Only 1 bass - how to pick strings?

[bobyoung53]

Obviously you need more basses.

This^^^^^^^^^^

 

[BobDeRosa]

It's completely a matter of personal preference.
The music style you play might dictate what strings you need.
I generally see this as why you need a minimum of two basses: flat and round, main bass and backup.

Exactly. I'd never shrink my herd to less than two for the exact same reasons as @Laurent's.

 

[bolophonic]

I don't mean this to sound like solid "advice" for the OP, but I played cheap rounds on my one single bass for 25 years before trying flats and once I tried flats, I simply built a second bass to have both options available to me at all times. I understand that everyone's finances and storage logistics are unique, but to me, it just made sense to have both and I feel like it has been well worth it in the long run to have (at least) two basses.

EMMV

 

[Jefenator]

I'm super into flats but if I was using one bass to cover the material the OP describes, I would probably go with rounds.

It really depends on the project(s) you're in.

I have just very occasionally doubled (switched mid-set between passive w/ flats and an active w/ rounds) but I usually find it's not worth the bother. IME either string type works fine for the occasional foray into the other type's supposed forte. (Might reconsider if a set were 50/50 or 60/40 old-school/modern but it's usually more lopsided.)

 

[CallMeAl]

I've also landed on DR nickel rounds as great all-around strings, and have used Sunbeams on a four-string Jazz and Pure Blues on a five. Both are excellent IMO, and I like their flexibility. Other favorites are Dean Markley SR2000s, which I think are nickel wound, but I'm not sure, and old versions of Fender nickel-plated rounds I have left over from the aughts.

DR Fat Beams are an exception to my nickel preference. They are simply fantastic on my G&L SB-2. It's now strung with excellent strings of another type--either Fodera or Sadowsky, can't remember--but the extra ring and crunch of stainless work extremely well on that bass.

I have used flats, and I loved them on a DiPinto Belvedere semi-hollow and a Fender P. The aptly-named GHS Precision Flats were amazing on the Fender. They were great for recording a few tracks on an EP, but for playing live I always preferred rounds. A few years ago I was in a wide-ranging cover band, and I never considered flats. They would have been wonderful on some tracks, but the full sets were much better served by rounds.

I've had Sunbeams on my main P for years (on and off), and Pure Blues on my secondary basses (Jazz style and SB2). When this last set of SBs was finally shot, I was really close to trying nickel lo-riders. I went Pure Blues for the P bass too and really glad I did. Suits me and the bass very well, and I think I'm done string sampling for a while

ive tried quite a few sets the past couple years; D'addario XL, Chromes, Fender 7250 and 9050, Slinky, GHS boomers and PW… most were perfectly acceptable but the DR sets seem to have the "it factor" for me. To some degree for tone but ultimately for feel.

 

[SteveC]

It's completely a matter of personal preference.
The music style you play might dictate what strings you need.
I generally see this as why you need a minimum of two basses: flat and round, main bass and backup.

I don't disagree, but I think you cam play most genre's with either string. Steve Harris playing metal with flats for example. I also think if you can afford 2 basses, a flat and a round is a nice option. I use both on Saturday (about 50% each) at a wedding. I prefer the 4 string P with flats for most everything we play. I used my 5 string P with rounds for some 80's stuff and things that use a B string like Uptown Funk.

I'm a little surprised by the number of times finger noise comes up. I guess it's never really been an issue for me. I mean, flats are more quiet I guess and have a smooth feel, but it's not a factor really for me. It's the sound. The articulation and attack with all that fundamental tone that I and the band prefer these days.

 

[bigtone23]

I don't disagree, but I think you cam play most genre's with either string. Steve Harris playing metal with flats for example. I also think if you can afford 2 basses, a flat and a round is a nice option. I use both on Saturday (about 50% each) at a wedding. I prefer the 4 string P with flats for most everything we play. I used my 5 string P with rounds for some 80's stuff and things that use a B string like Uptown Funk.

Steve Harris is an outlier for flats. The catch is that he never plays more than 2 shows on a set of strings, being a Roto endorser with a tech, it's usually every show.
Brand new flats sound like lightly played-in rounds, they still have about 80% of their brightness. Leave those flats on there for 20-30+ hours of play and they eventually get really thumpy and wouldn't really do it for styles that depend on the brighter attack and sustain of rounds.

