View Full Version : New Strings
FeltFedora
02-13-2011, 07:45 AM
I have no idea how old the strings were on my bass. It was used when I bought it and who knows how long they were on before that. So the other day I got it in my head that I wanted to try a new set of strings. So I stopped by my local music store and picked up a set of Fender (med/light) flatwounds. I already had my sights on some flatwounds before I walked in. I have been listening to an unhealthy amount of old Motown stuff recently and being the poser I am could have nothing else :cool:
Brought them home, unwrapped an installed them. All I can say is CREAMY THUMPALICIOUS SMOOTHNESS... I absolutely love the sound and feel of flatwounds. To me they sound the way I want my bass to sound. The sound takes on a different dimension. They literally make me feel like I am playing a new bass. They felt almost a bit tacky when I first was playing them but last night I noticed that feeling is gone and they are as smooth and quiet as butter when your fingers slide up and down. As long as I only have one bass I see it probably being strung with flats from here on.
jthomas353
02-13-2011, 09:13 AM
FeltFedora,
Welcome to the "flats" club. I put flats on my Ibanez the same week I bought it and haven't gone back. I love them Your description of the sound and feel is spot on. I still have the round wounds on my G&L just to give them a chance and also to have a different sound from the Ibanez. Some songs just don't sound right with flats.
John
BTW, what brand did you get?
Elmeaux
02-13-2011, 09:23 AM
Congrats!! I, too, am a fan of flats. I use D'Addario Chromes.
I also recommend half-rounds. As smooth and buttery (CREAMY THUMPALICIOUS) as normal flats, but with a slighly punchier sound.
I like the light and really light gauges...
http://www.amazon.com/DAddario-Half-Round-ENR70-Stainless-Strings/dp/B000OR89CK
http://www.amazon.com/DAddario-Half-Round-ENR71-Stainless-Strings/dp/B0009FZWMW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1297610338&sr=1-2
Does this mean you'll be making a video in the near future? :rolleyes:
Bassix
02-13-2011, 11:05 AM
I use flatwounds on my Peavey Cirrus 5 and I can't imagine putting anything else on my bass. Those strings produce such a warm, rich tone and are noticeably quieter than roundwounds when playing "busy" basslines. Maybe that means I need to work more on my muting technique. IDK. On songs that require a brighter sound, I just increase the treble and midrange and that does the trick for me...there's nothing unhealthy about Motown, FeltFedora. :)
Here's a track of Jamerson's isolated bass on "Whats Going On". His bass tone was killer, imho.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqtELR5GyfI
Elmeaux
02-13-2011, 01:29 PM
Here's a track of Jamerson's isolated bass on "Whats Going On". His bass tone was killer, imho.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqtELR5GyfI
So smooooth. :cool:
Greg Jewell
02-13-2011, 02:19 PM
Has the move to flatwounds affected the intonation of your bass, anyone?
Greg
FeltFedora
02-13-2011, 04:17 PM
Has the move to flatwounds affected the intonation of your bass, anyone?
Greg
Did not mess with mine.. still spot on
jthomas353
02-13-2011, 04:57 PM
Has the move to flatwounds affected the intonation of your bass, anyone?
Greg
Its been about a year since I put mine on. I don't think the intonation changed.
TobiasMan
02-13-2011, 09:02 PM
Have old flatwounds on my Fender P bass and they seem to just fit the character of that bass to a "T". Don't think they even go out of tune much anymore and no impact on intonation at all.
line6bassman
02-13-2011, 09:48 PM
I know I know it's not the same or maybe it is??? All I have to do on my Line6 5 string is flip a switch make that turn a knob and it's flat wound Jazz or P bass!!
But I sure wish I could afford the Maxi ma 5 string Gold plated strings, I use to love them and 3 times with cleaning and using Fast fret they lasted for years and all the strings would go out at the same time. But at around $130-150 a set, that's like buying a new bass!! Well maybe one day?
http://www.thewho.net/whotabs/gear/bass/bassendorsements.html#maxima
Of course that is why I started using them because of John Entwistle!
line6bassman
blair book
02-18-2011, 05:11 AM
I love flats, they really feel softer and sound great. I was using GHS Bass Boomers and I did not really like them that much. Glad I went the flatwound route.
Elmeaux
02-18-2011, 08:58 AM
I bought GHS strings one time. Didn't care for them at all. The texture was odd and the sound was dead and out of focus. :(
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