redstriper

Never say never Pete - fancy a burger?

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1144868' date='Feb 28 2011, 07:52 PM']Whats the point, Will people who only like flats only try the 25% of basses hanging up with flats on? I have said it 3 times in this thread already but here we go again, If its a serious possibility that you will buy it ask for them to be fitted (either take a set along or buy a set there and keep them for your next purchase when you find the one somewhere else, The strings can be left long for now just incase). If you like the bass anyway with the rounds on make sure you get a set of flats thrown in with the deal. There is more chance of a flat strung bass in a shop selling some flat wound strings to the new and uninitiated than of actually helping to sell that bass as we can see from 75% of people walking in the shop prefering them. This thread wiffs of the vegetarians wanting you to cook a veggie and meat meal at your house then you get a nut roast at theirs [/quote] What's the point? I have said it 3 times in this thread already but here we go again: None of the shops I have tried even stock flats and none of them will let me fit mine to audition their basses. They seem to have the same attitude as you, that all flatwound lovers are weird vegetarians and don't deserve equal treatment. I don't know why you think a preference for flatwound strings has anything in common with not eating meat, but most restaurants offer a veggie option for the small percentage of non meat eaters and I am simply asking for the same thing string wise.

And the '62 AVs are supposed to be replicas of basses that were produced before rounds were even invented - this can't be right......... can it?

Why is it not a viable option to have a few basses strung with flats for the 25% of us who prefer them? I'm not asking for fat, medium, thin or anything else - just the simple option to try a bass with flats instead of rounds. As far as the action is concerned, that is easy to alter and not my concern here. Every music shop that I contacted within a 50 mile radius has not a single new bass strung with flats, furthermore none of these shops even stocks them. When I asked one large retailer if I could change just one string for a flatwound of my own, I was told absolutely not. So how are we to know what a given bass will sound like with flats? We could look to youtube for video reviews, but guess what - it's all about the slap, pop and treble with not a flat to be seen. I remember when all basses came with flats and rounds were a new phenomenon. Then rounds became much more popular and flats almost disappeared, but there has always been a hardcore of flat lovers and now there is a new breed of players wanting the retro sound of flats. It surprises me that with all the retro basses that are being produced eg. Squier CV & VMs and Fender Classic 50s & 60s and RWs, none of them come with period correct strings, (unless you can afford the Pino which has TI flats).

[quote name='BigRedX' post='1144222' date='Feb 28 2011, 10:21 AM']But I prefer both types. It depends on what kind of music I'm playing and what bass I'm using to play it with. I mean why limit yourself? The reason why different basses and different strings exist is so we can get different sounds out of them. Wha is appropriate for one song isn't necessarily appropriate for another. Just because at the moment in my band I predominantly use one bass strung with a particular type of string doesn't mean that in 12 months time I won't be using something completely different, and in another 12 months something different again as the music changes and evolves.[/quote] I understand that many people like both types and there is plenty of choice so there is no need to limit yourself in the real world. For the purposes of this poll I am simply interested to know which you would choose in the hypothetical situation that you could only have one type. It may help to imagine that there is no choice and you simply have to decide one way or the other, but if you really can't decide that's ok, don't vote.

[quote name='Darkstrike' post='1144100' date='Feb 28 2011, 02:23 AM']Yup, a bit late now, you'd be better off starting from scratch if you want accurate results. I would have gone for both, but hit rounds because they're what I use on the majority of my basses lately.[/quote] I want to know which strings you prefer, not whether you like both or not - which you would choose if you could only use one type. I know lots of people like both and I know most prefer rounds, what I don't know is how many prefer flats. And I know that all statistics are flawed, but the results are accurate enough for me to get a better idea of that percentage.

My band's new album which just came back from being mastered - it was recorded on very basic gear in my front room and I'm quite pleased with it.

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='1144095' date='Feb 28 2011, 01:52 AM']Unfortunately some of the guys who have already voted one or t'other but may have gone with "both" had the option been there to start with can't change their vote, so there's no point adding it now as it will nullify the results. As it stands this poll is fine for knowing just the preference over either flats or rounds..... Rounds by the look of it. A new poll would be the way to go.[/quote] I've removed the 'both' option as requested - I really wanted to know which string type people favoured if they could only have one. I knew rounds were more popular, but there seems to be a significant minority of flat lovers who are largely ignored by bass makers, retailers and reviewers.

