Anyone tried flats on a Bongo?

[N.F.A.]

Okay, Mr. Musahi's signature statement has got me thinking. I just got my new Bongo today. I am almost exclusively a flats guy. How well does the Bongo do flats? I am keeping rounds on my new Stingray. All my other basses have flats. Kinda on the fence about flats on the Bongo? Opinions anyone? Also, which flats? I have been using TI Jazz flats on my R#c and LaBellaa flats on my Beatle bass. I'd kind of like giving Mr. Ball's flats a chance and keep it all in the family.. Whaddya all think fellow Bongoloids?
G.

 

[bdgotoh]

Bongos are great with flats! I really like Ernie Ball group IV flats, if you like low tension like the TIs you should try them.

 

[pbass2go]

I have flats on both my Bongo's. They sound great.

Thats how they should be delivered....

(Yes, rounds on the Stingray here too)

 

[Aussie Mark]

Yes, a winner here.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

I am generally not a fan of flats becasue of the feel under my fingertips, but I am sure anything on a Bongo will sound good, if I had more than one Bongo I would give them a try, becauase I am told they give a very beefy, motown type of sound, it's just that I only have the one Bongo and I love the sound of crisp fresh super slinky #2836!

 

[N.F.A.]

So flats work well with active pickups, eh? I have been wondering about that. I can always go back to rounds, but I think that the Stingray has that covered. What is the difference between Group III and Group IV strings? Considering I have the factory strings that came on the Bongo, do you think that some string height tweaking would be necessary when changing to flats? Also, thanks so much for the quick replies. This is a really great group of folks here.
Cheers,
Geoff

 

[oddjob]

Jack... I bleeb this is your cue to chime in, oh king of flats and Bongos!!!

 

[HeavyDuty]

Oh, hell yeah! Group I EBs on mine, the voice of the Gods.

 

[bassmonkeee]

I've had flats on my main HHp Bongo for the most part since I got it. The four band EQ lets you bring out exactly what you want out of the strings. I can't imagine using anything else, quite frankly.

Here are a couple of raw dumps from some stuff we recorded live in a studio. These EB flats are probably about 3 1/2 years old at this point.

http://home.earthlink.net/~bionicmanmp3s/07 Track 7.mp3

http://home.earthlink.net/~bionicmanmp3s/15 Track 15.mp3

 

[tiffles]

i love my eb flats on my bongo. cant stand roundwounds now

 

[nicjimbass]

I just put flats on my 5 HHp the other day, and am still test driving it. I'd love to play it in a live situation, which I'm sure would kill. I think I'm just used to rounds, and am slowly starting to favor the flats.

 

[N.F.A.]

Okay, I am convinced! Now I gotta decide which set of EB flats to get. Gonna go check them out right now. Really nice tunes bassmonkee! Thanks so much to you all!
G.

 

[kylierider]

I'm not in the Bongo club but I'm still going to chime in as I strongly recomend flats. For me it's a matter of saving money. I used rounds for many many years and always changed them once a month. Once they loose that zing and nice fresh round tone I loose interest in them. Flats have a mellower tone starting out that seems to get better as the strings age. I usually keep a set on my bass for about a year or two years

I use group III flats on both my Stingrays. I have used TI's for a while but thought the tension was a little to light. The III's are perfect. Very similar in tension to the Super Slinkly Rounds.

 

[oli@bass]

the iii's are perfect. Very similar in tension to the super slinkly rounds.

+1

 

[N.F.A.]

Okay, just ordered a set of Group III for my new Bongo. Ordering was super easy. Cool that I can save shipping and just pick it up locally. Thanks everyone for the input.
Cheers,
G.

 

[MrMusashi]

welcome to the oohmmff club

MrM

 

[philthygeezer]

I've got flats on one of my H Bongos. Warm and sweet, full and round.

 

[nicjimbass]

Plyed my flat-fitted Bongo today at church, and I must say, in a live setting they really shine. I'm really itching to play with a good drummer and see just how good they sound!

 

[MingusBASS]

I had flats on my fretted Bongo for a few months. Did it sound great? Sure, it was still a Bongo, but it also made me miss the tone I was getting with roundwounds strings. It was almost like the bass had been neutered. It was missing some balls. My main gig is a loud, female fronted rock/cover band. Roundwound strings fit the vibe of the music much better, IMO.

 

[Deaj]

I bought a second 4HH Bongo just to have oone withh rounds and one with flats. I don't favor one over the other - gotta have both! Flats work wonderfully on the Bongo!