Make sure you set your witness points at the bridge, and check that the E is coming off the nut straight and not arcing.
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Switching from Rounds to Flats Advice
- Thread starter allboutbass
- Start date
We'll be interested to hear your report!
Also, that pickguard! Curious as to where you got that.
5sg.
I bought some aluminum and had this luthier copy the original pickguard so he cut it and did the edges ... I love it !We'll be interested to hear your report!
Also, that pickguard! Curious as to where you got that.
5sg.
I might remove the polyurethane and paint it nitro white... but haven’t dared yet.
and yeah I love the tone ... maybe I post a clip of it
Awesome. Hope you enjoy them.
I slipped mine onto my new-to-me Peavey Fury and liked them even better than on my Fender, but I’m going to use up my stash of rounds/half/pressure wounds before putting them back on. Something to look forward to
I almost listed about 10 sets of steel roundwounds the other day. I doubt I’ll ever go back. I also have some barely used (like maybe a few songs) sets of flats to sell. They’re ones that are heavier or higher tension. But, they’re also great sets that many would want. I’ll throw a comment on here when I list em, in case anyone may want a heads up.Awesome. Hope you enjoy them.
I slipped mine onto my new-to-me Peavey Fury and liked them even better than on my Fender, but I’m going to use up my stash of rounds/half/pressure wounds before putting them back on. Something to look forward to
So almost 24 hours with them and I am very happy with the sound. I think they have a very good mid range focus and the low frequency is pretty also they are easy to play, as being a smooth surface I find them a pleasure to move around positions and all, let alone the almost lack of finger noise.We'll be interested to hear your report!
Also, that pickguard! Curious as to where you got that.
5sg.
I have been experimenting with signal chains and they are very flexible... just straight line into a DI or thru a preamp and amp, also I like to run the amp's line out into a 6176 then to a Thermionic Culture Vulture and maybe some either SPL classic vitalizer or Pultec EQ and they sound great.
What I like the most is when you put them into a song context they blend in really well and sit naturally, which is the bass' main mission. I know some players like to stick out but I guess that is a very different goal.
They are very different form rounds, and not saying better or worse, just different. So this flats, they have this clean and plain envelope decay sort of thing, which is what I hear on some records that I like. I guess all flats have this distinct feature.
If they get better over time .. well the better. I guess other strings mentioned in this thread are great as well.
There’s much greater variance among flats (brand to brand) than I ever experienced with roundwounds. So, welcome to the tip of the iceberg my friend
. I’ll be playing Flea basslines (RHCP songs and You Oughta Know) with Cobalt flats. And, no one will know they’re flats, except the string noise will be greatly minimized. Sounds like the 77s are a more traditional sounding flat though, which is very desirable as well.The SM77 are getting even better, I’ve been recording today some funky muted lines today and I looooove em. The attack is great and the over all tone.
I was curious ... what is the difference between the flat monels and the Fender 9050 steel flats? if any had any experience with these two kinds.
I was curious ... what is the difference between the flat monels and the Fender 9050 steel flats? if any had any experience with these two kinds.
Last night I put on EB Super Slinky cobalts, .045 - .100. I am far from experienced but I really like them compared to the rounwounds that came with the bass. They are smooth without being slippery, and finger noise is greatly reduced--that was mainly what I was after.
I also think they sound pretty nice. They are immediately, obviously less bright and zingy than the rounds, but it's not like there's no high end. Maybe it's 30-50% less? I also want to say that the mid-low range is more full somehow... I haven't taken measurements, but that is my perception. They definitely have a unique sound, but as everyone said, are not crazy different than rounds.
I replaced rounds that were slightly beefier at .050 - .105. In some other threads I read that when trying flats, going a little lighter might be a good idea. The tension and feel of the flats is different... but in the same ballpark. Switching was comfortable. Glad I tried them.
I also think they sound pretty nice. They are immediately, obviously less bright and zingy than the rounds, but it's not like there's no high end. Maybe it's 30-50% less? I also want to say that the mid-low range is more full somehow... I haven't taken measurements, but that is my perception. They definitely have a unique sound, but as everyone said, are not crazy different than rounds.
I replaced rounds that were slightly beefier at .050 - .105. In some other threads I read that when trying flats, going a little lighter might be a good idea. The tension and feel of the flats is different... but in the same ballpark. Switching was comfortable. Glad I tried them.
