Too expensive, perhaps more tension on the neck, and knowing the extensive upkeep of instruments at a couple retail outlets we frequent, why bother?
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why don't music stores put flats on their basses?
- Thread starter DionClassic
- Start date
Curse you! Do you realize how long it will take me to Unsee that?!? LOL
I'm gonna have nightmares now!!!
It is kinda funny, I've never personally met any bass player in person that uses flats. But I know many TB'ers love them, and of course lots of pro's use them.
Roy Vogt
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- Sep 20, 2000
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- Endorsing Artist: Kiesel Basses, Ampeg Amplification, Hotone Ampero II effects
Haji
Supporting Member
"I just saw Eddie Van Halen at the Hollywood Bowl"Oh no, Eddie is becoming the walking dead!!! "Get off 'er my lawn"!!!
"Really? How was he?"
"He's a zombie."
That's been one of the biggest changes since I started playing back in the 80's. Huge improvement in string quality on new instruments from the major manufacturers. They used to be unusable.
To GC's credit, my local store (La Mesa, CA) seems to keep a couple Fenders with flats hanging around now since their remodel last year.
Now if they could only figure out how to get the action below 3/8"... that goes for flats and rounds
.
Now if they could only figure out how to get the action below 3/8"... that goes for flats and rounds
.
I'm one of those bass geezers. I have flats on some basses and rounds on others. Each can have its place.
I remember when rounds came along and suddenly flats were "old hat." I think people have become so accustomed to playing basses with rounds that flats feel and sound funny to many musicians, or may not even be something that's on their radar scope.
I understand why stores may not string basses with flats, but I think it would be a service to music if they did (on some basses), so players could at least be exposed to them and make an informed decision.
I remember when rounds came along and suddenly flats were "old hat." I think people have become so accustomed to playing basses with rounds that flats feel and sound funny to many musicians, or may not even be something that's on their radar scope.
I understand why stores may not string basses with flats, but I think it would be a service to music if they did (on some basses), so players could at least be exposed to them and make an informed decision.
Close.Let's add a 7 string bass in there.(Avatar left)Now it's Bizzarro World!
I think the OP's question is easily answered but what I want to know is why there are so few available/instock choices of flats at the stores.
To stay on topic somewhat, I play upright, have flats on my fretless P, rounds on my J and my Modulus.
To stay on topic somewhat, I play upright, have flats on my fretless P, rounds on my J and my Modulus.
I personally like them. I'm betty impress with the fender flats. They are cheap an I can find them everywhere even in pawn shops. But the young rockers they don't like them. I tell to my church bass player that I own I pbass with flats and he ask me Why! And look at me like freak.
The gc in my area has quite a few basses strung with flats, they have no 6 strings. At all, I guess there's something missing in every store...
I'm an old geezer. I remember the flats when I started playing bass. Then the roundwounds came out, and it was like a whole new world. I loved that snappy zing and high end it gave the bass. I play roundwounds to this day. You know, it's odd. I'm back to loving that big flat bottom sound from flats, but I don't like how they feel when I play them. Comparing the two, it's like flats are like walking on ice with flat leather soles. Playing roundwounds is like walking on that same ice with ice cleats on! Go figure! 
Alaska, I sort of had the opposite reaction. I bought a used Sekova EB-3 copy (not bad, wish I'd kept it) with flats, and they felt very good to me. I liked the way they felt, sounded and minimized finger noise. This was after going full-time to bass from guitar in the early '90s and playing and owning a few basses with rounds. Again, to each his or her own...
