 Bass People, Round or flat? |
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| lusting_kay |
 May 17 2007, 09:42 AM
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#1
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Noise Board Forum Moderator  Group: Members - Platinum Posts: 12,206 Joined: November 3 03 Member No.: 1,053  |
My bass player has one of those violin body basses...great bass, but serious intonation problems.
He needs to get it set up and I have been wondering about flatwounds vs. round strings. What is the difference physically and tonally? |
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| jlh |
May 17 2007, 09:48 AM
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#2
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 Group: Members - Basic Posts: 211 Joined: March 13 06 Member No.: 7,609 |
tonally, flatwounds have less attack, less bite. more of a mellow sound. physically they're smooth and lack the ridges of roundwound strings.
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| PEZ |
May 17 2007, 09:50 AM
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#3
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I don't think your band is very good. Group: Members - Basic Posts: 3,042 Joined: April 1 04 From: The 508. Member No.: 2,346 |
QUOTE(lusting_kay @ May 17 2007, 10:42 AM)  My bass player has one of those violin body basses...great bass, but serious intonation problems. He needs to get it set up and I have been wondering about flatwounds vs. round strings. What is the difference physically and tonally? On one of those, I'd probably go for the flatwounds. Their sound is a bit "thuddier," without the high end bite. I don't care for that sound myself, but it seems a bit more in line with the sound he'd be trying to acheive, by even playing one of those basses in the first place. |
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| lusting_kay |
May 17 2007, 10:00 AM
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#4
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Noise Board Forum Moderator Group: Members - Platinum Posts: 12,206 Joined: November 3 03 Member No.: 1,053 |
QUOTE(PEZ @ May 17 2007, 10:50 AM) On one of those, I'd probably go for the flatwounds. Their sound is a bit "thuddier," without the high end bite. I don't care for that sound myself, but it seems a bit more in line with the sound he'd be trying to acheive, by even playing one of those basses in the first place. I think he bought it cuz it was pretty  |
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| John D |
May 17 2007, 10:07 AM
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#5
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Noise Board Sponsor Group: Members - Platinum Posts: 4,454 Joined: April 29 04 From: Westborough MA Member No.: 2,575 |
As I recall, the action on that thing was insanely low. I would suggest raising it just a tad, and like Pez said, go with the flat wounds if he wants that 60's thud. Personally (and this is coming from a pseudo-bass player) I prefer the roundwounds for the punch.
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| Noodle Brick |
May 17 2007, 10:47 AM
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#6
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Noise Board Sponsor Group: Members - Platinum Posts: 5,765 Joined: June 10 04 From: Lexington, MA Member No.: 2,946 |
half-rounds are a good inbetween if he doesn't want to commit to flats. They get the thump sound pretty well, and can't dial in punchy tone when eq'd right.
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| Murdock8 |
May 17 2007, 10:55 AM
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#7
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Group: Members - Basic Posts: 990 Joined: July 24 03 Member No.: 463 |
QUOTE(Noodle Brick @ May 17 2007, 11:47 AM) half-rounds are a good inbetween if he doesn't want to commit to flats. They get the thump sound pretty well, and can't dial in punchy tone when eq'd right. good suggestion |
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| Mark VI |
May 17 2007, 11:14 AM
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#8
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Complete Bastard Group: Members - Platinum Posts: 16,480 Joined: March 16 04 From: Der Reichstag Member No.: 2,203 |
i am a roundwound guy. i still would like to try flats, but fear i would be wasting money for what i do.
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| In the Woods |
May 17 2007, 11:27 AM
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#9
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Noise Board Sponsor Group: Members - Platinum Posts: 12,237 Joined: June 23 03 From: The Wilds of New Hampshire Member No.: 153 |
I primarily use rounds but for a Hofner-type bass some flats would sound nice. Brings it a little closer to that upright feel/sound.
I've got a passive Jazz with flats on it and I love the tone. |
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| Rockit |
May 17 2007, 01:42 PM
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#10
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Group: Members - Basic Posts: 3,339 Joined: June 27 03 From: North Shore Member No.: 248 |
I would think with a bass like that a lighter gauge string might be the route to take. Obviously, a good professional set up is a must because a good tech will recognize an issue like intonation and be able to correct it. I personally don't like flats because of the tone but obviously for a certain retro sound like James Jamerson got or a fretless bass they work out. Steve Harris said in an interview in Bass Player he's been using Rotosound flats and they do have sound good but do lose the highs by the end of a set because he sweat so much onstage.
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