I tend to prefer flats, but I've recently just gotten a new set of rounds. I'm not a fan of bright zinginess, and I like a lot of mids in my rounds.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Round wounds vs flat wounds
- Thread starter MB_Speed
- Start date
I like both. But MY use of flats places me in the minority.
I’m happy to be among the fewer than 10% of bass guitarists currently playing flatwound strings regularly.
And I also play bright rounds on other basses for the palette they offer.
I’m happy to be among the fewer than 10% of bass guitarists currently playing flatwound strings regularly.
And I also play bright rounds on other basses for the palette they offer.
Only just discovered flats. Put some labellas on my Precision and I’m never taking them off BUT that’s only because I got rounds on my Jazz. If I had one bass I’d have rounds because, for me, they work for everything.
I just don’t like how rounds feel. I played them when I didn’t know any better. Now that I have gatewayed into flats via a fretless I once owned, no going back.
It’s easier for an experienced member to ignore the post and NOT reply than it is for someone brand new to learn how to use the search feature
I have use for both..My one Steiny XL2 has rounds and my L2 has flats. Covers everything for my tastes..
If I've browsed the following article correctly, widespread adoption of 'overspun' (wound) strings dates back to the "last quarter of the 17th century" (their introduction is a little earlier); 'twisted' (braided/rope-like) metal strings were introduced earlier, during the 16th century:
Link Removed
["Strings in the 16th and 17th Centuries" by Djilda Abbott and Ephraim Segerman; The Galpin Society Journal, Vol. 27 (May, 1974), pp. 48-73]
See also these other articles confirming a ca 1660 date for the invention:
Wound strings for bowed and plucked instruments from the late 17th century to the early 19th century: what do we know? | Aquila Corde Armoniche
Wire World : Nippon Steel SG Wire Co., Ltd.
According to the latter, a Mr. Hamilton is the inventor of flatwound strings (1874); again, their acceptance among players of violin-family strings was gradual.
All-metal roundwound strings took over in the American acoustic guitar realm around 1920.
IIRC, catgut remained the core material of choice in metal flats for orchestral bowed string instruments until after WWII, when steel-core/steel-wound strings appeared.
Last edited:
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
I remember when I joined talkbass ... I got criticized for starting threads about topics already talked about, then I got criticized for commenting on really old threads ... then I just adopted an attitude that I really don't care if I get criticized
Nice tone. I added a mute to the underside of my P bass bridge cover. It really gives that Jamerson sound, although I only use it to record with.
Dude, let me now criticize you about not caring about being criticized. It’s the TalkBass way!
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
These days I actually enjoy being criticized ... I even expect it and look forward to it.
A simple statement of fact is criticism?
OP wanted some opinions, I directed them to 18 freshly-minted pages of lovely reading, and a comprehensive answer to the question he posed.
It’s always good to get a chance for professing my faith in LaBella flatwound stringsA simple statement of fact is criticism?
As always, whichever the music calls for(which is almost always flats for me). But if it can go either way, then lately I've been favoring old nickel rounds since they can cover a lot of territory.
Also true. Ric is right that one can't really win whichever way one decides to go when tackling an oft-discussed topic on the forum; however, giving links to earlier threads is being actually helpful, unlike mere "do a search (or get off my lawn)" impoliteness.A simple statement of fact is criticism?
Didn't vote, as I prefer both. Carrots would have been an option too.
Rounds.
Speaking of which, when you guys talk about Lo Riders, list the word stainless or nickel with the post. There's a night and day difference, and otherwise, you can't expect people to know which type of LR you're discussing since Lo Riders are made in two flavors.
Speaking of which, when you guys talk about Lo Riders, list the word stainless or nickel with the post. There's a night and day difference, and otherwise, you can't expect people to know which type of LR you're discussing since Lo Riders are made in two flavors.
