The Inevitable String Thread

[jwr2]

Actually a 4 string with flats is cool and it has a nice sound all its own ... but it is not my style ... I get pretty much the same sound by palm muting ...

[sloop_john_b]

I can't play with flatwounds. They just drive me insane. I'm a fast player and flatwounds make me slide around like I'm trying to run on polished linoleum in my socks. They don't "kick" back at me when I hit them like roundwounds do either.

That's funny, I find the complete opposite to be true for me!

[ben_brown]

Most of you guys that like flats use a pick. I use my fingers and attack the strings rather aggressively at times. I actually played guitar for many years and then went to bass about 16 years ago and I have never used a pick on bass. I tries chromes once and imediately took them off and threw them in the trash can....No tone at all as far as I'm concerned. I have to have that punch readily available and I get that with DR Sunbeams 100-40. They have a lighter feel and have great tone. They also have light tension and I can bend them easily when needed. IMHO they work very well on the older 4001 basses.

[rickenbrother]

When I tried roundwound strings for the first time in '76. I thought I'd never buy another set of flatwounds. Just about a year ago, I installed a set of flatwound D'Addario Chromes on my '75 4001FL and I really dig the way it plays and sounds. It really gives a different vibe than that of my other Ricks, so I feel the change is pretty cool to have.

[johnallg]

I think there is a place and sound for flats in one's arsenal. I just thought about it after reading Joey's post, and 4 of my 6 basses have flats. One major factor in favor of using them is your string budget outlay goes way down - they last almost forever.

[rickenbrother]

That's true, John. You can have a set of flatwound strings on a bass for a very long time. Dirt and contaminants don't get inside them as easily as roundwounds. Flats aren't that bright sounding to begin with, so their tone doesn't seem to change much after time.

[jwr2]

I think the best application for flats is a fretless bass ... on a fretted bass I can't get past the clicking sound ...

[ben_brown]

... on a fretted bass I can't get past the clicking sound ...

Get rid of the pick and the "clicking sound" goes away!

[johnallg]

... on a fretted bass I can't get past the clicking sound ...

Get rid of the pick and the "clicking sound" goes away!

I do mostly always (doublet?) -play finger style with flats. I like a pick with rounds. Macca played flats with a felt pick.

[ram]

OK so Jeff does fours, it snowed in Baghdad and Solar Cycle 24 began last week ...yep! The end is indeed near.

OK with that said - seems like eons ago I did do flats and really don't recall too much difference playing them than rounds. They did seem to last longer - probably 'cause of what Joey said. But for the last couple of decades I've become a D'Addario EXL kind of guy (with Ric strings next).... I like the sound, they seem to last for a while and I can afford to replace them!

[jwr2]

actually I get the clicking sound playing finger style ...

[rikk]

I tried some Fender flats when I went into the studio last year. They came off as fast as they went on. If anybody wants a set that was used for about 10 minutes they are yours.

[4stringnosing]

I tried some Fender flats when I went into the studio last year. They came off as fast as they went on. If anybody wants a set that was used for about 10 minutes they are yours.

You definitely don't want to judge flats by Fenders. They are of unbelievably high tension and feel terrible. So-so soundwise, but I couldn't get past the fact that it felt like I was plucking steel rods instead of strings! Try TI's for the polar-opposite feel.

[clankchris]

I have always used DR Sunbeams on my Ric 4003 - I tried nickel Lo-Riders, Ernie Balls, and a few others, but loved the Sunbeams' silkiness and bright, shiny mids.

I also own a Squier P bass with a Dimarzio Model P in it, and have had the same set of Fender Pure Nickel strings on it forever - well, the strings were so old that I decided to try some Roto Swingbass on this instrument - I don't really care too much about fretwear on this bass, and I read this guy's post, who emailed Rotosound:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=317218&

Now that they have been on my bass for a couple weeks, and I gotta say... I love these strings! I can definitely hear why Chris Squire, John Wetton, Entwistle, and Geddy use them.

I'm still a bit afraid to use them on my Ric, though

[danomar]

the strings were so old that I decided to try some Roto Swingbass on this instrument...

...I'm still a bit afraid to use them on my Ric, though

I used Roto-Sound Swings on my 4005 for several years from when I bought it. I used Roto-Sounds on several basses, too. Never noticed fret wear problems.

They do seem to go dead sooner than some other brands, though. I do like the feel and tone, I just want something less bright on my Rick. I also wish the G and D strings came in larger gauges. Easily-obtained larger gauges, I should write.
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