Why do so many players love flats?

[Pet Sounds]

I've played in a Motown/Stax band for more than two decades. Why wouldn't I want to use flats on a P-Bass?
In fairness, though, I have P, J, Rick and StingRay basses with both flats and rounds. Which one I use depends on the musical situation.

 

[overit]

Voted both. Depends on the sound you’re going for and the music you play.

 

[Jazzdogg]

I started out playing DB strung with flats. Then Pbass strung with Rotosound rounds. I've used TI JazzFlats on all of my electric basses for at least thirty years.

Why? Reduced string, finger, and fret noise, and a better ability to emulate the DB sound on an electric bass.

 

[Gruff]

By chance, up until today only flats - I'm always chasing the upright sound on my bass guitars - flat wounds, neck pickup only, etc. But I'm playing a gig tomorrow in a teeny-tiny venue, so it will have to be my Fender acoustic, and I'm going to have to put the rounds back on to have any chance of being heard.

 

[mikewalker]

So that is a 25.5” sl Strat guitar strung with bass light flats?
How does it sound and play compared to a Fender bass?

actually, just strung as a treble guitar using a custom lighter-guage set of these: Top Tape Flatwound Electric Guitar | 12-52 • Rotosound Music Strings

 

[pbass2]

Both. Depends on the music.

 

[HaphAsSard]

actually, just strung as a treble guitar using a custom lighter-guage set of these: Top Tape Flatwound Electric Guitar | 12-52 • Rotosound Music Strings

Cool! Did you just lighten the plain trebles, or did you have Rotosound make you Top Tape flatwounds in gauges they normally don't?

 

[KenD]

Why? Because they're not spikey.
***?
Two reasons, sometimes separate, sometimes jumbled together: tone and feel under the fingers.
But you already knew that.

 

[G On Bass]

2 basses at every gig. 1 has flats, 1 has rounds. Each gets used, both sound great for the tones they are intended to reproduce. If I had to choose only 1, it'd be flats.

 

[rocklogic]

I have a set of flats (EB Cobalts) on my P, which was my first set of flats. Ever since then, I’ve been thinking about swapping out my rounds in the Cole Clark LL5 to either flats or tapewounds. I loved the tone that I was getting on the P out of the flats, but I did think that the rounds do cut in a little bit better in my IEM mix each time I get to play. That can easily be adjusted though (by eEQ-ing).

The flats do feel different, and once it’s broken in, I was slightly surprised that I ended up preferring the feel of the flats over the rounds.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

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?

There is a certain timbre you get with them that you can’t get with rounds. Artistically they are most acceptable. And for some that has become their “‘Home Bass Sound”. When they think of their best bass sound, a bass with flats is it, and there is nothing wrong with that.

There have been surveys here and pretty much the issue is about 50-50 Flats to Rounds, maybe a slight edge to rounds users. Me?, I’ve been using rounds exclusively for the last 45 years, that doesn’t mean I don’t understand why some players would like flats over rounds. Certain genres require them. I can’t imagine being in a Tower of Power tribute band using round wounds for instance.

 

[Acoop]

Depends on the bass. ... The new Flats they make now are much better, than back in the day, and when you pair that with a good D-Class amp it's a good tight fit. ... My vintage P's and J's are flats but my fretless prefer rounds. ... I put flats on my Stringray, but I'm pretty sure I'll switch back.

 

[tb-player]

Bright, new, snappy, shiny rounds.

 

[RVRSCO]

Lots of great responses here. I appreciate the feedback. I’m intrigued by the way flats produce less finger and fret noise. I’ve seen quite a few folks on here mention that.

 

[MegaSwing]

Because they’re fat and satisfy a deep need for bass fatness.

 

[bassplace]

Sound great and last forever.

I use both. Depends on the bass.

and depends on the music and vibe you’re going for. Flats do things rounds can’t even with tone rolled back. Rounds do things flats can’t. Sort of like basses, different tools for different jobs.

 

[pingvuiini]

I have been playing various brands of tapes for several years now. No finger noise at all but still has that roundwound zing to it.

 

[Steve Fox]

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 use flats primarily because I like the way they feel and because I hate the string noise when I’m moving around on the fretboard. I have a couple basses string with Labella’s, but I’ve always had a soft spot for Rotosound 77’s.

 

[JohnnyChatter]

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.

 

[Rhuddy]

It all depends on what I am up to at that time. If I am playing non-Nashville traditional country, flatwounds on a Fender P Bass is mighty hard to beat, couple that with palm muting, it makes the kick and bass like one. If I am playing Rock or Nashville Country, roundwounds are the way to go. Lots of clarity, bite, a whole different sound and feel, though not so tight in the pocket as flatwounds. All good in their respective places, I keep both on hand and ready to go.