Good Ole Flatwounds

Basher

I wanted to try some flats and got the Maruszczyk branded set (45-105) from Bass Direct. Not quite as cheap as the Olympias above but, at £22, still in bargain territory. Not sure if they're a re-badged "mainstream" make (they have black silks at both ends).

I've really enjoyed the sound and feel and, as someone who tends to play with the tone rolled back a bit, I don't miss the top-end zing of roundwounds too often but occasionally miss having it there. I have no comparison as to whether these are bright/dark or high/low tension.

They feel easy to play (I usually have 40-100 gauge roundwounds) and they're very smooth, almost unnervingly so. That said, the last set I bought were some Stainless Roto Swing Bass 66s and after them a cheesegrater would feel smooth!

http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/MARUSZCZYK_Strings.html

Schnozz

Rotos rounds are rough - I prefer D'Addario.

Rotos for guitar and the flats feel fine. 

I love the growl of rounds on maple board P - I couldn't give that up for flats.

mbe

Bridgehouse said:

It’s worth saying that imho all flats get better with age - first impressions when you put them on don’t necessarily represent the longer term sound

I've had my Talman short scale bass a couple months, restrung with Höfner Contemporary flatwound wound set and it's just starting to sound really good now. The main difference is most noticeable on the E string

UnclePsychosis

In the past I've used Status Hot Wire flats and they were decent. Very good value too.

In the end I settled on GHS Pressurewounds as my preferred string, they're basically halfway between rounds and flats. 

rze99

s it true as I have read a number of times that James Jamerson didn't change his flatwounds in many years, just wiped them down. Any genuine source for this info?

fretmeister

rze99 said:

s it true as I have read a number of times that James Jamerson didn't change his flatwounds in many years, just wiped them down. Any genuine source for this info?

Common approach with flats.
To quote Ed Friedland the “Bass Whisperer “ and once teacher of John Myung
”Change your strings every 10 years.... whether they need it or not.”

fretmeister

I reckon the longest I’ve gone with flats is 4 years. But I like trying new brands anyway so they didn’t really need it.

Ive just installed a set of Dunlop flats on my Ibby Mezzo 5. They feel nice. If I can get years out of them I will be happy. They are my first try with the Dunlops.

KKJale

rze99 said:

Is it true as I have read a number of times that James Jamerson didn't change his flatwounds in many years, just wiped them down. Any genuine source for this info?

I wish I could track down Nelson George's 1983 Musician mag interview. Apparently his deader than dead strings were cited as one reason he fell from favour from sessions (but possibly not the major reason).

Found online:

"In Dr Licks book, it says that Gene Page had spoke with Nathan East regarding some Intonation issues with Jamerson. East advised that it was the strings that Jamerson was using, which were far beyond use. Jamerson was scratched for tonal reasons from the original date of Ritchie's "Lady". Paul Jackson Jr. gave him a set of new strings ,but Jamerson didn't use them."

Heartfeltdawn

mbe said:

Bridgehouse said:

It’s worth saying that imho all flats get better with age - first impressions when you put them on don’t necessarily represent the longer term sound

I've had my Talman short scale bass a couple months, restrung with Höfner Contemporary flatwound wound set and it's just starting to sound really good now. The main difference is most noticeable on the E string

@mbe I've had my Talman short scale for three weeks now. Looking to move on from the roundwounds and get something slightly lighter gauge too. Are these the Hofner strings you've got on your Talman now? 

https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Hofner_Bass_Strings.html

mbe

Heartfeltdawn said:

mbe said:

Bridgehouse said:

It’s worth saying that imho all flats get better with age - first impressions when you put them on don’t necessarily represent the longer term sound

I've had my Talman short scale bass a couple months, restrung with Höfner Contemporary flatwound wound set and it's just starting to sound really good now. The main difference is most noticeable on the E string

@mbe I've had my Talman short scale for three weeks now. Looking to move on from the roundwounds and get something slightly lighter gauge too. Are these the Hofner strings you've got on your Talman now? 

https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Hofner_Bass_Strings.html

I got these here...(Flatwound) they are a good fit and seem decent for the money. No doubt you can get better but they are much more expensive. Give them a couple of months and the string to string balance will improve. I like them but I got a Mustang PJ recently (Fender roundwounds) because I like some sizzle as well as a bit of thump 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hofner-Contemporary-FLATWOUND-or-ROUNDWOUND-40-95-or-NYLON-Bass-Guitar-Strings/273455520933?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&var=572842058060&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Heartfeltdawn

Thanks for that. Will order some of those and give them a go

darcym

what's the difference in feel and sound from floudwounds as a general rule of thumb ?

mbe

darcym said:

what's the difference in feel and sound from floudwounds as a general rule of thumb ?

Is that a trick question?  

Schnozz

Floundwounds

fretmeister

Very smooth to the touch. Less treble. More fundamental lows. 

Sometimes a softer attack depending on construction. 

No finger noise. 

Schnozz

I'd say less sustain and growl. Really good combined with a 60s jazz bass.