Roundwounds or Flats for the Gig?

[antfarm]

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.

True. But if you consider using flats anyway, the LaBella Low Tension Flats may be right for you. They sound very broken in and mellow right from the start.

 

[mcrawfordmusic]

Dial back the tone knob, solo the neck pickup and put a bit of foam under the bridge.

 

[Sparkl]

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.

Doesn't matter. In a live setting they all sound the same to 99% of all present ears.

If you have fresh roundwounds just roll off the tone knob, roll off treble on your amp, close the tweeter, emphasize mid range around 2-4khz and you're set.

 

[gigetto]

Roundwouns not new.

 

[TK4261]

Just roll that tone back...I would not change strings...Not a fan of flats either

 

[mrjim123]

Don't change just for one gig. Some flats need a little break in time.

Edit: I did use foam once and it worked. I cut up a yellow/green Scotchbrite scouring pad to use only the sponge part of it. Placed it under strings near the bridge and it killed the zing and some sustain effectively.

 

[burgerdj]

I wouldn't change strings right before a gig. Not only do flats need a bit of time to settle in, you'll need time to get used to them. Avoid the distraction and eq for the tone you want.

 

[zenrad]

Leave the strings, get a tort pickguard

 

[SLO Surfer]

The band leader was right when he said,

he doesn't care as long as (you) play as expected.

Turn the tone knob down.

 

[Ric5]

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.

you can play motown with flats or rounds and the people in the audience will never know the difference

 

[cassanova]

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...

That was the problem, the notes were choking out. I think I'm going to ultimately do what I did at the audition, and just go with the roundwound tone. I'm just not feeling the tone of the mute or attenuating the treble.

Leave the strings, get a tort pickguard

The bass has a tort gaurd. Thank god that dilema's a non issue! I'd really hate for it to effect the tone!

 

[PrairieThunder13]

I'm never the "just do the foam thing" guy, but in your case, just do the foam thing. Your deader rounds will sound better than new flats, which do not sound good for much until they are broken in (naturally or artificially), anyway, as far as I have experienced. I'm a flats only type, but if you make rounds work, then good on you! That's no problem no matter the gig.

 

[xposaune]

FWIW and it may be me but I love the sound of flats at home - through headphones and practicing with tracks through an amp. BUT even though I love the sound so much when I try them in rehearsal with a live drummer I immediately struggle with muddiness and lack of definition. So I switch back to nickel rounds. A live setting is so different. Agree with others who say you can eq and manage pickup blend to get a workable sound.

 

[bolophonic]

Nobody in the audience is going to notice the flats/rounds distinctions, so play what you like.

 

[BobDeRosa]

Go with the strings you're comfortable with and adjust the EQ as necessary. Why?
1) You need to feel good about your playing.
2) NO ONE -- neither bandmates nor audience -- will care!!!

 

[Ekulati]

I think you're overthinking this. Unless you come out with a bright in your face clanky bridge tone, or some sort of Jaco tone, I'd bet NO ONE notices, not even the BL.

 

[Jim622]

No one will notice but other musicians and if your on they wont say a thing.

 

[bikeplate]

I did a 2 part Motown thing a couple years back w my '66. Roundwounds and all were happy

 

[dkelley]

I question why old school motown needs to have old school bass tone. I mean, don't go hifi overdrive, but this is 2021, not 1967. The guitarists aren't trying to use old school strings and tones I bet, and the drums aren't going to sound like they did in 1967 I bet, so why do you have to?

Also, the band leader doesn't care, and in the show you can't hear the difference very well anyway.

I slightly palm mute when needed (on sustained notes, and yes I play finger style) but not most of the time, in this style of music (or any style where it suits). I play neck pickup for a precision tone, or both on if it suits better. whatever works!

but changing strings simply for the change in tone, for a one off live gig, is not likely to be a very big change. imho, yadda yadda

 

[InhumanResource]

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.

Rounds with a foam mute jammed underneath gets you real close to what is on those old records!