Going Flatwound...

Will take some getting used to. Feels like my fingertips are numb or something, I just can't "feel" the strings properly.
 
But sonically: just what the doctor ordered. :P

Bass. 
 
Incidentally, I've just tried getting back to bigger strings on the guitar - the SG would have been perfect for that. But just like I apprehended, the joints in my fretting hand index finger started getting painful after 48 hours or so.
 
So it's back to .09 for me. I can't risk making it worst.

I'll definitely go for a lighter gauge next time - these are way too big - .050 to .105. But since it's a short scale, it's not as bad.
 
My wife bought those when she bought the bass, as a few bass playing friends had recommended flatwounds to her. Local GC only had 2 brands/types - not much of a choice, so she just picked one, randomly.

I use the GHS custom lites 9-46 on my SG. I like the sound of the fat low E. :)

As a kid learning guitar in Germany, the only strings we got were Black Diamond flatwounds, guitar and bass.
The first time I bought strings here in the States, they were roundwounds. I thought something was wrong with them.
I didn't know there were different types of strings back then.

Flatwounds for guitar don't have to be big.

 
At Sweetwater.
Bass, I would have to take a look if I had a bass guitar. Something to do though so probably will.
 

For the bass, I'm now looking for light gauge short scale flatwounds - so far, I've found Rotosound's and LaBella's, IIRC. 
 
The ones I have on now are regular scale and much too thick. .40 would sound about right, I think.
 
In terms of sound, after re-recording one of our songs with them last night, I'm ecstatic - that is exactly the type of bass sound I was after - very percussive, narrow and focused, and awesomely warm. You can easily play a relatively busy bass line or walking bass type of things without taking too much sonic space in the mix.
 
Much easier to manage when it's time to mix.
 
That's another case of getting the sound you want on its way in, instead of fixing it afterwards... 
 
Next on my list - a simple hardware EQ, or maybe one of those inexpensive Presonus Channel Strip, with preamp, compression and EQ. 
 
 

This bellow is something that I grabbed off the Talk Bass site a while back and copied to my "notes" page.


If you're looking for low tension flatwounds, I recommend any of the following sets from (get ready) lowest to highest tension, low-tension sets:

Thomastik Infeld 43-100
La Bella FX 39-96
GHS Precision 45-95
Ernie Ball Group IV 40-95
D'Addario Chromes 40-95
Sadowsky Black Label 40-100
D'Addario Chromes 40-100
La Bella 760FL 43-104
GHS Precision 45-105
Fender Super Light 40-100
Rotosound 77 40-100

*Left out other brands due to my unfamiliarity with them. Many apologies to the other flats out there.

Remember that all of these gauges are, for the most part, low tension, with Thomastik Infeld (TI) coming in at an average of 34lbs. while La Bella, GHS, and EB & Chromes come in very close with tensions ranging within the 37-39lbs. Once you break into Sadowsky territory and up, the tension is extremely minor with an average "feeling" of 38-42lbs. of tension. Basically, if you want the lightest of the light, go with TI flats, but if 3-5lbs. of tension is not going to be a significant factor with your playing style, then any of these light to light-medium sets are fine, fine choice. And as always, select accordingly so that your brand matches your sound, as all strings (let alone flatwounds) are not made equally.

Quote
"Next on my list - a simple hardware EQ, or maybe one of those inexpensive Presonus Channel Strip, with preamp, compression and EQ."/Quote
I have those, and although they are not great at all, I suppose they work. It can add some noise if not careful, and tube change usually will help. I have not dealt into all the tubes mentioned, all I did was buy some Mullards medium sound (that is all they had at Sweetwater) so that is what I ended up with. I don't expect real good anything with those, but for the price I guess if you get those with the manual which will help (different settings) they can help with basic EQ and Compression. If not careful and outputting the gain at normal (0) level there will seem to be noise added, and I have not tried guitar with them, just my synth mainly and a microphone. Although adjustable on input level, it depends on the patch on my synth, as some can be loud, loud it seems and others soft soft, and adjusting the master volume on my synth for each patch only can help so much. Afterall, it is just the patches nature of the beast with that stuff. I am not sure if there would be enough gain for a guitar at all with those channel strips. Nope probably need another gain box before that unit. Oh, I have used a guitar amp effects box simulator I guess before getting to that unit (as in a digitech or perhaps a Boss ME-25 like) but now with amps that can have stereo out effects and all for just as much money, I think I will use those for guitar. I should do that too.
Oh well, other work to do also which may delay me doing anything for awhile.
http://www.sweetwater.com/c633--Guitar_Pedals_Multi_effects
 
Ya know, one of those before the channel strip and I think low impedence out. Good grief I would have to look at the manual again to even know if that channel strip takes a guitar straight in. Where am I?
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/StudioChan/
Nope really does not say "guitar" so that is what I would go by, not really made for guitar unless something is used before it.
Pretty sure on that.
Low-end theory - that's me (as over on Gearslutz).
 
I would not necessarily go by reviews of other people anymore either, because..............................
(there is much better equipment if you like to pay for it and way higher price I guess).
 
(I am using it on my crappy signature links, well a couple of them.)
God, I have work to catch up on.
And yes I could have done better on the mixes and all of that also.
 
 

Those Presonus have an input (instrument) on the front and it says for a passive instrument (guitar, bass, etc). I use the one that is in the back. Duh? When an instrument is plugged into the instrument input, the microphone preamp is bypassed, and the Studio Channel becomes an active instrument preamplifier. Okay, whatever that means. Ah, I tired, that's it.

I had my own opinions about that since it has no reverb or anything like that to add I guess. Add it later?
Whatever????
 
 
 
 

Well, I could take everything in one unit that has the works in it, but they do not make it, and it probably would not be cheap.
 
Oh, and that post before came out of the manual for it, finally found it tucked away. I guess I should try that front input for the heck of it, but then.................newer amp (probably not great Mustang V2).  As well as they have a Super Champ for slightly more that can do many things also (which is a tube amp and has models and effects I guess).
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SupChampX2/
 
But I use the channel strip on everything, since the compression can be the same (or different each time).
 
Well, someone came this morning at 6:15AM while I got to bed at 5AM, putting on siding next door, making noise and stuff. I need a nap.
Something new everyday it seems.
Me eyes are blurring.(and the fingers are missing the keys typing).
 
Buy something and the next day something new comes out it seems anymore.
Oh, well.
 
For the price I guess the Presonus is fine enough to work well enough. Where to try out though first is the hard part. Some talk  about the Art Pro whatever it is, but then it just did not seem to be any better and maybe not as good.
I need a nap.