Super Slinkies v. Group 3 Flats

[midopa]

Here're a few sound clips I've done to demonstrate the sound of Super Slinkies next to Group 3 Flats (both strings more or less new) on my SR4 DD HS. They're not the best sound quality and playing, I know. Treat them more as a reference if you're thinking about moving from flats to roundwounds or vice versa.

FWIW, the bass was sent directly through a Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum sound card (that's a mouthful, eh? ). Noise was reduced, a bit of compression applied, and then each clip normalized to 0dB.

The action was adjusted to be about the same for both sets of strings. All measurements are approximations and done in inches.
- Relief 6/7th fret a bit thinner than a business card
- Action at 12th fret for E: 6/64", A: 6/64", D: 5.5/64", G: 5/64"
- Pickup height for neck singlecoil at E: 8/32", G: 7.5/32"
- Bridge humbucker at E: 6.5/32", G: 6/32"

Roundwounds, position 1
Roundwounds, position 5
Roundwounds, position 2

Flatwounds, position 1
Flatwounds, position 5
Flatwounds, position 2

The "pos1" clips are the following bass lines, in order:
Stevie Wonder's "Sir Duke", Duran Duran's "Rio", Mile Davis' "So What" (w/ palm muting), and "Collision Chaos" (slap line) from a game called Sonic CD (bassist was Bobby Vega!).

"pos5" clips are:
Led Zeppelin's "Black Dog", James Brown's "Sex Machine", Santana's "Soul Sacrafice"

"pos2" is the theme from King of the Hill with a pick (for Beth!).

I'm liking the flatwounds at the moment. What do you prefer?

 

[russjm]

VERY interesting that thanks. I've been thinking about flats recently for my ray, and that confirms what I'd decided, Slinkys, definately. Very nice sound you're getting there with both, and some nice playing too, but the Slinkys sound much better to me.

 

[kaaikop]

Absolutely! very interesting for sure. I never would have imagined flats can sound that good, they sound kinda funky, with a lot less annoying noises. I always though flats were only for fretless... Next time I restring one of my girls, its gonna be flats for a try!

 

[PocketGroove82]

those flats sound very new.
they should mellow out a lot after you put more time in on them.

 

[russjm]

Yeah, both sets of strings sound pretty new to me, but for the fingerstyle stuff on position one, I much prefer the Slinkys. However, with the pick, they sound very bright, too much so fo me actually, but then, I never use a pick so it wouldn't be a problem for me.

 

[bovinehost]

Collision Chaos" (slap line) from a game called Sonic CD (bassist was Bobby Vega!).

Hey, I know that guy.

Nice work on the samples!

Jack

 

[adouglas]

Separated at birth:

Bobby Vega

Cheech Marin

 

[mobis.fr]

Action at 12th fret for E: 6/64", A: 6/64", D: 5.5/64", G: 5/64"
- Pickup height for neck singlecoil at E: 8/32", G: 7.5/32"
- Bridge humbucker at E: 6.5/32", G: 6/32"

for the europeans:
5.0/64 = 1,98mm
5.5/64 = 2,18mm
6.0/64 = 2,38mm
6.5/64 = 2,57mm
7.5/64 = 2,97mm
8.0/64 = 3,18mm
64/64 = 25,4mm



btw. i voted for the flatwound, because i like the nice mellow growly tone.
are there any other flats that sound like the EB? you can't get them in germany.
7ender, chromes or labella?