Convince me to put flats on my SR5

[Dasgre0g]

I love flatwounds, and I am getting my SR5 set up again in a week and I am considering going to 5 string flats. I have em on my fretless basses and have had them on a stingray before but not for long. Anyone have a truly great arument for why I should stick to the flats? And if so, does everyone like the ernie ball 5 string flats?

 

[Powman]

Because they sound so classic! But may I offer you a different argument. There seems to be 3 groups of people.

1. Those that only use flats and hate rounds
2. Those that only use rounds and hate flats
3. Those that see the value on both and have one or more basses strung with each type of string.

I am in the latter category (or rather will be soon). My Sterling 4H sound awesome with rounds. Aggressive rock bass. The on order is a Bongo 4HH that I will string with flats.

I always had two basses in the past one strung with each, but for various reasons I have only one bass right now. Situation will soon be corrected.

So my advice to you is if you like flats put 'em on all your basses. If you like both and you have more than one bass (looks like you have 3??) have both string types.

As for EB Flats, Ed Friedland found that EB Flats work well with MM basses (who knew!).

 

[rappa29]

I love flatwounds, and I am getting my SR5 set up again in a week and I am considering going to 5 string flats. I have em on my fretless basses and have had them on a stingray before but not for long. Anyone have a truly great arument for why I should stick to the flats? And if so, does everyone like the ernie ball 5 string flats?

There is no 'argument'. It's all personal preference or whatever your band, session, track requires.

You say you love flats, then use flats.

I had flats on a bass who's name rhymes with Incision. It sounded great! Total old school thump. That's the only bass I've ever used flats on. I have rounds on my other basses because I don't want old school thump on all my basses. Especially my SR4H I prefer rounds.

 

[Thornton Davis]

I keep a set of Ernie Ball 2810's Flatwounds on one of my Stingray 5's which gives me great old school tone. And I keep a set of Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 5 (2836's) on my other Stingray 5 for more modern tone. Gives me more versatlility when needed.

TD

 

[Dasgre0g]

Thanks guys. Definitely something to think about. I love the feel and tone of flats but I always think maybe I am costing my SR5's potential a little bit. Screw it. I will go with the flats and report back later!

 

[Elad_E]

There is no 'argument'. It's all personal preference or whatever your band, session, track requires.

You say you love flats, then use flats.

I had flats on a bass who's name rhymes with Incision. It sounded great! Total old school thump. That's the only bass I've ever used flats on. I have rounds on my other basses because I don't want old school thump on all my basses. Especially my SR4H I prefer rounds.

+1

flats only ever worked for me with the Denfer Incision Bass
every other bass I strung with flats just sounded dull and muted with nothing but subsonic rumble to boot.

I strung my Rays with a certain brand of flats which has great mid range response with my Incision Bass, their name rhymes with Plastic, and it sent my Rays into generic-tone land instead of accentuating the Rays' inherent lively mid, punchy mid range.

went back to rounds and the Rays came back to life.
funny thing is that the same thing happened when I put rounds on the Incisions, they just don't sound good with that.

all of this is IME/IMO of course.

 

[maddog]

Put flats on your bass.

 

[projectapollo]

Flats for far less string noise and less buzzing.

 

[Mogee]

Try em out, if you fon't like 'em. send them to me and I will try them on mine.

 

[danny-79]

Just try it you might like it An if you dont like it then you will no for next time, what you got to lose appart from the price of the strings ?

 

[kevins]

go with the flats you'll love them. they take a little while longer to break in than rounds but they stay good for a very long time. and they sound straight up classy. and in all honesty i love the sounds of flats on a stingray more than anything.

 

[T Alan]

Anyone have a truly great arument for why I should stick to the flats?

> your playing a supportive role
> your recording and want a plug n play situation
> your playing like, playing a supportive role and want a plug n play situation

Nothing says "I'm here just doin' my job" like flats.