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Why do so many players love flats?
- Thread starter RVRSCO
- Start date
I'm so used to playing on upright bass I just was always fighting with that nasty sound of shifting my left hand on an electric bass. Maybe it is a technique thing. Also I just hate that piano like sound of roundwounds and love the sound (and feel) of flats. Setting eq on flat and with my Eich cab it seems it always cuts through the mix in the bands I'm in. But maybe it is a sound not suitable for all kinds of music.
I returned to flats in the late '70s. Whilst doing some recording session work [old fashioned method of studio and control room, and analog tapes], the engineers liked my playing except for the "fret and finger noise" in some of the quieter ballads. Fortunately, there was a music store a few minutes drive from the studios. They only had the 'basic' Fender flats [and cheaper] but still grabbed them. I raced back, did the swap, a basic set up [love P basses for their simplicity]and re-recorded the bass line [sitting in the control room plugged into the desk] all in just under one hour. The engineers were very happy with the sound, and I got much more work out of them as a result of that change. When I returned to playing after a 20+ year break. I rediscovered my love for the flats on my '70s P, further adding a bit of sponge under the strings near the bridge got that James Jamison Motown sound, cranked the treble to about "1 o'clock" on the amp and was happy. I do not play any fancy stuff, and have returned to my rock and roll roots of the '50s and '60s music where the P with flats is ideal. I cut through the mix just fine and am often complimented on my sound. Some guys have gone out and tried flats as a result. And no not all of them liked the flats ... a bit of horses for courses. I am an old fart armed with a couple of Fender P basses, a rig with either a GK 2001 RB, or my Mesa Subway 800+ amps and my main speakers are a pair of 15" GK NEOs, crank up any old rock and roll song and I'm in heaven. I used round wounds on my Fretless jazz for a while but when I bought my first upright I note it had flats and I have since gone over to flats on the fretless ... and love it. [my two cents worth]
I'm still trying to decide.
I've found Chromes to be very nice in the low end / fundamental once they REALLY break in (after a year or two). I got the idea NPS rounds might be similar after a long break-in, but found they truly die after about a year JUST as the fundamental starts to really mature, almost like the nickel plating starts breaking down and the string loses its structural integrity.
Now I've got some HiBeams and we'll see if they can get as "low" as Chromes without the "true death" of NPS. If not, flats are the winner. I'm in a heavy rock jam with two guitars and if I don't have a solid, musical low end, I have nothing.
I've found Chromes to be very nice in the low end / fundamental once they REALLY break in (after a year or two). I got the idea NPS rounds might be similar after a long break-in, but found they truly die after about a year JUST as the fundamental starts to really mature, almost like the nickel plating starts breaking down and the string loses its structural integrity.
Now I've got some HiBeams and we'll see if they can get as "low" as Chromes without the "true death" of NPS. If not, flats are the winner. I'm in a heavy rock jam with two guitars and if I don't have a solid, musical low end, I have nothing.
I will say I agree with OP, I have been seeing a lot more bassists playing live with flats recently, mostly in the vague 'indie rock' genre.
Probably still not even a majority, but definitely a lot more than I ever remember seeing before.
Probably still not even a majority, but definitely a lot more than I ever remember seeing before.
Rounds all the way.
I only use flats for Motown and 60s music. You just can't get the growl with flats. Rounds do require good technique and controlled muting for recording, and I think that is what puts a lot of people off. Flats are so forgiving of fingering mistakes, while rounds will grate and squeal and basically call you out for being all over the place with your left hand.
I only use flats for Motown and 60s music. You just can't get the growl with flats. Rounds do require good technique and controlled muting for recording, and I think that is what puts a lot of people off. Flats are so forgiving of fingering mistakes, while rounds will grate and squeal and basically call you out for being all over the place with your left hand.
I primarily have been using use La Bella flats. I like the sound I get & the feel. Recently I have been adding La Bella White tapes. I find them a bit easier on my my arthritic hands pretty much same great tone.
I do have a white US Fury P strung with DR Black Beauties rounds 'cause it looks cool
I do have a white US Fury P strung with DR Black Beauties rounds 'cause it looks cool
Play flats on my fretless basses & tried a set on a fretted one. Like it there, too.
Will try nylon tape wound on my 5-string fretless next time…
Will try nylon tape wound on my 5-string fretless next time…
Well, its certainly to each their own...that being said, I like flats because I do not use a pick, and feel they are faster for me, as well as my fingers get less chewed up 
I currently have flats on my P bass & Jazz bass. I have tapewounds on my Epiphone Les Paul bass. In the past, I just used half rounds. I moved away from rounds several years ago. I may go back to half rounds on my jazz bass next time I change strings. I dunno just yet.
Well, its certainly to each their own...that being said, I like flats because I do not use a pick, and feel they are faster for me, as well as my fingers get less chewed up
Actually, using a pick on flats can be considered one of their advantages, they sound pretty sweet played with a pick.
I really liked rounds until I bought a used Fender JB that came with flats.. fell in love, both feel and tone. No turning back.
Yep.. flats react very well to the pick!
I like to play rounds mainly, but enjoy flats for some uses.But it's definitely true that the choice between the two is perhaps the most important factor affecting your sound, with the possible exceptions of pick vs. fingers or wild effects vs. no effects.
For example, imagine you're finger playing a P bass with newish bright rounds through a nice rig, fairly clean with no effects. Which of the following do you think would make the LEAST noticeable difference to your tone?
1) Swapping to a different bass (but still with rounds).
2) Switch to using a pick.
3) Put a fuzz box in your signal chain.
4) Change the strings for flats.
I'd say that changing the bass, even to a very different sounding one like a Rickenbacker or Ripper, wouldn't make as much difference as the pick, the fuzz or the string swap.
For example, imagine you're finger playing a P bass with newish bright rounds through a nice rig, fairly clean with no effects. Which of the following do you think would make the LEAST noticeable difference to your tone?
1) Swapping to a different bass (but still with rounds).
2) Switch to using a pick.
3) Put a fuzz box in your signal chain.
4) Change the strings for flats.
I'd say that changing the bass, even to a very different sounding one like a Rickenbacker or Ripper, wouldn't make as much difference as the pick, the fuzz or the string swap.
I use flats for all music. You just can't get the growl with rounds. Flats do require good technique and controlled muting for…, and I think that is what puts a lot of people off. Rounds are so forgiving of fingering mistakes… well, you get the point.
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