| Author | Message | ||
| thumbsup
Junior Username: thumbsup Post Number: 29 Registered: 7-2008 |
Why do you use flats verses round wound or visa versa? How long does a typical set last? Whats the lonest you went before changing? Do flats last longer that round wound? What about the sound of flats verses round wound? Lets hear all comments! | ||
| hieronymous
Advanced Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 349 Registered: 1-2005 |
Generally, flats don't sound as bright as roundwounds. They don't have that "zing" that new roundwounds do, but you also get much less finger-squeak. Some flats are brighter than others - D'Addario Chromes have a reputation for being pretty bright when new. A lot of the "modern" bass sounds - Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, Chris Squire, Geddy Lee, John Entwistle (the originator of rounds for bass!) - are very bright and require rounds, and I think that's what many of us are used to. Flats are a different sound altogether. Actually, Steve Harris of Iron Maiden uses flats, which always surprised me, because his sound has a lot of treble "click" but he also changes them every show! Phil Lesh used flats in the early days of the Grateful Dead, which also surprised me, but it makes sense considering he was co-inhabiting a musical space that included two guitars and keyboards. I think the classic flatwound sound would be Duck Dunn, James Jamerson, etc. Just some rambling, hope it helps! | ||
| eligilam
Intermediate Member Username: eligilam Post Number: 118 Registered: 2-2006 |
I'm a roundwound player in general...like the sound and feel better. Counterintuitively, I find that the flatwounds can hurt the fingers after playing for a while. Maybe just a difference in callus formation, though. | ||
| jseitang
Advanced Member Username: jseitang Post Number: 233 Registered: 6-2002 |
i like halfwounds... | ||
| rockbassist
Intermediate Member Username: rockbassist Post Number: 141 Registered: 8-2005 |
I always use roundwounds live because they cut through the mix better. In the studio I sometimes use flatwounds in order to get less noise, finger squeaks, etc. It depends on the song and what the band, artist or producer are looking for. | ||
| glocke
Advanced Member Username: glocke Post Number: 399 Registered: 9-2002 |
Strings are realy pretty personal...To me ears roundwounds, especially on an alembic are a little too bright for me, but flats sound awesome. Only way I can describe it is as a nice, dry woody sound. | ||
| jseitang
Advanced Member Username: jseitang Post Number: 234 Registered: 6-2002 |
yeah, i think when you play flatwound on an alembic, its the perfect sound, the sound of the alembic is pretty bright, and playing flatwounds, you get more of a distinct bass tone, without sound too crazy on the bright side. | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 1993 Registered: 3-2004 |
I used to play steel rounds in the old days, but I like the Chromes these days. Reasonably bright on an Alembic without a lot of string noise. You have to have great technique to play really bright strings on an Alembic. | ||
| spose
Intermediate Member Username: spose Post Number: 191 Registered: 5-2002 |
TI Flats on my bass, they last me about two years, I do wipe them down after sessions. as stated, a nice dry woody tone, no growl, no finger noise. | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 543 Registered: 11-2004 |
Stainless steel roundwounds are very bright, almost Hohner Clavinet sound when slapped and popped BUT the are very abrasive to the frets. I have used flats when playing a lot of jazz, to get the big double bass sound along with an octivider and defret options on the pedalboard. | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 1448 Registered: 12-2002 |
Stainless steel roundwounds are my favorites,they bring out that "alembic Bell" or that "Bling Bling sound" in my Bass!.......i also love flat wounds for that vintage "Motown sound". | ||
| funkyjazzjunky
Intermediate Member Username: funkyjazzjunky Post Number: 128 Registered: 5-2007 |
I like compressed roundwounds | ||
| 2400wattman
Senior Member Username: 2400wattman Post Number: 571 Registered: 11-2005 |
Neither set of string can produce the same sound, so IMHO any bassist worth his/her salt should have a bass with flats and stainless/nickel wound strings on them. Flats also give you that Jamerson, McCartney, John Paul Jones sound and who would'nt dig that? A set of flats usually last about a year for me (simply because I break the damn things)as opposed to my regular round wounds which I change every 3-4 shows(simply because I break the damn things if don't change them!). | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1903 Registered: 2-2006 |
I agree Adam, use 'em both, how else could you pepper you show with differents timbres. OO PS. I used to regulary break strings too when I was still gigging. | ||
| hieronymous
Advanced Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 354 Registered: 1-2005 |
+2 on basses strung with both! Here are a couple of soundclips of my Fender Telecaster Bass equipped with Alembic Activators and new D'Addario Chromes. The first clip is played with fingers (it's a demo, ignore the clunkers!), and the second is slapped with the frequency full open. rays of sound (fingerstyle) 8B4X4 (slapped) (Here's a thread with pictures, etc.: Telembic Bass. Plus, the soundclips are pretty low-volume, and the bass will sound better on headphones or decent speakers) | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 1994 Registered: 3-2004 |
