ingmar808 Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 I've recently gotten into flats, and am about to return to gigging. The last gig I played (a few years ago) so incredibly hot and sweaty I had trouble holding down some notes. And that was with roundwound strings! I'm assuming it'd be even worse with flats - but I've never heard anyone else mentioning this as a problem. Is this combination a recipe for disaster, or am I overthinking it? What are your experiences? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 It's definitely worse with flats, perhaps counterintuitively. But a flat has more of the surface area in contact with the finger, so depending on the material the flat is made from and the way it is made it can either be really slippy or it can actually grip more. I discovered this when I tried some La Bella Low Tension Flats last summer in the run up to some outdoor gigs in the sun. They were awful. It was like the strings were covered in glue. I was putting Fast Fret on for each tune, and sometimes during a tune if there was a few bars when I wasn't playing. Over the 'board and where I was plucking. I swapped them for Ernie Ball Group iv flats (not the cobalts) and the problem actually went a bit the other way - a bit too slippy. But I'll take a bit slippy over glue any day! I've still got EB's on my 4 string as I love the sound of them, but I've gone back to rounds on my 5 string so I've always got a choice. Easy enough to put some foam under the strings to make them a little more flat like in sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 4 hours ago, ingmar808 said: . . . . The last gig I played (a few years ago) so incredibly hot and sweaty I had trouble holding down some notes. Do you mean you're fingers are slipping off the strings? That would be a problem with your playing and not the strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudewheresmybass Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 (edited) 17 minutes ago, Cosmo Valdemar said: French chalk Edited February 22, 2023 by dudewheresmybass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greentext Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 6 hours ago, ingmar808 said: Is this combination a recipe for disaster, or am I overthinking it? What are your experiences? I remember when I first swapped out to flats on my p-bass from rounds and the tech said to me 'oh you know you will overshot every note when you first play these as its less friction?' I was panicking like crazy beforehand and wanted to default to my backup rounds but I didnt. I had my first gig that night after never playing flats and was fine tbh, I just didn't think about it and got into the groove and I was off. For me it was all in my head and once I was out there it was just something I managed and was aware of but not obsessing over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbasspecial Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 Place small towel on top of your amp to dry your hands in between songs. Simples. You’re welcome. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burns-bass Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 51 minutes ago, pbasspecial said: Place small towel on top of your amp to dry your hands in between songs. Simples. You’re welcome. And to slide down the neck too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 I guess I have naturally not so sweaty hands even if I am too hot. Of thermal issues I have only been half frozen to death. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLowDown Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 (edited) Keep a small bag of chalk or rosin in your pocket that many dart players use to deal with sweaty hands. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/173352223035 Edited February 23, 2023 by TheLowDown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassfinger Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 I have a couple of basses I favour for live indoor work to avoided the sweaty hand grabbing problem with the neck, never noticed any difference between strings personally. I have an old Skol bar towel, doubtless highly collectable now, that I keep for wiping my hands of even the neck occasionally between songs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddo Soqable Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 I just wipe my hands on me trousers 😁 Somewhere I've got an old Harp lager bar towel, bet that's an "antique" now too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 10 hours ago, TheLowDown said: Keep a small bag of chalk or rosin in your pocket that many dart players use to deal with sweaty hands. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/173352223035 I'd advise against rosin. It's intended to make things sticky. That's why we use it on our violin bows. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 17 hours ago, dudewheresmybass said: French chalk Does 'Arry use french chalk? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marky L Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 It's what yer trousers are for! (Well that and to maintain modesty!). Wipe your hands on your trouser legs in parts of the song you're not playing and then use a towel (as mentioned above) between songs. I hang mine through the handle on the side on my cab. I guess Prince Andrew has never had this problem.. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudewheresmybass Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 50 minutes ago, fretmeister said: Does 'Arry use french chalk? Yes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLowDown Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 (edited) 2 hours ago, Dan Dare said: I'd advise against rosin. It's intended to make things sticky. That's why we use it on our violin bows. Ok, well I didn't know about that side effect but lots of pro sports people use it to reduce sweat and moisture. Edited February 23, 2023 by TheLowDown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tokalo Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 I had that problem with TI flats last summer. Coated rounds were better (I found BlackSmith AOTs were ok). Cobalt flats are better too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 21 hours ago, pbasspecial said: Place small towel on top of your amp to dry your hands in between songs. Simples. You’re welcome. 👍I had a fancy golf club one (bar towels are good also) that used to clip to the handle of a bass cab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NAS Bass Posted February 24, 2023 Share Posted February 24, 2023 I remember when Slim from The Hamsters used to spray his fretboard with WD40 between each song! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted February 24, 2023 Share Posted February 24, 2023 I'm trying to work out what the actual issue might be here. Are you saying there's no friction and you can't stop your hand moving in time..?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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