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.