EB Flats questions

[sandman@midlife]

Fire up the grill, I'm ordering some EB group II's as we speak!

I like mine with Louisiana Hot Sauce...


the kittens, not the strings for Chrissakes

 

[Duarte]

I've never had flats on a fretted, curious about what it sounds like.

 

[The Swedish Owl]

I've never had flats on a fretted, curious about what it sounds like.

I think it's harder to stay in tune with them, no matter what you play, the tone will always be flat.



Sorry, just couldn't resist that setup.

Flats can be a fresh breath of air. They really give your basses a new dimension, if you're used to playing roundwounds. A lot of 60's and 70's music have a very special bass sound, all thanks to the songs being recorded with flatwounds. The most classic example is of course Jamerson's "funk machine", a 62' P-bass with flats and ridiculously high setup.

Oh, and ROFLMAO on the kittens...

 

[phat5]

I found a well used set of Chromes last wkend, in my big box-o-bass crap. One of the strings is about to fall apart, but these sound incredible on my Bongo 5'r. I was thinking of getting a new set, but am curious about the Group III's. How do they compare in sound / tension to the Chromes.

 

[carpedebass]

I hate cats!

 

[strummer]

It's funny when you open a string package from a "string-company" that claim their new product will revolutionize the world of strings as we know it, only to find they use the same color coding on the ball ends that D'Addario uses....Hmmm!!!

Have you seen that? Then I honestly don't think they come from D'addario, because when I met a D'addario (a son of Jim I think) and asked him about making a "house brand" by buying 144 of each gauge, he specifically told me no problem but you cannot have the color coded ball ends.
Maybe he was ****ting me, but I don't think so. He was on his way to get beaten in golf by BP (in florida I think) and they had a giveaway featuring an EBMM guitar (that I didn't win)

 

[carpedebass]

I'd have cheated in the worst ways to win! I'm not proud...just honest!

 

[Aussie Mark]

I've never had flats on a fretted, curious about what it sounds like.

All 4 of these songs feature flats on a fretted Stingray .....

http://myspace.com/aussiemarkonbass

 

[r goldsmith]

As you probably know Mark, I kind of gave up on flats (again...for now...?). But one variety I did try on my SR5 was Ernie Balls, and I thought they were rather good, though I probably picked too thick a gauge. Anyway, I thought they resembled a Chrome, but not so "bell like" if you get my drift. FWIW I preferred them to the Chromes.

 

[Aussie Mark]

As you probably know Mark, I kind of gave up on flats (again...for now...?). But one variety I did try on my SR5 was Ernie Balls, and I thought they were rather good, though I probably picked too thick a gauge. Anyway, I thought they resembled a Chrome, but not so "bell like" if you get my drift. FWIW I preferred them to the Chromes.

Thanks Richard, I've heard from a couple of other people that they're similar. I have a set of EBs ready to use at some point in time, just waiting for the right opportunity to go to the trouble of changing strings

 

[bovinehost]

D'Addario Chromes were my 2nd choice for a long time, but I do like the EB Flats better now that I've tried them out thoroughly.

 

[tkarter]

Thanks Richard, I've heard from a couple of other people that they're similar. I have a set of EBs ready to use at some point in time, just waiting for the right opportunity to go to the trouble of changing strings

When you play flats a long time changing strings isn't all that much in your fun things to do category.

tk

 

[pudgychef]

I like Flats when its time to record or just for fun on different basses. Offers a unique sound.

Last time I bought a set of Group II flats and brought my bass in for a set up and string change the tech told me that "Music Man basses aren't designed to receive heavy guage strings" thats weird I thought since they are EB strings..."they are designed for other basses, heavy guage strings will ruin your EBMM neck"

I went to another tech....

sadly this was the official EBMM distributor here in Seoul who said that....

seems he would know better (or am I out to lunch and ruining my bass using heavies??) but here in korea there is a strong belief that "Koreans only play Med-Light guage stings" so that may have played into it.....

 

[bovinehost]

That bass has been wearing Group II Flats for quite some time.

All is well.

Sounds like modern mythology to me.

 

[carpedebass]

When you play flats a long time changing strings isn't all that much in your fun things to do category.

tk

Hmmm...my curiosity is peaked! Are they that hard to change? Why aint it fun?

 

[tkarter]

You forget how to change strings or more so never see a reason to change them.

They get better with age.

IMHO

tk

 

[carpedebass]

You forget how to change strings or more so never see a reason to change them.

They get better with age.

IMHO

tk

I am steadfastly resisting the urge to try them now! I have never even considered them, for some reason. Honestly, I don't know why. I guess I've just been happy with my DRs.

 

[Surly]

I am dying to try some flats. If I get the Group III's which are the same guage as the 2834's (came with the 'Ray of course), does that mean I won't have to adjust anything? I like the lighter guage rounds and the feel of everything.

 

[KennethB]

It's funny when you open a string package from a "string-company" that claim their new product will revolutionize the world of strings as we know it, only to find they use the same color coding on the ball ends that D'Addario uses....Hmmm!!!

Have you seen that? Then I honestly don't think they come from D'addario, because when I met a D'addario (a son of Jim I think) and asked him about making a "house brand" by buying 144 of each gauge, he specifically told me no problem but you cannot have the color coded ball ends.
Maybe he was ****ting me, but I don't think so. He was on his way to get beaten in golf by BP (in florida I think) and they had a giveaway featuring an EBMM guitar (that I didn't win)

Yes, I've seen that. I bought a string-set for a one off metal-gig and I needed some pretty heavy gauges. I don't remember the brand (Damn it!). When I opened the package....green,black, red, brass and purple....ah, D'Addarios!,I thought. This was in 2005.
Maybe they changed policies/practice at one point?

 

[pudgychef]

That bass has been wearing Group II Flats for quite some time.

All is well.

Sounds like modern mythology to me.

I agree...and with the quality of the necks and trussrods I doubt heavies will cause any more strain on a Ball than any other bass!

A little snapshot of life in Korea perhaps.

Heading back in 6mths though (after 5 years in Asia - 4 in Korea)...and I know one tubby bastard that will be placing a sweet order at my local EBMM dealer.....