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Switching from Rounds to Flats Advice

#242
allboutbass said:
I just want to know how you guys handle the sticky plucking finger that happens some times, as this messes timing.
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Did you clean your strings before install? I never do this with roundwounds. But, some new flats feel grippy, or not as smooth, and seem to have a residue or coating. Some alcohol or naphtha takes it off.
 
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#243
allboutbass said:
I will ask again since may be I have been misunderstood.

I am in Love with the Flats I have right now, period.

I just want to know how you guys handle the sticky plucking finger that happens some times, as this messes timing.
Click to expand...

I've not experienced that phenomenon, but my fingertips tend to strike and glance off or ride over the strings rather than using a hook/pull/release action. YMMV
 
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#244
allboutbass said:
I will ask again since may be I have been misunderstood.

I am in Love with the Flats I have right now, period.

I just want to know how you guys handle the sticky plucking finger that happens some times, as this messes timing.
Click to expand...

Focus. Cut your fingernails. Make sure sure the strings are clean. Good advice above re rubbing alcohol or naptha.
 
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#245
allboutbass said:
I will ask again since may be I have been misunderstood.

I am in Love with the Flats I have right now, period.

I just want to know how you guys handle the sticky plucking finger that happens some times, as this messes timing.
Click to expand...

I generally tend to use a lighter touch with flats, but probably because the music I play with flats lends itself to this. This helps me.
 
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#247
allboutbass said:
OP here,
I have recently bought a Sandberg VT4 which came with flats ... Labella 760FL. What a nice sounding Strings on that bass ... I am very very happy with that tone. OMG!
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I've got La Bella 760FS on the P, and I think they are best for this particular bass. It's not the most versatile tone, but it does what it does very, very well.
 
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#248
S.F.Sorrow said:
Personally I find the Pure Vintage 63 pickup far too dark sounding for thumpy old school flats like LaBella DTF, GHS Precision Flats, Pyramid Gold or similar. The PV63 is roundwounds only for me and even then I find it somewhat lacking in clarity. 12.0k DCR is higher than a typical vintage '63 P-bass pickup and way into muddy overwound territory IMO.

If I HAD to use flats with the PV63 I would go with more modern sounding flats with a bit of upper mid presence. Personally I hate the stiff feeling and metallic/clanky sounding D'Addario Chromes but based on your preference for rather heavy gauge D'Addario roundwounds they might be worth considering here.

My personal first choice (by quite some distance) would be Thomastik Jazz flats but they would probably be WAY to light gauge for you if you're comfortable with 50-105 roundwounds.
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Bringing this comment back from the dead. OP hit the nail on the head here.
I just finished putting the PV 63' pickups in my pbass and found the same thing even when running a fresh set of chromes. This pickup only seems to do Old school motown well. They are super deep and dark. I'm swapping out to a tried and true Dimarzio Model P for that Flatwounds and pick Pbass growl and punch.
 

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