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Yes, another thread about Roger Waters' strings!

#22
I don't know I'f this means anything but at least now he endorses Rotosound Jazz 77 (Flatwounds), I use them when playing Floyd songs, and they sound pretty good, but he probably uses rounds on the live versions from the "Experience" and "Immersion" editions of Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, and The Wall.
 
#26
sigmafloyd said:
To me, the classic Roger Waters sound is Echoes at Pompeii (the greatest piece of music in recorded history :p)

I always thought it was flats, but I just noticed something tonight.

Check out the fast picking slide he does here:

Pink Floyd - Echoes Part 1 (Live At Pompeii) [HD & Remastered Version] - YouTube

That pick on string noise definitely sounds like rounds.
Click to expand...

He mutes with his palm all over the place. That makes it hard as hell to tell what strings he's using. I hear flats with a pick...... :hmm:
 
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#27
It definitely sounds like he's been using rounds. Even on the studio tracks, but I think they use tube compression and set the eq to deep, warm bass tone. That's probably why some people might think they're flats.
 
#28
as far as i know, he doesnt endorse rotos 77 anymore. On "The Wall" his strings are rounds, without a doubt. and I dont think the man himself really remembers what he used to use. But if he wanted to get that ultra-clanky sound that he could get easily with rounds, why would he have kept his flats? the english prog scene was full of bass player with rounds at that time, although i dont consider PF as a prog rock band, they were much more than that.
 
#30
I primarily use flats and his studio sound definitely does not sound like flats to me. I just think they send his signal through various tube compressors and roll off the treble using some EQ. And sometimes he uses some kind of flanger which can definitely give the effect of using a fretless with flats.

It's not too difficult to get a deep, warm tone with no brightness in the studio using any kind of strings. Listen to most of the pop music on commercial radio stations. Most pop bass players use rounds and go for that deep, warm and sustaining sound. I hardly ever hear round wound overtones in studio recordings unless it's what the bassist wants.
 
#31
well, after trying the Rotosound flatwounds, I can say you get pretty much his tone. They don't sound like the other flats (I've tried many) so after all I think he was just using these good ol' roto flats. Probably brand new at Pompeii, not so new when his tone is muddier.
 
#38
JimmyM said:
Roger's bass never sounds like it has flats on it to me. Sounds to me like he's used rounds at least ever since the Ummagumma album...listen to "One Of The Days"...total roundwound sound. "Money" sounds like rounds, too. Maybe a little on the dead side, but rounds. Most of the progressive English bassists of that era ditched flats immediately when rounds came out, and I believe him to be one of them.
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"Money" sounds like flats with a pick to me. I could, of course, be wrong.
 
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#39
JimmyM said:
I think Roger would laugh his ass off at this thread, because I seriously doubt he spends 10 seconds thinking about strings.

:D
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You're just more than right. I've never really felt I sounded or played really different with a different brand of flats. But what can I do? Finding out who use which brand of flats has grown into an obsession. Ahah
 

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