Flats versus Roundwounds, again.

morrow · Post by **morrow** » Wed May 25, 2005 4:40 am

I have a number of basses and have flats on some and rounds on others. I am generally after that old school thump. The basses with flats seem to do most of the gigs and much of my practice at home is with basses with rounds.

I love the way flats slide under the mix with an ensemble and prefer a brighter sound when I'm solo.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed May 25, 2005 4:43 am

I think they have a great sound, different than main stream but very distinctive, I especially like them with a bit of tube distortion.
The EB-2 sounds great BTW. The trombone..well??

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Wed May 25, 2005 5:08 am

If this discussion is to be of any value, we have to concentrate on "why" we prefer rounds or flats, rather than disparage people for their choice of strings. Remember, this is all subjective so there is no "right" or "wrong", regardless of how strongly you hold your opinion. Let's have some respect for each other's views.
With that said, I would agree with Morrow in that I like the way flats have a stronger simpler fundemental sound that sits nicely in the mix. Right now my musical projects involve musicals and a rockabilly/swing band. To my ears a bright round-wound tone just wouldn't fit in these musical settings.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed May 25, 2005 5:13 am

I love the look and feel of the Gibson EB/SG basses and the Hofners basses ... but not the sound ... especially with flats ... they are too one dimensional for me ... kinda like a bass synthesizer ...

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed May 25, 2005 5:19 am

I think it's been a pretty good discussion so far, I like the different personalities here, makes it an interesting place. But if we must be serious I also think the overtones from flats are more harmonic in nature than rounds, that there are a lot less spurious overtones from flats than rounds which is why can they sound smoother and sit in the mix better, they are more musical sounding. I also think certain RW's are worse than others for spurious overtones and the same with flats, some are smoother sounding than others.

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Wed May 25, 2005 6:08 am

Right...but in a Motorhead band, for example, smoothness is less desirable than spuriousness. If you sit in that mix, yer gonna drown...So, it depends on the particular work you're doing, which I guess is what Harry Bridge was saying all those many posts ago. As Mr. Natural used to say, "Get the right tool for the job."

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed May 25, 2005 10:36 am

Yeah, I don't think Id be using flats with Motorhead not because I'd get drowned out but because they probably wouldn't fit in with that band's sound.

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Wed May 25, 2005 11:15 am

When my 4004LK arrives I'm putting flats on it and I'm joining a jug band!

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Wed May 25, 2005 11:17 am

OK, not really.... but has anyone here used flats on a 4004?

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed May 25, 2005 1:07 pm

I used them on my washtub in my jugband.
Dave Westheimer has one I think and he plays flats.

jps · Post by **jps** » Wed May 25, 2005 1:08 pm

I do all the time.

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Wed May 25, 2005 3:40 pm

OK, I dont want to get raw vegetables thrown at me for asking, but what about half-rounds ?

jps · Post by **jps** » Wed May 25, 2005 4:31 pm

I use those on my Zon 5 string fretless. They sound very close to XLs when new. Without the finger noise!

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed May 25, 2005 5:00 pm

I've used Roto half rounds on fretlesses in the past also, at the time they weren't bright enough for me, they'd probably make my ears bleed nowadays.

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Thu May 26, 2005 3:46 am

I've got a set of those ... but haven't tried them yet ...

I bought them to put on my Shadow, but can't get myself to take the flats off....they sound so good!!