slapping with flatwounds

[jamesattard]

this question is for those who 0wn a stingray (particularly 3EQ) with flatwounds. Do you get a nice slap/pop tone? I may try out flatwounds to improve my sound (esp the higher strings) but i don't want to lose my slap tone.

 

[shamus63]

Dunno...to me, it's like smacking a belt against a phone book.

 

[Dr Stankface]

I play a single H SR5 with flats and I can get a pleasing slap tone (EB flats). Granted, they won't sound as good as rounds IMHO.

 

[bassmonkeee]

I just shipped off a 3 band SR4 with Group III flats that sounded pretty good slapped. Just bump the treble a little bit, and you're good.

It might not sound the same when soloed, but in a band context, I doubt you'd be able to notice.

Go for it!

 

[PocketGroove82]

they DEF. don't get that same bright sound on the pops

 

[kakobass]

It depends on what type of flats you use. For example, Thomastik-Infeld: No. They are way too mellow, but I have had great experience with, for example, Sadowsky flats: they are bright enough to have a snap to them and make them good-enough for slapping, in a band context, as mentioned.

But I keep going back to nickel rounds. I like when they are about 3 month old, they get nice and mellow, and if I need more snap I just turn the treble on the bass a tad.

I think a widely accepted rule-of-thumb is that you can mellow out a roundwound, but you can't brighten up a flatwound. . . in general. . .

I nice experiment I did once was to run the E and A with flats, and the D and G with rounds! Best of both worlds! I could still slap and solo, without losing definition, and I got the deep thump of the flats where needed most.

 

[jamesattard]

the reason i want to try out the flats is because upon reading some of the threads in this forum, apparently i'm not the only one whose D and G strings sound quieter. In fact BP confirmed this is the characteristic sound of the Stingray, which in fact is why is sounds so great when slapping. In such threads i read that to compensate for this one may use flatwounds. I want to find a compromise between definition on the higher strings, and slapping tone (as I use slapping in my solos and during the band play i don't want to limit myself to the bottom 2 strings)

 

[Chris C]

Depends...

If you are talking about a Marcus Miller or Flea type slap sound, you'll never get it with flats. There are some slappers who use (or have used in the past) flats. Listen to some old Larry Graham stuff. That's more of the sound flats can get when slapped. But, really, you'll never get what is now considered a *classic* slap sound from flats. Can you get by with the sound you do get? That depends on your expectations. Try it.

But considering the output problem that you mention, why not play with your string gauges a bit and still use rounds (the sound of which you say you like)?
Try some heavier gauges on the G and D and lighter guages on the E and A than you would normally use.

I use 35 - 95 Stainless strings (or 30 - 90 sometimes). The output on the G string is less (as I would expect with such light strings). But for me, it's easy to compensate for with technique. In fact, I do it unconsciously. It's the price I'm willing to pay to get the heavenly sound that I get out of my Sterling (possibly soon to morph into a 30th Anniversary Ray!) with those nice, snappy, twangy, light strings (but surprisingly punchy, too)...

 

[punkrock]

the reason i want to try out the flats is because upon reading some of the threads in this forum, apparently i'm not the only one whose D and G strings sound quieter. In fact BP confirmed this is the characteristic sound of the Stingray, which in fact is why is sounds so great when slapping. In such threads i read that to compensate for this one may use flatwounds. I want to find a compromise between definition on the higher strings, and slapping tone (as I use slapping in my solos and during the band play i don't want to limit myself to the bottom 2 strings)

I have found that you have to raise the A and the D string a little higher than with wounds to get a good slap response with flats on my SR4. The tone is very similar and you have the added benefit of flats for finger/pick tone. I use Rotosound 77's. They are very bright for a flatwound almost in the same league as most others wounds.

Don't take my word for it. Flea of the Peppers is using flats exclusively these days and he has some wicked slap licks he just put down on the new "Stadium Arcadium" album (listen to "Tell Me Baby"). He's using flats on old vintage J-Bass's.

Live in TV studio

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SoZvF6DdvQ"]YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.[/nomedia]

Live "Top of the pops"

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWRt4jsNCZY"]YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.[/nomedia]

Ed Friedland (Bass Player Magazine, and author of "Slap Bass The Ultimate Guide") is loving life slapping with flats on his Lakland's these days.

 

[stretch80]

coil setting matters too

ON my SR5, I find that the series setting has stronger D and G string response, while the parallel setting the D and G are a bit more muted. So that may be an option, depending on your bass.

I also agree on the guages: I play w/ a .50 g string, (nickel rounds) and it sounds stronger.

good luck!