Gradual Transition?

Lenny JG

Lenny JG

Aug 3, 2019
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#1
I've never really used flats, maybe 20min of total experience out of my 14 years, & tbh, due to memory loss, I'm not even sure about that number.

I've been playing fretless bass exclusively for about 5 years, but prefer roundwound hex core brightness for my styles. Now I have a couple extra basses to toy w/ & am wanting to get more vintage flatwound sounds for specific studio work.

I know half rounds exist, and I know tape wounds exist. 0 experience w/ those as far as I'm aware.

Is it logical for me to try half rounds or tapes before going to flats, or should I just dive into flats?

I don't usually like daddario, is there another half round producer?

Are tapes even supposed to be in this thought process?

Is this just a bunch of dumb questions?

TIA for any advice and thoughts!
 
#4
michael_t said:
To add to my post above...

Ken Smith Slick Rounds are the closest cousin to the GHS Brite Flats in that they're also Alloy 52 half-rounds made by GHS.
Click to expand...

I'm not a fan of GHS but totally forgot to mention ken smith slick rounds. I've actually been using the metal masters for a couple years until my recent upgrade to bigger strings and Ken Smith was the first brand I looked up earlier and so they don't have flat wounds but have the slick rounds.

I wonder if the feel is more like rounds or more like half rounds?

Do you think it makes sense to try those before going to flats?
 
#5
Lenny JG said:
I wonder if the feel is more like rounds or more like half rounds?
Click to expand...

Half-rounds have a very distinct feel to them. Kind of sticky to start out with, but once played in, they would feel more like flats than rounds.

Lenny JG said:
Do you think it makes sense to try those before going to flats?
Click to expand...

If I were in your position, I would go straight to flats, but start with something in the "semi-modern" category, which includes D'Addario Chromes, Fender 9050s and Dunlop Flats.
 
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#8
michael_t said:
I would love for you to re-post the audio demos of the GHS Brite Flats on your fretless that you previously posted elsewhere.
Click to expand...

Sure, here's a couple:





On the subject, I had recently come across what was probably the only recording I ever made when I had D'Addario half-round strings on this bass. I stopped using them not because I didn't like them, but because I took the bass in for some maintenance, and had the tech swap strings, and I never went back to the half-rounds.

Listening to that recording, as minimal as it was, it sounded to me like the D'Addario's sound very close to the GHS, except that the E string sounded more clear. I have another set of the D'Addario's on order to do some more A/B comparisons, to better evaluate. Of course, there's also the question of how do they sound as they age, not just how do they sound at any given point in time...
 
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#12
Lenny JG said:
I've never really used flats, maybe 20min of total experience out of my 14 years, & tbh, due to memory loss, I'm not even sure about that number.

I've been playing fretless bass exclusively for about 5 years, but prefer roundwound hex core brightness for my styles. Now I have a couple extra basses to toy w/ & am wanting to get more vintage flatwound sounds for specific studio work.

I know half rounds exist, and I know tape wounds exist. 0 experience w/ those as far as I'm aware.

Is it logical for me to try half rounds or tapes before going to flats, or should I just dive into flats?

I don't usually like daddario, is there another half round producer?

Are tapes even supposed to be in this thought process?

Is this just a bunch of dumb questions?

TIA for any advice and thoughts!
Click to expand...

stringing different basses with different strings is a good idea. I am a rounds guy but some of my basses get nickel rounds, some get steel, and some get heavier gauges, and some get lighter. I sometimes sting a bass with flats, but usually I prefer rounds. If you have a fretless that could be a good bass for flats or half rounds.
 
#13
Lenny JG said:
Now I have a couple extra basses to toy w/ & am wanting to get more vintage flatwound sounds for specific studio work.
Click to expand...

My thought is that, if you want to get vintage flatwound sounds for specific studio work, then you're probably better off going straight to a vintage-style flat.

