Who uses flats on their Bongo?

[JessRobinson]

A frequent lurker and infrequent contributor here...

Just curious as to how many of you Bongo owners use flats. I've had my beloved Bongo for two months now and I'm ready to replace the stock EB roundwounds. I'm thinking of making the move to flats. I already have flats on my fretless Jazz, and halfwounds on my Reverend 'Fish. I love the feel and sound of flats.

For those who use flats on your Bongos - whaddaya think? Can you still get a bright sound if you choose? Too muted, thumpy? Or is it a slice of heaven?

Any suggestions for which brand of flats to use?

Thanks for your input!

Jess

 

[shamus63]

Think I'll go flats on my next B4 purchase (single-H). My current Bongo is staying with RW's.

 

[LisaIs]

.... but you can't play funk with RW. Of course fretless is another story. If you slap and pop at all then you probably won't like it.

 

[shamus63]

I like flats for the old R&B stuff that I love to play.

 

[bovinehost]

Flats good.

Me like-um flats.

If I can't play it with flats, I don't want to play it anyway.

(Although I must admit - that Stingray I just sold, the one that had Slinkys on it, really got me re-interested.)

Hmmmm.

Sterling is a bad influence.

 

[phatduckk]

lots of folks here are in love with TI flats

 

[Aussie Mark]

I have flats on all my basses, Bongo included, which is running D'Addario Chromes. I could still get a bright sound (ewwww) if I wanted to.

 

[tkarter]

My bongo is going to get flats installed when I get a bongo. Does that count?


tk

 

[shamus63]

My bongo is going to get flats installed when I get a bongo. Does that count?


tk

You bet!

 

[neutrino]

is it a big deal to change string type? You all make it sound like you have to have a tech do it or something - can't you just buy flats and string em up, or is there more to it?

 

[maddog]

If you're switching string types/brands, you should revisit the trussrod. The different strings may have different tensions which will change the relief.

 

[usedtobeachacha]

I love the idea of flat wounds, but in using them i've always found the tension a bit tough to tame. However i have to ask, what's the point of 4 band eq when you're using string that have lower fidelity and loose that which they have quicker? When i want that sort of sound i just mute with my palm. The Bongo seems designed for modern sounds with more complex qualities, but flat wounds smooth everything out.....

 

[HeavyDuty]

Flats have lower fidelity? Unless you define "fidelity" as "brightness and overtones", I think not.

Almost 100% flats user here. I've traditionally used Fender 9050Ms, but have a set of EB Group I flats on my Bongo. I like them enough that they will be my new standard, if they keep breaking in the way they have.

 

[Aussie Mark]

I love the idea of flat wounds, but in using them i've always found the tension a bit tough to tame. However i have to ask, what's the point of 4 band eq when you're using string that have lower fidelity and loose that which they have quicker? When i want that sort of sound i just mute with my palm. The Bongo seems designed for modern sounds with more complex qualities, but flat wounds smooth everything out.....

Do your homework. And FYI, some brands of flats have lower tension than roundwounds. Palm muting when playing fingerstyle? Now there's an interesting concept.

 

[strummer]

Do your homework. And FYI, some brands of flats have lower tension than roundwounds. Palm muting when playing fingerstyle? Now there's an interesting concept.

Lol, when our guitar player want's that sound he tells me to use "the crab"
It works, but since your fingers are pretty much in the same direction as the strings the speed suffers badly. Then again, the thumb bets into play, which means one more finger to use.

 

[Steve Dude Barr]

I'm leaving the stock strings on my Bongo and never changing them..nothing like a good set of dead rounds (after time) to me...

 

[Dr Stankface]

.... but you can't play funk with RW. Of course fretless is another story. If you slap and pop at all then you probably won't like it.

Who says? I play funk all the time with RWs. I think it sounds pretty nice myself.

Andrew

 

[Freddy-G.]

I haven't tried flats on my Bongo yet. But I will. I'm just digging the Blue Steels too much now to change. I'm interested in trying some EB flats next though. Or TIs. Or Sadowskys.

So many strings, so little time.

 

[bassmonkeee]

I've been through many different brands of flats on my Bongos, and I've settled on Sadowsky flats on my fretless, and TI Jazz Flats tuned EADGC on my fretted Bongo.

To say that flats have "lower fidelity" couldn't be further from the truth. The only thing missing in my sound is string squeak. I can dial in as "roundwound" as a tone as I want without any problem--especially with the 4 band EQ. I only really use that tone for one song, where I solo the bridge humbucker and bump the high mids, and dial in a little bit of highs.

IMHO, flats sit better in any mix, and the bass is more visible aurally since you aren't having to compete with the rest of the instruments in the sonic spectrum. In other words, you can turn up without stepping on anyone's toes.

 

[KEVL]

I'd love to get a side by side A/B demo of a Bongo 5HH (fretted) with flats and rounds.

I've played flats on a friend's de-fretted Peavey a few times (not sure what brand strings) and liked them. It would take a bit of getting used to play with them.

I'm just not sure how they'd feel on a fretted instrument, and I'm into more of a progressive rock tone when playing in a band situation. When I'm on my own at home I normally go for a more relaxed sound.

If I went flats, I'd still want to be able to get that agressive growl the Bongo HH does so well.

Kev