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So You've Never Tried Flatwounds....

I never tried flats until recently, I finally broke down and got a set. They're quite useless for me as they have zero character. I could never see using them on my Bongo...what's the point of having a great sounding bass and then just putting lifeless strings on it that will make it sound like every other bass?

However having said that I DO see where having flats available might be interesting for a change. I plan on getting a cheaper (but nice!) bass like a G&L Tribute or older ESP 400 and keeping flats on it. I just can't see using them on any bass that has a voice of it's own like a Bongo or a Stingray..why strip the bass of all it's soul?
 
I have never tried flats because I was allways happy with my roundwounds. I couldn't figure out what the difference between round and flats is, until i read about it. And after reading about the flatwounds, I came to the conclusion that they wouldn't be what I like. I love having a fat tone, but I also love having some brilliant highs and i don't mind about tweeters in cabs. So i never put the cash for a set of flats, being nearly sure that it would be a waste of money. Maybe one day i should try to play some.

MNF
 
Darth Tater said:
They're quite useless for me as they have zero character. I could never see using them on my Bongo...what's the point of having a great sounding bass and then just putting lifeless strings on it that will make it sound like every other bass?
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Each to their own.
 
If anyone has heard and fell in love with the 'snap' of an upright bass (hard hard attack). I think Flatwounds would be the obvious choice over rounds. Having said that, I'm a hardcore rounds player. +1 to Aussie Mark
 
mike not fat said:
after reading about the flatwounds, I came to the conclusion that they wouldn't be what I like
Click to expand...

Hmmm.... given that the principal difference is the sound, what good does reading do? Listening is the test, is it not?

I made the same assumptions that most do about flats (too dark, not enough piano-like character). I was a rounds player until I read all the good buzz about the T-I Jazz flats. Had to listen for myself, just to see. After trying them, I adopted them.

Gotta share a short anecdote here. When I gave the Bongo a good head-to-head test against my existing bass a few weeks ago, I pulled the T-I Jazz Flats off my fretless and installed them (because I wanted both basses to be strung the same way, so as to get a more fair comparison). Worked okay, but after a short while the D string slipped, because it was too short (different headstock configuration). So I put the roundwound D back on, leaving the rest of the strings alone.

I was quite surprised that the difference in tone between the T-I Jazz Flats and the stock EB roundwound was so small. There WAS a difference, to be sure, but not nearly as much as I thought there'd be. Usual disclaimers: MHO, YMMV, and this is worth every penny you're paying for it.

I'll be sticking with the stock Bongo strings until they die. I'll decide then whether to stay with rounds or go flat for that bass.
 
Never tried 'em because none of the stores in my area stock 'em. Special order only.
 
p5string said:
Never tried 'em because none of the stores in my area stock 'em. Special order only.
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I personally think this is why rounds outsell flats by a large margin - it's very difficult for a player to try them on a whim, not because rounds are superior.
 
Jack--I've used a lot of flats, but I've never tried EB flats (never seen 'em in a store). If you've got any left, I'd love to take a set for whirl.

:D
 
Have tried lots of flats, never found any that moved me.

Nickel rounds here, the older the better.
 
Joshua said:
Have tried lots of flats, never found any that moved me.
Nickel rounds here, the older the better.
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+1
didn't like flats or ss.
well played nickels for me.
 
Just a few short months ago I might have been jumping up in the back yelling "Me, me, over here!", but I have since converted to flats.

Think I'll stay a while...

Very cool of you to share the love... :)
 
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