mike257 Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 Hola! After putting it off for ages, I stuck a set of Webstrings flats on my Sandberg today, and whipped it out for tonights gig. Crikey!! I've never used flats before, but I absolutely loved the tone and the feel of them. I was plugged into someone else's battered old Laney Linebacker, but the bottom end was magic. I was playing with a couple of acoustic guitars and it sounded so much more 'right' than it ever has with rounds. I think i'm converted, at least for my acoustic-based gigs. Can't wait to try it through my rig proper and see how well they rock out So yeah, why have none of you insisted I do this sooner? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 [quote name='mike257' post='348297' date='Dec 8 2008, 02:29 AM']Hola! After putting it off for ages, I stuck a set of Webstrings flats on my Sandberg today, and whipped it out for tonights gig. Crikey!! I've never used flats before, but I absolutely loved the tone and the feel of them. I was plugged into someone else's battered old Laney Linebacker, but the bottom end was magic. I was playing with a couple of acoustic guitars and it sounded so much more 'right' than it ever has with rounds. I think i'm converted, at least for my acoustic-based gigs. Can't wait to try it through my rig proper and see how well they rock out So yeah, why have none of you insisted I do this sooner?[/quote] I think they're nice strings too, & don't take too long to settle in, if played a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Born 2B Mild Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 I'm a recent convert too. I'll still use r/w for rock/funk gigs, but flats are great for playing quiet stuff ...especially with a subtle tremelo effect! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 Welcome aboard! I stuck rounds on one of my Ps for a change last weekend, for the mini-bassbash we had - they sounded great solo'd. When it came to that weekend's gigs, though... bleurgh! Rounds off, flats on... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziggenpuss Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 Big fan of flats for Motown, Stax and Reggae...oh, and Iron Maiden stuff too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 I put flats on one of my 6 strings and it seemed to increase the tension in the strings quite a bit (which I love). Is that normal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 [quote name='cheddatom' post='348594' date='Dec 8 2008, 01:42 PM']I put flats on one of my 6 strings and it seemed to increase the tension in the strings quite a bit (which I love). Is that normal?[/quote] I would say yeah, but some may disagree. Thats partly why I love flats, along with the smooth tone. Though I still keep a couple of basses primed with nickel & steel rounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 [quote name='cheddatom' post='348594' date='Dec 8 2008, 01:42 PM']I put flats on one of my 6 strings and it seemed to increase the tension in the strings quite a bit (which I love). Is that normal?[/quote] Quite normal unless you go for a set of tomastik flats,one of my favorite set are Ernie ball flats in .100 gauge (4 string), nice tension, smooth to play with enough top end. Never thought i would be singing the praises of EB strings but these are great kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 I don't know the brand, I bought them used from 6stringbassist. I love the extra tension. Acoustically they are less bright, but when playing through my pedalboard and bi-amp rig it sounded just as good as my bass with rounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike257 Posted December 8, 2008 Author Share Posted December 8, 2008 [quote name='ziggenpuss' post='348578' date='Dec 8 2008, 01:34 PM']Big fan of flats for Motown, Stax and Reggae...oh, and Iron Maiden stuff too![/quote] Yeah, I'm loving the big round bottom end. I hadn't realised Steve Harris played flats, one of the singers I was playing with told me on Sunday! I guess it gives me a reason to keep all these basses - I can have a flats bass and a rounds bass, and erm... a spare of each Honest, I need them all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 I haven't used anything but flats for some years - usually TI Jazz Flats but also D'Addario Chromes. Love that thummp; hate that zzing. However, yesterday I restrung my Precision BEAD using TI Jazz Rounds - the very light .118 B string requires no nut filing. Not too bad for a round string but if I take to the BEAD tuning I'll be getting the nut filed and some flats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richieclare Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 I think I'll be sticking some flats on my bass very soon (just to see if I'll like them). Was looking at the La Bella flats but as i'm pretty clueless any other suggestions? As i'm a little lazy how often would i need to change them? Can't I just keep them on forever? rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigAlonBass Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 I've personally used La Bella flats for the last ten years or so, and I wouldn't change back. As to how long you can leave them on, how long is a piece of string? If they sound a bit 'wrong' after 6 months or so, go for it, but only your ears can tell you what's right for you. (I've had the same set on my Precision for two years, but don't tell anybody.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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