SR5 with flats...

[theosd]

I got the opportunity to buy some cheapo secondhand bass strings (La B*lla) and strung up my sr5 H with em yesterday before my gig. Unfortunately the G string unwound itself at the top so I had to use my regular roundwound for that, but the sound I got from these things on the other strings is fantastic!! I was worried about the tension - what would folks recommend I do to minimise neck damage in regards to this? And would I need to adjust the truss rod at all to compensate - Do I need to take the strings off before I do?

Thanks.

I'm converted to flats! Love the feel and seriously MASSIVE tone...

 

[MrMusashi]

welcome to the club

i can only speak for myself, and i have used rotosound on my bongo. they do put more tension on the neck but a small tweak on the trussrod wheel did the trick for me.

i absolutely love the sound!!

MrM

 

[TSanders]

I LOVE flatwounds on my StingRay 5.

 

[jasper383]

Necks nowadays, really regardless of manufacturer or price point, can take the stress of flats. Your SR5 can handle any flat out there.

Read the ernieball.com faqs about bass setup. You don't have to take the strings off to adjust the truss rod/relief. I fret at the 1st and 15th fret, then look for how high the strings are at the 8th fret. A credit cards' width is about right. Any more, tighten the wheel a tiny bit. Any less, loosen a tiny bit. Recheck in a few minutes. Repeat if necessary.

Once the relief is good, I set the strings at 3/32" at the 12th fret, check intonation, and away I go. MM basses are the easiest I have ever had to setup. Everything is right there, well designed, and gives good feedback.

Now I know why bovinehost stays away from setup posts.

 

[EBMM7181]

I'm gonna have to put some flats on my Ray......

 

[vcs700s]

I have D'Addario Chromes on my Sterling and my new SUB 5 and love them!

 

[Abiatha]

LOVE flats on the SR5, they warm it up a little, and there's still tons of highs in the active eq to keep things clear. You still can't really slap with them, but they are great for reggae and blues.

 

[jar546]

I was told the same thing when I asked about using flats. I too was worried about the tension on the SR5 since the neck is smaller for a 5 string (one of the reasons I bought it)

I ordered a pair of flats from a local store but I think they forgot about me because I have not heard from them in a few weeks. I ordered an EB set. I don't remember what EB set it was because I think there is only 1 set of flats that EB makes for a 5 string.

PLEASE! For those of you who are using flats, why and what type of music are you playing?

Thanks

 

[bovinehost]

I was told the same thing when I asked about using flats. I too was worried about the tension on the SR5 since the neck is smaller for a 5 string (one of the reasons I bought it)

Nothing to worry about. I've strung SR5s with all kinds of different strings and, well, that's what they're made for.

PLEASE! For those of you who are using flats, why and what type of music are you playing?

Why? Because I like bass, not treble. If I liked treble, I'd play cymbals - or a piccolo.

I've mostly been playing throwback rockabilly these last few years, but have used flats on all kinds of gigs. Blues, classic rock, singer-songwriter stuff and of course at home I play whatever's on the stereo, too.

Jack

 

[MrMusashi]

i love the old motown style sound

listen to latest chaka khan or joss stone albums.. good and modern examples of that boom boom sound
or check the original in the "standing in the shadows of motown" dvd. i love the book with the same title.. play along to old classics

MrM

 

[Aussie Mark]

PLEASE! For those of you who are using flats, why and what type of music are you playing?

Sound
Feel
Consistency
Longevity
Top 40 Pop
Classic Rock
Blues
Funk

 

[backagain1]

Sound
Feel
Consistency
Longevity
Top 40 Pop
Classic Rock
Blues
Funk

Longevity??

 

[jasper383]

Longevity??

You will live longer with flats on your basses. No foolin'

Flats often (usually) sound better with age, and some players do their best never to change them once they are on a bass.

 

[silverburst]

I got the opportunity to buy some cheapo secondhand bass strings

I also cannot believe that someone was actually greedy enough to try to sell used strings.

Am I missing something here? Have I been throwing away super valuable used strings for the last 25 years?

 

[bovinehost]

I also cannot believe that someone was actually greedy enough to try to sell used strings.

Am I missing something here? Have I been throwing away super valuable used strings for the last 25 years?

If I ever offer to sell used strings, someone go ahead and kill me because the aliens have taken over my brain.

 

[vcs700s]

If I ever offer to sell used strings, someone go ahead and kill me because the aliens have taken over my brain.

 

[jar546]

My EB flats came in the mail today and they should be on this SR5HH for a long, long time. they sound great and I am happy that I switched

 

[bovinehost]

 

[backagain1]

Flats often (usually) sound better with age, and some players do their best never to change them once they are on a bass.

Maybe flats don't lose their tone and crispness with age because they never had any to start with.

backagain1

 

[bovinehost]

Maybe flats don't lose their tone and crispness with age because they never had any to start with.

backagain1

You're confusing 'tone' with 'zing'.