so, are flats indeed dull????

[UncleFluffy]

I was using flats on my Ric for some time and really enjoying the tone, and I'm mainly a stoner rock / late-80s thrash kind of guy. My wife is currently running active bass w/ flats -> VT Bass -> Carvin BX1200 in a "rock with lots of dynamic range" band and her tone is, frankly, awesome.

You'll have to adjust your EQ and your playing style somewhat to get the best out of them, but flats can sound very good in a lot of situations.

 

[lunarpollen]

Flats are "dull" in the sense that they have less HF/overtones in their sound than roundwounds. That doesn't mean their sound is "dull" in any other sense, like boring.

Exactly!

They aren't as bright or twangy as roundwounds. They are deeper, richer, more natural and balanced sounding.

Roundwounds make your instrument sound like a bass guitar
Flatwounds make it sound more like a BASS!

 

[fourfinger]

Try them, and tell us what you think.

+1

I played rounds for 25 years. All the while, I shunned flats completely.

I based my opinion on a single "bad" experience trying them as a teenager -- bad bass, bad neck, bad amp, bad band, and very bad technique on my part.

TB convinced me to try them again... Thanks, TB!

Now I have flats on all three of my basses, and only one of the three will ever see round wounds again.

To me, flats sound a lot better with the band than they do solo.

The opposite seems true of rounds.

 

[lunarpollen]

Crappy audio clip I made showing how flats can sound using the VT Bass pedal.

Link Removed

 

[SuperSnake2012]

I'm really digging flatwounds right now. Definitely makes it sound more like a "bass". If you find that you're having trouble finding your place in your band's mix, give flats a try. I'm using flats on my Rickenbacker 4001 and I don't think I'll put rounds back on that bass.

 

[mntngrown]

http://www.google.com/search?source...A_enUS295US295&q=freddie+king+five+long+years
Some might call this bass playing, on well worn flats, dull.
Others like me might say this is the perfect example of a brilliant bass player fitting in perfectly in the pocket with a great singer/guitarist and talented piano player and drummer.
But it is all about what you like and want to play. Flats are not for all styles, although I read that Larry Graham slapped flats early on?