P Bass: Flat or roundwound strings?

[loendmaestro]

I've used rounds for a long time. Specifically I really liked D'Addario Slowounds. Those aren't available anymore, however , so I'm going to try these magical TI's I hear so much about. Should be interesting!

I've tried Fender flats in the past, and I don't like them. The tension was way too high, and I just didn't like the feel.

Yup, those Slowounds are/were the bomb. I stockpiled a bunch off of eBay. I mostly save them for my Ricks now.

 

[Beefbass]

Ken Smith slick rounds work great for a Pbass IMHO

 

[dewbass4]

I can't decide which I like better. I like the roundwound sound better, but my P sounds better with flats. I just need to get another P. Problem solved

Probably the most intellegent solution offered. 2 p-basses, on with flats, one with rounds. GAS rules.

 

[BassWombat]

I use flats on everything (fretless P, P/J and Ric 4001). A mix of Chromes and Fender stainless - and at the moment I've got Fender nylon coated ones on my Ric and they sound pretty good. I like the feel as much as the tone - I simply *think* I play better with them...

 

[Jazzin']

I'm surprised the majority of people use flats on their Ps.

 

[D-Bone]

I personally didn't like the Fender Flats at all. They were like playing bass with steel girders on them. The tention was very high, compared to other Flats. LaBella Deep talkin' Flats have more growl than the Chromes, but I prefer the feel and tention of them better.

As a rule, if you're adding Flats to a bass that's had rounds on it, it's very likely you'll need to do some slight neck relief adjustment because of the added tention.

TI Flats are the lowest tention Flats I've played on and many players like them for that very reason. They feel a little too "flappy" for my style of playing and I end up chasing the strings to play 16th notes with them, so the DA XL Chromes are my Flat of choice.

I have them on my AVS (Fullerton) '57 P, and I can tell you it's the tone I judge all other P basses by..............

 

[Scott in Dallas]

I loved the flatwounds I had, for the first six minutes until they went dead as disco. Do you flatwound guys just deal with that or has there been a jump in technology in the 15 years since I gave up on them?

 

[Pennydreadful]

Flats, flats, flats. Well, flats on everything for me.

 

[de la mocha]

I went back to roundwounds because the flats didn't cut it in the live mix. It didn't work out too well.

 

[ElBajista]

I'd give them a longer test run. Did you try playing with the EQ or modifying your technique to cut through better?

Again, keep in mind that not all flats are created equal. Don't let this one time turn you off of flats for good.

If you want sweet, cutting midrange, try some TIs. I had them on the Glaub I had a while back, and I had absolutely no problem in cutting through the mix. They're fantastic strings.