Will I be able to slap with flatwounds? If so, which ones?

[Appogee]

Hi All.

I recently bought a secondhand Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar V. I'm planning to set it up for use in learning how to slap.

On my other 5-strings (Ibanez EHBs, and a Talman Short Scale) I'm using most Dunlop Stainless Steel Flatwounds, which I love for their smooth feel, and also, the ability they give me to dial down treble for 70s rock, and dial treble up for 80s and 90s rock. (The downside is that they're expensive.)

I've tried Ernie Ball Slinkys - but hated them. Way too much string noise for my liking, and I could only control it by completely killing the treble.

Is it possible and/or advisable to slap with flatwounds? If so, which ones? If not, which strings would you recommend for that purpose?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[michael_t]

Is it possible and/or advisable to slap with flatwounds? If so, which ones? If not, which strings would you recommend for that purpose?

Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats (aka Slinky Flatwound) are designed to sound like "roundwound" (= one of the brightest flats) while providing the feel of flatwound (= reduced finger noise). They're also one of the more flexible ones.

 

[Gorn]

Way too much string noise for my liking, and I could only control it by completely killing the treble.

I know this isn't the question you asked, but this is something you should work on. It's an incredibly important part of becoming a good bass player, IMO.


Yes you can slap on flats. It's a different sound. I'd recommend lighter strings over heavier ones.

 

[pingvuiini]

Perhaps try D'Addario black tapes. Ultra quiet with the finger noise and they definitely have a bit of zing to them.

 

[Appogee]

I know this isn't the question you asked, but this is something you should work on. It's an incredibly important part of becoming a good bass player, IMO.

I agree with you. I'm not sure how to work on it, though.

Do you lift your fingers completely from the strings when shifting to a different fret/position? Or is there some other way to reduce "finger scraping on string" noise?

 

[Gorn]

I agree with you. I'm not sure how to work on it, though.

Do you lift your fingers completely from the strings when shifting to a different fret/position? Or is there some other way to reduce "finger scraping on string" noise?

It's just time and practice. It's not easy and something a lot of beginners ignore.

 

[conttador]

Is there a sound you’re trying to emulate?

You can slap w flats, no doubt, but if your goal is to sound like Marcus Miller, you’re probably not going to get that sound w flats.

 

[JC Nelson]

Take a look at the D'Addario Half Rounds

 

[moon-bass]

+1 on the Cobalts for slapping. They don't sound like rounds, but they do sound the best for all of the flats/tapes that I have tried slapping.

Finger noise is definitely technique - the key is to lift your fingers "just enough" off the strings as you move them so you don't make contact with them. That just takes practice, but even the best have some string noise from time to time.

An LPF can help quite a bit, but it isn't a cure all.

 

[manchego_eggo]

+3 on Cobalts. Chrome's are close too, but the brightness degrades fast.

GHS Pressurewounds may be a good option too. They're not flats, but they have a smooth feel and are bright.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Hi All.

I recently bought a secondhand Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar V. I'm planning to set it up for use in learning how to slap.

On my other 5-strings (Ibanez EHBs, and a Talman Short Scale) I'm using most Dunlop Stainless Steel Flatwounds, which I love for their smooth feel, and also, the ability they give me to dial down treble for 70s rock, and dial treble up for 80s and 90s rock. (The downside is that they're expensive.)

I've tried Ernie Ball Slinkys - but hated them. Way too much string noise for my liking, and I could only control it by completely killing the treble.

Is it possible and/or advisable to slap with flatwounds? If so, which ones? If not, which strings would you recommend for that purpose?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

1. Yes.
2. Labella DTF 760FL

 

[ole Jason]

It may not be what you want to hear but spend time learning to slap on rounds. IMO you want all the string noise and nuance from rounds because you need to learn how to control that stuff through technique if you want to slap competently.

 

[Nomoncello]

I second everyone saying "work on technique". I haven't seen anyone mention this yet, but have you let strings break in? I find they sound their best after 6-10 hours of play time. It removes some harsh zing and sound how they are supposed to.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

No no no no!! Do NOT attempt to slap n pop on flatwounds. Doing so will upset the space-time continuum resulting in the the opening up of a worm hole to another universe- a universe that will unleash unimaginable consequences. Just kidding, slap away! Heck, Chuck Rainey slapped on the chorus of “peg” with a 50s Precision bass with flats.

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

Hi All.

I recently bought a secondhand Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar V. I'm planning to set it up for use in learning how to slap.

On my other 5-strings (Ibanez EHBs, and a Talman Short Scale) I'm using most Dunlop Stainless Steel Flatwounds, which I love for their smooth feel, and also, the ability they give me to dial down treble for 70s rock, and dial treble up for 80s and 90s rock. (The downside is that they're expensive.)

I've tried Ernie Ball Slinkys - but hated them. Way too much string noise for my liking, and I could only control it by completely killing the treble.

