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Switching To Flatwounds On P-Bass?

#41
Now, I don't mean to offend anyone, but...

How does the OP (who's been on here since 2011) post, like it's a totally new idea, that he's thinking about putting flats on a p bass (OMG!), and everyone proceeds to discuss it like it hasn't already been talked about 47 MILLION times (just on TB, that is)?

Is talking about flats on a p bass just that much fun?

Sorry, must've been something I ate- carry on
 
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#42
Thinking of doing so myself. My current P-style main bass (Yamaha BB-414) has rounds on it, but they are really old and sound quite dead. Love the tone. Tried flats on another P-bass I had a couple of years ago. It was some kind of Fender string, don't remember the exact model. I do however remember that the high tension made the neck of the bass go banana and my hands to become really sore. It did sound really nice, though.

Thinking of trying TI's this time. From what I understand the tension is more like rounds, which will suit me much better. But since they are a bit pricy I will have to wait until the next paycheck comes along.
 
#44
I actually used flats for about 2 years on my P's before recently selling one and putting rounds on the other. I will echo the others who have said something was missing harmonically with flats that I notice a lot now live. Flats are great in certain scenarios though. Especially older R&B, country, and blues.

I just tend to stick to the Jaco method I read in one of his interviews once about rounds. The theory goes: keep the tone knob all the way down when they are new and only turn it up as they age or want a bright tone for certain songs. The rest as he would say, "is all in the hands." Where you play on the string or different techniques for example. Both flats and rounds have nice sounds with a pick for example depending on the song. If you really want Jaco tone on your Jaco bass, try some different rounds and that method.

I want to retry flats on a hollowbody actually. The two best I liked were thomastiks and the lightest gauge chromes. I don't like the high tension of other flats. It hurts my hands as often as I play. Probably because I am getting older too.
 
#45
SanDiegoHarry said:
Well, do what the rest of us did - Put a set of flats on it (any set, they all sound about the same if you ask me) and see if you dig it. If so, then there ya go. If not, then you're out $20 like I was.
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$20?? Man you got a good deal on flats. Chromes are like at least $30 after tax and/or shipping and thomastiks are ridiculously expensive. Not to mention the setup a lot of guys ending having to do if switching from rounds and/or lower tension.
 
#46
sethlow3 said:
$20?? Man you got a good deal on flats. Chromes are like at least $30 after tax and/or shipping and thomastiks are ridiculously expensive. Not to mention the setup a lot of guys ending having to do if switching from rounds and/or lower tension.
Click to expand...

just checked sweetwater - well, lookie there - Was a time when roundwound strings were at least TWICE the price of flats. Times have changed.

Okay then - risk $35, not $20. Sheesh - that price difference is all I need to know - I'll stick to rounds!
 
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#47
Mr. Sound said:
THEY SAY.... if you put flats on an American Standard, to use the top holes, not the through body, as the sharp angle leads to breakage.
So they say,,,,,
Click to expand...

I can confirm this! Strung GHS P flats thru body and FL Labella's both E strings snap after about three months. Worth going thru the bridge unless you get those specially designed flats.
 
#48
Antisyzygy said:
I believe the first iteration of EB cobalt flats had this problem because the wrapping around the string core would shift apart a little when at a sharp angle. This left a weak point in the string. If you unstring and restring a few times it could break.

They've since fixed it I think.
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Could very well be the case, thanks for that example.

With over 30 years of flat wound string thru experience using TI, GHS, Pyramid, LaBella, and Fender flats (including re-use of used flats) I've never had a failure. I would just hate to see someone deterred from trying what could ultimately be the perfect string combo just because of a ill informed statement on the internets.
 
#52
osonu said:
Now, I don't mean to offend anyone, but...

How does the OP (who's been on here since 2011) post, like it's a totally new idea, that he's thinking about putting flats on a p bass (OMG!), and everyone proceeds to discuss it like it hasn't already been talked about 47 MILLION times (just on TB, that is)?

Is talking about flats on a p bass just that much fun?

Sorry, must've been something I ate- carry on
Click to expand...
There......feel better now?
 
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#54
SanDiegoHarry said:
Well, do what the rest of us did - Put a set of flats on it (any set, they all sound about the same if you ask me) and see if you dig it. If so, then there ya go. If not, then you're out $20 like I was.
Click to expand...

I know they're expensive, but you should try TI Jazz Flats.

I hated the first set of flats I tried, and I quickly switched back to rounds. However, someone got me a GC gift card for Christmas, so I decided to give the TI's a try and I love them. I think I'll always have a bass with TI's on it. Chromes are pretty decent, too, but feel very stiff to me.
 
#55
My P-bass with LaBellas has that classic thump we love, lots of string tension. I have Ernie Ball cobalt flats on my Music Man 5 and I love them - I think they're very versatile and even better than the Ken Smith compressors they replaced, which I also really liked. If my LaBella Deep Talkers ever need replacing I'll probably see what cobalts sound like on my P-bass.
 
#56
1. Yes, this forum has a search function. And a "Strings" sub-forum.
2. Regarding string-through bridges and flats, I have never had a problem with it either, but LaBella, one of the major flatwound strings sellers, have this on their web site: "This particular set is NOT suitable for basses with bridges that require strings to pass through the body of the instrument. Please refer to our "Thru-Body" Flat Wound sets (e.g. 760FX-TB) for through-body instruments" for all sets in the Deep Talkin' Bass series of flats. So it's probably a good idea to avoid it if you can. As you can on the American Standard.
 
#58
Klonk said:
1. Yes, this forum has a search function. And a "Strings" sub-forum.
2. Regarding string-through bridges and flats, I have never had a problem with it either, but LaBella, one of the major flatwound strings sellers, have this on their web site: "This particular set is NOT suitable for basses with bridges that require strings to pass through the body of the instrument. Please refer to our "Thru-Body" Flat Wound sets (e.g. 760FX-TB) for through-body instruments" for all sets in the Deep Talkin' Bass series of flats. So it's probably a good idea to avoid it if you can. As you can on the American Standard.
Click to expand...

I think that has to do with the length of the string and/or winding pattern at the bridge end.

Taperwounds for example have a smaller gauge wind at the bridge end and it needs to be long enough to go through your body and then over the saddle on a string through setup.
 
#59
I think you'll first notice a rounder tone across the frequency spectrum. With the artifacts of rounds gone, I consider the flat wound tone perhaps a bit more focused. You sacrifice a little character, but it can be wonderful and perfect in many mixes. Also, your pick playing takes on a whole new meaning with flats.
pbass2 said:
If you have 6 basses, I'd definitely advocate one of them being a P w/flats!
Click to expand...

+1. I have one of my several P's strung with flats. Can't hurt, and comes in handy sometimes.
 
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#60
I love the P bass sound with flats, and I love the P bass sound with rounds. So I've got one of each. But I rarely play the P bass with flats live because I can't get the definition and clarity I need for about 20% of our cover band's songs. We've got two guitarists and a pretty busy drummer, so if I'm playing a busy bass line with flats then it just doesn't work (for me). But for the simple rootsy bass lines, a P bass with flats is hard to beat.
 

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