Why do so many players love flats?

[swink]

Yes, I have. It is skewed, as most statistics here are. Check out any music store, in person or online, and count number of roundwound vs flats packages on the shelf. Here's Sweetwater for you:
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Sorry if I repeat myself, but...

have you considered, that "flats" are only replaced towards the stage of decomposition and "rounds" are replaced by some when the "zing" is suspected to be out.

How would you fill the shelves of your store if you were aware of that?

 

[Marko 1]

Rounds: DR Nickle Lowriders
Flats: E.B. Cobalt Flats (only because they don't sound much like flat).

 

[HelpImaRock]

How would you fill the shelves of your store if you were aware of that?

Yep. Same reason I can't find short scale strings in-store. Fortunately, through the wonders of the internet, I can have short scale flats in a few days.

 

[MrUsefulAlien]

10 of my 11 basses wear flats, mostly varying tensions of LaBella 760fl, 760fs, 0760m.

- They sound just right in almost in any musical genre I play (pop, big band, jazz, salsa).
- Amazing pick sound.
- Sound a bit dull on their own, but always audible and punchy in a band setting because of the frequency range they occupy.
- Settle in to a sound I'm after vs. dulling over time like rounds.
- Cheaper in the long run because I never need to change them.

 

[willddd]

I like both, but all my gigging basses have flats. I like the longevity and find they sit more consistently in a mix.

 

[Geri O]

Years ago, I did some experiments with rounds and flats to see which suited me.

After many variations on the the theme, I decided that for me personally, I have no need for flats on my basses. I simply don't care for anything about them.

'Nuff said.

However......

At no time did I ever wonder, "what do people see in flat wound strings?".

As has been repeated ad naueum around here.....

"To each his/her own...."

I guess threads like this are great for the flatwound users to gather and express their preferences for those strings. I reckon that's fine, too.

 

[RattleSnack]

Sorry if I repeat myself, but...

How would you fill the shelves of your store if you were aware of that?

How often you buy same model is related to stock. That has nothing to do with variety. Flats are, without doubt, stocked much less because you buy them less often.
On the other hand, model variety is directly related to market share. That's merchandising one on one.

 

[GrapeBass]

It's all subjective and personal preference mixed in with experience and expectations.

 

[NKBassman]

I’m interested in why so many bassists love using flats as a posed to rounds.

For me personally, I have never really enjoyed using flats on any of basses. I could never get used to the feel or find a decent tone with them.

So, do you use flats, rounds, both, something else?

I have two basses with flats on them. I like the way they sound on those particular basses. When I want a different sound I grab a different bass.

 

[J Posega]

Nowadays, I wouldn't use only flatwounds on my basses. I like having basses with different, relatively unique tones compared to one another. So some have rounds, some have flats, some have tapes. Different tones inspire different approaches to playing.

 

[KohanMike]

I never liked the zing sound rounds made, even when I played guitar, on which I always used flats. Now that I play bass uke (piezo) as my primary instrument, I only use flats, Kala/Galli nylon core, having given up on any of the poly strings that came with them because of how sticky they will get (and no, I will never put anything in my fingers to play them, to me that's just silly, especially when the flats never get sticky, and they great to me).

 

[GwenOnBass]

Voted: both.

Flats on the 1979 StingRay for that Bernard Edwards thing.
Flats on the Chowny CHB-1 for that British Invasion thing.
Rounds on the Nordy Cat for the Everything Else thing.

 

[Hypercaffium]

Many people use and love flats because they sound great and last forever, simple as that. In the right context and with the right instrument, they are extremely powerful.
The problem with some guys with flats is that as soon as they discover them, they spam their frantic enthusiasm all over the forums saying that flats are the discovery of the century and they won't use anything else for their entire life, until they actually do.
It isn't a religion thing, you don't need to "convert" to flats or being part of a "flat cult", just see them as a tool and use them whenever you want.

 

[Bass Ameg]

Ease of playing, no finger noise, no fingertip pain after playing 3 hours, very cool tone, long string life, low action. EB cobalt flats, Pbass.

 

[Jay-Double-You]

I have two basses: two with tapewounds and one with flatwounds. I do not like roundwounds. Why? I do not know.

 

[HaphAsSard]

The problem with some guys with flats is that as soon as they discover them, they spam their frantic enthusiasm all over the forums saying that flats are the discovery of the century and they won't use anything else for their entire life, until they actually do.

Except some of them may truly never do. And I fail see the "problem", when phrased in those terms.
(I can understand how those who say "I play flats because I play bass not treble" may ruffle some feathers, but that's crucially different from "I've found out about flats and I don't like rounds anymore".)
I definitely see more of an anti-hipster sentiment going on among roundwound players: "Why is everyone, uh, metro-fluid and into vinyl and whatnot, these days? I still listen to my music like everyone else I know.
On CDs."

 

[aus_bass]

All my basses wear flats. I cannot play rounds. They feel like sandpaper, to me and I hate the zing. I prefer a smooth, fat and vintage tone and do a lot of slides, so flats are my thing. They also last forever.

 

[Hypercaffium]

Except some of them may truly never do. And I fail see the "problem", when phrased in those terms.
(I can understand how those who say "I play flats because I play bass not treble" may ruffle some feathers, but that's crucially different from "I've found out about flats and I don't like rounds anymore".)
I definitely see more of an anti-hipster sentiment going on among roundwound players: "Why is everyone, uh, metro-fluid and into vinyl and whatnot, these days? I still listen to my music like everyone else I know.
On CDs."

I'll just quote myself.

The problem with some guys with flats is that as soon as they discover them...

So, what are you trying to say? Just asking, honestly.
The anti-hipster thing? I'm not sure what you're saying, I'm sorry.

 

[HaphAsSard]

I'll just quote myself.

Don't need to do that, I read it the first time.

So, what are you trying to say? Just asking, honestly.

What is the "problem" if they discover flats and post about it, saying they'll never use rounds again (and maybe they won't, maybe they will)? Where is the "problem", and to whom is it a "problem"?

The anti-hipster thing? I'm not sure what you're saying, I'm sorry.

I'm saying some roundwound players are annoyed or confused by the fact that they suddenly see so many testimonies by flatwound players, similarly to how the sudden return of old-fashioned devices and clothing among hipsters is confusing to mainstreamers.

 

[GrapeBass]

I'm saying some roundwound players are annoyed or confused by the fact that they suddenly see so many testimonies by flatwound players, similarly to how the sudden return of old-fashioned devices and clothing among hipsters is confusing to mainstreamers.

IME 'Roundwound only' players can be just as or more 'annoying' than flatwound players with their personal opinions on why no one should play with the type of strings that they don't like. It's not a hipster thing per say, not sure where that comes from LOL BTW you would have to pull by 45 year old Bialetti Moka pot from my cold dead hands!