Interesting results so far - thanks for your participation, I had no idea how this would go. I know most people prefer rounds, but I'm interested to know how big or small the flat loving minority is. I have added a vote for both as requested.

Why are almost all new basses supplied with round wound strings when lots of players don't like them and they make the instrument sound completely different than with flats? Why is it generally presumed everybody wants a zingy modern tone? If you play reggae or old school soul, country or blues and you want a new bass, you have to guess what it will sound like after you change the strings. Am I alone in wanting to audition basses with flat wound strings? I think suppliers should offer a basic choice of string types and shops should have models with both flats and rounds in proportion to their public demand. Not all bassists want to play metal or sound like Jaco............ do they??????? Has this poll been done before and if so what were the results and if it's a while ago, have opinions changed?

I love that holy bass.

[quote name='silddx' post='1134970' date='Feb 20 2011, 11:48 PM']Sorry, no offence meant. I was wondering if your speakers might be f***ed from too much loud dub. One of my Alesis M1 Actives is.[/quote] [b]PARDON ![/b] - Oh hang on, I'll just turn me subs down a bit.............. No need to apologise, I wasn't offended at all, I just had another listen and you're right, it's clean and very deep - what part of the frequency range is being boosted ?

[quote name='silddx' post='1134868' date='Feb 20 2011, 10:03 PM']Interesting, it's fine on mine. Have you been playing too much dub too loudly? [/quote] pardon?

[quote name='silddx' post='1134802' date='Feb 20 2011, 09:02 PM']It's the subs messing with the speakers, if you turn it down it's clean. The bass boost is extreme![/quote] I turned it right down, but it's still distorting.

ACTIVE East - Bass almost fully boosted / treble rolled off / bright flat / mid flat 7. Neck This sounds distorted, or is that the idea?

I'd like to hear that demo..........

I use an Alesis multimix 16 channel firewire mixer. It gives 16 channels similtaneous recording and 8 mic inputs with phantom power. I've been using it nearly every day for over 4 years with no problems and I would highly recommend it. I think they make a 12 and 8 channel version too - google it.

I love GHS precision flats and I buy them from the states on ebay for less than £20 delivered within a week, like [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GHS-PRECISION-BASS-STRINGS-FLATWOUND-M3050-1-SETS-/170554363653#ht_500wt_922"]these[/url]. They are great for reggae and get better the longer they're on, but they may not be bright enough for you, check out this video review:

luverly juberly - get it spent !

I enquired about the new Squier vintage modified jazz basses and here are the specs I was given: The '77' is black with a maple white bound fingerboard with white pearloid block position inlays. The body wood is agathis and it weighs 8.8 Lbs. Price = £273.00. The other model is in 3 Colour Sunburst with a rosewood neck, the body is basswood and it weighs 9.5 Lbs. Price = £228.00. Both have the same Duncan designed pickups and the weights will vary in individual models. I don't know why they choose different woods for different models, but in this case basswood seems to be a fair bit heavier.

[quote name='Jigster' post='1126372' date='Feb 13 2011, 08:14 PM']my youngest son just got one of these - plays nice and good QC[/quote] Good to hear a positive review - but is it heavy?

Thanks for the information - I've just read the thread on TB and there's not much love for them over there. I'm not too bothered about the blocks and binding, so I might go for the sunburst model with rosewood neck if I can find a nice lightweight one. And I will definately try before I buy.

I'm considering one of these and wonder what they are like for weight ? I need a lightweight jazz bass with a deep, smooth reggae tone from the neck pick up. Did you compare it to the new sunburst/rosewood model, they're even cheaper.....

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='1124676' date='Feb 12 2011, 09:42 AM']Depends who you're selling to. I've had enough back/neck/shoulder issues over the last few years that "What does it weigh?" is routinely the first question I ask about a bass that looks interesting. I no longer own any basses over 9.5lbs and I won't buy any more basses over 8.5lbs. On t'other hand, there's no shortage of folk who apparently still believe that the tone is in the wood, and that heavy = good.[/quote] Same here - weight really matters to me but after reading this thread, my 10.5 Lb jazz bass seems a bit lighter than it did. So, thanks for that.