Flats versus Roundwounds, again.

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Mon May 16, 2005 9:54 pm

Steve what kinda of sound does the 12 string have? Bright and trebley, beefy and bassey or good with mids? I was thinkng about getting one some time.

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Tue May 17, 2005 2:02 am

Wouldnt be bad Jeff, if you dont mind playing a 2x6.

admin · Post by **admin** » Tue May 17, 2005 2:18 am

Great posts here and some fantastic pictures. I love the 10 stinger, I mean stringer.

I am persisting with the challenge and this thread encourages and inspires me to go forward. I am becoming more comfortable with the feel of these strings which seemed a bit like a file edge during the first few hours. I discovered today that the rounds come with a bit of an added bonus. I can practice unplugged and enjoy the somewhat louder sound of the rounds compared to flats. The round wounds seem to have forced me to be a little more deliberate in my playing compared to the flats. I can't explain why, either than the attack is different with the rounds for me. I don't think I ever really considered playing harmonics with the flats.

There is an emerging style shift that has come over the past couple of days that is difficult to describe. Could these strings be bringing out a slightly different personality? Should we include a photo of roundwounds on the ink blot test? To be continued ...

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Tue May 17, 2005 2:53 am

I think rounds force you to be a bit more precise in your fretting and plucking as you'll get more extraneous "rattle" than flats if your technique isn't spot on.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue May 17, 2005 3:22 am

I love all of the extra string noise that rounds give me ... and the fret buzz ... and all of the overtones ... finger sliding noise ... to me that is all part of the character of a bass guitar ...

basshawk · Post by **basshawk** » Tue May 17, 2005 3:32 am

Peter has found a new identity.

admin · Post by **admin** » Tue May 17, 2005 3:36 am

Steve and Jeff: Interesting comments from slightly different perspectives. While a sweeping generalization, for me, the switch to roundwounds has forced me to be more precise as Steve has suggested. Jeff, your point is equally taken as who says that playing styles have to be neat and tidy and sterile. Two more considerations that I would not have had without the benefit of both analyses. What's that Beatles' song that goes "round round round"?

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue May 17, 2005 3:50 am

I used to be a real smooth bass player ... I played a hofner with flats and a gibson eb0 with flats ... a jazzy sorta of sound ... but now I have an aggressive mid punch playing style ... I like the bass to be "in your face aggressive" ... I can still do smooth when needed ... but playing in a cover band the aggressive bass style can help get people on the dance floor ...

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Tue May 17, 2005 3:59 am

Peter...I too have begun this adjustment to rounds...I still prefer the flats for the type of music I normally play, but for the funky stuff that we're getting into, the rounds are more appropriate....I kinda like the "working on a Buick" sound....lol!!

So Jeff R....are you totally done with playing flats? ....or do you pull out a flat-armed Rick on occasion, when feeling nostalgic?

hieronymous · Post by **hieronymous** » Tue May 17, 2005 4:12 am

"What's that Beatles' song that goes "round round round"?"

"Dear Prudence"! rowndz of phlats, play it like you pleeze! I'll play it on g**tar, thanx!

admin · Post by **admin** » Tue May 17, 2005 4:33 am

Yes, Dear Prudence, with an interesting philosophy.

Dear Prudence let me see you smile
Dear Prudence like a little child
The clouds will be a daisy chain
So let me see you smile again
Dear Prudence won't you let me see you smile?

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue May 17, 2005 5:07 am

I was done playing flats in 1973 ... I got rid of my hofner and gibson and started playing Rics with rounds ... occaisionally I have tried flats through the years ... but they are not for me ... and I don't feel nostalgic about flats ... I remember back in the 60's guitars used to have flats too ...

admin · Post by **admin** » Tue May 17, 2005 5:17 am

Jeff: About guitars, they still do.

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Tue May 17, 2005 5:52 am

Nate....why get 12 when 8 will do ?

(btw...7 are RW and one is plain steel.....just to keep in the theme of the thread)

admin · Post by **admin** » Tue May 17, 2005 10:38 am

Gorgeous Brian. All kidding aside, with regard to playability, when it comes to an 8 string does it matter whether the pairs are flat or wound rounds?