Roundwound or Flatwound?

[blueman335]

Roundwound or flatwound, what are you guys using and why?

[One Bad Monkey]

Re: Roundwound or Flatwound?

I'm mainly a roundwound guy, primarily because I like the tone and the attack of rounds that you can't get with flatwounds. Depending on the gig however, I'll put flats on a bass no problem.

My current favorite though are pressurewounds, which are technically neither round nor flat. They're slightly flattened in the winding process, making them more of an "ovalwound" if you will. They have a mellower initial tone than rounds, but still have the clarity. Also, they have much less fingernoise than standard rounds.

[threechordcharlie]

Re: Roundwound or Flatwound?

I play roundwounds. I try to get that clean, crisp piano tone from my bass without having to add extra highs and mids on my EQ. I love the way roundwounds sound when they are new and fresh so I change strings about once a month or so.

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Roundwound or Flatwound?

I actually gave flats a try and I don't think I'm going back to rounds anytime soon. I used to have to compete with the other members in my band for mid and high frequencies to be heard but flats put me right at the foundation and the tone has more weight to it now that fills the sound of the band better. Granted I'm using brighter and more powerful flats (chromes, medium) I have them in a bright and powerful bass with a bright and powerful amp, so it all mellows down just right for the music I play and keeps things versatile. Plus I find them all around more comfortable to play and less obnoxious sounding because there's no screeching and scratching. Rarely have to change them and easier on my hands and my frets. I'm a pretty conservative player and use my fingers or thumb 99% of the time, rarely ever slapping or using a pick so it works for me. Plus those old school tones are so fun to play around with, especially with a foam mute under the strings.

[Chickenwings]

Re: Roundwound or Flatwound?

I like flats mostly, but like everything in music, its all about context.

[ItsaBass]

Re: Roundwound or Flatwound?

Flats since day one of picking up a bass 25 years ago. Nothing else sounds good to me.

[dg27]

Re: Roundwound or Flatwound?

Rounds.

I have flats on my Gibson and Fender Mustang, but I rarely play those.

[kilphody]

Re: Roundwound or Flatwound?

I have flats on my fretless and rounds on the B.C. Rich. Different tones and playability. The flats seem a bit more of a workout, but the action on the fretless is a tad higher.
PC

[blueman335]

Re: Roundwound or Flatwound?

Anyone using half rounds?

[One Bad Monkey]

Re: Roundwound or Flatwound?

Anyone using half rounds?

I've used our GHS Brite Flats (which are half/ground wound) before. They're okay.

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Roundwound or Flatwound?

I bumped my old thread about bass strings that I got a lot of info from before switching to flats. They mentioned half rounds and stuff, check it out if you want.

[blueman335]

Re: Roundwound or Flatwound?

I've used our GHS Brite Flats (which are half/ground wound) before. They're okay.

'Just okay' or do you really like them?

[blueman335]

Re: Roundwound or Flatwound?

I bumped my old thread about bass strings that I got a lot of info from before switching to flats. They mentioned half rounds and stuff, check it out if you want.

Good info, thanks!

[One Bad Monkey]

Re: Roundwound or Flatwound?

'Just okay' or do you really like them?

They're just okay. They have more sustain and clarity than flats have, but are still pretty dull compared to rounds. I would probably go straight flats if I had the choice.

I prefer Pressurewounds, which are actually "rollerwound," in that the outer wrap is run through some rollers in the winding process, yielding an oval type of wrap (whereas half rounds and ground wounds are roundwounds that are ground smooth). The Pressurewounds give you a broken in rounds sound off the bat, and mellow from there, but still keep the rounds character. Plus, with the oval wrap, there is less finger squeak.

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Roundwound or Flatwound?

Roundwound, cause currently that's all that Dunlop makes.