Why do so many players love flats?

[DJ Bebop]

Yep.. flats react very well to the pick!

Yup

 

[Bass-ball]

Flats on the fretted basses, absolutely. I don't like the cat's tongue feel or the "squeeonk" of position changes with rounds.

Rounds on the fretless though. I love the "mwah" they make. (And no, they don't ruin my fretboard, so spare yourself from asking me that).

 

[Xhaxo]

I have half-rounds on my P-bass for a nice compromise. Rounds all the way on my other basses, for the extra brightness I like.
I never liked the feel of flats, but I was brought up on rounds, so it’s a very personal choice.

 

[Doug P]

I have always thought of Motown when I think of flats. Steve Harris does “ok” with his signature set, to my ears.
Thinking back, I did put a set of those on a Jazz years ago when I played on my first “real” recording / cd. Thought that with a few basses of Jazz, P, and a Ric I’d have many choices to pick from per song. Nope, fresh Roto 66’s on every song no matter what bass.
I just love the “out of the box” sound of 66’s on my basses.

 

[ojutan]

I like flatwounds on fretless only... mainly because I come from a close relative of E-base gutar which I learned for two years in Asia. Mongolia and China

length is 36" and originally with waxed silk strings, or gut but nowadays just fish line nylon.
In china they are equipped with copper wound or nickel wound base guitar strings but very ugly to play.
I have a cheap 34" fretless and instantly got myself flatwounds, but on fretted base guitar I prefer round wounds. Beacause flat wounds tend to worsen the finger work, a glitch on flat wound is nothing a glitch on a roundwound string you hear definitively :-(
There is one base guitar player from the Namgar band who attached a base guitar neck to the snakeskin body...

 

[Doug P]

It’s just an option. I play rock music mostly so mostly play rounds. I did have a bass come with flats and I liked them. I prefer clank and highs though when playing against two Marshall half stacks. I would be more interested in what punk/metal musicians play flats. I never really have asked but feel like it would be mostly rounds in that genre but I’m usually wrong. At least that’s what my wife says.

I’m with ya. Rounds, clank / mid’s, and being “usually wrong” is not an option… per my wife.

 

[Manchu6]

I like flavor in my bass tone.....I use roto 66 roundwounds, and adjust my tone knob if I need some thump.

La Bella 760FS Deep Talkin' Bass Flatwound Bass Guitar Strings - .045-.105 Standard

Or Ernie Ball 2813 Hybrid Slinky Flatwound Electric Bass Guitar Strings - .045-.105

 

[Aquilador]

I play short scale Mustang and EB0 basses and like flats. They feel a bit stiffer than rounds and also I don’t like the rasping feel of rounds on my fingers as I slide up and down the fretboard.

 

[wluffman]

Going from rounds to flats, and vice-versa, changes the way a bass plays and sounds; no doubt about that. Which to use all depends on what you like and/or what the song needs. Personally, I prefer the more acoustic-sounding thump of flat on most of the music I play. Then again, I'm an Olde Pharte who can't stand a lot of what passes for music these days.

 

[Manchu6]

Classic sound, especially on a P bass through an old Ampeg. Which I have. But, I also have a couple of RICs with Rotosounds, which also give a classic sound.

Funny. I have a 68 Ampeg B15N, mostly original. My go to guitar is a Fender American original 50s P Bass ( 2017 replica) White blonde with flatwounds.

 

[Sub41]

I love the tone and feel of flats. And as a 30” scale player, I find the higher tension of flats to my liking also. I still use rounds though to some extent, two currently strung with them as well as another with half rounds.

 

[Bluwaterbob]

When I first started playing in 79, as normal, the rounds were brutal on my finger so I switched to Flats. Never really cared for the Muddy flavor they had. Was turned onto Dean Markley Ground Rounds (Sadly, no longer made) and played them until they went out of production. then found the DiMaggio 1/2 rounds (pretty much the same thing) but they were a bit muddy as well. switched again in 2010 to the DR BKB5-45 Black Beauties. Love them and will play them until the coating wears off over the pup. With Daily use, I usually get about 4 months out of a set. Best thing about them, after the factory "Zing" wears out (usually about 10 days) they never fade after that.

 

[Springything]

All my 4 fender and 1 burns bass's have flats, I used to use rounds but could never get along with the squeaky scratchy sound they make, I love the depth and warmth of flats every time

 

[Ryan W]

I bought a used Squier J bass from Guitar Center that had flats, most likely installed by the previous owner. I loved the feel of them, and the tone was great. But I’m in a cover band that plays mostly 90’s alternative and hard rock. The tone of the flats didn’t quite match up to the aggressive guitar tone. I switched to rounds and never looked back. So it really depends on genre.

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?

 

[GrapeBass]

I bought a used Squier J bass from Guitar Center that had flats, most likely installed by the previous owner. I loved the feel of them, and the tone was great. But I’m in a cover band that plays mostly 90’s alternative and hard rock. The tone of the flats didn’t quite match up to the aggressive guitar tone. I switched to rounds and never looked back. So it really depends on genre.

Should have bought another

 

[allboutbass]

Both but ….
I much prefer flats for finger style mostly … once you play them on the right setup and bass …. WOW. The bass just sticks out on a mix on the perfect spot. Once I put flats on my Stingray they stayed there … so thick so yummie.

I use rounds as well like on my 75 Jazz … there you see I would never put flats on.
Other basses I have they will be on flats eventually.

Labella flats Deep Talkin are da bomb !

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

I have basses strung with flats, tapewounds, and rounds. These days, for most gigs, rounds on an active bass are the go-to for versatility. It really is easier for me to approximate a "flats" sound with rw's than vice versa.

I have a bassist friend who frequently plays flats. His son is a 7 string guitarist who is quite well known and has endorsements from major guitar and string mfrs (y'know, signature guitars and stuff). He rags on his dad about using flats, which the kid apparently hates. He asked dad what does he like about the sound of flats. Dad's response: It's the sound of millions of hit records! True.

 

[Bob Trier]

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?

Personally, give me flats any day! They are easier on the fingers for one thing also less wear on the frets. When I was researching on how to build a fretless, there were lots of recommendations to use flats since they won't cut grooves in the finger board...

 

[Pilgrim]

Started using flats on a '63 P in 1967. I still have that bass with those strings installed. I don't like the feel of rounds, and I really dislike the "zing" from rounds when I move my left hand. Flats only for me!

 

[Red Scorpion]

It's personal preference. Whatever works for the individual and the music they are playing. Neither round or flat is "better" than the other, if you are speaking in general terms. If you can play whatever suits you. Bass strings aren't like some kind of a street gang where using rounds means you have to oppose those who use flats or vice-versa. Use either one, or both, it doesn't matter to anybody else.

It's really no more complicated than that.