blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Roundwound or flatwound, what are you guys using and why?
Roundwound or Flatwound?
- Thread starter blueman335
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One Bad Monkey
New member
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.
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
RedTruckologist
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.
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
New member
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.
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.
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Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: Roundwound or Flatwound?
I like flats mostly, but like everything in music, its all about context.
I like flats mostly, but like everything in music, its all about context.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Roundwound or Flatwound?
Anyone using half rounds?
Anyone using half rounds?
One Bad Monkey
New member
Re: Roundwound or Flatwound?
I've used our GHS Brite Flats (which are half/ground wound) before. They're okay.
I've used our GHS Brite Flats (which are half/ground wound) before. They're okay.
Falloffthebonetone
New member
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.
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
Mojo's Minions
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
One Bad Monkey
New member
Re: Roundwound or Flatwound?
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.
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
Shaunofthedeadologist
Re: Roundwound or Flatwound?
Roundwound, cause currently that's all that Dunlop makes.
Roundwound, cause currently that's all that Dunlop makes.
Re: Roundwound or Flatwound?
Rounds, cuz I cant afford dropping more cash on a stringchange than i spend on the average pickup swap (used CL scores)... Have no words of praise for Ernie Ball rounds, but at $17 -5 (string club GC) = $12, not a whole lotta other tolerable options available
Rounds, cuz I cant afford dropping more cash on a stringchange than i spend on the average pickup swap (used CL scores)... Have no words of praise for Ernie Ball rounds, but at $17 -5 (string club GC) = $12, not a whole lotta other tolerable options available
Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: Roundwound or Flatwound?
Cool thing I like about flats is that their life is much longer as well. The solid bass tone they give doesn't decay with age and use as much, while rounds lose more of their fundamental tone with age. Some keep flats on for years, so although they are more expensive, you don't need to change them as often, or really ever unless you like sound of totally fresh flats better. Plus, (dirty) rounds are murder on your frets while flats don't rust as much or store as much gunk in the string because the grooves as so shallow and tight. But regardless people like the sound of worn rounds anyway so different strokes.
Cool thing I like about flats is that their life is much longer as well. The solid bass tone they give doesn't decay with age and use as much, while rounds lose more of their fundamental tone with age. Some keep flats on for years, so although they are more expensive, you don't need to change them as often, or really ever unless you like sound of totally fresh flats better. Plus, (dirty) rounds are murder on your frets while flats don't rust as much or store as much gunk in the string because the grooves as so shallow and tight. But regardless people like the sound of worn rounds anyway so different strokes.
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ItsaBass
New member
Re: Roundwound or Flatwound?
Yup. Flats only get better as they age (well, rounds too IMO). I never, ever change my strings unless one breaks, or I get a new bass (which will invariably have strings that drive me crazy on it, like light gauge rounds). It sucks to break a bass string, because then I know that my tone is gonna not quite be right for at least a year or two until the new strings break in. It's not horrible, but it's not quite right to me. I put my Music Man's strings on in 1988. My G&L's went on in '97. The P Bass strings are only 5 years old, and they are finally starting to sound great.
Yup. Flats only get better as they age (well, rounds too IMO). I never, ever change my strings unless one breaks, or I get a new bass (which will invariably have strings that drive me crazy on it, like light gauge rounds). It sucks to break a bass string, because then I know that my tone is gonna not quite be right for at least a year or two until the new strings break in. It's not horrible, but it's not quite right to me. I put my Music Man's strings on in 1988. My G&L's went on in '97. The P Bass strings are only 5 years old, and they are finally starting to sound great.
Johnny the Kid
Shaunofthedeadologist
Re: Roundwound or Flatwound?
Try Dunlops. They last forever, and sound a lot better than the EB's. At around $20- 5 (string club GC, which is an amazing value, and I encourage everyone to go get one) $3 is a small price to pay for fantastic tone. The NPS ones are really nice, but I use the SS for the brighter tone.
Try Dunlops. They last forever, and sound a lot better than the EB's. At around $20- 5 (string club GC, which is an amazing value, and I encourage everyone to go get one) $3 is a small price to pay for fantastic tone. The NPS ones are really nice, but I use the SS for the brighter tone.
threechordcharlie
RedTruckologist
Re: Roundwound or Flatwound?
GHS, in any guage except light, have a long lifespan.
GHS, in any guage except light, have a long lifespan.
