why don't music stores put flats on their basses?

[Jazz Ad]

If less than one percent of players used flats, I doubt they'd make them anymore. Again, money. I realize it's weighted heavily towards the rounds side, but less than one percent? Where's your source for that? Or are you guessing?
Edit: It'd be foolish to make strings that only one percent of users used. It's got to be more 20-80 split. That's a guess though. Just based on what kind of money generated would make a company still invest time in a product. I doubt they'd make them for the sake of nostalgia.

Yes it's a sort of educated guess based on what I see around me.
It is assumed that TB is the bastion of flats, where roughly 20% of the people bothered to answer the question use flats.

GHS have 1 set of flats out of their range of 16 products. TI, one of the most recommended brands of flats has 1 out of 4. EB have 1 out of 7.
It says nothing about the sales though, just a hint.

Music shops typically have dozens of bass string sets with a couple of them being flats if you're lucky. Flats age slower than rounds though and people who like them look for that dead tone that can last for years once you have it so it's normal that it sells less.

I can't for the life of me remember the last time I saw a bass strung with flats in the hands of anyone, at a show (I may have missed it though) or in the practice space. Can you?

Now if there is a market even small somebody will cover it. Bronze strings are even less used than flats, yet some brands make them.
After all, bass guitar is a niche market. According to an owner I know, shops roughly sell 1 bass every 30 electric guitars.

So yes my 1% estimate only stands on my observations. To be safe I could say less than 5% use flats.

 

[bravesaint5]

Changing with my EQ and technique, I can get a set of rounds to sound pretty darn close to flats (on the 1 to 2 songs I would actually need it), but I can never get my flats to sound like rounds. There is just a clarity and character that allow rounds to cut through the mix, especially with a pick, and aren't hard to dial back when needed.

That being said, I have my "flats basses" and love the thumpy tone to death, but when I'm playing a gig and need versatility, they stay at home.

 

[spaz21387]

I'd say the reason would be they don't want to spend the extra money. Why waste $30+ on a bass that came already strung up with rounds? They figure let the buyer do it. I always change strings on a new bass

 

[FretNoMore]

I'd say the reason would be they don't want to spend the extra money. Why waste $30+ on a bass that came already strung up with rounds? They figure let the buyer do it. I always change strings on a new bass

It would perhaps make marginally more sense to string a few basses with flats from the factory, marketed to a "vintage" audience, but of course the store wouldn't replace a perfectly fine set of new rounds given the small percentage of buyers that look for that vibe.

 

[ChefKen]

Flats are OK for a fretless. I got GAS for flats because of TB and picked up a set of flats for my Geddy Lee a year ago....I did the same thing in the 80s. Lasted one week. Why spend so much time and money on a hi fi rig and multiple effects and then put the flatwound handcuffs on? I can emmulate the roundwound sound......you know....tone controls. To me the charm of flats is lost due to lack of versatility.

 

[hopsbb]

Guess I'm in the minority big time on this one. I'm a youngish guy,I play metal and slap a good bit and I love flats. Out of my 6 basses only one has rounds.My Stingray and its got Pro Steels on it which I'll be changing out with some Nickel rounds soon.Got two with flats,two with nylon tapes and one with DR cool blues which don't count in my mind as regular rounds.

 

[hasbeen]

You mean the guy who changes his flats before every show to make sure they sound super bright?
I'd be surprised if more than 1% of bass players use flats.

You are correct. That is about the ratio.

 

[Rich McCoy]

Rounds make the bassist sound good.
Flats make the band sound good.

 

[FretNoMore]

Rounds make the bassist sound good.
Flats make the band sound good.

This is what I have come to believe too ... rounds sound great when you practice on your own, flats may be boring soloed but sound great in the mix. I've also found that overdrive and other dirt pedals sound better with flatwounds (or tapewounds in my case), possibly because they add too much sizzle and clank when used with new roundwounds on my jazz basses.

YMMV, to each their own, FWIW, IMHO, and so on.

 

[Martin Beer]

Over here in the UK, I've seen flats on vintage basses in shops but never on new basses. In most cases I can understand that, their popularity makes rounds the obvious choice.
There are a few "period" style basses which would probably be better equipped with flats out of the box though, Hofner spring to mind. They always seem to come with rounds, yet who uses rounds on a Hofner?

 

[Watchootognbout]

Despite the resurgence in popularity of flatwound strings,there aren't enough users to warrant putting them on even half the basses.
Even if they did put them on a half,someone will want to have them on some OTHER bass that doesn't have them on it.
And even then,who would decide what brand is used?

It's one or the other.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Stores prefer rounds because in the same bass you'll go through 5+ sets of rounds before you would change flats. $$

 

[Gorn]

How can a 14 year old wearing really tight jeans and a not quite sideways, but somewhat askew hat play a sloppy slap groove in E with flats? C'mon now.

 

[lbbc]

I used to use TI Flats on all my basses...then went to tapewounds for jazz....but found that my bass got lost in the mix when playing rock. So, now I use SIT Power strings and get the feel and sound I like. Basically, it all boils down to individual taste

 

[TheCrimsonKing]

Almost every bassist I know uses flats. I know that's not the whole world, or even close, just the dudes I happen to know, but it always surprises me to get that reality slap.
P.S. Flats work GREAT for metal!

I think it depends on the metal, they're great for Iron maiden stuff, maybe not so good for Meshuggah though.

 

[Rich McCoy]

I agree that Fender should sell their vintage re-issues with period correct strings.

 

[Camaro69]

I used to use TI Flats on all my basses...then went to tapewounds for jazz....but found that my bass got lost in the mix when playing rock. So, now I use SIT Power strings and get the feel and sound I like. Basically, it all boils down to individual taste

SIT are one of very few rounds I like. Otherwise flats and tapes.
1%ers rule?!?

 

[Jay2U]

I'm using both flatwounds and roundwounds. Both have their positive and negative qualities. I think most basses are factory strung, so the music stores just have to unpack, inspect and tune them, before putting them on display.

If I were to choose, I'd put rounds on most fretted basses and certainly flats on fretless basses. If my store were big enough, I'd string a few expensive P-basses with flats as well.

 

[Spectrum]

Because it's not the 1950s anymore, except on TalkBass.

 

[Zooberwerx]

I agree that Fender should sell their vintage re-issues with period correct strings.

Heavens, yes! I've enraged more than a few purists when suggesting subtle modifications which may compromise the authenticity of their reissue Fenders. Then they turn around and stick a set of roundwounds on the durn thing.

Riis