Author Topic: Flatwounds on your Alembic? (Read 147 times)

the_mule · « **on:** July 12, 2009, 09:29:26 AM »

Tried to dig up an ancient thread with the same subject, but it was too old to show up in the active forum.

I just discovered the joy of using Tomastic Infeld Jazz flatwounds on my little blond Series I. Already my favorite strings for about every other brand of basses I own(ed) but for some reason I always just assumed that an Alembic would lose some of those sounds when changing to flats. Boy, was I wrong! I'm not a slapper and popper anyway, and now my bass plays so much more comfortable, sliding along without any string noise. The woody character of the TIs combined with the (super)natural Alembic tones is truly wonderful.

Please chime in if you also use flatwounds on your Alembic, or if you don't!

Wilfred

jazzyvee · « **Reply #1 on:** July 12, 2009, 10:48:47 AM »

I've never used flatwounds and although I'm not really a slap bass player, I occasionally need to. So do flatwounds give you a good slap tone then?

Jazzyvee

tbrannon · « **Reply #2 on:** July 12, 2009, 11:02:29 AM »

I've tried a few brands of flats- the TI flats, LaBella's and the D'Addario Chromes. The Chromes are my favorite and I have them on both of my basses at the moment.

Jazzy- I think the Chromes have the most zing of the group I listed above. The top end does mellow out a bit after some playing, but straight out of the box they have far more top end zing than any of the other flats I've used. If you're looking to try some flats, but want a bit more top end they would be a good place to start. Another suggestion would be DR Sunbeams- they're a nickel wound string and have a softer feel and more warmth than stainless round wounds. If I had to place the Sunbeams somewhere on a bass string scale, I'd put them about halfway between flats and traditional roundwound strings. The Rogue I bought from Charles (crgaston) was strung with the Sunbeams and I really liked them. I always string my basses with either Chromes or Sunbeams now.

sonicus · « **Reply #3 on:** July 12, 2009, 11:03:24 AM »

Back in the EARLY Alembic days I remember walking into the old 60 Brady St. Alembic shop location in the mid 1970's and seeing and trying out the Bass's in front of the Glass Counter. Back in those days many were strung from the shop with PYRAMID GOLD
FLAT WOUND strings ! They sound fantastic! You can still buy them ! you can find them online________.

the_mule · « **Reply #4 on:** July 12, 2009, 11:07:39 AM »

@ Jazzy: Well, I wouldn't really know. Some people say they have no problem slapping and popping with flats, but most seem to prefer brand new roundwounds. But for my style of playing flats are ideal, and I now know they match wonderfully with Blondie.

Wilfred

(Message edited by the_mule on July 12, 2009)

hieronymous · « **Reply #5 on:** July 12, 2009, 12:46:42 PM »

I have flats on the fretless neck of my double-neck - here's a soundclip of it with the black nylon strings that it had on when I received it:

triple doubleneck

I've also got flatwounds on my Telembic - a Fender Telecaster Bass with Alembic Precision Bass shaped Activators. Here's a clip of it being slapped with the filter wide open (and F-2B bright switch on):

8B4X4

I think flats work well with the Alembic electronics, because the variable filter lets you zone in on the cool midrange frequencies that you might not usually hear with flats, even if you're not boosting the top end like you might with roundwounds. On the first clip above I mess around with the filter settings throughout the piece.

I've got TI Jazz Flats on the double-neck now, and Chromes on the Telembic. I considered putting flats on my Stanley Clarke 5-string, but decided to stick with DR LoRiders. I would think TI's on a Series I would sound great!

georgie_boy · « **Reply #6 on:** July 15, 2009, 07:47:33 AM »

Jazzy

Best flats for the money..........D'addario Chromes!!

Yeah...they are not cheap.....but sound great, and last for ages!!

Best place to get them in the UK ........Stringbusters.com
I use their Stainless strings on my Series bass, and on my Curbow and 75 Precision.........around ?15.50 per set!!
Cheapest in town!.....and delivered next day.
The flats can run at around ?28 and I use them on my Curbow fretless bass.....but worth every penny IMHO

George

(Message edited by georgie_boy on July 15, 2009)

funkyjazzjunky · « **Reply #7 on:** July 15, 2009, 07:53:25 AM »

Someone hear turned me on to Pyramid Flats a while back. I love them but I use them on a fretless Carvin, not an Alembic.

jazzyvee · « **Reply #8 on:** July 15, 2009, 11:58:25 AM »

I may try some when I need to change the strings. But the reason I was interested is that I wanted to take a bit of the sharpness out of my elan bass and wondered if flats would tone it down a little bit without losing all the brightness.

George i use d'addario chromes on my semi-acousitc guitar. They have a great jazzy tone and quiet under the fingers.

tubeperson · « **Reply #9 on:** July 15, 2009, 01:31:47 PM »

You can also try D'Addario half rounds; not as bright as round wounds, but great for slapping. I use them on some fretless basses and 70's Rics, for that vintage deeper Ric bass that McCartney got. They have them at bassstrings.com

slawie · « **Reply #10 on:** July 16, 2009, 04:25:04 AM »

Thanks for the sounds Harry.

Nice fat clean sound.

I think I'll get me some of them tere flatwounds!

slawie

georgie_boy · « **Reply #11 on:** July 16, 2009, 06:14:45 AM »

Well Jazzy..
If you use D'Addarios on your semi acoustic........and get a great Jazzy tone.....then that's just ideal for you!

benson_murrensun · « **Reply #12 on:** July 16, 2009, 01:28:31 PM »

I put GHS Brite Flats on my Alembic. I sought to reduce finger noise, and it worked. They are not as bright/lively as roundwounds... but there's plenty EQ left to turn up the treble if I so desire. I don't slap.