I too agree that having two basses is pretty crucial if you play a variety of genres. Have one lean towards one end of the spectrum, the other leaning the other way. Plus, it's a good idea to have a backup bass if you are playing for an audience. There is often no time to fix issues when performing. That's another thread...

If there is any dabbling in old school tunes, flats can be pretty authentic. Flats today are mostly used by players that are playing music that is informed by older music that was performed on flats, players that grew up on flats or find that the smoother, thumpy thing is for them. I have many basses, but do have a P, a J and fretless 5 string with flats. Those 3 basses cover the tones of all things flatwound for me. If you change flats out on the regular, they can sound pretty bright and snappy. Cobalt flats are super bright when new. You can add the foam under the strings to make them sound older.

However, rounds can also be pretty thumpy. Dirty, gunked up ones are thumpy. Eric Avery was noted for his older, worn-in rounds tone. I had a set of those neon green coated DR rounds on a bass I played with my 80s cover band. When they got old, they really went down the thumpy road. That coating made them a touch darker new, preserved the brightness during the middle section of their life and eventually made them extra dark and thumpy sounding in the end.
Tonally, at the end of their life, they sounded virtually identical to the broken-in Cobalt flats on my J.

 

[OldSchoolFlats]

BTW, depending on how low you like your action, and how hard you pluck, you may find some strings have less fret-buzz.

I found round-core roundwounds (DR Sunbeams) gave me more fret-buzz since they vibrate more freely, so I switched back to hex-core.

 

[micahwc]

D'Addario Chromes. They are flats, but a lot of people here say they sound closer to rounds than other flats.

 

[bigjames]

I think it has been said many times, but rounds are probably the most versatile. I am on a nickel kick right now and loving the warmer (and fuller) tone. Still getting bell-like clarity higher up the fretboard. I tried flats years ago and didn't like them for rock...I found the sustain too short and tone did not cut through like rounds do.

 

[PennyroyalWe]

EB Cobalt flats or D'Addario half rounds, they're the best of both worlds. They hold up like flats, but have more of the high end of rounds.

 

[Sam Dingle]

If i had one bass, it would be a P bass with roundwounds. If I had two basses, It would be a 5 string with roundwounds. if i had 3 then i'd pick a bass with flats.

 

[sethlow3]

Rounds and a pick seem to get the most out of pedals for me.
YMMV.

I switch to flats, fingers, and little to no effects if I'm playing a ballad, jazz, country etc.

so get another bass for flats! ;-)
But if only only one bass, I'd say stick with rounds. I like DR hi-beams lately.

 

[monkeyfinger]

I agree on the above suggestion to use GHS Pressurewounds. They sound very good with effects IMO. I have a set on my Tony Franklin Fretless. They sound fantastic. No lack of crisp tone there, even with no frets.

 

[growlypants]

Flats. (Chromes, if you want to get specific)

 

[SteveC]

I think it has been said many times, but rounds are probably the most versatile. I am on a nickel kick right now and loving the warmer (and fuller) tone. Still getting bell-like clarity higher up the fretboard. I tried flats years ago and didn't like them for rock...I found the sustain too short and tone did not cut through like rounds do.

Again I agree but also find that my P with flats really cuts through in our cover band. My P5 and my Roscoe 5 have D'Addario nickels on them.

Rounds and a pick seem to get the most out of pedals for me.
YMMV.

I only use a compressor so maybe that's a reason the flats work for me?

 

[Rnr..........4]

Just EB rounds and a precision is all I usually need.

 

[wboyd68]

P bass with flats for everything.

 

[Williethump]

Fingerstyle, pick or, I guess, bow.

 

[bobfarabaugh]

I was a round guy since forever. I put Ti Jazz flats on a bass and it played and sounded fantastic. I sold it. I put Ti Jazz flats on another bass. It played and sounded fantastic. I sold it. I am down two fabulous basses now. I am never buying Ti Jazz flats again!
I actually may put them on another bass because they do sound great. I won't sell it though.