EB 5 String Flatwounds are nice

[Aussie Mark]

Always been my issue with D'ad's ...the clanging, which the EB flats (thankfully) don't do.

That anti-clang EB packaging must be awesome

 

[EdFriedland]

Well, to be fair... the D'ads are a big favorite of mine for pickstyle, but there is something I'm really liking about the EBs on EB basses. The D'ad clang is actually good for some basses. If you're playing on a MM, you don't need the extra help getting through the mix.

 

[baske]

Well, did my first gig with the 25th 5HH strung with EB flats, and I'm digging them! The JO flats were great in some ways, but they are very dark and thumpy - works great for me on my Fenders. But I didn't feel like I was hearing the tone of the 25th coming through. The EBs seem perfectly matched (who woulda thought?) There is high end, but it's not overbearing. They don't "clang" as much as the D'addarios, but they cut like them. Just enough to let the pickups do their thing. It actually sounded incredibly warm and round, just like I wanted - but I could also HEAR the notes and the attack.

They stay!

Hey Ed,
Dont you have soundsamples?

 

[Old_Guy]

Well, to be fair... the D'ads are a big favorite of mine for pickstyle, but there is something I'm really liking about the EBs on EB basses. The D'ad clang is actually good for some basses. If you're playing on a MM, you don't need the extra help getting through the mix.

I think that's it. D'ads are good for the 7ender but the Bongo really doesn't need the extra help.

 

[Powman]

This is what happened to me the first time I strung up an EBMM with flats lo those many years ago. Just absolutely stunned. I took a lot of flak for it, too - "You've neutered it", that sort of thing, although that was of course from internet experts who had never heard me play a note (some might also call them "lucky bastards").

Jack

I know I am resurrected an old thread, but you and Ed have answered my question about whether to try some Flats on my Sterling...

I clearly have my answer here. And you addressed my fear about cutting off the balls from my Sterling...it sounds like it will still have plenty of balls, especially if I use EB flats.

Thanks gents!

 

[shakinbacon]

I know I am resurrected an old thread, but you and Ed have answered my question about whether to try some Flats on my Sterling...

I clearly have my answer here. And you addressed my fear about cutting off the balls from my Sterling...it sounds like it will still have plenty of balls, especially if I use EB flats.

Thanks gents!

don't forget to write back after trying them for a while. I'd love to hear your thoughts

 

[Powman]

don't forget to write back after trying them for a while. I'd love to hear your thoughts

Will do...I'd run out tomorrow to get some strings, but its Canadian Thanksgiving tomorrow (Monday) and everything is closed for the Holiday. Gotta wait until Tuesday

 

[Ole Man Blues]

I remember using Flats on a Stingray I once owned and they sounded really nice. I tried Chromes on my Bongo and were clangy. I have low action on the Bongo so I imagine that could be the problem. Haven't tried EB Flats yet, but I'm going to pickup a set and check em out. I currently have Fender Super Bass Strings in 110's on my Bongo and they make the Bass sound like a P Bass on Steroids. They have a very heavy thick tone that fills the church and thunders with authority, makes the stage rumble under my feet. No problem cutting through the mix with these. Still I want to try the EB Flats, love the smooth feel of em.

OMB

 

[Powman]

Weird...nobody locally carries EB Flats. I had to order them on-line...now have to wait patiently...

You Ernie Ball Folks need to convince Long and McQuade in Canada to carry more EB strings.

I have yet to see the coated bass strings as well...

 

[Slingy]

I'm not much of a bass player but I'm playing with some flats now and must say I don't think they are my cup of tea. I can dial up almost any sound I want with rounds and the tone knobs, with flats it seems like there are frequencies missing, like playing through a low pass filter.

 

[Powman]

Ahhh, but guitar players never like flats IMHO. I got talked into some DR Hi-beams by an excellent guitar player and part time bass player. Way too high pitched for me, but he Loves 'em.

Bass players who pretty much stick to bass have different preferences than guitar players. The guitar payers...they always like screechy things

Same reason that guitar players should NEVER be allowed to eq the entire band when playing live, or mix the final mixdown in recordings.... There is never enough bottom end when they do it. Need an objective person to mix.

(Notice the extensive use of winky winky smilies...I don't want to start a pissing war)

 

[Slingy]

True! But my treble knob does almost nothing with flats.

 

[Aussie Mark]

True! But my treble knob does almost nothing with flats.

I'm guessing you play with a pick?

I play finger style, and with flats on all 4 of my EBMMs the treble knob is dialled completely off. Any more, and there's too much zing for my liking.

 

[shakinbacon]

I'm guessing you play with a pick?

I play finger style, and with flats on all 4 of my EBMMs the treble knob is dialled completely off. Any more, and there's too much zing for my liking.

Since you like to play with no treble I suggest you try turning the treble off at your amp instead. This will kill the hiss from the instrument & the amp. Doing it just at the instrument only takes care of any (*gasp*) instrument hiss.

My $0.02

 

[Powman]

Since you like to play with no treble I suggest you try turning the treble off at your amp instead. This will kill the hiss from the instrument & the amp. Doing it just at the instrument only takes care of any (*gasp*) instrument hiss.

My $0.02

Hmmm...I find using both controls helpful...Amp hiss is decreased via amp treble control while some of the finger noise is decreased via the trble contorl on the bass...

 

[Aussie Mark]

Since you like to play with no treble I suggest you try turning the treble off at your amp instead. This will kill the hiss from the instrument & the amp. Doing it just at the instrument only takes care of any (*gasp*) instrument hiss.

My $0.02

I roll the tweeter attenuator off in all my cabs, which is where I find any audible "hiss" emanates from. There's no "hiss" from either my basses or amp. The reason I roll off treble is because I'm an old guy who loves warm thumpy bottom end. Fortunately, the people in the 4 bands I play in like it that way too.

I remember speaking to the manager of one of the bands before they auditioned me, who asked me "can you describe your tone". I told her "warm and beefy old school", and she said "great, that's a relief, most of the guys we've auditioned seem to have a really thin treblely sound, and our drummer and our sound engineer really hate that." I got the gig

 

[tiffles]

i had that this weekend aswell Mark, I was playing conference at the ExCel centre in london (photos coming soonish) and I couldn't get the bongo to sound good (I was DI and we were using a foldback wedge for my 'amp')...I knew it wasn't the bongo and so I kept asking the engineer to take some treble and high mids off... it sounded awful and twangy, nothing much seemed to change so I went over and we had a chat. He finally asked me what sound I was going for, what bassists I like, I explained same as you.... bottom end, warm, fat...etc. "ahhhhh" lightbulb moment, he said "most bassists I work with want that really edgy tone"
"not me"
"ok lets try this again"

I was happy, band was much happier. beautiful music.

 

[Old_Guy]

Now - one request to BP -
I love the Group IV flats on the 4 string bongo (the 40-95 set); any possible way we could get those same guages for the 5-string set?
Yes, I realize the obvious answer is to buy the 4 string set and an additional single, but then I'm stuck with either the 110 or 130 for the B string, and what I'm looking for is something about 120 or so.

 

[Spanky(Andy)]

Ok, dumb question, but does anyone have any clear audio clips of a BONGO strung with flatwounds?

I can't find any even on YouTube. I have flats on my fretless Stingray (& 7ender P), but I am not completely sold on the sound.

I keep reading on this forum that a lot of the Bongo drivers are using flats and would love to hear the tone. I'm GASsing for a Bongo 5 again.

Cheers

ANdy

 

[eyecandy]

what do you guys think of the group IV flats? Im thinkin of getting a set...