Which of these Basses would you put Flatwounds on?

[Baird]

A little background......

I am in a band that plays many different styles of music (all cover tunes). I need a bass strung with rounds for most newer music (RHCP, Foo Fighters, etc) but would like to have a bass strung with flats available as a backup (it will be used for about 20% of the tunes) and to be used for blues, reggae and older rock (Stones, older ZZ Top, etc.)

Anyways, I have 3 "Balls" and would like to try putting flats on one of them. This means one bass would get played 75% of the time, the one with flats 25% of the time and the 3rd would sit in my basement.

I really trying to understand which of these would actually sound better (or the best of the 3) with flats. In 20+ years of playing bass, I have only used flats on Fenders, so I need some help!

The Basses.....

2007 LE SR 4 H
2006 30th SR 4 H
2007 Sterling 4 H

Or... I could just bring my 1974 P with flats.

Thanks folks!

 

[Ole Man Blues]

Greetings.....

I have owned stingrays and used flats on them with great success....

P Basses with flats also sound great......

I currently own a Bongo 4H and use flats on it and I can't get enough of the tone.....

To answer your question....

Yes, Musicman Basses sound great with Flats.......

OMB

 

[Baird]

To answer your question....

Yes, Musicman Basses sound great with Flats.......

OMB

Thanks! Very helpful.

 

[EBMM7181]

put some '' Jack's acme brand '' flats on your 30th, and get your mind BLOWN

 

[TSanders]

I have flats on my StingRay5 and Sterling.

Sooooo smooooth in the mix, but still plenty of clarity.

 

[rhythmCity944]

my dad has a '62 fender bass VI with flats on it since the 70's...i can't stand flats on a fretted bass though...if i had a choice i'd go with the 30th for flats

 

[danomar]

Which brand of string were you thinking of? EBs?

 

[Baird]

my dad has a '62 fender bass VI with flats on it since the 70's...i can't stand flats on a fretted bass though...if i had a choice i'd go with the 30th for flats

I agree. One problem.... I have had the 30th for only a few days and love it! No way that bass is only getting 25% playing time!

Which brand of string were you thinking of? EBs?

Just some recycled ones. LaBallas or Chromes.

I am leaning towards trying the flats on the 2007 LE SR4.....

 

[vcs700s]

I have Chromes on my Sterling and SUB 5. I also have a set itching to be put on the Bongo.

I love the tone of flats and there is no string squeak either.

 

[Marco]

I love flats on my Stingray and my Sterling. I use EB group II on the Stingray and group III's on the Sterling.

 

[silverburst]

+1 on the Group II flats. I have them on my Bongo 4H. TDF. GFAO.

 

[Caca de Kick]

I'd go with the flats on the LE. The 30th sounds too good with rounds.

 

[Baird]

I'd go with the flats on the LE. The 30th sounds too good with rounds.

That is what I did. The LE sounds great with flats! I am very suprised at how versitile a SR can be.

 

[oli@bass]

That is what I did. The LE sounds great with flats! I am very suprised at how versitile a SR can be.

Reality check.... you got that all wrong... the SR4 is a one trick pony.

 

[buzzbass]

The 74 P with flats is the shizzle

 

[OnlyMe]

I'm thinking about puttin flats on my 20th SR5 HH. Anybody ever had that particular combination?

 

[Duarte]

I put flats on my ray the other day, was amazing - deep and smooth. Rounds back on though, slaphappy!

 

[drTStingray]

I put flats on my natural finish SR5 maple neck/fretted - sounds awesome - and a tweak of EQ means you can still get a usable slap tone - so Jamerson thump, nice slap and almost fretless sounding slides/vibrato all in one bass - one trick pony it aint - don't bother if you you want to bend into notes a la S Clarke though - string bending not so easy - v slippy, taught strings!

Even a couple of bass playing (well after a fashion!) guitards I know had to eat their words - everyone thinks flats = 62 P bass thump only - the SR5 is a much more versatile bass than that!

Back to original thread - I'd try em on the Sterling - seem to work well with the ceramic pole sound.

 

[muggsy]

I have flats on my 30th SR4 and that'd be my choice. If you don't want to do that because it'll limit your playing time with the 30th, I'd choose the 2007 LE SR4.

 

[Ole Man Blues]

Thanks! Very helpful.

Sorry that I did not choose of the ones you named, but.......

I play Flats exclusively and won't put Roundwounds on any Bass. I detest string noise and like my frets too much to wear them out prematurely with Rounds.

I've used Flats on Stringrays, Bongo's, P Basses and a Jazz Bass I once owned for a season. I played a Sterling with Flats which belonged to a fellow bassist and it sounded great.

What I'm saying is in my estimation no matter which Bass you choose to put flats on it will sound great......

a good choice might be the Bass you use the least.........

OMB