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Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 4:10 pm
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georgylb wrote:
Yeh, I'm a fan of flats too. I like the sound & haven't missed the rounds at all. I wipe them down once in a while, but don't know if that helps extend their life.


Makes them look cleaner :D


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Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 5:21 am
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eyecandy wrote:
well some like em and some don't.. well flats would be stiffer than rounds but they'll be easier on your fingers... but if you want smooth flats with low tension try Thomastik Infeld Flats but they're quite expensive...

strings i can recommend are, D'addario Chromes, GHS Precision Flats... my two personal favorites


Initial outlay in money is more expensive, however they tend to last 5 years or more so they are very much worth the initial cost. In that same time youi would probably buy 8 sets of others so the initial cost of $35 is worth it.


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Posted: Sat May 29, 2010 3:48 am
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i had the chromes for about 6 months.. still doin great...

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Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 10:35 pm
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Quote:
flatwounds are dull and dumpythumpy sounding, and they are the classic mark of beginner/marginal bassists.


Well, the describes me as a bass player perfectly. :D


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Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 6:19 pm
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Does anyone use the Steve Harris sig Rotosound set on their P-basses? I'm a huge Maiden fan and have always liked the basslines in their songs. I am seriously considering putting a set on my Highway One P-bass.


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Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 7:22 pm
I like them on a fretless Jazz, but not crazy about them on a fretted neck.


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Post subject: Re: Flatwaounds are dull
Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 5:39 am
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icesurfer wrote:
no pain, no gain. Skip the flatwounds...

flatwounds are dull and dumpythumpy sounding, and they are the classic mark of beginner/marginal bassists.


James L. Jamerson, Donald Duck Dunn and Steve Harris would object to that I think. And so do I.

Several people have remarked on the virtue of flats. Some have mentioned specific flats.

I like the GHS PRECISION FLATS. They sound great to me. And gosh are they smooth. I've been playing since 1968, so I am hardly a beginner...but I may indeed be marginal.

STILL this marginal player prefers the GHS PRECISIONS over the TI JF344 Jazz Flats. If you want a modern sound, ok then try the Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats at a list of over $100 a set. If you want vintage Jamerson/Dunn tones try the GHS PRECISION FLATS for $20 to $25.

I find the TI JF344's TOO FLOPPY. The "E" string is SO MUDDY when played open that it is just almost not usable. The open E just flops around with no real clear tone. I do use JF344's, but only for recording on an active bass and...only when I don't have to play the E string open. They are NOT my favorite strings by far. The JF344 strings feel and react like big rubber bands. Everyone says low tension is "good," but the TI Jazz Flats are just TOO low tension for me and my style. GHS PRECISIONS are where I'm going for a small percentage of the price of the FI Flats. No, they are not the same. THEY ARE VERY different. They lie between the Labella 760 M Jamerson set and the floppy TI Jazz Flats. Your mileage of course may vary.

My favorite string? Thomastik-Infeld EB344 POWERBASS. Rounds. On my number one for gigs. Always. But FLATS have a place too. To condemn people for using flats is....well... the mark of a marginal mind.


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Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 6:49 am
Hey Dave; Over the years i've been advised by several folks to stay away from flats on fretted basses. What's your ideas on that? Good to see you on here again. A few months ago we were in a topic of nylon strings used in The Beatles song, While My Guitar Gently Weeps.


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Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 2:59 pm
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glbass wrote:
Hey Dave; Over the years i've been advised by several folks to stay away from flats on fretted basses. What's your ideas on that?


Depends on what sound you want and what feel you want. Depends on your influences too. Flats are perfectly usable on a fretted bass. Flats record well as evidenced by the people I mentioned previously and I left out Carol Kaye from the list which was an oversight on my part. Between Dunn, Jamerson and Kaye you have over half of the hit recording basslines of the 60's and part of the 70's.

The point to my post was that these people were NOT beginners. I use flats and I use rounds. Different strings work better for different things and they all have strong points you can argue.

If you emulate a fusion style player you are going to lean toward using rounds. If you slap and pop you'll want rounds. After he moved to L.A. one session producer pushed Jamerson to use roundwounds, he flatly refused. Like the "P-Bass Versus J-Bass" decision, string choice is a personal preference for some people and others like me use both for different things.

A couple of points to consider. A Fender bass with "vintage" frets like the 51 RI, Mustang or other models basically has frets that are the same height and width as guitar frets. Flats will extend the life of these frets, and in fact any fret for that matter. Stainless rounds will shorten their life. Stainless rounds used long enough will wear down even jumbo frets.

If you try to cover the Motown sound you'll come closer with the larger gauge flats. If you are hearing lots of finger squeaks on your recordings you'll reduce or eliminate them with flats. I tried several sets of flats. I find that when there is a choice of gauges even the same set sounds different in various gauges. Large gauge strings sound fatter and the smaller gauge ones sound brighter and seem to sustain longer which makes them sound more like rounds.

If you have a FRETLESS bass using rounds might sound amazing short term but will chew up the fingerboard long term and I can not recommend that. On a fretless you really should use either flatwounds or nylon coated strings. I would stay away from groundrounds or any such hybrid thing as that on a fretless too.


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Post subject: Re: Flatwaounds are dull
Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 6:01 pm
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icesurfer wrote:
flatwounds ... are the classic mark of beginner/marginal bassists.

HA ha ha - that's one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read.


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Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 6:57 pm
Thanks for the info dave. Great points to ponder.


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Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 6:49 am
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I think I'm gonna go for it and have my precision set up for flats and keep my jazz strung with rounds thus having the best of both worlds.


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Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 7:39 am
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thats what i do... my P has D'Addario Half-Rounds and my J has DR Black Beauties... different strings for different sounds.... if i'm playing blues or country i use the P, everything else i use the J.....

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Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 7:58 am
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I play primarily rock/metal and am curious to see what flats will do for my sound and how they will affect my playing style. I am a finger player. As stated in an earlier post a big Steve Harris fan and also look at him as a big influence along with Geezer Butler.


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Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 7:25 pm
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Talked with the salesman who sold me my Highway One Precision and come to find out I was supposed to get a free set up with purchase which I never did. So I went ahead and ordered some Rotosound Flats and the shop will set my bass up with the new strings. You gotta love mom and pop shops. I have had this bass for over 6 months and they are still gonna give me the free set up. The big box store were I live wouldn't give me the time of day one day after the same kind of purchase.


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