Convince me to put flats on my new SR5

[jar546]

My SR5HH has roundwounds and it is staying that way. My Fender P has flats and it too is staying that way, fantastic sound on both.

I am thinking since I am partial to the flats I will have one of my SR5s strung with flats.

To all of the flatwound fans out there, what do you like the most and why do you use flats on your EB product?

Thanks in advance.

 

[ekb16b]

I love the beefyness that it produces and secondly i dont have to change strings that often

 

[Aussie Mark]

If you need convincing then maybe flats aren't for you.

 

[MingusBASS]

No.

 

[bovinehost]

No.

yes

 

[phatduckk]

where's jack?

um - i use stainless steal strings so im probably the last person who's gonna convince u to use strings that sound dead even when theyre brand new. + the feel weird

 

[phatduckk]

oh - looks like jack posted a few seconds before i did. but, dont listen to him. he's evil

 

[Flatwound.]

hey, i've had chromes (40-95) on my mm30 for some months now.
they really sound great on that bass. i guess, you should just give them a try.

even though, i switched back to lowriders yesterday
i missed the rounds feeling and the high-end zinginess (all my basses were strung with flats). so, nice tone - BUT: flats sound way thicker and i have the feeling my ray lost some bottom end without the chromes...

 

[bovinehost]

oh - looks like jack posted a few seconds before i did. but, dont listen to him. he's evil

True, I am, and I always say the same thing about this subject. Plus, I kind of think that people have heard me say the same things so frequently that I probably should just remain quiet when the subject comes up again.

But let's assume that we have a whole new group. Hah. As if.

Anyway, look, strings are like underwear. Some of us are going to be comfy with tighty whities. Some of us are going to prefer boxers. A few odd birds might be wearing thongs for all I know. Thing is, what you like is what you like.

If you want a modern, zingy, treble-y sort of sound, then you don't want flats. If you want a more old school, warmer kind of thumpy thing, you might want to investigate flats.

I grew up in the 60s and wondered why I was so damned unhappy with the strings I could buy in the 70s. Well, they were rounds. Once I was smart enough to go back to flats, I realized what the problem was and I've never looked back.

Frankly, I don't know why anyone would want to listen to me. I always think of the time when Dave LaRue and I were discussing the wonders of the single H. Dave says, "Why does Sterling love these things? You have a couple of them, right?" I said, "Yes, I do, and they rock. And there is one of mine right there and you're more than welcome to give it a shot."

He does. He says, "Ah, well, those are flats."

We go back and forth a bit and what Dave eventually says is this: "Flats are cool for your gig, but not so much for mine."

And while I had a laugh that Dave LaRue even KNEW what my gig was, the fact is that he was exactly right.

Extrapolate what he said and come up with your answer. Are flats cool for your gig? Then use them. Are flats not cool for you gig? Then don't use them! It couldn't be more simple, really.

Jack

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

If you have more than one SR5 available, I don't see how trying a set out would hurt. If you had only one, I'd say some nickel Slinky's are the way to go, but that's just me.

 

[Manfloozy]

I am very much With Jack on the flats personally, but it is indeed a choice you have to make based off what you like. I personally dislike the zing of Rounds. You have flats on the P, so just imagine that kind of warmth on A Ray... It's a good thing.

I also really like tapewounds from my brief experience with them.

 

[kylierider]

I play flats for two reasons. Tone and cost. EB Group III flats were 27-29ish dollars. Changed once every year or so. Super Slinkeys, About the same cost maybe a little cheaper, changed once a month. Flats are cheaper.

Tonewise they fit what I do better. I play a WIDE array of different gigs. I do pick up gigs for a country band. Play in a johnny Cash tribute band and a rock band that covers anything from Bare Naked Ladies to Fuel. The flats cover it all. The only playing style that I am limited on with flats would be a slap bass tune.

I hear this from guitar players all the time. "Wow that bass sounds great. You have such a great touch." I say thanks, turn away and get my bass in the case before he realizes I use flats.

 

[HeavyDuty]

I'm running EBMM Group I flats plus a .130 B on my fivers. My preferred string for years was F***** 9050Ms, but I like my smooth Balls just as much or better.

Thump, baby.

 

[bass4worship]

This is me using flats on my MM5. If you have good speakers then check this out video.
You can only made out the neck of my bass on the left side.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8okpDKm6zoU"]YouTube - There Is No Greater Love - Spiritual Hearts/Gospel Preacher[/ame]

 

[MrMusashi]

if you dig that james jamerson type of thump you owe it to yourself to try flats. they last forever so if they dont fit your style right now just put them in the closet and they will be good to go even 4 years from now... hehe.. they age just like fine wine

MrM

 

[HeavyDuty]

Anyway, look, strings are like underwear. Some of us are going to be comfy with tighty whities. Some of us are going to prefer boxers. A few odd birds might be wearing thongs for all I know. Thing is, what you like is what you like.

What if a player goes commando?

 

[CElton]

What if a player goes commando?

Then they would be a drummer...

 

[nicjimbass]

Hi, my name is nicjimbass, I wear boxer-briefs, and I put a set of flats on my SR5 the other day.

I tried flats on my Bongo.... not so much. All I got was low end and clicky highs. Probably an EQ error on my part, who knows? BUT, when I put them on my SR5, I hit the jackpot. I can still sound somewhat zingy and modern, but can dial in old-school thump with a few twists of knobs. They're not cheap, but if you can spare the scratch and want to try something new, go for it!

 

[MrMusashi]

What if a player goes commando?

or they have chuck in their name

MrM

 

[shastaband]

I am thinking since I am partial to the flats I will have one of my SR5s strung with flats.

Ah ha, there's your answer right there. Those of us lucky to have more than one SR5 can have one (or more) strung with flats, and keep roundwounds on the others. Best of both worlds. I have one SR5 H which I keep strung with EB Flats (.045-.130). Great for old school Jamerson thump, Stax-Volt funk, and perfect for the jazz recordings I'm doing (standards, ballads, bossa nova). For rock, fusion, more modern stuff, I haul out the roundwounds. But one does have to bring two (or more) basses to each gig.

Go for it! Flats on one of the SR5s!