A little too judgmental for me. Players should have what pleases them. Can't force a blues man to play jazz or reggae artist to do heavy metal. I do like compromise strings on the Alembic though because you can get most of everything out of them. Use Chromes or compressed/half round type strings and the tone controls plus the magic in your fingers will get you to all but the farthest reaches of tone in every direction. -bob | ||
| hieronymous
Advanced Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 356 Registered: 1-2005 |
My point wasn't that EVERYONE should have both - instead, I think that both have their uses. Dead rounds don't sound like flats to me - flats respond differently and sound different. YMMV or course. But I am also enjoying the Alembic compressed strings! | ||
| keurosix
Advanced Member Username: keurosix Post Number: 349 Registered: 10-2005 |
Hey Harry, I enjoyed the funky groovin! Sounds great! Kris | ||
| svlilioukalani
Junior Username: svlilioukalani Post Number: 18 Registered: 6-2008 |
Since we are going here, I got to ask. I play frettless. Love a bright punchy tone of my Marcus Miller DR strings. I play a hard slap style and would love to put round wound on my fretless. The problem is I am killing the fretboard. I put GHS pressure wound on my Epic 2 months ago, and am already chewing up the fretboard at the 24th fret. So... will alembic strings have as aggressive a texture as GHS pressure wounds? Just wondring before I drop the $50 on Alembic strings. I really don't like the sound of GHS strings, but don't know if a better string for my style. GHS bright flats do no harm to my bass, but they have no punch, and feel as dead as flat wound srings. | ||
| white_cloud
Senior Member Username: white_cloud Post Number: 424 Registered: 11-2007 |
For me its rounds always! Even on my fretless basses it was always rounds - I dont think its really a problem on a hard fingerboard that has been well finished! Jaco Pastorius famously always used rounds on his beat up Fender - he coated the f/board in several coats of epoxy resin with a toothbrush. Uncoventional but effective  John. | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 1923 Registered: 6-2002 |
Alembic's own strings have an elliptic outer winding, with a less rounded surface, so they should "bite" less into a fretless fingerboard. | ||
| keurosix
Advanced Member Username: keurosix Post Number: 351 Registered: 10-2005 |
Gary, I have the Alembic strings on my fretless Epic and feel it is a really good string for an active sound with minimal fretboard wear. If you attack the string aggresively and vibrate the string across the width of the board rather than a classic wrist vibrato, you will see some wear no matter what string. I do not like the sound or lack of responsiveness of flatwounds. I really love roundwounds, but don't want rounds on my fretless. Having Said that, IMO I feel the Alembic string is a good compromise. They really do sound good for me, and have a somewhat roundwound responsiveness without the agressive wear from a true roundwound. If you lose too much top end with this string, you can always boost the "Q" or preamp treble to compensate. Kris | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 1064 Registered: 2-2005 |
I use D'Addario Chromes on my fretless. I find them to be very bright, especially for the first few weeks. If I turn the filter full open and flip the Q-switch I can even get a passable slapper sound. I haven't changed mine in a couple of years. I guess I'm blessed that I don't break them. For my fretted basses I use a variety of round wounds. Alembic for the short scale, Dean Markley NPS round core for the 5-string, D'Addario on my 8-string and GHS Brite Flats (a half round) on my Fenders. How often I change depends with what I'm doing. If I'm playing out regularly I change them when they start to sounds dead. If I'm in between things I have been known to go until they can't be tuned or my semi-annual neck oiling. I think what it comes down to is what you think sounds best for the given instrument. Keith | ||
| svlilioukalani
Junior Username: svlilioukalani Post Number: 19 Registered: 6-2008 |
I love this. I don't know anywhere I can turn to to get an honest answer about my personal issues. I'm going to try some Alembic strings. Will report on what I find as soon as they show up. Thanks for the help!!!!! | ||
| keurosix
Advanced Member Username: keurosix Post Number: 352 Registered: 10-2005 |
Hey Gary, and a note to all: There are a few different web companies selling strings, and the cost is competitive. www.juststrings.com sells Alembic sets: 4 string set $25.20; The 5 string set goes for $34.72; The 6 string set: $41.44. Shipping & handling $6.95, so order more than 1 set to make it worthwhile. You should shop around too. I know Bass Central sells strings, and you may get a great price from a local dealer too. P.S. The Alembic strings feel really nice under the finger, and they last a long time too. Kris (Message edited by keurosix on July 31, 2008) | ||
| hernan
New Username: hernan Post Number: 4 Registered: 5-2008 |
I like to use flat strings with my fretless. I tried them on my fretted Philip Kubicki once, but I hated the sound immediately. | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 2006 Registered: 3-2004 |
Well, one thing I think is a problem is talking about "Flats" like they are all the same. There's a huge difference in feel and tone between different brands. I've tried D'Addario Chromes and LaBella Deep Talkin' Flats. Outside of being flatwound, these two have very little in common, especially with regard to tone. I think it's a mistake to try one brand of anything and let it set your mind for the entire genre. |
