lushuk Posted January 20, 2009 Posted January 20, 2009 Hi whats peoples thoughts for using flats in a rock covers band, I gues they are associated with motown, jazz, blues etc but then Steve Harris uses them! So what do you think? Cheers Eddy Quote
Paul Cooke Posted January 20, 2009 Posted January 20, 2009 Steve Harris puts a fresh set on for every gig... could you afford to do that??? Flats are supposed to be left on and "mellow" with age... they're not supposed to have a hard bright edge to them... Quote
Clarky Posted January 20, 2009 Posted January 20, 2009 I use TI Flats and I play in a punk band - they are not as bright as rounds but you can always turn the treble up - plus they are sooooooooo comfortable to play and very fast Quote
lushuk Posted January 20, 2009 Author Posted January 20, 2009 (edited) [quote]Steve Harris puts a fresh set on for every gig... could you afford to do that???[/quote] Erm no.... I was thinking more of the leave em on for 15 years option! Just sometimes that sort of sound may fit, like on the bass solo bit in "alright now" is that played with flats to get that sort of tone? Edited January 20, 2009 by lushuk Quote
magee Posted January 20, 2009 Posted January 20, 2009 I adore Steve Harris and more or less learned to play to Maiden records as a spotty youth. I use TI flats on a late 70s/early 80s Precision in the ridiculous anthemic cock rock band I play in [we dress up as Vikings, that's all you really need to know] and I get an absolutely cracking sound out of them. I fully intend to leave them on for 15 years, no 'arry style nightly change for me. To get a rock/Harris clunk you have to use the EQ fairly hard, but once you've found the sound you need you can rely on it almost forever because the strings don't change their sound every month like rounds do. So you might have to work harder to get your sound, but once you've got it it's yours. Last gig we did I was playing into my own Hartke bass head with the valve being a little bit overdriven and into a borrowed Ampeg cab and I've never had closer to exactly the sound I wanted, it was great. Quote
Paul Cooke Posted January 20, 2009 Posted January 20, 2009 my set of Rotosound SM77 Jazz flats are ageing very nicely... now on their third bass... definitely getting better with the passage of time... I play blues and blues rock (zepp, cream, ZZ Top, Hendrix) Quote
Adrenochrome Posted January 20, 2009 Posted January 20, 2009 I used to use 'em and they sounded great. The problem I had was to do with sweat, every now and again they'd REALLY grab at my skin after feeling ultra-slick. I had to stop using them. I think 'arry uses talc or similar to stop it happening... not 100% sure though. Quote
Delberthot Posted January 23, 2009 Posted January 23, 2009 For rock I used to use D'Adddario Chromes. Quite a bit brighter than Thomastik and higher tension as well. Quote
bremen Posted January 23, 2009 Posted January 23, 2009 [quote name='Adrenochrome' post='386297' date='Jan 20 2009, 03:52 PM']I used to use 'em and they sounded great. The problem I had was to do with sweat, every now and again they'd REALLY grab at my skin after feeling ultra-slick. I had to stop using them. I think 'arry uses talc or similar to stop it happening... not 100% sure though.[/quote] Fast Fret might be your friend here. Quote
Noisyjon Posted January 23, 2009 Posted January 23, 2009 I've got a set of TI flats on the P bass I bought off Clarky and it does the perfect Simonon/Clash sound! Quote
stinson Posted January 23, 2009 Posted January 23, 2009 Had some TI flats, really nice but a bit floppy for my taste, use them for recording now and then. Now got Labella 760 fl's on my 75 P. I'm stunned at how good they sound, massive woody tone and a great tension. Perfect for the harder stuff we play. Quote
Guest Posted January 23, 2009 Posted January 23, 2009 [quote name='Delberthot' post='389631' date='Jan 23 2009, 03:00 PM']For rock I used to use D'Adddario Chromes. Quite a bit brighter than Thomastik and higher tension as well.[/quote] I started using D'Adddario Chromes over TI flats for the higher tension, then i discovered Ernie ball flats. Usually i am not a big fan of EB strings but the flats are fantastic. They are in the same flavour as chromes but just have a nicer feel, very polished and great balance, in .100-.40 gauge they are great for rock with plenty of brightness Quote
lushuk Posted January 25, 2009 Author Posted January 25, 2009 Well it seems I might give it a try, but which ones and where from anyone got a old cheap set to try? might be the way forward. Thanks Eddy Quote
voxpop Posted January 25, 2009 Posted January 25, 2009 (edited) [quote name='lushuk' post='390762' date='Jan 25 2009, 04:45 AM']Well it seems I might give it a try, but which ones and where from anyone got a old cheap set to try? might be the way forward. Thanks Eddy[/quote] Eddy , I have a new set of D'addario chromes you can have for a tenner. [url="http://store.daddario.com/category/145854"]http://store.daddario.com/category/145854[/url] Marc Edited January 25, 2009 by voxpop Quote
lushuk Posted January 25, 2009 Author Posted January 25, 2009 Hii Marc. Thanks for the offer can I just see if a set of 105's turn up as ive just had me bass set up for them. if nothing appears ill give them a try, many thanks. Eddy Quote
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