stewblack Posted January 19, 2018 Author Share Posted January 19, 2018 (edited) Sorry it took longer than I expected but the Olympia flats are now on. They have a little more 'ring' to them than I expected especially on the D and G strings. Also my intonation is now all to seek, so I'll need to have a play with that. But the playability is lovely and when I shove foam under them and wind back the tone pot I AM James Jamerson. Edited January 19, 2018 by stewblack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obbm Posted January 19, 2018 Share Posted January 19, 2018 I've had Sadowsky Black Label Flats on my PJ for a couple of years now but took them off last week and put the original set of Blue Label rounds back on. Yesterday they came off again and the flats went back ready for last night's Jam. They sounded great the through the house band's rig, an old Peavey head and a Trace 4x10. They are staying on now, so yes I'm addicted. I also recently fitted a set of Labella 076 1954 Vintage flats to my '73 Precision but not had a chance to try them through a decent rig yet. That pleasure awaits. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted January 19, 2018 Author Share Posted January 19, 2018 I'm going to give my old Aria a good seeing to tomorrow just as soon as I finish getting it set up. But early results are very promising. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeycrikey Posted January 19, 2018 Share Posted January 19, 2018 The first time I used the Olympia flats on the BB 424x was through an old Trace Elliot combo. I was amazed at the tone these strings produced. They have lost some of their initial brightness now but they will be staying on for good. Really suits the the guitar 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluewine Posted January 20, 2018 Share Posted January 20, 2018 Not to me, I only use flatwounds on my Hofner Club Bass. Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted January 20, 2018 Author Share Posted January 20, 2018 I'm interested to try a set on my Stingray next. See if they calm that zing down a little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Painy Posted January 20, 2018 Share Posted January 20, 2018 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted January 20, 2018 Share Posted January 20, 2018 2 minutes ago, Painy said: So Maradona doesn't like flats? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevvo66 Posted January 20, 2018 Share Posted January 20, 2018 Bless him, I don't know what he's doing but it looks painful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeycrikey Posted January 20, 2018 Share Posted January 20, 2018 1 minute ago, kevvo66 said: Bless him, I don't know what he's doing but it looks painful I think he's suffering from GAS. After being on bass chat 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicbassman Posted January 20, 2018 Share Posted January 20, 2018 Can someone explain the difference (if any) between flatwounds and tapewounds? I've always used roundwounds so this is a bit of a mystery to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted January 20, 2018 Share Posted January 20, 2018 Just now, musicbassman said: Can someone explain the difference (if any) between flatwounds and tapewounds? I've always used roundwounds so this is a bit of a mystery to me. Tapewounds are wound with plastic and are usually roundwound under the tape ... http://www.bassstringsonline.com/Black-Nylon-Tapewounds_ep_49-1.html 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazzer Posted January 20, 2018 Share Posted January 20, 2018 I'd say so, put labella flats on my P bass a few months ago & the Jazz & Stingray which are both still strung with rounds haven't been out of their cases! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted January 21, 2018 Author Share Posted January 21, 2018 (edited) Update. The Olympia flats have been on my Aria for a few days and sadly I seem to have one duff string. The E string is less resonant, has less sustain than the rest and try as I might I cannot sort the intonation. All the others I've adjusted without bother and they are clear and beautiful sounding, a real chime to them, but the E is going back. sad face. Edited January 21, 2018 by stewblack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevvo66 Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 That's a bit pants 😕 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted January 21, 2018 Author Share Posted January 21, 2018 26 minutes ago, kevvo66 said: That's a bit pants 😕 I'm going to look on it as an opportunity to see how good the seller's after care is. If all is dealt with well I will definitely be buying more from them. The good strings are very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandad Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 (edited) Since I discovered flats I've never been tempted to return to rounds, (20+ yrs). I have Labella on my Mustangs and Hofner, both model-specific sets. To my ears they have a special warmth, and give the bass a voice of it's own, not just a guitar in a lower register. Add to that the smooth feel and don't forget the longevity. There are those of course that want the zing of rounds and that's OK. The trick with flats is discovering the right ones for you, gauge, tension, feel and tone, and for each particular instrument. Edited January 21, 2018 by grandad 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted January 29, 2018 Author Share Posted January 29, 2018 Happy to report that the eBay seller posted a replacement string 1st class without any quibbles. Would buy these flats from him again - no hesitation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted January 29, 2018 Share Posted January 29, 2018 In answer to the original question, the answer from me I`m afraid is no. I`ve just bought a set of Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats on here, and whilst I love the feel of them I just can`t get the sound I want. I`m sure that for anything other than what I`m currently doing they would be fine, and have to admit they`re great for playing along to music on Youtube etc, but they wouldn`t work for the sound I have in my band. Shame, really nice strings, super comfy to play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artisan Posted January 29, 2018 Share Posted January 29, 2018 I put a set of TI's on my G&L Jazz & I'm just loving it,even just playing acoustically it sounds Mega. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted January 29, 2018 Author Share Posted January 29, 2018 (edited) That seller is Advantage Music and they also have some flats at a tenner a pack! But I can't vouch for them although I'm happy to try them out, here's a link to the ones I bought EDIT: that tenner is an auction sorry to mislead the forum. Edited January 29, 2018 by stewblack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aguacollas Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 On 20/01/2018 at 14:42, EssentialTension said: Tapewounds are wound with plastic and are usually roundwound under the tape ... http://www.bassstringsonline.com/Black-Nylon-Tapewounds_ep_49-1.html Thanks for that pic, I was thinking about removing a bit of the rubber on every string to let it be in touch with the metal saddle of the bridge. I have them on a Corvette fretless and I love the way they feel and sound, but it has passive pickups and an active -noisy MEC- preamp, and sometimes it's noisy. The strings are not to blame, but it may help a little. I have D'A Chromes on a Vantage P bass and love it, Thomastik flats on my old cherry Streamer and love them, and the tapewounds on my Corvette. Other basses have rounds, but I love the tone and feel of flats. There's a mistake I keep doing, though. Now I know I have to play a bass or set of strings for at least a month to really know how I feel about it, and how I can make it sound. I am an amateur player, of course, not playing four hours a day, but it is something important I have to remember from time to time. Of course, that helps me bond with my basses strongly, as everytime I grab one I haven't played for some time it just feels and sounds uncomfortable to me, but then I keep playing for some days and magic happens 😄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcater Posted February 11, 2018 Share Posted February 11, 2018 I have been using flats for the past 15 plus years. What started out as an experiment resulted in all of my basses having flats, TI Jazz flats, fitted. I now find it most uncomfortable playing a bass with round wound strings. I guess I am hooked and will just have to live with it. In my opinion the older the strings get the better they seem to sound, my 1977 Precision has a set that are over 10 years old. I don't play slap but would guess that these are not ideal for that style, if you like a more vintage bass sound, something like 60's Motown, Paul McCartney etc then it is probably worth giving them a go. i did fit a set of labella tapewound to a Brandoni accoustic bass and I'm rather pleased with them at the moment, but not pleased enough to change fron flats on the various electric basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PawelG Posted February 12, 2018 Share Posted February 12, 2018 6 hours ago, jcater said: I don't play slap but would guess that these are not ideal for that style. I find them sounding great when slapped. Different to the popular Marcus Miller type of slap sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyonbass Posted February 12, 2018 Share Posted February 12, 2018 Anyone found a set of flats for a five string with an acceptable B string? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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