Flats: how long do they last

[glocke]

I know that flat wound strings are supposed to last longer than other types, but just how long is that?  Ive had my Sereies I strung with the same TI jazz flats I put it on it the day fed ex dropped it off, almost 3 years ago now....It get played almost every day for hours at time, and still sounds good to me....

[keith_h]

I believe they last as long as you are happy with the sound. :-)  As I recall James Jamerson never changed the strings on his bass. I have a 30 year old set of tape wounds on a bass of mine. They have that old Motown sound so I see no reason to change them.  
 
Keith

[bob]

as long as you are happy seems like the best answer.
 
I posed a similar question a while back, and got the answers I pretty much expected: they seem to degrade verrrrry slowly, such that you might not notice; as long as they tune easily, and sound good to you, then there's not much point in changing them.
 
[edited: thanks for the comments guys, sorry I didn't respond back then.]
 
I decided to try a new set anyway (after two years, say an average of 5 hours a week, and my hands don't sweat much). Again, it's hard to be precise because they take a few hours of playing to settle in, but the new ones were a little better.
 
To say they were brighter, or that the old ones were anywhere close to dead, would be grossly overstating it. I would say I heard a bit more harmonic complexity and richness, a little more character or liveliness. However, this was in a hi fi setting - alone in my living room, with a good rig and great acoustics. I suspect that in a live performing situation, it would have been difficult or impossible to tell, and the difference might easily be overwhelmed by even the smallest control changes you might make to get a bit more presence, or even just switching instrument cables.  
 
Even if I start playing more frequently, I expect it will be another 2-3 years before I bother replacing them again, more because it will just seem like it's about time than because they've hit the end of their useful life. At this rate, cost isn't a factor at all.
 
(Message edited by bob on April 17, 2006)

[olieoliver]

I agree,( or to put it politically correct, I concur with my constituents above)as long as you like the way they sound keep 'em on. I personally don't like flat wound strings, new or old. Just not bright enough for my taste.  
Have any of ya'll tried the nylon wrapped strings? I tried them back in the 70's......once. Pulled them off after the first set that night.  
 
(Message edited by olieoliver on April 17, 2006)

[darkstar01]

Anybody tried halfrounds? I just got a set on Dark Star. I like them a lot... but they still have a little of the initial 'stickiness' that flats tend to have. I don't really understand how they're wound.. because they LOOK round wound but they feel flat, especially the G and C strings. They definitely have more of a roundwound tone, though.
Austin

[olieoliver]

I used to use the D'addario half rounds. It was explained to me that they are round wound strings that are then shaved off flat. I used them for years but just got to where I liked the sound of true rounds.

[keith_h]

Austin,
I use GHS Brite Flats on a couple of my basses. Been using them for years. They are a ground round wound (or halfround if you prefer).  
 
Olie,
Yes I have tape wounds on one bass. They are ancient and give the bass that old Motown sound.  
 
I also have round wound and flat wound on some of my basses. It all depends upon what I use the bass for and the sound I want to get.
 
Keith

[jetbass79]

I don't recall ever wearing out a set of flatwounds...I saw them get dirty but never hear much of a difference.  That said, my favorite flatwounds though I never find them are Ernie Ball Custom Guage 50-105.  I like the feel and sound.

[albrecht]

hi alembicians! i?ve used&use Pyramid Gold flats - i love them! haven?t noticed that they age earlier than rounds...beside, at Pyramid they are so friendly: if you need custom, just ask them! i prefer black nylon on my fretless basses (rob allen mouse + precision). for that ?70s phil lesh-tone flats are vital. best regards from sweden

[palmann]

Pyramid does have some pure nickel strings and they did me a set of double balls for my Steinberger (they do have an original Steinberger set for the specifications). I use a nickel set on my Essence and am very satisfied. The sound tends to be not so bright, but it has a lot of detail. I'll ask Pyramid to make a custom set of 110-90-70-50 pure nickels for my Fender Precisions, no problem according to my local dealer.
 
Gruesse, Pablo

[palmann]

Double post, sorry...
 
(Message edited by palmann on April 18, 2006)

[bigredbass]

It's an interesting idea to try to tell how flat wounds are done, finished, pffffttt . . . what if you hold a mirror under their nose?
 
Actually, I'd think the usual signs will show up on your tuner like any past-their-prime strings:  The needle or LCDs will tend to jump around more and they just won't want to tune as quickly or easily, reflecting the random buildup of playing and the deformation of the windings over time.  You could compare your 12th fret fretted/harmonic as well.
 
But I'd sure be hard pressed to hear it.  Where's that mirror . . .  
 
J o e y

[flaxattack]

i use ti flats pretty much exclusively
i do have a set of ernie balls and s i t's that i am waiting for the wolf to come home before i try them
generally i use the following methodology when its time
1- easy- it sounds like s&&&
2- i use either my pod or peddle tuner and if i find that tuning becomes a problem- either it doesnt stay or i see modulations in the note- its time for a new set
a new set is usually dead on once tuned
i would bet- that most people dont change strings often enough. but on a mega expensive work of art- changing more often is usually good

[naxalez]

I'd never try any of flats strings set. Just use only roundwound nickle and stainless steel set.
 
And I changed them pretty often... average 1 set for 1-2 months
 'coz i tear them so often! maybe i played to hard, or maybe it was to weak!
 
Last time, I just tore my 2nd string down on the stage, That time is the day that I became The 3-String Bassist!  
 
 
(Message edited by davehouck on May 10, 2006)

[albrecht]

i think you should give flats a try - experience their sound! - if the fingers are number one responsible for your sound, then strings are number two! the alembic is the carrier par preference...