Flats on a Sterling

[Mogee]

Anyone tried flats on a Sterling?

 

[bovinehost]

Of course.

 

[Bass Control]

I had flats on my Sterling while I had it. Best sound I had heard out of a bass of mine in a long time and I could play longer without killing my fingers. Despite the price of flats, they really do pay off!

 

[snowbum]

Yep, they sound amazing. I really need to buy another bass as I keep switching strings between the 3 bands I play in, have one dressed in flats and one dressed in rounds.

I am a fan of roundwounds and flatwounds.... does that make me a string hoe?

 

[mfallmann]

..no ... only string-bi

 

[Subscript]

bi-stringious?

 

[MrMusashi]

id say he is a wise man

MrM

 

[oli@bass]

so... consensus on the board is: It's wise to be bi?

 

[Psycho Ward]

I have a set of flats on one of my Sterlings, they sound very nice.

 

[MrMusashi]

so... consensus on the board is: It's wise to be bi?

if you like options, yes

MrM

 

[snowbum]

I like it I don't feel so bad now Bi-stringual is great.

 

[Mogee]

Would I still get a good rock sound? Usually tune Drop D and haf a step down. I only have the one bass, and it is sort of an expensive experiment. I tried flats on another brand one time, but truthfully I hated the sound and playability of the bass, so I don't think it was a fair representation of what the flats would sound like. My BFR Sterling is definitely the best playing bass that I have ever personally played on and I am tempted to try the flats.

 

[bovinehost]

Would I still get a good rock sound?

No one but you knows the answer. You have your own idea of what a good rock sound is - and it might be way different than my idea. Have you watched/listened to any of the Cowpilot videos on youtube? Not self-promoting here, to say the least, but all of those are done with flats on a Bongo. Personally? I think I get a great rock sound.

I only have the one bass, and it is sort of an expensive experiment.

Strings are the cheapest and easiest way to seriously change your tone.

And just in case, these are not great quality but should give you an idea.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBCvSqPe_tY"]YouTube- Folsom Prison Wizard[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtdUAX1AZSw"]YouTube- These Boots Are Made For Walking[/ame]

Bongo single H with flats, baby.

 

[Powman]

I tried both. They give such a different sound and I like both sounds. The long term solution for me will be to buy a second bass, one strung with flats (classic rock sound) and the other strung with rounds (modern rock sound). I love them both...

 

[maddog]

snakes on a plane?

 

[RaginRog]

Anyone tried flats on a Sterling?

Flats do round out the tone...however, if you want to keep some of that snap try a set of the Md Light or Light guage flats. Maybe with a .100 or .95 E string.

I had flats on my SRs and after about 3 weeks I went back to the roundwounds. I prefer the attack, and certain nuances are more audible with rounds....just my opinion.

 

[RaginRog]

Would I still get a good rock sound? Usually tune Drop D and haf a step down. I only have the one bass, and it is sort of an expensive experiment. I tried flats on another brand one time, but truthfully I hated the sound and playability of the bass, so I don't think it was a fair representation of what the flats would sound like. My BFR Sterling is definitely the best playing bass that I have ever personally played on and I am tempted to try the flats.

I had the same set up for about a year when playing with a modern rock band.

Go with Power Slinkys...they may cause some blistering(on your fingertips, if you don't use a pick) come 3rd set, but they sound sweeeeeeeeet, especial for drop tunings.

 

[sitonmybass]

You're just string curious.

 

[GGK]

I managed to get a set of flats as a throw in from a past deal I did at my local shop. I put em on about 4 months ago, took a couple of weeks to settle in. I may never take them off

 

[kevins]

i have a set of flats right now

on the stingray and they sound amazing. i dont think ill ever go back to rounds unless someone lends me some really really really dead ones cause dead rounds are amazing too but i have yet to find out what dead flats sound like, so im waiting till the flats are about 2 years in to make that choice, and they'll probobly feel a lot nicer than dead rounds lol, because those things cut into you after a while