Putting Flatwounds just for lifetime?

[JRA]

which flatwound string is the most similar to Roundwounds?

none, really. i'd recommend you play the strings you like...and take care of them (keep them clean). good luck with your 'strings-for-life' quest!

 

[Mili]

Two things I learned about flats

Priceless experiences, thank you.

 

[chaosMK]

Nice job, how many times it works? I mean if roundwounds die because of dirt so if somehow we clean that completely, should we expect to hear the fresh sound again? Unless the corrosion makes the problem.

To give you some reference usually I use steel DR Lo Riders and like things bright and aggressive. If I play regularly I am usually happy with the "edge" level for about 3-4 weeks. Once a fresh set lasted me about 20 hrs of studio recording.

Denatured wash gives me some fresh zing which lasts about another 2 weeks. Ive never had corrosion but I notice that on second run my B string is usually not quite as snappy. The condition of the B string is often why I change sets.

 

[Mike N]

Flats don't have an "unlimited lifetime". They will still age, and can stretch or break. I've seen many round wound sets stay on basses for years.

I wouldn't go with flats just due to a belief that they will last forever. I dont think they will last any longer than a round wound set would

ymmv

I've got a set of TI flats on my P Bass that have been there since 1997..... they get better every time I play them.

 

[Pbassmanca]

Hello my Bass friends,
I'm living in a fu*ked up Middle Eastern country. The music market here is aweful,limited and very expensive. On other hand I'm unemployed so i can't afford strings easily. I have a friend who studying in Canada and i can want him to buy strings for me. So i decided to buy flatwound strings just for their unlimited lifetime. Now obviously I'm concerned about the sound. The question is which flatwound string is the most similar to Roundwounds? (sound and feel (tension and stiffness)). I'm using Elixir stainless steel and i like its sound and feel very much. I read a lot about Flatwounds here and i guess chromes are very bright but their tension is high and unbalanced, string by string. What is your suggestion? Is it a dumb decision?
I play everything except metal and mostly fast funky grooves(so very low or high tension (or stiffness) may cause difficulty (maybe))
My Lovely Basses are a PJ (Yamaha BB424x) and a squier dimension 5 string.
I'd appreciate any advices.
Thank you all.

Keep in mind that whichever strings you choose be at flats or rounds, depending on the gauge and tension you may need to adjust the truss rod and re-setup the bass to make it nice and comfy for playing.

 

[robd]

I've got a set of TI flats on my P Bass that have been there since 1997

Because the OP said he prefers the sound of rounds, I suggested he doesn't buy flats just because he thinks they'll last forever. If you like how they sound..great.

Rounds can last a long time as well.

 

[Pbassmanca]

Ernie Ball Cobalt flats apparently have a great top end zing to them.