However, if you just want something that is different from your usual sound with rounds, but you think you'd be turned off by something that is *too* different, then maybe a half-round or similar product (or even just a brighter flat) might make sense.

Tapes are cool but they are likely to be darker even than flats on average, so I'm not sure that I see where they fit in to your situation other than just something fun to try and see if you like them.
 
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#14
Lenny JG said:
I'm not a fan of GHS but totally forgot to mention ken smith slick rounds. I've actually been using the metal masters for a couple years until my recent upgrade to bigger strings and Ken Smith was the first brand I looked up earlier and so they don't have flat wounds but have the slick rounds.

I wonder if the feel is more like rounds or more like half rounds?

Do you think it makes sense to try those before going to flats?
Click to expand...
You do know that all Ken Smith strings are re-packaged GHS? For example:
Slick rounds - Pressurewound
Metal Masters - Super Steels
Burners - Boomers
Etc., all with the exact same string gauges in the sets, sometimes just with different colored silk for marketing purposes.
 
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#15
Having played all the domestic tapewound strings. The strings that have the best longevity, even tone and feel, and character are the La Bella tapewounds in the regular gauge, 60-115
White: the brightest, compared to other tapewounds;
Black: the darkest, compared to other tapewounds;
Copper: a different midrange emphasis, might do really well on a fretless to get the signature "mwah";
Gold: like well-seated nickel plated rounds with the tone turned down to 7.
They're worth cutting a new nut.
 
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#16
michael_t said:
Half-rounds have a very distinct feel to them. Kind of sticky to start out with, but once played in, they would feel more like flats than rounds.
Click to expand...

The only string size regarded as sticky are ernie ball, daddario, and coated strings. I ended up sticking w/ Ken smith the last 2/3 years because they are absolutely the smoothest least sticky least abrasive strings I've used, which makes me want to try the slick rounds and halfrounds just to compare stickiness now. Lol the dangers of using TB for advice. :roflmao:

michael_t said:
If I were in your position, I would go straight to flats, but start with something in the "semi-modern" category, which includes D'Addario Chromes, Fender 9050s and Dunlop Flats.
Click to expand...

I've honestly never tried a string from any of those companies and liked them.

Ric5 said:
stringing different basses with different strings is a good idea. I am a rounds guy but some of my basses get nickel rounds, some get steel, and some get heavier gauges, and some get lighter. I sometimes sting a bass with flats, but usually I prefer rounds. If you have a fretless that could be a good bass for flats or half rounds.
Click to expand...

I've only mainly used my Gary Willis Sig for the last 5 years, but recently gained 2 more basses and want to have different sets on my Gary Willis and standard scale 6 string. My multiscale fretless will be setup for EAEADG tuning w/ ss hex rounds from Newtone which is not going to be great for some of my studio sessions, and I'd rather not restring lol.

I'm thinking halfrounds on the gw 5 and full flats on the 6. Seems like tapewounds will be experimented w at another date.

I really appreciate everyones suggestions & information so far!
 
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#18
iiipopes said:
You do know that all Ken Smith strings are re-packaged GHS? For example:
Slick rounds - Pressurewound
Metal Masters - Super Steels
Burners - Boomers
Etc., all with the exact same string gauges in the sets, sometimes just with different colored silk for marketing purposes.
Click to expand...

No I just know that I tried GHS a few times and they died within days on me. Where KS have seen entire month long tours and been more than okay. Ive also never gotten a taper core .145 from GHS as I do w/ my metal masters & I don't see an option for it on the GHS site.

Actually upon closer look. Only 2 of the 5 gauges that Ken Smith uses for metal masters are even available through GHS super steels. Being .50 and .70. Furthermore the same could be said about comparing the gauge sizes between what's available from GHS and Ken Smith in regards to pressurewound/slickrounds, not to mention winding lengths; so Im not sure about them just being repackaged tbh I'd like to see more about where you got that info.
 
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