Thats what a bass guitar should sound and play like. I gave up on the rotos, half wounds and went back to flatwounds today. I'm sorry but the playability and sound, to me, is what a bass should sound and respond like.
 
Hope I didn't offend bapu or any other bass players.

You know, I wouldn't mind having a spare bass with flat wounds.  I bet a Danelectro Longhorn strung that way would be a perfect retro bass.

Meh. Depends on the style. Different tools for different jobs. I wouldn't want roundwound for laid back fretless stuff and I wouldn't want flatwounds for fretted metal mayhem. 

kinda like digital vs. analog. sorta kinda maybe.

Middleman


Thats what a bass guitar should sound and play like. I gave up on the rotos, half wounds and went back to flatwounds today. I'm sorry but the playability and sound, to me, is what a bass should sound and respond like.
 
Hope I didn't offend bapu or any other bass players.

I got flat wounds on the 67 Horner. I sometimes use a sponge or a cloth in the bridge of my Ibenez and that will give it a flat wound sound somewhat ....




If you play Motown we all know jamesJamerson used flat wound and the sponge technique. 




It's a great sound. 




But if your gonna cover a red hot chilli peppers song and slap and pop ... Well ... Then what ...flat wounds don't work 






None the less ... A agree with you .... James jamerson had a bass tone I appreciate 

Beepster


Meh. Depends on the style. Different tools for different jobs. I wouldn't want roundwound for laid back fretless stuff and I wouldn't want flatwounds for fretted metal mayhem. 

This post was marked as helpful 


+1

Heh. Much appreciated Mister Mooch.

Perhaps I'm too pragmatic for this thread. ;-)

Well, it IS supposed to be smooth!  I have Elixers on mine...

I always use flats on my bass. The thing with flats, is that I like to change them every year. When fresh, they have all the tone I want. When they get old I find them too dull. Roundwounds don't sound good to me until until they get old.

The compromise is what they call compression wound or ground wound. It's a cross between the 2 types but I find them hard to locate in many music stores.

I've never used them but I'd like to try.

I'm still using the original round strings on my bass and it's several years old now. I can't get a clear tone out of it any more.

I know nothing about bass strings ... any suggestions on gauge, brand ... etc.?

I do mainly country/country blues type stuff.