Flats versus Roundwounds, again.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Jun 12, 2005 9:33 am

Hey Steve ... the surgery I did on your Hamer came out pretty good ... the new pickups seem to work well in that bass ... that 10 string is a trip to play ...

dean712 · Post by **dean712** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 7:43 pm

Second try... my first post here pooped out...

The verdict is in - I like the Roundwounds better. I tried 'em both. The flats are cool for some things and have earned a permanent place on one of my Rickenbacker basses. (I have a few).

But... the Roundwounds are what I'll be using everyday, for the most part.

Thanks, everybody, for an interesting discussion thread.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 11:36 am

Well, we can't win them all.

jps · Post by **jps** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 4:26 pm

Which flats did you try, several different ones?

dean712 · Post by **dean712** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 6:58 pm

Jeffrey, I tried D'Addario XL Chromes 45-65-80-100.

I actually like the sound - works well for some things.

The issue that tipped the scales for me was the texture. I just like the frictional resistance I get from Rounds, for most of the things I play. Just personal preference, but I can see why some like the slicker feel of flats.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 7:04 pm

I like the sound better, I like the feel of rounds and have them on one bass.

edski · Post by **edski** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 4:28 am

Yes, bumping this...

The Dudepit poll the Bob Young started there has almost 100 responses:

what type of string on your bass, flats or rounds?
Voters: 99

only flats - 18 (18.18%)
only rounds - 19 (19.19%)
both but usually flats - 17 (17.17%)
both but usually round wounds - 27 (27.27%)
50/50 - 16 (16.16%)
half rounds/groundwounds etc - 2 (2.02%)

foolycooly · Post by **foolycooly** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 4:37 am

Flats all the way. No contest

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:23 am

my first rule for buying a bass is that it has to sound good unplugged ... flats don't sound good unplugged ...

I do a lot of tapping and whacking of the strings ... flats don't respond well to that either ...

flats don't give me the Squire/Geddy fret buzz sound I like ...

flats don't respond well to distortion ...

flats don't have the attack that rounds have ...

the main advantage of flats is that can help hide mistakes and a less skilled bass player can sound smoother ...

edski · Post by **edski** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:48 am

Ouch Jeff!

Can you tell us how you REALLY feel?

don't sound good unplugged

--> I have to agree, before I replaced the strings on my 4001 I thought they sounded horrible even amplified, playing alone. The moment I was with the rest of the band they sounded great. Still confused about that.

flats don't give me the Squire/Geddy fret buzz sound

--> I could never really get that sound with RW's...however, I have at times come close with the 4001, but I'm pretty sure the main issue was my POS amp clipping a bit much. I'm pretty sure with RW's that sound would have been even closer to Squire's "meat-grinder"

the main advantage of flats is that can help hide mistakes

Huh? If "flats don't respond well to distortion" then this statement is somewhat contradictory, as distortion is one of the easiest ways to get away with sloppy technique and "hide" mistakes.

Don't know about tapping, but I whack the flats pretty severly, and they thud-thud-thud very well. At least for what my expectations are.

As with everything in life, YMMV.

My main point in bumping this was not to restart the pissing war, but rather show the results of a poll that has a pretty significant participation. It seems that the majority (a bit over 60%) are open minded enough to use both.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 8:29 am

if you use rounds you really should use a compressor ... and it is probably a good idea for flats too ...

the only reason I would use flats would be for a fretless bass ... but I really don't like fretless basses ...

I like to use enough distortion to give the sound character but not enough to muddy up the sound ... I like to hear distinct notes ... too much gain and distortion and the bass won't cut through ...

bad guitarists hide behind too much distortion ...

bad bass players hide behind too much bass ... that is true for flats or rounds ...

and I am truely in love with fret buzz ... mixing it in with treble and distortion is music to my ears ...

thx1955 · Post by **thx1955** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 9:07 am

Fretbuzz is our friend Jeff, It gives a wonderfull raw edge to the sound.

edski · Post by **edski** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 9:13 am

the only reason I would use flats would be for a fretless bass

the main advantage of flats...a less skilled bass player can sound smoother

Just twisting things up here...so fretless players are less skilled?

ROTF!

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 10:10 am

tell that to Jaco ...

actually I was thinking for a beginner playing flats might be easier ... less buzz and finger noise ...

fretless is cool ... it just isn't right for me ...

edski · Post by **edski** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 12:01 pm

Just yanking the chain, Jeff!

Yeah, finger noise-I'm not sure if I'm getting used to the rounds on my Laredo or it's just the strings dying, but I don't seem to be getting overwhelming overtones from them like I did when I fist got the bass. Been so long since I've used rounds I can't be sure what part of each effect is in play, but I do feel the strings (on at least since before March) still seem to have some life in them. I was going to change them 2 or 3 weeks ago, but it just didn't seem worth it at that point.

Maybe after this next gig this coming Saturday. If a certain weather system doesn't interfere too much and delay it...