Why do so many players love flats?

[TheSeagoats]

I prefer steel rounds because of how bright they are, and they can be warmed up with eq or the tone knob, and don't really like flats because you can't really brighten them up. However, I have a jazz style bass with half rounds on it that I used to use for a church band exclusively and it fit the music perfectly. Mellow enough with fingers, but if I needed to be a little more aggressive sounding I could use a pick to make it sound more like a typical round wound sound.

 

[SteveCS]

Once you learn to play flats the mid range becomes full and punchy

You could say something like that about any string. Technique has to be adapted to get the best from any instrument. Getting the upper partials, finger noise and fast transients under control is just as much a part of playing rounds as coaxing out the punchy mids or generating a fast attack is for flats. Both are equally worthy of the time and effort spent, IMHO.

 

[HardNHeavy]

best flats for metal..does it exist, could it exist..seems like it'd sound like sht, or could be the next best thing.

 

[Watchootognbout]

The first time that I began paying attention to the sound of a bass was from someone who used rounds.

But the first bass that I ever played(a borrowed no name EB0) copy) had flats.
Compared to the rounds,it sounded awful.

So when I bought my first bass,I was determined to go directly to rounds.
It's been that way ever since.

Many bassist are "old world traditionalist"
In sound and style.
I am not.

 

[lomo]

Flats on a P are the sound in my head. Right now my Ps are wearing flats and my Js rounds. Strings subject to change without notice.

 

[zubrycky]

I use both. Most of my basses have rounds but I have 2 pbs with flats. It's good to have tone options.

 

[AMJBASS]

I like the attack and punch you get with them. I've played them for years on my basses in all sorts of situations from jazz duo's to modern country touring, and they always work great in the mix(for me). I tend to dig in, and flats speak in a way that really lets me lock in with the kick drum while providing a big foundation for the music.

 

[BOOG]

Strangely, all (P, J, and PJ) FSO’s wear flats and tapes. The other three (Warwick, ESP-LTD, and Spector) wear rounds.

 

[val9]

Hi, I’m SLO Surfer. Now you only know two guys who use flats as their main string choice.

Hi, I’m Val. Now you know one woman who uses flats as her main string choice.

 

[Ggaa]

Never did exactly love flats but I had a Wick RB Standard w/soapbars that only sounded good with flats.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I’m gonna have to use this one. Quite good.

Kind of like a “Mind’s Eye” descriptor. Mind’s Ear or Mind’s Sound is a bit awkward.

 

[FrenchBassQC]

Sound great and last forever.

I use both. Depends on the bass.

Same here, use both.

 

[s van order]

I like the tone. Having the same feel as cello and upright bass is an additional bonus.

Agreed. I alternate with cello and elec bass in a duo and like that similar feel too. Also, in really exposed music such as ours, the string noise from rounds when shifting is a distraction in quiet passages. Rounds were great years ago when I covered prog rock tunes though.

 

[rashrader]

Okay, in all honesty… I tried a set of flats in the late 80’s on a P Bass. I wanted to be Steve Harris. I hated them and took them off almost immediately. Biggest waste of money ever.

 

[Ric Vice]

If you are coming over from playing Double Bass, then flats are the string of choice. Being accustomed to a string that is for the most part silent when you move from note to note, then the tactile feeling of flats is what you’re accustomed to. Then along comes Roto Sound with their punchy, articulated tone. So, you try them out and love the sound but hate the way they feel under your fingers. To get that sound there is also a hidden cost because roundwound strings loose their zing within about 6 weeks. So you move back to flats. Daddario then makes half rounds which last longer but aren’t as bright and last around three months. Finally with Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalt Flatwounds you have a string that has the brightness and punch of a roundwounds are quiet and last over year. Just my take.

P.S. the original Roto Sounds did increases fret wear on my Jazz Bass

 

[AcadianBassman]

Tried flats in my younger years. Never did care for them, they felt smooth but always sounded dead to me. My go to strings are usually D'Ad. XL's or EB Slinkies but I bought a set of D'Ad. half rounds a couple years ago. Loved them! Didn't feel like a flat and retained some of the bite of a round. They worked for me, been using them since. Other than that, it would still be rounds.

 

[GrapeBass]

Flats have two personalities, clanky when installed and warm and tight when broken in. Different strings settle in differently (obviously).

It's all personal and what we expect to hear dictates or opinion. An issue I've noticed with many players are when they initially install flat wounds. Most flat wounds need a period of break in before they settle into their (basically) forever tone. Chromes, as example, are known for their initial clanky tone (some like, others... not so much) but eventually (months) settle in quite nicely (bottom tightens and high sweeten). That experience was similar to the Fender 9050Ls that I use on my Jazzes (one of my Ps has very old Chromes).

Not all flats have the same break in period.

Some people like the clank, I do not but was patient enough to work through and now they're exactly what "I" want.

So, if you just try 'em and rip 'em off cause you can't stand the clank, you might be giving your self a great disservice. Be patient, I say (easier said than done LOL)

 

[BarfanyShart]

I much prefer the feel of flats, that's just the feel of bass to me, and there is appeal in how simple it is to get a usable tone from them for most styles of music. Throw flats on a p-bass and ... Presto ... you got the tone of, like, half the music ever recorded. Also, once you find a pair you like, you never have to change them.

That said, my main bass right now has rounds, but I would never not have flats on one of my basses.

 

[jnewmark]

I like them on a P bass, but not a Jazz, which I use Nickel Rounds on.

 

[chazolson]

When I read the title for the thread I thought “Horn players love flats. String players love sharps” before realizing my mistake.