Members Archon_113 Posted August 16, 2005 Members Share Posted August 16, 2005 With average playing time that is. Also, is it possible to get a clear, growling tone out of them when playing with a pick? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sunburstbasser Posted August 16, 2005 Members Share Posted August 16, 2005 They take about 30 minutes to settle in. After that, you don't need to change them. Ever. You *can* get a growl out of flats, but don't expect Tool-esque mega nasty. Paul McCartney used flatwounds on a Ric, a Hofner, and a Jazz with the Beatles. There are some fairly growly sounds going on in songs like Oh! Darling, and across the White Album. It can be done. He used a pick, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Archon_113 Posted August 16, 2005 Author Members Share Posted August 16, 2005 Will I be able to get a deep, growling sound out of them that's suitable for metal do you think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mudbass Posted August 16, 2005 Members Share Posted August 16, 2005 Since they're deader than Elvis straight from the package they should theoretically last forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pbass_groovin Posted August 16, 2005 Members Share Posted August 16, 2005 I've had my flats on for 1 1/2 years now and I still don't think they're broken in totally yet. For metal you may want rounds though for that extra bite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Archon_113 Posted August 16, 2005 Author Members Share Posted August 16, 2005 I currently have D'addario rounds on my bass and I can get the sound I want for them, but being as cheap as I am I'd like to use flats if it's at all possible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sunburstbasser Posted August 16, 2005 Members Share Posted August 16, 2005 Paul McCartney's flats had a fairly deep growl to them. Flats are already deep. They basically sound like dead roundwound strings, to give you an idea of tone. I'm really not sure if they'd work for metal. I'm not into a lot of metal, and last time I had flatwounds on was a LONG time ago and I don't recall really how they worked. I know Steve Harris uses flatwounds, and has used them for years since before the first Iron Maiden record. So, they can work for SOME metal at least! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sixgun77 Posted August 16, 2005 Members Share Posted August 16, 2005 You never ever need to change flats. To me they sound like they have less punch than rounds, but more lows. You can dial the eq in with them to get anywhere from Steve Harris to a sound very close to an upright bass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members beam Posted August 17, 2005 Members Share Posted August 17, 2005 Steve Digiorgio gets a decent growl on his ESP fretless, you can check it out in some of the vids. I've no clue if he uses flats though And he is certainly a metal player. http://www.stevedigiorgio.com/music.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Archon_113 Posted August 17, 2005 Author Members Share Posted August 17, 2005 Originally posted by beam Steve Digiorgio gets a decent growl on his ESP fretless, you can check it out in some of the vids. I've no clue if he uses flats though And he is certainly a metal player. http://www.stevedigiorgio.com/music.html According to the equipment page on that site he uses Rotosound Swing Bass strings. Still, the fact he's using a fretless suggests it will be possible with flats on a fretted bass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members beam Posted August 17, 2005 Members Share Posted August 17, 2005 Originally posted by Archon_113 According to the equipment page on that site he uses Rotosound Swing Bass strings. Still, the fact he's using a fretless suggests it will be possible with flats on a fretted bass. Yea, I just read that I'd give half-rounds a shot if I were you, it might be what you are looking for. If anything, after a while they will probably just sound pretty similar to flats...but should start off with a roundish tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Archon_113 Posted August 17, 2005 Author Members Share Posted August 17, 2005 What exactly are half rounds? I guess they're somewhere in between rounds and flats, but I don't reall understand how that would work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members beam Posted August 17, 2005 Members Share Posted August 17, 2005 Originally posted by Archon_113 What exactly are half rounds? I guess they're somewhere in between rounds and flats, but I don't reall understand how that would work. They are rounds that have been filed down around the edges to be smooth.So they have the construction of a round-wound, but the feel of a flat. Good for bassists who want a brighter tone on a fretless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lowbasslowbass Posted August 17, 2005 Members Share Posted August 17, 2005 The Thomastik flatwound stings sound great and last for years! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cortfan Posted August 17, 2005 Members Share Posted August 17, 2005 My GHS Flats are 5+ years old, and still working fine. I don't have much acid in my fingers, and I clean them after playing them every day. With even half way proper techniques, you can make them growl, thump, or pretty much whatever tone you need. I gave away all my roundwound sets. YMMV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassman1956 Posted August 17, 2005 Members Share Posted August 17, 2005 Originally posted by beam They are rounds that have been filed down around the edges to be smooth.So they have the construction of a round-wound, but the feel of a flat.Good for bassists who want a brighter tone on a fretless. I put a set of D'Addario Brite Flats on my Jerzy fretless... Love'em! They're ground-wound nickels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SpaceGhost Posted August 17, 2005 Members Share Posted August 17, 2005 I've gone against my word and bought some Rotosound strings, Jazz Bass flats. I must say, they are amazing strings. Right from the box they were nice with great tight low end with a little mids and almost no highs. After a couple days they just get warmer and warmer sounding with the bottom end sounding a little better and the mid range starts to develop. Try these strings because they've converted me to Rotosound strings AND flatwounds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tim in WV Posted August 17, 2005 Members Share Posted August 17, 2005 Ti flats are the freaking schiznit. 3 years and still like new. I can hit a low G that will curl your toes. You dont hear it, you feel it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassman1956 Posted August 17, 2005 Members Share Posted August 17, 2005 Oh, and they last forever, or until they break, whichever is longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members My bass in your face Posted August 17, 2005 Members Share Posted August 17, 2005 Flats for downtuned and fast metal. Tried it and didn't work. I play fingerstyle though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Perfessor Posted August 17, 2005 Members Share Posted August 17, 2005 Flats and my neck through Washburn, oh my. Think jazz.They'll last for years and years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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