Is it possible and/or advisable to slap with flatwounds? If so, which ones? If not, which strings would you recommend for that purpose?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Part of the point of slap is indeed that treble and presence, and it's hard to imagine those iconic recordings of slap bass in funk or pop or whatever, without that treble and presence of a roundwound string. The reduction in string noise occurs with better technique, and frankly better technique yields benefits no matter what strings used, basses used, genres played, or slap or no slap.

I like slapping with roundwounds because of the brightness and piano-like sustain and tonal qualities of roundwounds that are more likely to emulate the tones on the songs I'm performing. But yes, you can slap on flatwounds.

YMMV

 

[FullumMusic]

Yes you can slap on Flats (or Tapes.) There's no rule or law or physical property preventing you from doing so.

It will sound different from doing it on Rounds, just as playing finger-style or pick on Flats sounds different from Tapes, sounds different from Rounds. It's up to you whether you like the tone of it.

As far as the finger-noise on the strings situation, technique practice will help that. The short answer is, don't slide your fingers along the strings. This video does a nice job explaining the technique issue and how to fix it, starting at 5:00:


Also, a properly set up bass with lower action will help reduce those finger squeaks. Yes, higher action is usually considered "cleaner" tone. But you'll notice when she gives the example of the bad technique, the noise is happening when you lift your finger and move it but before the string has returned to its full height. The lower the action, the less distance your hand has to come up before it's separated from the string. But, lower actions often require playing with a lighter touch, so it's a balance, especially if you are aggressive with your plucking hand or pick normally. If your bass is properly set up with a reasonable action, practice the technique before lowering the action. Get the technique first.

And also, no matter how good your technique, there will always be some finger noise on Rounds. Practicing proper technique to minimize it is important, and also don't go insane looking for an un-achievable perfect silence neither. I like pointing to isolated bass tracks from great players with great technique. Like this Geddy Lee example. There's not a lot of finger-squeaking, but also, you can still hear it sometimes, just a little bit, and it's not extremely present. But it's there, ever so slightly, sometimes.

 

[Eidolon0274]

You just summoned the TB FBI with a question like that.

I see a ban by the end of the day. User buried in a tort coffin.

 

[Wasnex]

Yes you can slap flats.

Flats and Rounds produce a different range of tones. Fresh rounds to tend to be zingy and metallicy. As they go dead they take on qualities similar to fresh flats. To my ears rounds have a more focused/centered tone than flats. As they age they loose focus and become more woolly...especially the lower strings

Fresh flats tend to be darker overall and a bit more woody sounding. They have less sustain and produce more "thunk" on the leading edge of the note. As they age they get darker and thunkier. In my experience flats quickly age into a state that I strongly dislike....but many love the tone (YMMV)

I use rounds but never change my strings, so my slap sound is fairly similar to relatively fresh flats. The sound actually varies somewhat with how much I play. If I play a lot they may go towards the sound of older flats . If I don't play for awhile they recover a bit. If I take the tension of and retune, they even get a bit of zing back.

I think flats can sound good playing through studio monitors or headphones, but I can't stand the way they sound through any bass rig I have tried them through. I prefer really tight and focused lows, and flats sound too loose and woolly through a bass rig for my taste. I also don't like the dynamic envelope they produce through a bass rig. Too much attack and not enough sustain IMHO.

I use a very bright and revealing tone on stage. I have put a lot of effort in playing very cleanly. So I don't get a let of clack or fret rattle from rounds unless I want it.

I suggest checking out videos on YouTube. There are plenty. This one compares both, but IMHO the flats sound super fresh. IMHO they don't strongly produce the tone or dynamic envelope I associate with flats.

So to me this video does not really demonstrate what I consider to be a typically flats slap sound.

The tone and dynamic envelope in this video demonstrates more of the qualities I associate with slapping flats.

 

[ClassicJazz]

Can you slap on Flats? Well you can slap on any type of strings, the question is will it sound good. Typically, no.....
That said, I use Rotosound flats which are probably the brightest of all flat wound strings. Slapping on it gives you an old school P-Bass tone which works in certain types of music, like old mototown R&B. You will never get a modern Marcus Miller or Victor Wooten tone with flats.

A good alternative to flats is pressure wound strings. They are strings that start out as round wounds. They apply pressure to the strings making outer strings into a more oval shape. These are great, they land somewhere in the middle between Flat wounds and Round wounds in term of tone. I use the Rotosound Stainless Steel Pressure Wound Solo Bass 55 strings and they have a decent tone when slapping. Way better than flats.

 

[Snaxster]

Part of the point of slap is indeed that treble and presence, and it's hard to imagine those iconic recordings of slap bass in funk or pop or whatever, without that treble and presence of a roundwound string.

Actually: Slap was invented by Larry Graham on flatwounds, then performed (slap and pop, or just pop, or double thumbing à la Doug Rauch) by many players on flatwounds for years before players standardized on slapping on roundwounds.

Here are some examples released between 1969 and 1981: