Rounds or Flats - Can You Tell?

[Slaplord88]

Still trying to pick apart this guy's tone.

At first I figured muted flats on a P - nice. The quick decay and generally "vintage" sound seemed like a pretty classic flats on a p vibe, of which I'm very familiar. The more I listen though, it seems there's there's just too much mid bite/presence for these to be flats. However, there's really none of the deep metallic grind of rounds. Also closeups indicate there is no colored thread wrapping the wound part of the strings, pointing to flats.

Could also be groundwound or halfwound. Any thoughts?

 

[fourstringdrums]

I think they're rounds with a mute. I see foam at the bridge.

 

[michael_t]

Also closeups indicate there is no colored thread wrapping the wound part of the strings, pointing to flats.

No silk means they're probably rounds. All flats do have silk at least at the tuner end, with only one exception.

 

[Slaplord88]

Really thought I was a flats guy but if these are rounds, now I'm not so sure....

 

[michael_t]

Really thought I was a flats guy but if these are rounds, now I'm not so sure....

Another possibility is something between rounds and flats. D'Addario Half Rounds (pure nickel groundwound) and SIT Silencers (NPS "pressurewound") have no silk on them.

 

[pbass2]

Really thought I was a flats guy but if these are rounds, now I'm not so sure....

I've been using flats 95% of the time since the 90's, mostly on P's and J's. But I gotta say, lately my "do everything" bass is a P with very broken in nickel rounds. If I need to cover a range of genres and vibes, I grab that bass. It's just a little more versatile than w the flats - I can still thump, I can grind, I can be dubby, punky, funky--pick, fingers, thumb, foam mute, palm mute---it's all there. That's for live--for the studio when the tune calls for flats, then flats it is of course. The one tone that I feel is the most "missing" with the rounds is the sound of flats with a pick with the treble up--that "thunk" is not the same with rounds--it's a different envelope to the note.

 

[logdrum]

It can be even stainless rounds rounds , he probably EQ'ed it so and the foam helps as well. That is probably I do not use flats as much

I do not know if on purpose but the drum mics are distorting and to me, not in a good way anymore

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

Sounds groovy, whatever it is! Like the contrasting soccer (?) sweaters!

The Bar Band Bassman

 

[Mastermold]

No silk means they're probably rounds. All flats do have silk at least at the tuner end, with only one exception.

Exception being the old style Fender flats? I've still got a few of those in the package.

 

[DaveParker39]

I can't tell but I like how it sounds.
You could get that sound with Rotosound 77's but those are absolutely not Rotosound 77's, no silk.
So, the answer to the original question is no, I cannot tell but it was a fun listen.

 

[jasper383]

I think they're rounds with a mute. I see foam at the bridge.

There s just enough of a "scratch" at the very beginning of the attacks to make me think they are rounds, as well.

You could get close to this sound with rounds or flats.

 

[HHudson]

I liked it & took a look in HD on YT in full screen on a large monitor.

A small white (foam?) mute pressed right up against the saddles.. (see second vid below).

I believe the strings have silk ends, looks like a baby blue silk (they also do nor reflect light ca. 1/2" above the nut).
Edit: 100% Light Blue silk at the ball end (2:41 below)
The strings below the nut reflect more like flats than rounds (or matte half-rounds).... they could be Roto 66 Nickle rounds I suppose, a bit too blurry (e.g. 00:40+ below) to be sure...

Same bass in this take with some closer head stock shots 01:33 & 02:37 :

 

[AMJBASS]

Rounds with a mute is my guess. Bump maybe around 3k to accentuate the attack.

 

[AMJBASS]

Exception being the old style Fender flats? I've still got a few of those in the package.

I have a couple sets too! Dark and smooth. I wish they still made them. The new ones are good, but similar to Chromes.

 

[michael_t]

Exception being the old style Fender flats? I've still got a few of those in the package.

No, I forgot about the old (as in pre-2010) Fender flats with green silk only at the ball end. I was thinking of Curt Mangan flats.

 

[micguy]

If those are rounds, then any sonic case for flats seems silly, as those capture that vibe VERY well. Yes, I know flats are easier on your fingers.

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

I'm going with: half-rounds with a mute

 

[HaphAsSard]

If those are rounds, then any sonic case for flats seems silly, as those capture that vibe VERY well. Yes, I know flats are easier on your fingers.

Just as silly as any case against flats by someone biased against them and without any pulse on current market offerings or significant personal experience. I wonder if roundwound champions use exclusively Swiss Army knives and sporks at their dining table.

I liked it & took a look in HD on YT in full screen on a large monitor.

A small white (foam?) mute pressed right up against the saddles.. (see second vid below).

I believe the strings have silk ends, looks like a baby blue silk (they also do nor reflect light ca. 1/2" above the nut).
Edit: 100% Light Blue silk at the ball end (2:41 below)
The strings below the nut reflect more like flats than rounds (or matte half-rounds).... they could be Roto 66 Nickle rounds I suppose, a bit too blurry (e.g. 00:40+ below) to be sure...

Same bass in this take with some closer head stock shots 01:33 & 02:37 :

Yup. Blueish silks at both ends. Good catch.

 

[micguy]

Just as silly as any case against flats by someone biased against them and without any pulse on current market offerings or significant personal experience. I wonder if roundwound champions use exclusively Swiss Army knives and sporks at their dining table.

You like flats. Got it.

My experience with flats is brief - I have tried them a few times in 46 years of playing bass, but if something just doesn't work for you, there's no reason to pursue it further. There are a lot of folks who sound great with flats (this guy possibly included). I can't use them, as they don't inspire me to play - they make me want to quit practicing.

 

[GrapeBass]

Sound like flats to me but I could be wrong LOL