I realize I may be opening a can of worms here, but I genuinely am curious about something. I suppose I have to state that I'm in no way trying to disparage anyones string or tonal choices here. But I've seen so many posts on here that typically go one of two ways, either "I'd do xyz and put flats on it" , or the more common, "my (insert bass) with flats". I'm genuinely curious as to why so many comments about instruments have that qualifier attached in so many cases, especially in times when the topic has nothing to do with strings or tone. Is this a long running joke or story that I don't know about being newer? Or is this just part of the culture and occurs frequently?
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What’s the deal with flats?
- Thread starter Titanium
- Start date
Some people REALLY like flatwound strings. Some people really DON'T. Both groups will make their preference known below. Enjoy your worms.
Precision + flats + tort = TB Nirvana, but it might be a living H, E, double hockey sticks for you.
Don't worry too much about it, and play what you like
Don't worry too much about it, and play what you like
I imagine that a lot of it is probably some flavor of ^THIS^. But, there are situations where "flats vs. rounds" might be germane, and need mentioning. Like, for example; tension; stiffness; longevity; feel; boiling strings clean; use on a string-thru bass; stuff like that. Flats are, indeed, very different from rounds; and, the difference does have a way of coloring people's response...
And, for the record; All but 2 of my 24 basses wear flats - and one of those 2 wears tapes. And, I'm also not very fond of Tort anything, either...
I used flats from the '70s until I switched to nylon tapewounds almost exclusively sometime in the mid/late '90s.
For quite a while it was very difficult to find flats in shops. Back in the early '80s I bought a used '75 P bass just for the flats it had on it, replaced the flats with rounds, sold the bass, kept the flats. I still have those flats. They can have those flats when they pry them from my cold dead fingers.
For quite a while it was very difficult to find flats in shops. Back in the early '80s I bought a used '75 P bass just for the flats it had on it, replaced the flats with rounds, sold the bass, kept the flats. I still have those flats. They can have those flats when they pry them from my cold dead fingers.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Because of the huge difference in tone. Most flats give a very deep tone with few overtones (think early Motown). The same instrument with new rounds will have a much brighter sound with more overtones - a much more modern tone.
I love flats , especially on a P . A side benefit is less fret wear . Having said that I use rounds on a fretless . Try LaBella LTF they have a very normal feel and a nice top end so as a round player you won't be in too much shock when you first hear them . 
I like when players are clear about their string choice when discussing their instruments. It adds clarity and context to their questions, concerns and opinions. I assume others get more from my posts if I provide that same clarity. Players who primarily play rounds may understandably discount my opinions knowing that I prefer flats. They are most likely not trying to achieve the same tonal profile. Simply discussing the instrument leaves out the all important variable of the strings.
Probably the best response to the OP's question (so far).
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Probably for flat lovers they can't even consider the usefulness of an instrument before there are flats on it as many (most?) of them have such a completely different feel and tone.
It's also common with setup. Until I get a ramp on a bass and set it up low I don't know for sure if it's for me.
It's also common with setup. Until I get a ramp on a bass and set it up low I don't know for sure if it's for me.
It's VERY subjective, but:
1. In the opinion of some, certain music genres seem to lend themselves well to using flats, as opposed to rounds. For example, flats are often preferred if you're playing Motown or blues, but less so if you're playing, say, fusion or funk.
2. Flats "sound" better than rounds, and vice-versa, on certain basses. But, again, this is very subjective.
1. In the opinion of some, certain music genres seem to lend themselves well to using flats, as opposed to rounds. For example, flats are often preferred if you're playing Motown or blues, but less so if you're playing, say, fusion or funk.
2. Flats "sound" better than rounds, and vice-versa, on certain basses. But, again, this is very subjective.
I prefer rocking the rounds, but there are times when only a flatwound sound will suffice!