I'll be interested to hear input from both of you on what these sets sound like after a few months of break in!
5sg.
I'll make some recordings this weekend and make a note to do more tests in the months ahead. (Since I am playing through a Helix LT now .... that should be easy.)
But if I post y'all have to not point and laugh since I can't play for crap yet and I can't promise what it will be like 3 or 6 months from now either!
But if I post y'all have to not point and laugh since I can't play for crap yet and I can't promise what it will be like 3 or 6 months from now either!
I have Fender 9050L’s (45-100) on my Jazz bass. They are more supple than the Roto set you have, a little smoother to the touch, less zing, but not as thumpy as La Bella or GHS. A good, versatile set. I first installed them on my P bass, and they sounded great, but they’re even better on the Jazz. They impart a sweeter midrange from the bridge PU than the Rotos, and sound great with a pick and the neck PU dimed.
But I definitely liked the Rotos better on a P bass.
Different basses, different PU’s, perhaps I would think otherwise.
I’ve got some flats for sale here: For Sale - New, like new, & used strings: Flats and Roundwounds steel and Nickel
One set has already sold, pending payment.
One set has already sold, pending payment.
OP Here again,
I have come to the sad/excited conclusion that I need a second bass so I can have rounds and flats as I like them both a lot and can't keep changing strings as I may harm the neck ... or the strings... mainly the flats silk. They are so different. I really like the flats and the absent string noise is heaven.
So I just ordered a Sandberg California II VM, I guess I will leave the flats on my Precision and rounds on the Sandberg.
I have come to the sad/excited conclusion that I need a second bass so I can have rounds and flats as I like them both a lot and can't keep changing strings as I may harm the neck ... or the strings... mainly the flats silk. They are so different. I really like the flats and the absent string noise is heaven.
So I just ordered a Sandberg California II VM, I guess I will leave the flats on my Precision and rounds on the Sandberg.
Good choice, I'd definitely leave the flats on the P if I were in your position.
I feel you on this.
I love the sound of flats on my Jazz, and often times seek that P w/ flats kind of sound, which this bass does very well. But the bass speaks best and is most versatile with rounds on it. I really like having just one bass to use for everything, but I’m gonna have to break down and at some point buy another bass for flats, so it might as well be a P-bass.
Yes ... I never considered buying a se one bass but is kind of the only way. Also I know is kind of a GAS excuse to have a another instrument and those Sandberg seem to be very good.
OP here,
I am freaking loving those flats and are the grind is growing every day which I love, also funk finger bass lines just sound awesome.
But I have run into a problem with my plucking fingers, they get stuck some times when passing thru the strings. When doing some funky fingering with mutes and all that or arpeggios this messes with my timing.
I guess is the nature of the flats surface being more in contact with the skin and all, but I wanted to know how you guys approach this thing.
I am freaking loving those flats and are the grind is growing every day which I love, also funk finger bass lines just sound awesome.
But I have run into a problem with my plucking fingers, they get stuck some times when passing thru the strings. When doing some funky fingering with mutes and all that or arpeggios this messes with my timing.
I guess is the nature of the flats surface being more in contact with the skin and all, but I wanted to know how you guys approach this thing.
I played Rotosound Swing Bass 66s for close to 50 years on my single coil Telecaster.
After getting a split coil Precision I decided to put flats on it. Since reading through several threads on strings I first tried La Bella, then D’Addario, and finally TI Jazz Flats JF344. They are staying on. They took a week to stretch out but since they’ve held their tune, and intonation, very well. The mids are pronounced enough to cut through a mix even through a Broughton Fliptop. There are no issues with bending strings or action height.
After getting a split coil Precision I decided to put flats on it. Since reading through several threads on strings I first tried La Bella, then D’Addario, and finally TI Jazz Flats JF344. They are staying on. They took a week to stretch out but since they’ve held their tune, and intonation, very well. The mids are pronounced enough to cut through a mix even through a Broughton Fliptop. There are no issues with bending strings or action height.
BobDeRosa
Commercial User
- May 16, 2012
- 2,445
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- Owner, Tritone Jazz Fantasy Camps
I completely agree. Don't be one of those people who puts flats on, plays a few notes, and then says "These are crap, what was I thinking?" As @GrapeBass suggested, think of flats in terms of years, not minutes, with a few months of moderate to heavy play as the minimum break-in period. TI Jazz Flats will give you the brightness you're looking for, but they're quite expensive.
