Will Law Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Are they generally better than just standard strings? Would they be any good on a P bass and why do they not need changing as often? If there was a newb section I'd post this in there! Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 I'm guessing by 'standard' strings that you mean roundwounds. Although probably the majority of bassists use roundwounds, the flatwound variety are the originals. Flatwounds tend to produce a more old school kind of thump, although that is quite a big generalisation as there are big differences between different makes of flatwound. There several threads about flatwounds already, try reading some of those: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/163241-first-set-of-flats/page__p__1478281__hl__flatwounds__fromsearch__1#entry1478281"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/163241-first-set-of-flats/page__p__1478281__hl__flatwounds__fromsearch__1#entry1478281[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/161522-flatwound-strings/page__hl__flatwounds"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/161522-flatwound-strings/page__hl__flatwounds[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/155718-labella-flats-tell-me-about-them/page__st__40__p__1419149__hl__flatwounds__fromsearch__1#entry1419149"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/155718-labella-flats-tell-me-about-them/page__st__40__p__1419149__hl__flatwounds__fromsearch__1#entry1419149[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/156452-flatwounds/page__p__1387894__hl__flatwounds__fromsearch__1#entry1387894"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/156452-flatwounds/page__p__1387894__hl__flatwounds__fromsearch__1#entry1387894[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 [quote name='Johnston' timestamp='1326650615' post='1499958'] ... On a P well that's all they had when the Precision was designed ... [/quote] ... and when the Jazz was designed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelk27 Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Neither better nor worse, just different. It will all depend on what sort of sound you're aiming for. Old school Motown, say, and a heavy set of flats on a P'bass will sound great. Eighties Jazz Funk, say, on a Ray, and it's gonna sound truly awful. As for why you end up changing flats less often, part of the appeal for some people is the "deadness" of the sound, but, from a wear perspective, the flattened outer wrap of a flat string is a chromed steel, with significantly less voids to fill up with the detritus generated by playing (dead skin and oils, etc). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Law Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 Ah thanks, I see...I'm after a '60s sound' to be quite broad so I'm thinking flatwounds would probably be better. I've never tried them so I guess there's no harm in it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 [quote name='Will Law' timestamp='1326650947' post='1499969'] ... I'm after a '60s sound' to be quite broad so I'm thinking flatwounds would probably be better ... [/quote] The great majority of 1960s recordings are flatwounds - and usually on a P or a J, and sometimes with fingers but quite often with a pick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redstriper Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 (edited) [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE5R3rUoU58[/media] Edited January 15, 2012 by redstriper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 [quote name='redstriper' timestamp='1326653853' post='1500028'] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE5R3rUoU58[/media] [/quote] That video says it all really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ras52 Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1326658500' post='1500142'] That video says it all really. [/quote] +1, thanks redstriper. Actually it doesn't quite say it all... for instance, finding which flats suit you can get expensive. However quite a few BC-ers (myself) included have played that game, so nearly-new sets often pop up in the BC marketplace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 [quote name='ras52' timestamp='1326660250' post='1500192'] +1, thanks redstriper. Actually it doesn't quite say it all... for instance, finding which flats suit you can get expensive. However quite a few BC-ers (myself) included have played that game, so nearly-new sets often pop up in the BC marketplace. [/quote] You're correct, I was exaggerating, and I should know because I've tried most types of flats at great expense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redstriper Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1326661142' post='1500209'] You're correct, I was exaggerating, and I should know because I've tried most types of flats at great expense. [/quote] Which ones are your favourites Dave? Mine are GHS Precisions, also partial to DR High Beams and TIs for fretless, but if I could only have one it would be GHS. Still a lot I haven't tried, but I've stopped looking now (thankfully) Steve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 [quote name='redstriper' timestamp='1326670794' post='1500407'] Which ones are your favourites Dave? Mine are GHS Precisions, also partial to DR High Beams and TIs for fretless, but if I could only have one it would be GHS. Still a lot I haven't tried, but I've stopped looking now (thankfully) Steve. [/quote] Hi Steve. Different on different basses. Precision bass has La Bella 760FS but I've used TIs there often too, Lakland Decade has Pyramid Golds at the moment but I also like GHS Precisions on that too, Takamine B10 has La Bella 760N, Michael Kelly acoustic has TIs. But that collection are my favoured ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redstriper Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 I've never tried Pyramid Golds or La Bellas, but I may try some used ones if they come up on the cheap. I like a very smooth tone, so even the TIs are a bit rich for me until they bed in - GHS Precisions are nice from new and just get better with age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Law Posted January 16, 2012 Author Share Posted January 16, 2012 Sounds like the way to go then...[url="http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/products/6572-ghs_stainless_steel_precision_flatwound_electric_bass_strings_45_105"]http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/products/6572-ghs_stainless_steel_precision_flatwound_electric_bass_strings_45_105[/url] so these are a good starting point? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redstriper Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 They are the ones Will, you can get them a bit cheaper from the States sometimes on ebay or from the Lakland site - they are the same as their flats: [url="http://www.lakland.com/direct/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=LD&Product_Code=JOSF4&Category_Code=4STRS"]http://www.lakland.com/direct/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=LD&Product_Code=JOSF4&Category_Code=4STRS[/url] £30 may seem expensive for strings, but they last for years and if you don't like them someone on here (like me) will buy them from you. Let us know how you get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 Another point I would mention is that flatwounds cause less fret wear! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertbass Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 Oh how I remember starting to play bass in 1964 and the awful strings that were available then, a choice of flats or flats. The day that I bought my first set of Rotosound swing bass strings my world changed. I now had tone and loads of it, wonderful. Strange how things always go round in circles. Even I might come back into fashion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Law Posted January 19, 2012 Author Share Posted January 19, 2012 Haha well I fitted the flats today....they're going to take some getting used to but I think I like the sound better. Much more 'bassy'...for want of a better word! Thanks for the advice, a good purchase I think Now for a pre-amp... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highfox Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 For what it might be worth for anyone wondering about which flats to try. I just got around to trying my first set of Thomastik flats, I think I like them I'm all flatwound and have had my 2 P's and Jazz strung with La Bella's and thought I'd try out the Thomastiks for a change on my jazz and see how they feel and sound. The good for me is I like the lower tension (think I might be able to dig-in a bit more with these strings) They also sound good (as do the La Bella's), if a bit brite, but they are not broken in yet. The feel of the nickles I'm not 100% sure on yet, the La Bellas are much smoother (slippery). Might be a bit unfair not having really given the T's a chance to break in yet, but I'd guess that some La bellas with the lower tension and same gauge as the T's would be my ideal strings. Will take the jazz to band practice next week and see how it sounds in the mix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 D'Addario Chromes for me ! Love them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 [quote name='Machines' timestamp='1327066798' post='1505943'] D'Addario Chromes for me ! Love them. [/quote] How do they compare to La Bellas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highfox Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 [quote name='Machines' timestamp='1327066798' post='1505943'] D'Addario Chromes for me ! Love them. [/quote] I have tried the chromes but didn't like them, they were even higher tension than the La Bella's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoker Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 I've got Rotosound flats on both mine and they're brilliant! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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