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Thinking about trying some Flatwounds?

JMac- Wiskerface Designs

JMac- Wiskerface Designs

Terror headcase dude
Jul 8, 2009
2,573
101
49
Atlanta, GA
#1
Lately I have been thinking about trying some Flatwound strings. I have allways stuck to rounds because that is what I started with. Every time I have ever tried flats they were on someone else's bass, and sounded kind of "dead". I know that it is a good posibility that the strings were probabaly worn out so I am looking for advice from you flatwound guys. What would you guys recomend to be the brightest sounding flatwound strings available?
 
#3
JMac4strngr said:
Lately I have been thinking about trying some Flatwound strings. I have allways stuck to rounds because that is what I started with. Every time I have ever tried flats they were on someone else's bass, and sounded kind of "dead". I know that it is a good posibility that the strings were probabaly worn out so I am looking for advice from you flatwound guys. What would you guys recomend to be the brightest sounding flatwound strings available?
Click to expand...

The brightest flatwound strings available are rotosound rs77ld. I'm new on flatwounds too, I have a week with them on my p bass and I like them very much. I think thats the perfect medium string between flats and rounds. Try them if you like high tension.
 
#6
I just switched to Chromes and the verdict is still out. 90% of what we play is '66 to - '70 era rock, so they're great for that. It pretty much nails the sound I was looking for. It's the other 10% where I wish I had rounds. If I weren't so dang broke, I'd have one bass with rounds and one with flats.
 
#7
I got hooked on LaBella Deep Talkin' flats about 3 years ago. They take some getting used to though. Really deep and mellow. Nothing bright about them, but they do blend in really well with almost anything, and wow, are they smooth. Kinda high tension (if you like that, which I do), and they last a lifetime....at least thats what I've been told. Just before I die, I'll PM you and let you know.
 
#8
I own two Music Man Stingray 5's. Both were made in the same year, so they're identical except for the finish.

One has a set of Ernie Ball Slinky 5 (2836) 45-130 gauge roundwounds on it and the other has a set of Ernie Ball Flatwound (2810) 45-130 gauge strings on it.

I love the sounds of the flats. Great old school tone and great plunk tone when playing with a soft-med gauge pick.

If I was to try another set of flats, I would go with the D'Addario Chromes, but I prefer the Ernie Ball 2810's myself.

TD
 
#9
Thornton Davis said:
I own two Music Man Stingray 5's. Both were made in the same year, so they're identical except for the finish.

One has a set of Ernie Ball Slinky 5 (2836) 45-130 gauge roundwounds on it and the other has a set of Ernie Ball Flatwound (2810) 45-130 gauge strings on it.

I love the sounds of the flats. Great old school tone and great plunk tone when playing with a soft-med gauge pick.

If I was to try another set of flats, I would go with the D'Addario Chromes, but I prefer the Ernie Ball 2810's myself.

TD
Click to expand...

Are your MM basses 35" scale? are you stringing them through the body or bridge?
 
#11
Poor Tom said:
honesty, if you didn't like the way they sounded on the other guy's bass, you probably won't like them on yours either.
Click to expand...

I agree to this alot, but consider a few things.
When you tried them, were you in a band situation?
Were you trying a bass/amp combo similar to what you own?
And, most importantly, what style and sound are you playing?

Things sound different depending on the context you are using them in. LaBella Flats on my VM Jazz sound great with the country/rock trio I gig with. My fretless jazz with Roto Swing66 RW don't, but they sound great in my living room, and great with the meal band I used to play with. All about context.
 
#12
IMO, Chromes are the brightest flatwound string and the perfect string choice if thinking about transitioning from roundwounds.

When brand new, I've had players tell me they were quite surprised I was using flatwounds. And I also feel that they retain that brightness (not the zingy roundwound kind) longer than any roundwound string will stay bright. Even after a year on my bass they were very bright for a flatwound. I would have gone through perhaps six sets of rounds in that amount of time to retain that character.

Chromes are my favorite string choice, be it rounds or flats (and I use both). Only you would know if they work for you though.
 
#14
One thing to be aware of is the extra tension of flats. You will have to reset your truss rod and your intonation, more than likely. They also have a ton more drag on them. On a round wound, your finger only contacts the very top of the wind, so they feel a bit rougher, but actually allow you fingers to slide easier. A flat wound string, because of the flat wire, has more surface contact with your finger and grabs every last nanometer of skin and holds on for dear life, making them draggy. More glossy, more resistance, it's science. Just a heads up.
 

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