Roundwound or Flatwound...

[byllsong]

Hi all,
I have a 1976 Musicman Stingray 2 guitar that I haven't played for awhile,
(been developing my keyboard chops)
and am thinking about putting on flatwound strings.
I'm looking for a smoother, more mellow sound.

My concern is whether the flatwound string
will be harder to play than the roundwound.

I don't use a pick and I'm used to smooth, easy playability.

Any thoughts or views?
Thanks

[shoodBworkin]

We find flatwound easier on the fingers but they wear out more quickly

[BruceBrown]

Flatwounds easier on fingers. Roundwounds will have a brighter more ringing sound, but if you haven't played bass in a while they could eat your fingers. flatwounds will sound duller and thuddier. I made up that word.
Kind of depends on the tone you want.
Flatwounds are more old school. Hit the note and it dies quick ala early Paul McCartney or Steely Dan records. Roundwounds bright like Chris Squire in Yes.
Or later McCartney when he went to Rickenbacher (spelling?)
If it's smoother and mellower you want, I think flatwounds is the best choice.
Hope this helps.
Bruce

[cardell]

Yes, they used to use them in the Motown days too. I quite like that sound...on certain tracks.

Stuart

[mojobone]

It's far easier to do finger slides on flatwounds; you lose a little brightness, so they're not ideal for funky poppin' & slappin' and such, but fine for nearly anything else. Your frets and fingerboard will likely last longer, to boot. There's also a "groundwound" where they polish the wraps so as to be a bit less abrasive, with a sound that's in between the other options. One of my former bassists has used them successfully for many years. Flatwounds and groundwounds are good for any roots style except maybe reggae. I wouldn't say you lose any sustain at all, but the high harmonics do die out more quickly. This naturally tends to emphasize the fundamental; it's a great and natural way to get a fifties-sixties sound, as Fender basses of the period shipped with tapewound strings (wide-flat) and few players changed 'em often, back then, and some, not at all.

[ottlukk]

Geeezzz: Do you guys realize what you sound like to normal human beings? Sound round, wound round gotta get a go round . . . Ott

[byllsong]

Thank you guys.
I'm gonna get a set on Saturday and give them a shot.
I'm sure they'll be fine.

This whole thing started when I saw a guy on TV
playing Christmas songs during the holidays.
He was playing a Gibson es-339.
It sounded great.

[mojobone]

A quick note; flatwouds/tapewounds will sound best on a Rickenbacker or P-Bass. On a Jazz bass, paticularly a fretless, you'll lose much of the characteristic 'growl'. The Ernie Ball Music Man Stingray has a P-Bass vibe, in terms of the neck feel and the general balance, but has a bit of the J-Bass sound, despite the humbucker P/U. Easy enough to change the strings back, if it doesn't work out like you'd hoped.