Flat Wounds on an 8 string

[Rune125]

I recently inherited a very nice 8 string Schecter. I loved the bass but it came with round wounds. I hate round wounds the sound is just too ringy, the round wounds made the octaves too twangy.. Looked all over for flat wounds and finally talked to La Bella about making up some flat 8's. Strings came the other day and La Bella did an awesome job of making the strings. The flats give just enough presence to the octave with out over powering the basic four. I had to buy 6 sets so if any 8 players want to try the flats I have 3 sets for sale.

[isaac42]

Might be interesting, but my 8 is a short scale. Prolly wouldn't fit.

[lz4005]

I know some people use flats on the low strings of an 8 to tame the sound a bit, so this is that idea to the next level.

Are you planning on doing any recording with it so we can hear what it sounds like?

[Rune125]

We just finished doing a CD. But definitely on the next one.

[Radar-Love]

 

I have a couple of 8-string basses, a Schecter Studio 8 and a Galveston 8. (The Schecter Studio 8 uses 4 pairs of strings, the Galveston is a true 8-stringer).

 

I haven't put too much thought into it, but, I was thinking about loading the Schecter with a mix of off-the-shelf "half round" (ground-wound) strings. Since the Schecter has a 34-inch scale length, all that would be needed would be to get strings with the correct speaking length. Like I said, I haven't done my homework on this endeavor yet.

 

 

[Rune125]

This is the same model I have-I got this bass and a 1977 Leo Fender Stingray as a gift from family members of a former bandmate who committed suicide.

[The Lurker]

8-strings are always going to be ringy. That said, I have found it really helps if you allow the octave strings to wear down more than the fundamentals so they're not as bright-- I change the bass strings about twice as often as the octaves unless I break one.

 

I tried flats on an 8-string once and it was unadulterated lousy.

[Rune125]

It would largely depend upon which brand of flats. I personally wouldn't use Fender flats for anything other baling hay. D'Addario chromes have more treble sound sound than say La Bella. It is a matter of preference. Most players use rounds. I happen to love the way flats sound as I'm a little old school. The flat 8's that La Bella built for me suit my ears. To someone else it may sound too thuddy and dull.

[The Lurker]

I agree about the Fender strings. I used D'addarios too, coupled with flatwound guitar strings (and I had a heck of a hard time finding those in a long enough make!). The combination just didn't work out. I have three other basses with flats, but it just didn't work on the 8-string.

[Jefff]

This is a really old post, but I figure, why not ask. 

If you still have any of those strings I'd be interested in a couple of sets of 8 string flats if you happen to have them still. I imagine they last a long time. 

Thanks.

Jeff