Flats versus Roundwounds, again.

jmh · Post by **jmh** » Sun May 22, 2005 6:09 pm

Right now, it seems quite tight. Not much but a dull thud when fretted, and not much sustain compared to the other strings. I don't know if it's binding in the nut or not. The string moves easily enough when I tune it. Others from what I read have had issues with the E string on Pyramids needing to either 'loosen up', and/or needing to widen the nut. There's certainly not much room left in that nut slot, and the string to my eye is riding a little high.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Mon May 23, 2005 3:50 am

The string should be riding in the groove to the bottom of the channel like the others. I think it's the same gauge as Ric strings so that shouldn't be a problem. .105. Is your mute touching it? Did you wind it on the tuner so that it wound down giving it the proper angel? I've never had any problems with Pyramid E strings. Is it hard to fret at the first fret? Maybe you got a dead string, some other manufacturers are famous for that, I've never heard of that from Pyramid but it's possible.

eddied · Post by **eddied** » Mon May 23, 2005 10:00 am

My first set of Pyramids bought for my 67 Hofner came with a very dead E string. It had "0" tonality and was a bad string. I sent it back to the nice guy @ vintage strings and he replaced it. I do believe that Pyramids E strings have had a short history of having dead E strings.

gbenner · Post by **gbenner** » Mon May 23, 2005 10:51 am

The Pyramid short scale strings are known to have dead E string's. I've had a few long scale sets with dead E's. But just send Pyramid an email, they will send you a new E string. They are great to deal with.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Mon May 23, 2005 1:44 pm

aren't they supposed to be dead ... isn't that like the whole idea of getting flats ... so they won't ring ... so they will be DEAD?????

jps · Post by **jps** » Mon May 23, 2005 2:19 pm

No. Chromes sound remarkably like rounds but without the ear bleeding, searing harshness

of roundwounds. One of the best things about flats is the lack of any annoying sqeaky finger noise while sliding up and down the fingerboard. Plus it doesn't rip up my calluses.

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Mon May 23, 2005 2:22 pm

....but what about the Buick?? ;^)

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Mon May 23, 2005 2:59 pm

Ear Bleeders, haha!
Yes there are all kinds of flats now, there was a good article in bassplayer several years ago in which they compared many different kinds of them. A few things I remember them saying were Fenders were the most traditional sounding, like the old flats of the 60's, Rotos were extremely bright and the player had to turn his treble down when he tried them. The general concensus was that they weren't your father's flats anymore. Those could be had but there were a lot of different sounding flats out there. I've tried many of them and like Pyramids, TI's and even Fenders sometimes.
I think Chris Squire and Geddy Lee used flats most of the time.

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Mon May 23, 2005 5:10 pm

"I think Chris Squire and Geddy Lee used flats most of the time."

You're pushing it now, Bob!

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Mon May 23, 2005 5:18 pm

hey! That was for Jeff! haha! But it is true.

jmh · Post by **jmh** » Mon May 23, 2005 5:19 pm

Bob: The string is riding on the bottom of the groove, mute isn't touching it, wound downwards for proper angle. It may need some more lateral freedom at the top of the nut, like the other strings, but I'm just guessing. It could be a dead string, since it sounds bad fretted too.

George and Ed: I sent an email to Pyramid, and hope they send me a new string.

Thanks for the help.

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Mon May 23, 2005 5:37 pm

"hey! That was for Jeff! haha! But it is true."

Give a source for that "fact". I'm not sure about Squire but I can here the "squeaky finger noise" of rounds from Geddy!

I am allied with Rath on this "discussion". I wound give better flats a try if I could find 'em down here. My Hofner copy had flats and they sucked. 'Til then I'm a rounds guy.

dean712 · Post by **dean712** » Mon May 23, 2005 7:41 pm

Well, here's an intermediate post as Peter M. and I undergo our semi-scientific experiment of flats and rounds....

The flats have definitely earned a spot on one of my Rickenbackers, at the very least. I play a couple of mellow tunes with dramatic slides, and in the past it was everything I could do to control annoying finger squeal and still have any treble response in the mix at all. The flats have nailed that situation 100%. Made it easy....

The flats have other charms, too. The clarity is can be refreshing (depending on the song), and the interaction with effects is certainly different and worth noting and using.

I must admit, though, that the rounds are still my comfort zone. I have deep callouses on my fret hand fingers, and I love the friction that rounds give when fretting. Also, there are a lot of songs where that high-treble sizzle helps out in our mix. I am staying open-minded, though.... There is probably a spot for both in my playing, and I'm really glad I tried this.

This has been a great thread. I know it might have been through the ringer here before (a couple/few times), but I am learning a ton here - thanks, guys!

jps · Post by **jps** » Tue May 24, 2005 2:01 am

"My Hofner copy had flats and they sucked"

Consider the source. The Hofner copy notwithstanding, short scale basses will be more thuddy to begin with.

hieronymous · Post by **hieronymous** » Tue May 24, 2005 2:54 am

I've got a 1968 Gibson EB-2 short-scale strung with flats and it sounds amazing. Can't play Rush on it and wouldn't want to - it's a different sound altogether. Everyone loves the sound - between the flats and the neck humbucker with 12,000 windings, it's pure BASS...