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suggest flatwounds...for rock...help!

R

raul

Aug 30, 2006
423
89
Planet Earth
#1
i was all set to get some Rotos for my Geddy Jazz bass but decided to try out some flats...and yes, a mostly play loud rock type stuff, but also a big of everything, but mostly rock or loud heavy music.

thinking flatwounds are very much worth a try, seems like they could work. so...Chromes or the TI jazz flats? i want a big loud punchy growly deep sound that is will work well with the Geddy Jazz bass.

i usually play roundwounds, of course...so i need some advice as to which set of flats should work for me. seems like the two i mentioned are a few of the go-to flats but there is a tension issue with the TI flats?

i guess i want the ones that last long and have that strong tone i'm going for. and of course, good for loud rockin heavy music and everything else in the bass world!
 
#2
You really need Rotos to sound like Geddy Lee. I use LaBella Jamerson's, and that's a really nice, thumper of a string, so you don't want that. If you're set on flats, then I'd go with the Chromes, I think. They are pretty bright and growly, and last longer than rounds.
 
#3
I used only roundwounds but decided I needed a change and got some Fender stainless steel flatwounds. It is a big change in feel and sound but so far i love them. I have them on my MIM jazz with Leo Quan Badass 2 bridge similar to the Geddy Lee Jazz. Roundwounds have a ring to them I have noticed and the flats dont have it as pronounced. They have a more thumpy tone. I tried the Fenders because they were cheaper than TI's by about thirty bucks. :bassist:
 
#5
The TI's will be closer in tension to the Roto's IMO. The Chromes will be higher, which isn't necessarily bad, just something to be aware of. you will probably need to tweak your truss rod either way.

I have played both chromes and ti's and i love them both, but for me, i give the edge to the TI's. i think they sound "clearer" in the low notes, and I like the lower tension.

I don't think you can really go wrong with either.

Good Luck!
 
#8
i think im gonna try out some Chromes...those sound like they work well with all kindsa music and the type of music i love, loud powerful music, should sound like a great big fat tone explosion. and with muzz fuzz and a VT Deluxe, i think it's a good recipe with a Fender Geddy Lee Jazz bass...
 
#9
I think, with all due respect, that you want two different bass sounds in one! Flats are not good for power-heavy metal grunge rock! Try recording a bit with both types and replay! To me it sounds as if you'd be better served by for ex a set of heavy Stainless rounds, 0.60-110 ca. Any brand! Then use a 1.21 pick, and you will get just what you are talking about, a huge powerful bass-explosion! I like the Dean Markley Stainless rounds for a growly rock sound. Flats, I think to you, will sound muffled and dull sounding for the music you play. No matter the brand of flats. That's my penny #:-)
 
#12
I love the previous version of the Fender Flats, the ones "MIM with USA components" that came in the gray paper envelope-style packages. The Fender 9050M (9050s) flats. Wouldn't play anything else!
 
#13
I'd say use the set that another well known rocker uses:

51Fw5S419qL.jpg


http://www.amazon.com/Rotosound-SH77-Harris-Flatwound-Strings/dp/B0002GNY0A

A video reviewing his sig model p-bass strung with his sig strings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A72TYFcqk4E
 
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#16
ransombass said:
I'd say use the set that another well known rocker uses:

51Fw5S419qL.jpg


http://www.amazon.com/Rotosound-SH77-Harris-Flatwound-Strings/dp/B0002GNY0A

A video reviewing his sig model p-bass strung with his sig strings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A72TYFcqk4E
Click to expand...

I had not seen Mr. Friedland's review of Steve Harris signature bass. That was a funny video! I have played one of those basses on ye olde Guitar Center during 2010-2011. All he said is true; the thick neck is awesome, and I love (and use) those strings on my "P-clone" with "vintage", although non-spb-1 pickup (mine is actually a Delano PC 4 AL). It's not about Iron Maiden or Mr. Harris, that MIJ P-bass just rocks, and I agree, so do the Rotosound strings-do not fear the heavy gauge. :)
 
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#17
Another +1 from me for Chromes on a Jazz Bass...had a set whose sound I hated on a P and on a whim decided to try them on the J...nicely surprised...a darker tone overall but more versatile across multiple styles IMO.

In addition to my raves about them in a couple other recent threads, I'll add that I dial in more of the bridge pickup for a more growly, modern tone, and solo the neck pickup for a tone reasonably close to that of a P...though from what others have said it sounds like I'd have to go with an S1 switch to get a truer P sound.
 
#18
I have to go with Fender or Steve Harris strings.

I had chromes on a P and they sounded weird from day one....put them on my active and they now sound like amplified rubberbands. The Harris flats are awesome, but the tension is a bit high. Fender flats are amazingly bright. I hate to sound like some kind of cheap marketing cliche, but Fender Flats brought my fretless to life.
 
#19
Fender 9050CL flats 45-60-80-105 are steel flatwounds that have some of the subdued growl that chromes do not. They are inexpensive, absolutely consistent from string to string and up the fretboard, and are the strings that converted me to a flatwound guy after almost 40 years of playing rounds.

I have them on my fanned fret P-style that I play in my band that plays everything from '60's to current. They are absolutely the best flatwound string for quality, consistency, long life, and versatility I have ever played. They can growl when you want them to and be mellow when you need them to.
 

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