Pinball Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 (edited) I have a very transparent kit at the moment. A GB Steamer amp, GB 212 cab and 3 (don't ask) identical LTD/ESP surveyors loaded with EMG's. That has given me the chance to compare different strings. I have a set of flats on one, heavy status round-wounds on another and rotosound medium round-wounds on the 3rd and can't believe the difference between them. Its like having 3 different kits. Next time I go to change basses someone stop me and tell me to try changing strings instead!. I'm not sure which will work best in a band context yet but prefer the sound of the flats playing solo. This is going to keep me amused all over the Christmas holidays Edited December 20, 2013 by Pinball Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 I love the sound of flats on my P basses when playing along to northern soul and motown, at home and yet when playing with the band I much prefer DR Highbeam rounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Interesting topic; I've been thinking about this recently too. (This could save me the cost of a new bass!) I've got a Squier P-bass that I rebuilt with Hipshot bridge, SD Quarter pounders and good pots etc. It's fitted with Rotosound RS66 45-105 round wounds. To my ears it sounds too light-weight. I'm looking for a darker growl bass tone. I've been thinking of trying out some different strings any recommendations? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 I think the DR's sound nice 'n' growly, they are the ones you've heard at DefunkT gigs on my G&L SB1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 [quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1387552335' post='2313306'] Interesting topic; I've been thinking about this recently too. (This could save me the cost of a new bass!) I've got a Squier P-bass that I rebuilt with Hipshot bridge, SD Quarter pounders and good pots etc. It's fitted with Rotosound RS66 45-105 round wounds. To my ears it sounds too light-weight. I'm looking for a darker growl bass tone. I've been thinking of trying out some different strings any recommendations? [/quote] As a long-time Roto user, I switched from their steels to nickels earlier this year - a much warmer thicker tone instantly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinball Posted December 20, 2013 Author Share Posted December 20, 2013 (edited) An example of the differences of round wound V flats here but there are also big differences between the different round wound. Apologies if all this seems obvious-I know the difference playing style and strings make but I never really had the chance to play them back to back before. Anyway an example here. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqLZTT3TiqA[/media] Edited December 20, 2013 by Pinball Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 I think the huge difference in tone between flats and roundwounds is about the best [s]excuse[/s] reason to own several basses... so I've got flats on two (one of them a fretless) and rounds on the other three (one of them a 5 stringer and another designated as a 'chuck in the back of the car bass') Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 The first thing to do when picking up a new bass is to see if it could be moulded to your own preference. Too many basses have a poor to average set-up in the shop, and the strings aren't in any special condition. This is understandable in most shops as set-up is time consuming and wear and tear on strings going through a good few hands over a period of time will dull them. Plus they may also be the string that the bass has travelled/been packed with, and it is not surprising that you have to use a bit of experience to know where you can get that bass to..in terms of playabilty. Last bass, I bought from the shop... I asked them if I could work on the neck and they agreed. They even offered to do that themselves...as they were capable enough, so I could see what action was available/possible. A new set of MY strings and it was very good for me. They knew I was seriously interested in the bass... and I told them I would have it IF things like action and relief were to my liking. They indulged me and I bought it. Very good sale service from GAK. You need to be able to judge what is possible, so a new set of strings is the start, IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mornats Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 [quote name='Pinball' timestamp='1387546358' post='2313203'] Next time I go to change basses someone stop me and tell me to try changing strings instead!. [/quote] I'll try but I know what you're like! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinball Posted January 1, 2014 Author Share Posted January 1, 2014 You can now hear the difference here. http://basschat.co.uk/topic/225879-string-comparison-status-rounds-flats-and-half-rounds/page__fromsearch__1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 I compared my Lull P5 with Happy Jack's and while they both sounded great, when played together his sounded better. Enough to make me track down why. I finally found the difference; I was using my usual DR Lo-Riders and he was using flats. I put Lakland flats on (my first set since 1971) and I was surprised at how much better the bass sounded. I've still got DR's on the Lakland but I might just try flats next time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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