BassAdder60 Posted November 29, 2021 Share Posted November 29, 2021 As a roundwounds user on my PBass using a pick for rock seems to work. There are many say Flatwounds are the way forward … why is that ? They sound dull I’m told ( I can achieve that turning down my tone pot ) and they are very costly in comparison Are there really any advantages to swop and what are they as I’m open to try Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted November 29, 2021 Share Posted November 29, 2021 (edited) - Edited March 16, 2022 by Jus Lukin 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted November 29, 2021 Share Posted November 29, 2021 Buy some. Stick them on your P-bass. Play them for a week or so, and you'll form an opinion. If you like them and prefer them, they will last a good 10 years. If you don't like them, take them off, and sell them on and you'll get a good chunk of your money back. Simples. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassAdder60 Posted November 29, 2021 Share Posted November 29, 2021 At nearly £50 a set I need to be fairly certain they offer me something I can’t get from Rounds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted November 29, 2021 Share Posted November 29, 2021 Put out a wanted ad here, you will get a nice set half that price 👍 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted November 29, 2021 Share Posted November 29, 2021 (edited) What gauge rounds do you normally use , I might have a set of flats similar you can try Edited November 29, 2021 by Reggaebass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted November 29, 2021 Share Posted November 29, 2021 (edited) One thing to note is that not all rounds flats are equal. Some are high tension, some low. Some are dull, some are bright. If you choose the wrong set you may be put off unnecessarily. I am a massive fan of Thomastik TI Flats and put them on all my basses. They are low tension - not to everyone's liking! - and sound nice and bright, not just a dull thud. I play in a blues rock band and they sit just nicely in the mix. For me and the tone I have in my head for my basses, they are just right. Plus they feel nice to the touch - fans of round wounds will disagree, of course. Edited December 14, 2021 by Paul S 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted November 29, 2021 Share Posted November 29, 2021 It's a fashion thing. I quite like the sound of flats on some basses, but I hate the feel of them, too slippery and smooth. I like to feel the rough round wounds, gives me something to grip. I have flats on my only Precision, but it hasn't left its case for several months now. I quite like flats on a Jazz if I play with a pick, but find it much easier to use fingers (since I got the use of them back) so have reverted to round wounds. If they sound too toppy, I roll off the treble on the bass. I also find flats more tiring to play than rounds, probably because they are stiffer. Basically, I use rounds because I prefer them, and flats reluctantly if the music really needs them - which is rare. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velarian Posted November 29, 2021 Share Posted November 29, 2021 Get a set of Adagio flats off eBay for less than £15. I tried some and was impressed by how good they are. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted November 29, 2021 Share Posted November 29, 2021 When I put TI's on my P bass my sound improved significantly. Just the sound I was after. If I want a top end twang I'll bring out my Jazz. Flats aren't expensive. This set of TI's has been on my P bass for the last 5 years. In that time I've put 5 sets of rounds on my Jazz. So rounds are way more expensive than flats. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted November 29, 2021 Share Posted November 29, 2021 1 minute ago, Velarian said: Get a set of Adagio flats off eBay for less than £15. I tried some and was impressed by how good they are. Good shout, I’ve had a set on one of my jazzes for 6 or 7 years, they would be great to see if you like them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted November 29, 2021 Share Posted November 29, 2021 1 hour ago, BassAdder27 said: At nearly £50 a set I need to be fairly certain they offer me something I can’t get from Rounds Honestly if you don’t like them you’ll get a good chunk of that back second hand… 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted November 29, 2021 Share Posted November 29, 2021 (edited) 38 minutes ago, FinnDave said: It's a fashion thing. Ah yes, that current new fad of flatwound strings. it'll soon blow over 😄 Edited November 29, 2021 by wateroftyne 3 1 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz39 Posted November 29, 2021 Share Posted November 29, 2021 I’ve got D’Addario half rounds, a good compromise. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted November 29, 2021 Share Posted November 29, 2021 3 minutes ago, wateroftyne said: Ah yes, that current new fad of flatwound strings. it'll soon blow over 😄 It’ll be like that recent fretless fad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassAdder60 Posted November 29, 2021 Share Posted November 29, 2021 1 hour ago, Reggaebass said: What gauge rounds do you normally use , I might have a set of flats similar you can try On my PBass 45 - 105 long scale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted November 29, 2021 Share Posted November 29, 2021 Tapewounds - they won't catch on. After all who would want a phat tone, hinting at a double bass sound, soft to the touch with sumptuous tension that you're unlikely to have to replace? Roundwounds aren't the only choice you know... 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted November 29, 2021 Share Posted November 29, 2021 3 hours ago, BassAdder27 said: As a roundwounds user on my PBass using a pick for rock seems to work. There are many say Flatwounds are the way forward … why is that ? They sound dull I’m told ( I can achieve that turning down my tone pot ) and they are very costly in comparison Are there really any advantages to swop and what are they as I’m open to try Adagio on eBay are not super-expensive at around £14 to dip your toe in the water 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted November 29, 2021 Share Posted November 29, 2021 (edited) 3 hours ago, BassAdder27 said: At nearly £50 a set I need to be fairly certain they offer me something I can’t get from Rounds They will offer you flatness. Edited November 29, 2021 by RhysP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted November 29, 2021 Share Posted November 29, 2021 2 hours ago, wateroftyne said: Ah yes, that current new fad of flatwound strings. it'll soon blow over 😄 I know they were around long before round wounds, but in my experience it is only in the last few years that they have become the object of so much discussion among bassists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted November 29, 2021 Share Posted November 29, 2021 1 minute ago, FinnDave said: I know they were around long before round wounds, but in my experience it is only in the last few years that they have become the object of so much discussion among bassists. I’ve always preferred them… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted November 29, 2021 Share Posted November 29, 2021 I tried them to lessen the marking of the board on my fretless. I tried LaBellas and wasn’t keen. Then EB brought out cobalt flatwounds so I gave them ago and I really liked them to the point where I have them on 3 of my 4 basses. I like the feel, I like the tone (more like a nicely broken in set of nickel roundwounds then the thuddy tone you get with some flatwounds) and, of course, they’re kinder to my fretless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunion Posted November 29, 2021 Share Posted November 29, 2021 I purchased a fretless stingray that came with TI flats, hated them, feel, tension, tone. Changed to round wounds much more comfortable. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted November 29, 2021 Share Posted November 29, 2021 2 minutes ago, Bunion said: I purchased a fretless stingray that came with TI flats, hated them, feel, tension, tone. Changed to round wounds much more comfortable. I always found TI's to be pretty difficult to get along with too. I use Chromes mostly - more tension, better feel, brighter and more playable... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted November 29, 2021 Share Posted November 29, 2021 45 minutes ago, FinnDave said: I know they were around long before round wounds, but in my experience it is only in the last few years that they have become the object of so much discussion among bassists. IME for the last 20 years or so, whenever there’s been a discussion about flats, someone has always piped up to say they’re a fad 😄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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