Flats are off

[Jo.gwillim]

On 05/11/2024 at 10:53, Happy Jack said:

For me, the answer to the actual question being asked is, it depends on the band.

 

In a 4/5-piece covers band with either two guitars or guitar + keys I prefer to stay well away from that sonic territory. I use flats to supply the underpinning for the band.

 

In a 3-piece rock'n'roll outfit I need to be period-correct so it's flats all the way.

 

In a 3-piece covers band where there's a lot of sonic territory to be filled I find that flats just don't cut it, so I use a Rickenbacker 5-string with rounds.

 

I've heard plenty of bands over the years solve that last conundrum (sonic territory to be filled) by just cranking the amps up to 11 and/or adding loads of FX but I have no interest in being in that sort of band.

 

I've had a similar experience. Playing in a busy covers band everything felt just right when i switched my P to flats. The same bass in the more acoustic band i play with  needed so much eq tweaking i switched to a jazz with rounds, all happy again. I'm sure either bass would do either job but it's much easier if the bass (and the strings of course) just slot in. 

[Terry M.]

I may get arrested for doing this but I finally put my TI Jazz flats in the bin. I installed and reinstalled them on various basses over the two years I owned them but I have to admit to not understanding the flatwound appeal compared to rounds. They're not the first I've tried but definitely the most expensive as I wrote in a previous post. 

[neepheid]

14 minutes ago, Terry M. said:

I may get arrested for doing this but I finally put my TI Jazz flats in the bin. I installed and reinstalled them on various basses over the two years I owned them but I have to admit to not understanding the flatwound appeal compared to rounds. They're not the first I've tried but definitely the most expensive as I wrote in a previous post. 

 

You could have sold those!

 

[Terry M.]

1 minute ago, neepheid said:

 

You could have sold those!

 

Good point but they were really tatty by the time I'd done with them and I just wanted them out my life. You are right though 😉

[neepheid]

8 minutes ago, Terry M. said:

Good point but they were really tatty by the time I'd done with them and I just wanted them out my life. You are right though 😉

 

That probably would have increased the value - flatwound players are a weird bunch...

 

[ezbass]

27 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

That probably would have increased the value - flatwound players are a weird bunch...

 

I don’t know what you mean 

[paul_5]

Popped my flats back on my p bass  (augmented with a mud bucker a la Billy Sheehan) today - got a gig coming up that needs a more ‘vintage’ vibe - and the amount of low end through the ‘bucker is IMMENSE!! Such a huge difference from my usual rounds!!

[PaulThePlug]

@paul_5 Mudbucker and Flats... my T'Bird

[paul_5]

Shunt that 'bucker up by the neck joint then we'll talk... 😄

[PaulThePlug]

Neck Joint?... 😉

[jazzyvee]

I have this bass  with two sets of p-style pickups and put D'addario Chrome flats on it about 18 months ago. I have to say i still don't think the flats are my thing. These strings are real stiff and i don't like the smooth feel too much. That said it's the only bass i have with flats so I've been learning basslines that sound like they were played on a p-bass. Steely Dan, Doobies, and the Crusaders and that sound works. Not had the chance to gig or record with flats yet, but that will seal the fate.

 

[TheGhostofJaco]

Flats are the reason I got into pbasses. It’s such an incredible sound and a joy to play. That said I am using it on neo soul and fusion music. If I was playing more heavy rock, I’d go rounds too. But I just love the flats so much. 

[Ed_S]

On 13/01/2025 at 19:00, Steve Browning said:

Steve Harris seems to manage ok. That said, each to their own. 

 

Everybody's preference is the right choice for them.

 

Sorry, was just revisiting the topic as it resurfaced and realised that I never responded. Of course you're absolutely right on both counts, and in the case of Steve Harris I'd say he manages even more impressively than most, his preference being for fresh sets of Rotosounds. I personally found them uncommonly harsh and inflexible when I tried them, so I'm guessing he has a very different touch to me and/or much hardier fingers after years at it!

 

In any case, my own most recent foray into flat territory with the Ernie Ball stainless 'group' set has just ended and I think that's probably me finally done with the concept. If I absolutely needed flats in future (unsure how that would ever come about) they'd have to be the Cobalt Slinky variety, and at that point I might as well spend the same amount on a set of my usual rounds and an EQ pedal.

[Lozz196]

A couple of weeks back my band played a gig in Malta, and as I hate flying they got my part covered. The stand-in bassist had an Aerodyne Jazz strung with Fender flats and it sounded great in the mix with a bit of drive from his Sansamp. I was rather envious as I just don`t seem to have the knack of getting the best from a flat-strung bass.

[HeadlessBassist]

I have a set of Thomastik Jazz Flats ready to go which were on my previous Am.Pro Precision for about half an hour. I can't use them live, as my sound just disappears, but they're always ready to go on my main Jazz if a session requires them. 

[Quilly]

About a year ago I did a active to passive conversion on my Sandberg California VS (P bass). I replaced the big pole peace delano style pickups with more aggressive sounding Lollar PB90s. As I already have a Fender P bass I decided a few months ago to put a set of LaBella low tension flats on this bass and keep rounds on the P bass. Absolutely love the sound, a lovely warm thump, not suitable for all genres of music but I sometimes play with a New Orleans type jazz band and its fits in like a glove, its almost 'upright bass' sounding. Funnily enough I prefer rounds on a fretless, despite the 'chews up the fretboard' mythology.  

[diskwave]

Unless I was called to do an 80's funk thing (highly unlikely) then my 20 yr chromes are staying. Can't beat dead chromes, with a light touch thru Ampeg. Im often shocked how much gnarly mid range punch I hear thru the FOH. Very un-P bass like but very satisfying.