One step brighter than Flatwounds for recording

#43
I found Ken Smith Slick Rounds to be exactly like what you say you are looking for.

Nickel-iron Alloy Round Wound, Ground On The Outer Surface For A Super Smooth Feel
Sound Is Fat And Brighter Than Flat Wound Strings
38″ Winding Length To Silk ( +/- 1/2″)
Silk Wrapping At Both Ends
Available For 4, 5 & 6 String Basses

SRL Slick Round-Light .040 .056 .077 .103
SRM-L Slick Round-Medium Light .044 .062 .077 .103
SRM Slick Round-Medium .044 .062 .084 .106
 
#45
I had labella LTFs on my short scale, and switching to Dunlop flats (the lower gauge) were only slightly higher tension. The tone was much brighter though, new. I did one application of eucerin and that brought the brightness down enough so that they’re still a little more present than the labellas but sound broken in.
 
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#47
I'm a roundwound player, so take that into account.

I also like Dunlop flats. I won't call them bright, but definitely more defined than most flats. My favorite flat.

Same with Roto Monel flats, lots of midrange.

Love cobalt flats, but they're definitely bright. Kind of their own animal, don't really sound like either rounds or flats, but definitely sound good. Feel great.

I keep trying Ghs pressurewounds but they just don't get it for me. I think they lose on two counts: Kinda sound like rounds, but don't have the bark of rounds that I like. I like the slick feeling of flats, but these PW strings don't have that either.

Good luck!
 
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#48
Sam Miller said:
I currently have La Bella LTF-4A Flatwounds on my vintage Rickenbacker. I love soft, warm sound live through a bass amp, but not so much for home recording, where you have to consider how the mix sounds through smaller speakers. I end up trying to get more definition out of the bass post-recording through adding subtle distortion and boosting the highs, but the bass still sounds a little flat, lifeless, undefined, lost in a mix when translated to smaller speakers. In the hands of a skilled engineer, I suspect you can make any type of strings work. However, I am just a humble home recording dude.

I am thinking of switching strings, but I find many roundwounds too bright for my liking. Any suggestions for a type and brand of string that is a little brighter, richer mid/high timbre, than flatwounds but still retains most of their warmth and silky feel---in other words, a string sound somewhere between the usual round and flatwound types? Nickel-plated, tapedwound? What type and brand of strings would you suggest.
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Cobalt flat is 2 step or above brighter than LTF4A. Plus tone wise are totally different !

If you want closer tone to LTF4A, Dunlop flat 45-105 has a step brighter, following the 9050M. Or GHS 3025, but the G string are more than 1 step brighter and the E string are half step darker.
 
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#52
lunarpollen said:
To be able to give the best advice would require hearing some examples of these mixes. You may not need to change your string type at all.
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It's not just for mixing. Sometimes, I wish my bass sound to be richer in timbre, which the higher harmonics/frequencies provide. It is easier to dial back the highs than it is to try to add them in post-recording. I would like to have a little more flexibility in my bass timbre while still retaining the warm thumpiness of flatwounds, not just for recording but also live. But like I said in a previous reply to someone's comment, I am going to experiment more with amp simulation plugins, frequency targeted subtle distortion, eq'n mids, as suggested, in Ableton, before swapping my La Bella flats for something else. If I do decide to experiment with other strings, I am leaning towards the EB Cobalts. They are available cheap at my local music shop.
 
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#53
Sam Miller said:
Good to know. In another forum, someone brought up that sometimes the Cobalt Flats feel sticky?
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I heard that they have changed the coating so I don’t know if that thread is talking about the newer version or not. I bought mine about 2 months ago and they felt a tiny bit oily at first but that went within a day or so.
 
#58
Dragan said:
D'addario half rounds, just extra edge and clarity you want and they feels like flats which is good imo
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I agree- I put my half rounds back on my Ibanez fretless yesterday and it gave me the brightness I wanted. I had switched to flat wounds because I had been hearing a weird sound when I plucked in certain positions (and I wanted it to sound a bit more like a mic'd acoustic bass), but that turned out to be a pickup height issue.
 
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#59
You are going to have to contact the Optima distributor in the USA. He will do a set of Ric gauge 24kt Gold Rounds that will sound and play better than any strings you have ever experienced.

They set up a special set for me, and shipped without a problem.

The 24 Kt Gold rounds have a mellow attack, and a deep fundamental. Plus the 24 kt gold is a slick feeling string and has a long duration. Very cool round core, and super clean.

But the correct sized set is not available to order out right. You almost have to buy two different sets. But if you contact our USA distributor, they can make up a set of singles, and at the price of a normal set, and get them to you. Eudardo is a pleasure to deal with. And can help you out,

BTW -- I play only Optima 24 KT gold series on all my on the stage basses. And have been amazed by the tone and feel of the strings. Also other bassists in my area are amazed when they get to try them. Bad thing is they are a rarity and most folks don't know about them, since they are a German manufactured string.

upload_2020-12-6_8-34-21.png
 
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#60
I am a 40+yr player... recent flats ‘user’ (Roto SS 66’s for 35+yrs)... here is my experience...

I’ve cycled thru:
TI flats (tension too light for my technique)
Labella LT flats (tension too light...)
GHS Brite flats
D’Addario half-rounds
GHS Balanced nickels
Roto 66 NPS
and quite a few others (but *these* are directed to your query)

As shown below- comparing these 4
Chromes- the ‘dullest’ of these 4- but perfect tension for me (this bass has Fralin 10% overwound- so helps ‘project’)
EB Cobalts- they are def. the brightest (flats) of these. I had GHS Brite Flats on ‘er... not enough clarity for me (SD QP pup)
** GHS PW’s- this is my #1- sported Roto SS 66’s... PW’s are a nice alternative- no longer needed to Roto ‘punch’ (SD QP pups)
Fender 9050’s- the ‘softest’ tone (of the 4)- what I wanted for this bass (Fralin split coil pup)

**PW’s for the win! :cool:

93764FD6-72F1-4706-8C39-2C88EA690146.jpeg
 
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