Should I be using flatwounds?

Flatwounds are going to give you a warmer, more smooth sound. Typically for rock music people use roundwounds. As always though, there is no rule on what to use. Buy a set and see if you like them. I'm not a huge fan, but you may love them. I do like the flatwounds for fretless though.

 

I'm actually switching back to flat-wounds, for that ol' time "thump" characteristic of acoustic-bass style, motown, or jazz. I stopped using flat-wounds years back (late 70s) because of intonation problems. Flats are much better these days, though. I'd have moved back to flats sooner, but I stopped playing bass for a number of years...

Round-wounds are better for rock/metal/slap generally. Much more high-end (tone/harmonics), and generally better sustain. To me, though, round-wounds sound like low notes on a piano, which I really hate. I don't slap, though, or play chords - both techniques arguably call for round-wounds.

 

I have been going back and forth between flats and rounds for years.When I practice alone Flats are THE string. I love the tone.But in the band mix it's a bit different story.
My electric bass gig is a Motown/Funk/Classic R&B band. Even with the Motown/Jamerson stuff we do I find that when the volume gets cranked the Flats get a little TOO thumpy.Live I seem to prefer the clear punch of rounds rather than the thump of Flats.
If I played Jazz on my electrics then I would use Flats for sure. But my Jazz gig is 100% upright so the electrics don't fit into the equation for Jazz.

 

Do you listen to Iron Maiden? Apparently Steve Harris uses flats, so they've certainly got some application for classic/hard rock on a P-Bass.

Wulf

 

I've had the same experience. I love the sound of flats played unaccompanied, but when I play with a band, the sound just doesn't cut through enough for me.

Again, I have the same preference. I play mostly a Fender RB5 with roundwounds, which gets a reasonable thumpy Jamerson tone when I pluck at the neck and adjust my amp and tone controls. I've tried using flats, but I find myself liking the sound of the RB5 with rounds much better, even for Motown stuff.

 

I have flats on quite a few of my basses.

I've got Rotosound Monel flats on my 6 string ABG, LaBella Tapewounds on my Cort Curbow Retro, and TI Jazz Flats on my US Curbow 4 string fretless.

I've also used the Rotosound Monels and Jazz Flats on my 75 Jazz Reissue, 6 string US Curbow fretless, 5 string US Curbow, etc, etc...

I've NEVER had any problem cutting through in a mix when using flats.

In fact, I've had just the opposite experience from DaveB and Cap'n Scarlet. When I play alone I like the full spectrum of the rounds, but when I play live, I prefer the flats strong fundamental, and no nonsense tone goodness.

So, as with anything, YMMV, IMHO, Void Where Prohibited....

 

I also found that when I played with TI Flats I easily cut through the mix. The only rounds that I found that do that well for me are DR Hi-Beams. As for flats, the TI's are the only ones for me.

 

Rounds are typically fat with harmonics, sizzling highs and killer sustain. A flat outer wrap acts as a filter that totally reshapes the sound. You could definitely say you'll get attenuated highs and less sustain, but aside from that, different flats have very different sounds from each other. I have three favorites. TIs are very lush with good sustain (think of the acoustic jazz Spirocore sound). LaBellas are comparatively "dry" and authoritative (I'm currently playing these; think of classic flatwound sounds). Pyramids are very smooth and rich with fast decay and lower output (think of the "Hotel California" bass sound).