Flats V rounds shootout?

Would you be interested in a rounds V flats shootout, with soundclips?

  • Sure, post away

    Votes: 8 53.3%

  • No, thanks.

    Votes: 4 26.7%

  • Only if you include carrot-wound strings.

    Votes: 3 20.0%
  • Total voters
    15
pie_man_25

pie_man_25

Jun 28, 2007
4,338
7,745
5,196
#1
Would you guys be interested in a simple flats V. rounds shootout?

For those who don't know, a good while ago I went to China, beforehand I got a set of D'addario XL Nickle-steel roundwounds, and forgot about them. When I got back, I got a set of Chromes, both to put on my 4-string squier series MIM jazz bass. One day I pulled the rounds out of my case, and was pleasantly surprised.

So here's the idea: I record a simple bassline to a midi backtrack or something with brand new rounds and chromes, giving those who may be on the fence a bit of a comparison, are we cool with that?
 
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#4
It's a fine idea, although there are many such comparisons already online. I'd suggest recording to a beat/MIDI, but not including it in the sound clip you post, for maximum bass clarity. For me, the XL's "settle" after about 2 weeks, and then start to lose elasticity about 2 months thereafter. I love their sound and only recently learned they are manufacutured here in NY.
So what would be most useful to my thinking, is a long study in one or more string types, recorded identically. There are many comparisons of new strings, but relatively few that follow up with played-in results. This would also be almost a necessity with a flatwound test.
Ultimately though, I think it's faster/easier to refer to favorite recordings - although not a laboratory accuracy comparison, it's certainly enough to inspire me - Jamerson, JB's, McCartney, early Phil Lesh, Billy Bass Nelson, etc, got me into flats/tapes. I think by the time someone is comparing sound clips, they're already sold and are just geeking out on options before they buy.
 
#5
bearfoot said:
There are many comparisons of new strings, but relatively few that follow up with played-in results. This would also be almost a necessity with a flatwound test...

Ultimately though, I think it's faster/easier to refer to favorite recordings - although not a laboratory accuracy comparison
Click to expand...

+1

It's not very helpful to me personally to be listening to audio recordings of string comparisons when they're brand new out of the package, being played on their own without a musical context. How do they sound when new? How do they sound when broken in? How long does the broken-in tone last? How do they sit in a mix? And so on... Too many variables.

Also, a set of strings that sound great on one bass may not sound all that good on another.
 
#6
I love XL's. They have been on my Pedulla Thunderbass since I got it about a year ago. I play about this bass about 20 hours a week and I dig in pretty hard.

They sound and feel the same as they did a year ago. Punchy and clear are the 2 words I would use to describe them.

I can get plenty of mid-range growl with them.

Just today, I decided to turn the tweeters in my cabinets and it sounds fantastic. Now I have the high end zing I was looking for.

So here's the setup: Pedulla ET5 with D'addorio XL's ====> Hartke LH1000 =====> Avatar B210 and B115:
 
#7
Unfortunately I don't have the time to do break in two sets of strings on the same bass just for comparisons on the internet, maybe I won't do this after all.

Sorry, stuff is quickly stacking up, I've just been told I'll be working full-time, across town, and since I usually sleep at my girlfriend's after work, it's kinda hard for me to even get to a bass.
 
#10
I mean, don't get me wrong, it might happen, it's just that between work, volunteering, and looking for better work, and driving across town, and the sleep I can't seem to get, doing it with broken in strings might take a while. Perhaps I'll practice a bass line for six months, record a line on one set of strings, then break in the other pair perhaps and record the next, which would take a a while.

Also, it's not about "winning" per se, so much as just giving people who might not know a good barometer for what the two types sound like. The first time I got flat wounds, I spent 45 bucks just to check 'em out, and had no idea what they were like beforehand, and ended up getting rid of them after two years, because they really weren't versatile - or at least, they can't do that clanky hard rocking tone that I play at all of my gigs. Now I have two basses, so having them on my squier series Jazz for when I want to do that motown thing is a much more viable option, and I've got these nickle plated rounds as well.
 
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#13
2cooltoolz said:
I didn't understand the part about China...
Click to expand...

While I was in China my fender and the strings were left in Canada, giving me time to forget that I even owned the spare set of strings, so I got the flats when I got back thinking "well, it needs new strings and it's not like I have a set lying around". Then, surprise surprise, I have some strings in the case I don't use too much, make sense?
 
#14
1stnamebassist said:
Yeah out of the top four types of strings (round,flat, half/groundwound, tapewound) rounds should come in a healthy second place right behind flats.
Click to expand...

I don't need any more sound clips for comparison to know what works for me.

1. Pressurewounds, 2. Flats, 3. All the rest.

It might be worth noting this is the very first time in seven years that flats are no longer in first place on my list.
 
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