Flatwounds

[gale barchus (gbarchus)]

How many of you are using flatwounds on your Alembic? What brand?

[Simon Taylor (staylor)]

I just recently got my first Alembic, and I had the folks do the setup with Alembic CX-3's.  Although I have enjoyed the tone of the CX-3's, I've played flatwounds for years and just can't get used the tactile feel of the eliptical winding.
 
I definitely intend to switch back to flat wounds.  I've always enjoyed Thomatic flats in the past, but can't comment on their sound on an Alembic.  I know there are other folks in the club who have used these.

[mica]

Interesting to note that my dad developed our electronics system in conjunction with flatwound strings that were popular in the late sixties and early seventies. So if you want to hear Alembics as they were originally intended to sound, try some flatwounds and crank those filters nearly wide open.

[Chris R. Gedney (76ac070)]

You can even go one step further and put on an authentic set of Pyramid Gold strings.  They're a flatwound, multicore.  Want to sound like the bass breakdown in Fleetwood Mac's The Chain?  That's how to do it!  8-)
 
Chris

[Brian Ceasar (bbe1020)]

I was told the exact same thing on Friday, when I ordered a set of Thomastik POWERBASS strings. I spoke with Mr. Kevin Reynolds of Connolly & Co; who is the USA distributor for Thomastik-Enfeld, in NY. Mr. Reynolds told me that if I wanted to really hear the tones that ALEMBIC will produce, I would have to use the JAZZ FLATWOUNDS, which he HIGHLY recommended.
 
Well, I picked up my POWERBASS strings this morning @ approximately 11:30 EST, so I'll have to wait until these go flat before I can try the JAZZ FLATWOUNDS...    

[mica]

I've heard excellent things about the Jazz Flatwounds as well. Chris, are you sure the Pyramids made today are exactly as they were in the 70's? I was under the impression the company that made them went under, and the recipe along with them. I've heard from customers that the current Pyramid Golds weren't the same, is your experience different?

[Chris R. Gedney (76ac070)]

Mica -  
Now that I've read your last post, I'm sorry I didn't leave a set of my prized Pyramids on my bass when I sent her out to you.  The three sets that I have I bought about two years ago @ $75.00 per set (WOW!!) and they are identical in tone, feel, silk wrapping (purple) and packaging as the ones that came on the bass in 1976.  I bought them in an attempt to get the P-Bass (which I bought to replace [sniff, sniff]76AC070 when she was stolen) to sound like my kidnapped Alembic.  They are absolutely amazing in the studio.  Live, I'm using the Thomastik Roundwounds which cut through like the bottom end of a Steinway Grand!  BTW - If you recommend that I not use rounds with the new frets, I'll take your advice.  I was well aware of the fact that the rounds were eating up the frets on my Fender like they were made of solder!!

[Dino Monoxelos (dean_m)]

I've just recently re-discovered flats as well.  I've got them on my Elan 5 string.  Boy do they sound huge!  In fact I was doing a 4th of July orchestra gig last week and the tuba player of all people complimented me on my sound!!  I almost fell over.  The problem I'm having now is convincing my wife that I need a new Alembic to string up with rounds so I can still do all my slap stuff.  She tells me that if I buy another Alembic, she'll leave me, I'll sure miss that woman.  HAH! Just kidding honey!!!

[mica]

Chris, you're welcome to use any strings on your bass. Of course roundwounds are more aggressive to the frets compared to flats, but there is no comparison to the sound on an Alembic. Different types of strings can make the bass sound hugely different. Most players go 5-10 years between full refretting, even professionals playing full time on roundwounds.

[Steve Smith (alembickoa)]

When I first got my Series I, it was sent to me with a set of TI Jazz Flats on it. Phenomenal tones. I have since used TI Jazz Rounds, and currently use TI Powerbass. All are tones beyond comparison. It will just depend on your personal taste.

[gale barchus (gbarchus)]

I recently tried to put some Pyramid Gold (long scale) flatwounds on my 20th Anniversary Model and broke the winding on the E string (on two sets!) as the it started around the tuning peg. All the other strings tuned up fine. The dealer said he would replace them, but I'm afraid it will happen again. Anyone else have this experience?

[mica]

Historically it was always the G-string that broke... we used to supply every new Alembic fitted with Pyramids with an extra G string!  
 
If it started right at the tuning peg, check there to see if there is a sharp edge fatiging the string. Has this happened with other brands?

[gale barchus (gbarchus)]

This has never happened to me before, using Alembic and Rotosound strings. They are breaking right where the winding ends on the core just as it begins to turn on the peg, and there is no cloth/string covering the winding (on the E string). I'll check the tuning peg. Thanks!

[Keith Wilson (darkbassist)]

i have just discovered the glory of flatwounds on an alembic.  the only problem is, right now i only own one alembic, which means i miss the crisp sound of slapping on my alembic.  i guess until i get another alembic, i'll just have to make a hard choice.

[Adriaan Simons (adriaan)]

Just had my Epic turned into a fretless by a local builder. I had been trying out several brands of string before, and finally settled on DR LoRiders (while it was still fretted). The local shops don't normally stock flatwounds, but one shop had a bunch of Ken Smith Slick Rounds (44-105) that I tried with the frets still in place. The sound was pretty dull, to be honest. They are basically roundwounds that have been ground flat - they're still roundwound at either end.
 
As I'm waiting for a set of TI Jazz Flats to arrive, I put back the Slick Rounds and they're actually pretty nice on fretless - perhaps the G is a little too bright.