on a neck thru P-J, TI Jazz Rounds on a nearly identical neck thru P-J, Sunbeams on another neck thru P-J and Blue Steels (stainless rounds - very bright like fresh rotos) on a Jazz.
My experience, so far, is that whichever bass I grab makes me go "Wow! this is great!" Then I pick up the next one and it's different but "Wow! This is great!" and so on. There are certain tunes that I like much better with rounds and other tunes I like much better with flats or with a foam mute on the rounds.
I could live with any one of them as my only bass - but I couldn't pick a favorite. I do find that I have to adjust at first to be more fastidious in my muting when I have zingy rounds and I can get away with murder on the flats. So I kind of like practicing on the rounds as it forces me to play cleanly.
My experience, so far, is that whichever bass I grab makes me go "Wow! this is great!" Then I pick up the next one and it's different but "Wow! This is great!" and so on. There are certain tunes that I like much better with rounds and other tunes I like much better with flats or with a foam mute on the rounds.
I could live with any one of them as my only bass - but I couldn't pick a favorite. I do find that I have to adjust at first to be more fastidious in my muting when I have zingy rounds and I can get away with murder on the flats. So I kind of like practicing on the rounds as it forces me to play cleanly.
i have been playing bass since 1986 and have always used roundwounds. punk and metal mostly.
i finished a new bass build in january and decided to go with flats for a change after reading ernie ball cobalt were bright like flats.
i can't believe i didn't try flats before. not going back to roundwounds anytime soon.
i finished a new bass build in january and decided to go with flats for a change after reading ernie ball cobalt were bright like flats.
i can't believe i didn't try flats before. not going back to roundwounds anytime soon.
Rounds forever.
I did start using some TI flats recently and I have to say I like the sound of those more than any other flatwound I’ve tried.
I did start using some TI flats recently and I have to say I like the sound of those more than any other flatwound I’ve tried.
Once you go flat, you never go back
per the OP: IME: round wounds let you articulate, suggest some nuance, and induce 'clarity' in an otherwise crowded, muddy field. flats make you suck...
disclaimer: i have a set of flats (new) still in the package. i'm afraid to put them on an instrument. i'm afraid they'll feel funny and that i won't forgive myself for 'knowing better'. i don't even like to talk about it.
per the OP: IME: round wounds let you articulate, suggest some nuance, and induce 'clarity' in an otherwise crowded, muddy field. flats make you suck...
disclaimer: i have a set of flats (new) still in the package. i'm afraid to put them on an instrument. i'm afraid they'll feel funny and that i won't forgive myself for 'knowing better'. i don't even like to talk about it.
