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why don't music stores put flats on their basses?
- Thread starter DionClassic
- Start date
+1 to all those who said rounds are cheaper. Also to my notion, music stores hang them right out of the box, not even a minor set up to tweak the playability abit. There's some i've played that were good, but others either had buzz (notably gibson basses) or high action (usually squier but i've pickup fenders that had that too). the only time i asume there will be a flats strung bass is if it's someone who's brought it in to sell to the store.
I think the more important question is, why do so many basses come stock with D'Addario rounds? Oh wait, I know why.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
"Rounds are my preferred string due to their breadth of tonal options." -- John Beverly (aka "Sid Vicious")
This makes me wonder:What would the local GC or Sam Ash think if I spent the day at one of their stores doing nothing but tuning and setting up all the basses?
Seriously? Cost has absolutely no this to do with it, they are the standard because in 99.99% of ways that basses are used, rounds sound better and most of the world prefers basses that sound good. Even pros who record with flats, the majority play rounds live. Why? Because they cut through.
Corporate outfits like that aren't going to be into having a non-employee, with or without legitimate education and credentials, messing around with their merchandise. Too many legal/finance/floor plan headaches.
Well, most of this has probably been said (just skimmed thru the post), but:
- all basses come from the factory with strings, and they're pretty much all rounds.
- most music stores can't be bothered to actually set up a new bass, anyway; do you honestly think they're going to break a sweat changing the strings on one?
- like it or not, most people prefer rounds. I don't (usually), but whatever floats your boat...
- they come that way from the factory mainly because rounds are cheaper, which makes the corporate bean-counters happy. The fact that rounds are cheap tells me something; but, then, I prefer a Rolex watch over a Timex, too...
- and finally, what would you really learn from a set of unbroken-in flatwounds, anyway? Other than they aren't broken in yet..
- all basses come from the factory with strings, and they're pretty much all rounds.
- most music stores can't be bothered to actually set up a new bass, anyway; do you honestly think they're going to break a sweat changing the strings on one?
- like it or not, most people prefer rounds. I don't (usually), but whatever floats your boat...
- they come that way from the factory mainly because rounds are cheaper, which makes the corporate bean-counters happy. The fact that rounds are cheap tells me something; but, then, I prefer a Rolex watch over a Timex, too...
- and finally, what would you really learn from a set of unbroken-in flatwounds, anyway? Other than they aren't broken in yet..
Yeah!I though as much!They just might get the message though!
"I wanna play a bass!Not shoot arrows with the thing!!!"They grab the bass from me.I grab another.(Laughing)Someone plays Seinfeld theme on bass.
Old timer here, 53 yrs playing bass and 48 of it Professionally. I started on and still play upright. My first 2 new basses in the 60s came with flats and I thought that was fine as I didn't know anything else. I remember reading about these newfangled Round Wound Rotosound bass strings, I think it was in Hit Parade Magazine. (Any elders remember that?). It was pretty much the only music oriented magazine I could get in Oregon where I grew up. I think it was a John Entwhistle interview where he mentioned round wounds. I pestered my local music store and they finally got some in. I thought it was literally night and day difference for the better. In the ensuing FIVE decades I have bought less than one set per decade! Every time I do I take them off. Now I have bought and still use " Ground" or Half Rounds on my fretless basses. But I've also used Rounds on them as well a lot with no ill effects other than marks on the FB. I have never worn out a fretboard or frets in my life with one exception. The 57' Precision I used as my only bass for over 20 yrs of daily use was refretted once. I have several basses now that get regular rotation and I can't even tell you what strings are on what bass (18 tot.) except for the Red DRs and that's only cause they are red. Haha. I don't change strings and hate brand new Rounds, I do not like the "zing" and prefer them well broken in. In fact the I usually only change strings when they won't hold a tune anymore. I don't have favorites but frequently use Dean Markly (ok I got them free from friends for 20 yrs) and DiAdarrios and now sometimes DRs usually Nickle, sometimes Stainless and usually buy what's on sale. Frankly it just doesn't make that much difference to me and yes tone is in the hands not the strings. Not too long ago I bought a set and I thought they had too high tension and they hurt to play. I do have callusses too, I tossed them. Everything that needed to be said was said on the first page. Excuse while I go back to playing my dead rounds. Lol oh yea just bought a Ibby Mikro that came with flats. I'll give me a while before I change them out but I'm sure I'll just pull out an old set of rounds I have laying around and be happier them than with the flats that are on it. Ymmv etc. And I put down my bass for 2 hrs to read this....I should have my head examined. Guys stop worrying about strings and go practice.
