Roundwounds or Flats for the Gig?

[Free Bassing]

Use what your comfortable with, mess with the tone knob on your bass to get a warmer more rounded sound.

I love flats they cut out fret buzz, and because I have smaller hands I do a lot of sliding around and flat wound strings are much easier on my fingers.

Ernie Ball actually makes Cobalt flatwounds which can bring back some of the brightness of the roundwound strings.

 

[dave64o]

For one gig, I wouldn't bother changing strings. Use what you're comfortable playing and adjust your EQ to get closer. As long as you play well and there are no Talkbass members in the audience, no one will know but you. And I wouldn't even worry about most Talk members, either.

 

[cassanova]

A few folks are recommending foam, which is fine, but placement is everything and tough to work out on the fly. I'd skip it unless you have it all worked out already.

I'm actually messing around with it already. Not sure how I feel about it just yet. It's a bit more muted than I care for, and am comfortable with. That said, the nights still young, so I'll get it sorted before tomorrow night.

 

[Artman]

Please do not switch them or change anything on your bass the day before a gig. Just turn the tone down on your passive bass or treble way down on your active bass. Change the strings after the gig when you don't have to use that bass for another gig for a while. See if you like the result then. Perhaps consider trying some low-tension flats. You might find them easier for transitioning from rounds.

 

[C Stone]

I'm actually messing around with it already. Not sure how I feel about it just yet. It's a bit more muted than I care for, and am comfortable with. That said, the nights still young, so I'll get it sorted before tomorrow night.

FWIW I don't just stuff foam under the strings (it can choke out the note). Try using just enough thickness to barely mute but also should be just thick enough so it stays put...

 

[lermgalieu]

Use your rounds, your tone knob and mute appropriately.

 

[Jonny Reese]

If the bandleader doesn't care, who the hell else will? Just play well and have fun.

 

[micguy]

I would never use strings that I didn't like for a gig. The biggest variable in my performance is between my ears, and if I'm not diggin' the sound, it's gonna negatively affect my psyche. If I start thinking about the fact that I don't sound like I want to, I'm not actually "there" playing music, and my performance ain't gonna be where it needs to be.

Oh, and I never changes strings right before a gig - I need at least a week on a new set of strings for them to settle in. I also always play the bass I'm going to play on a gig for the week beforehand, so the bass and I can adjust to each other.

Always play gear that inspires you - including the strings you use.

 

[sxaxsx]

I prefer flats for everything, but no one likes flats until they wear in and they won't have time to mellow and get the thump anyway so you might as well stick with what you like.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Got an old school style motown gig tomorrow night. I'm not a fan of flats, can't stand the way they feel, but am thinking they'll be more authentic for the gig than nickel roundwounds. I asked the band leader if he had a preference and he doesn't care as long as I play as expected. What say you folks? Go with the flats or stick with the roundwounds? Bass will be Fender Jazz 5 string, ran through Mesa D800 + and Ampeg cab.

Just use rounds. Tone down, bass down, low mids up.

 

[lfmn16]

No one will notice except you.

 

[Ryan in PDX]

I'll echo what others are saying: just use your regular gear. Dial in a low-mid emphasis and kill the high end (favor/solo the neck pickup, and turn any tweeters off). Your bandmates will probably appreciate a slightly more modern tone anyway.

I say this as a huge fan of flats.

 

[retslock]

Got an old school style motown gig tomorrow night. I'm not a fan of flats, can't stand the way they feel, but am thinking they'll be more authentic for the gig than nickel roundwounds. I asked the band leader if he had a preference and he doesn't care as long as I play as expected. What say you folks? Go with the flats or stick with the roundwounds? Bass will be Fender Jazz 5 string, ran through Mesa D800 + and Ampeg cab.

It won't matter. Play with the strings you're comfortable with. You can use a foam mute and eq to get close enough to the old school sound.

 

[GIBrat51]

Got an old school style motown gig tomorrow night. I'm not a fan of flats, can't stand the way they feel, but am thinking they'll be more authentic for the gig than nickel roundwounds. I asked the band leader if he had a preference and he doesn't care as long as I play as expected. What say you folks? Go with the flats or stick with the roundwounds? Bass will be Fender Jazz 5 string, ran through Mesa D800 + and Ampeg cab.

I'll have to agree with the "keep your rounds/ foam mute/ adjust your tone" suggestions. You'll sound just fine. Besides; flats for a 5-er are not something you can just bop down to the store and buy. If you can? I envy you - a lot. But, even if you could, it's too late to break in new flats, anyway... My '78 P-Bass is set up to play early R&B and Motown - and late '50s/very early '60s Rock. Heavy flats, mute in the bridge cover... but, that's all I use it for. I have a bunch of basses, so "versatile" isn't a thing in my world. If I were in your position, though? A piece of foam - or a kitchen sponge - is all you should need to make everybody - including your BL - happy...

 

[Killing Floor]

I think you're hearing it from lots of others. Play what you feel you play best with. If you like rounds use rounds.
Jaco didn't need flats...hahaha
If you feel like you want your rounds to be more thumpy use a mute. Or don't. Just rock your sound.

 

[Chickenwheels]

Got an old school style motown gig tomorrow night. I'm not a fan of flats, can't stand the way they feel, but am thinking they'll be more authentic for the gig than nickel roundwounds. I asked the band leader if he had a preference and he doesn't care as long as I play as expected. What say you folks? Go with the flats or stick with the roundwounds? Bass will be Fender Jazz 5 string, ran through Mesa D800 + and Ampeg cab.

Palm mute. Or foam under strings at bridge.

 

[Chickenwheels]

In fairness, it's not rocket surgery. There's at least one video on it I've heard.

Piece of foam, shove it under the bridge. Simples.

...and retune!

 

[PJ Muzikmansky]

Well, you have a wrong bass to sound authentic for "an old school style Motown gig" anyway, so instead of switching out the strings, you can just use the EQ knobs on the amp to tone down the nickel rounds to get close. Using just the neck pickup along with a foam mute would also help.

I play a P bass these days, but used to get a great motown vibe with a jazz bass by rolling off the bridge pickup all the way and just using the neck pickup, tone down with a light touch, foam in the bridge. Sounds fine for soul music.

 

[Chickenwheels]

I play a P bass these days, but used to get a great motown vibe with a jazz bass by rolling off the bridge pickup all the way and just using the neck pickup, tone down with a light touch, foam in the bridge. Sounds fine for soul music.

When you've got a good Jazz Bass, you are pretty much golden for anything.

 

[2F/2F]

Got an old school style motown gig tomorrow night. I'm not a fan of flats, can't stand the way they feel, but am thinking they'll be more authentic for the gig than nickel roundwounds. I asked the band leader if he had a preference and he doesn't care as long as I play as expected. What say you folks? Go with the flats or stick with the roundwounds? Bass will be Fender Jazz 5 string, ran through Mesa D800 + and Ampeg cab.

I wouldn't change to new flats right before a gig, even though I have been a "flats for everything" guy for 33 years.

Roll your treble down and go to town. If you're doing golden era, first-12-to-15-years Motown, you want to roll down until all of the roundwound noise goes away.