I would also try some half-round and/or quarter-round strings as well....which have a flat-like feel.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Why use flats?
- Thread starter JMDT
- Start date
yes ! flats are just a different sound option ! i play in a skapunkband sometimes !
in the studio i used my fender with flats for the groovy reggae tunes and ss rounds for "hard" songs ....
in the studio i used my fender with flats for the groovy reggae tunes and ss rounds for "hard" songs ....
Thanks for all the responses. So it seems as though the consensus is that rounds have much more top end sparkle while flats have an emphasis in the lows and low mids giving a more thumpy sound.
Sounds like I should at least give flats a try on my G&L L2500 as it is more or less my designated thumpy bass. Who makes a bright, or atleast relatively bright set of flats that could me some zing if needed?
So how do the half rounds come out? It doesn't seem as though they could be both bright and thumpy. How do they compare?
Sounds like I should at least give flats a try on my G&L L2500 as it is more or less my designated thumpy bass. Who makes a bright, or atleast relatively bright set of flats that could me some zing if needed?
So how do the half rounds come out? It doesn't seem as though they could be both bright and thumpy. How do they compare?
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
With all respect, these days your average music store is one of the last places to get a handle on what everybody is doing
JKT
If people wanted to buy basses with flats then the stores would sell them ... they are there to make money ...
For most people basses sound better with rounds ...
Many fretless basses come loaded with flats, however this is a relatively small percentage of basses.
I don't think this is entirely true. I think most bass manufacturers realize that players have their own string preferences and realize that the stock strings are probably gonna get changed out.
Regarding flat string choices...I'd give the Chromes a shot. They have a little more definition than some others.
butchblack
Life is short. Do good. Find and do what you love.
It all depends on the type of music you play, the sound you are going after, and your individual bass. I used to run ground rounds as sort of a good compromise. My current bass, a Fernandes "the function" Jazz bass clone is extremely bright. Since I'm doing blues and blusey material I switched to flats and am able to get a sound I'm happy with. If you're happy with rounds and by dialing down the treble you can get a sound you're happy with when the song calls for a deeper darker sound, then you're golden.
Flats sound great in the mix. If you want to cut through, then get rounds. I was never I guy that felt the need to cut through the whole band. I was always content to sit back in the pocket and groove with the drummer. If you listen to bass tone all by itself with flats and rounds, then sure - rounds probably sound like million bucks. Most guys can't understand the difference without actaully trying it...at least I didn't until I actually played with the flats on with a full band.
While there is truth in this statement, the local GC is still not the place to keep tabs on what most real players are up to. I think it is safe to say that most serious players are not using a lot of Crate and Peavey bass gear. Exceptions, yes, but search the archives for popular amp polls and you'll see what I mean. i can't remember the last time there was a major thread about say, the latest Crate bass amp, etc. A poll most likely exists already in the archives re string choices. The number of flat users would have nothing to do with what's hanging up in the stores.
JKT
I love the fat bottom I get with flats, and prefer rounds only for the bit of slapping I do. In addition, for rolling 3-finger
16th notes and anything fast, I need all the help I can get, and the smoother feel and higher tension of flats allow me to have better timing/feel. The only (minimal) downside to flats IMO is that they require more frequent tuning.
16th notes and anything fast, I need all the help I can get, and the smoother feel and higher tension of flats allow me to have better timing/feel. The only (minimal) downside to flats IMO is that they require more frequent tuning.
The question really is : Why use rounds????
asking why use flats is like asking why would anyone use a single pickup- passive electronics thick neck'd 1960s style P Bass over a 4 band on board eq PJ light weight fast necked modern bass......
asking why use flats is like asking why would anyone use a single pickup- passive electronics thick neck'd 1960s style P Bass over a 4 band on board eq PJ light weight fast necked modern bass......
I played flats for the first time with a band tonight and it was great.
During the guitar solos I just thumped along with the drums and it sounded great. Heavy, too, without all the clank and noise of rounds.
During the guitar solos I just thumped along with the drums and it sounded great. Heavy, too, without all the clank and noise of rounds.
I used flats when I first started playing bass 34 years ago; had them on my first 2 or 3 basses. Mostly because I didn't know any better. When I finally got around to trying roundwound strings I was like "holy crap, these sound awesome, why would I ever go back to flatwounds?"
Guess what? I'm probably going back to flatwounds this year. (Not on all my basses, just some.) Why? Well, y'know all that "bright high end that cuts so well and sounds so good for slapping" that people rave about with roundwounds? It's starting to bug me. My tastes are changing (and/or my ears are) and I'd rather start with a string whose response is skewed towards the duller, fatter, more bassier sound than have to use eq to carve out that sort of sound.
Plus I really like the idea of increasing the string tension. (Not that that's guaranteed by reverting to flatwounds, but it seems to be a likely side benefit.)
Guess what? I'm probably going back to flatwounds this year. (Not on all my basses, just some.) Why? Well, y'know all that "bright high end that cuts so well and sounds so good for slapping" that people rave about with roundwounds? It's starting to bug me. My tastes are changing (and/or my ears are) and I'd rather start with a string whose response is skewed towards the duller, fatter, more bassier sound than have to use eq to carve out that sort of sound.
Plus I really like the idea of increasing the string tension. (Not that that's guaranteed by reverting to flatwounds, but it seems to be a likely side benefit.)
It's odd, I could never get a good tone from flats. Even when they age, they just sound more and more like lifeless rubber bands. I've tried them on P-basses, J-basses, warwicks, you name it. My goal was always the fat, round Jamerson tone, but the best I could achieve was a plunky, toy-like sound. I can actually get the tone I want more easily from dead roundwounds.
Anyone know what I'm doing wrong? I feel like the only person that dislikes flats!
Anyone know what I'm doing wrong? I feel like the only person that dislikes flats!
I play exclusively flats. They have the warm old school tone I like, plus they more comfortable for me to play. I hate the bright tone of rounds, not to mention the added fretting noise. I like reggae and motown tone. Check out Family, Robbie, or James Jamerson's strings.