Chromes have always been berry berry good to me - but now I am hooked on these:
Chromes have always been berry berry good to me - but now I am hooked on these:
One reason it may be such a common suggestion is that flats IMHO are a great equalizer of basses. I find that the same type of flats will sound much more similar from one bass to the next than the same kind of rounds (I suspect this is because they have much less pronounced upper harmonics, and less sustain than rounds, and those are two of the things that contribute the most to a bass's sound).
I think the "put flats on it and call it a day" approach that I often see in these pages is a function of the idea that most basses will sound fine with flats, due to the simpler, more fundamental-centered tone they tend to have: most of those weird, "driving me nuts" sound quirks happen because the pickups/electronics are emphasizing something you don't like in the upper harmonics. Putting flats on a bass simply takes those upper harmonics out of the equation, and vioal; no more problem. Do some notes on your bass lack sustain? Hey presto, now they all lack sustain, so those dead spots don't stick out!
Anyway, that's my take.
To clarify: I'm not knocking flats; I love me the sounds of some flats. I also love P basses and tort. I denounce all forms of heresy. Please don't send me to the re-education camps...
I think the "put flats on it and call it a day" approach that I often see in these pages is a function of the idea that most basses will sound fine with flats, due to the simpler, more fundamental-centered tone they tend to have: most of those weird, "driving me nuts" sound quirks happen because the pickups/electronics are emphasizing something you don't like in the upper harmonics. Putting flats on a bass simply takes those upper harmonics out of the equation, and vioal; no more problem. Do some notes on your bass lack sustain? Hey presto, now they all lack sustain, so those dead spots don't stick out!
Anyway, that's my take.
To clarify: I'm not knocking flats; I love me the sounds of some flats. I also love P basses and tort. I denounce all forms of heresy. Please don't send me to the re-education camps...
I'm afraid flats are not anything I'd use today. Just not enough tone for JW.
Between the bass controls and the amp controls, I can dial up any sort of tone I like regardless of the string. I use flats because I can play for hours, they don't give me calluses and my finger tips don't hurt. They are just a lot more comfortable for me to play. And with arthritis and everything else hurting, I don't need my hands / fingers to hurt too.
The preference through numerous polls, it's pretty much 50 50 here. Personally, I've not used or bought a set of flats since 1974. And there are members here that have had the same set of flats on their bass since 1974, and they are now finally broken in.
Absolutely nothing wrong with it IMO, because I understand the type of response, sound, and or the tactile feel they are looking for. And most Flats users know we don't care about the silky smooth feel too much, and have a good idea what tone we are likely to come up with.
Then the are those on this site that have basses they like with rounds and certain basses to them sound better with flats. So the advice here is you get to decide which is better for you, your bass and you gig.
For me, our band gigs slows down in the winter and if our recording schedule isn't too busy, I may break down, buy a set of flats to try out just for the heck of it. That said, they aren't going to be on my bass for 50 years… heck I'm not going to be here in 50 years, but a good 30 day trial playing them an hour or two a day and see what I come up with.
have a good one!
I'll play rounds all day on guitar. Give me a bass, and they sound and feel weird. I was never happy playing bass until I started playing flats, specifically LaBella LTFs. Now there's no turning back.
OP, no, it's not really a joke but it does get brought up frequently as a joke; i.e the people constantly recommending a p bass with tort and flats.
Most of my basses have rounds but I also always have a stingray with flats. If you haven't yet tried a bunch of flats, I would recommend you do so. I find that flatwounds tend to vary in tone a lot more between brands compared to rounds. The thing that I love with flats is how the low mids cut through and just tend to sound perfect in a mix without needed any excagerated top end eq.
Most of my basses have rounds but I also always have a stingray with flats. If you haven't yet tried a bunch of flats, I would recommend you do so. I find that flatwounds tend to vary in tone a lot more between brands compared to rounds. The thing that I love with flats is how the low mids cut through and just tend to sound perfect in a mix without needed any excagerated top end eq.
I came from upright bass - all upright strings are flatwound - it just made sense to me. Flats also get me closer to the upright bass sound that I'm used to hearing and have come to love.
