Flatwound strings

Joined
Aug 5, 2006
Messages
18
Reaction score
1
Has anyone used flatwound strings on a Streamer Stage II 5-string? If so, what brand and guages have you tried?
 
mobax said:
Has anyone used flatwound strings on a Streamer Stage II 5-string? If so, what brand and guages have you tried?

I've used flats before and never went back... theyre pretty lifeless and dull imo, If your going for a really upright fretless sound then go for it... Otherwise I usually stay clear from them. dr fatbeams for me :)
 
Its all a personal sound choice and what style of music you're playing. Blues, Reggae, RnB, Soul, basically anything with an old school tinge to it, they'd sound good. I prefer a deader sounding string but thats just me.
They can work in rock reasonably well because they can give a bigger bottom end and can be useful in other situations where a bottom end needs filling out like Musicals - but EQ'ing can achieve this too.
But be warned, the B string on flats arent the best - the stage II preamp would help nicely here.

As for brands, I use both Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats (.43 - .136) on the Warwick and LaBella Deep Talkin Flats (.49-.109) on my P Bass. If you're used to the normal 45-130 odd, go for that style gauge. The heavier the gauge, the harder it is to play, especially seeing that most flats are stiff as anything. The TI's are a weird feeling strings, its a similar stiffness to rounds on your plucking hand and then like elastic bands on your fretting hand - their G string is a bit twangy though.. Great strings none the less, Ive had a set on the Fortress for around 2 years now.
Ive heard good things about Rotosound Flats, I personally wouldnt touch Fender, GHS or D'addario Flats.

Bare in mind that you may have to file your bridge and nut to fit the B string in. Thats the only hassle.
 
just keep in mind that steve harris from Iron Maiden uses flats on his fretted P, and that jaco pastorius used round wounds on his fretless...

So there's only one sesible thing to do: try them out, see if you lke the tone and feel under your fingers. It all comes down to wether you like them or not...

Personally I like groundwouds, but the latest set of string i had on my fretless 5-er were nickel roundwounds...
 
Back
Top