SPB

After days of adjustments / re-adjustments, this Squier P-Bass is ready to be returned to its owner. I usually take more time to re-string & set up a bass due to the neck issues. Once the neck is relieved of string tension, it will bow. After re-stringing, it will auto-straighten itself in accordance with the fresh string tension. At times, the neck will return to its correct nature but that's a very rare feat. This is unlike re-stringing a guitar where the neck is not physically vulnerable to changes in tension due to its shorter length. 

After talking to the owner before the re-string / setup started, I convinced him to try a set of flatwounds in view of his preference for a warmer overall tone. Also, this is his chance to experience how smooth & skin friendly flatwound strings are. Diligent wiping after play means the strings would last longer than an average wound set. On that note, check out the discounts for Rotosound strings at Swee Lee.

Flat

Someone asked me about flatwound strings (available at Swee Lee now), as a first time encounter, what are the expectations?

• Cost. Flatwound strings (FW), across brands, cost more than their regular roundwound (RW) counterparts. Snob appeal? No, it's the production method contributing to this. However, I'm not swallowing this whole; how much more can this be? If it's about the machinery (as opposed to man-hours spent on production), there should be economies of scale along the way, yes?
• Durability. FWs last longer than RWs. FWs do not feature any gaps in between the windings to trap dirt & moisture, that's the reason. In fact, if you wipe down the FWs, they will even last longer.
• Tone. This is the make / break part, in my opinion. FWs do not sound as bright as the RWs. Now you understand why the jazz-ers among us prefer this string type. If you are coming from the warm tones camp, this is definitely your gem. Folks, if you think your tones are a tad too bright in the mean time & you are not keen in swapping out your guitar's electronics to address this, do give FWs a try. 

The 9s you see above cost $26. I'm currently using the Olympia brand of 9s & it's about a fifth of the price. 

Pics: Amazon

Flattening Sunday

So I had this stashed away in a bag pocket somewhere. It had been there since late 2018. It's past mid-2019 & the DRs are still good to go. Some manufacturers make it a point for their products to last while others ride on their reputation & gave the durability factor a sub-standard treatment. 

Flatwounds aren't bright & crunchy, they are mellow-sounding, lots of warmth & the winning reference for jazz dweebs. I'm not a jazzer by any means but I enjoy that fast, slippery feeling on some days. They also make tapping a more enjoyable experience as all strings across the neck feel the same; no grooves under your finger tips for scratchy noises to happen. They last longer too, a definite plus for many of us.

Received

Bought this online since there was free shipping offered. Sometimes, it's just more prudent doing so & save the hassle of travelling down town to grab strings, provided you know what you want & don't mind a little shipping mishap along the way. This arrived crushed but the strings were in good order, of course 👌

Flat perspective

This was in the mail on my way home, a consolation for this Monday largely plagued by a wretched backache. I'm still experimenting with 11s, down-tuned while staying wicked. We know what flatwounds have to offer in terms of durability (the bass dweebs here would understand)- an extended lifespan without chemical gimmicks.

Flat!

The low-enders/ bottom-feeders among us will like this- EB strings now has flatwound cobalt strings for your sonic pleasure. What's the point? Cobalt- for that definition in the low frequencies. Flatwound- for that smooth factor + longer string life. I'm not an EB fan (not any more) but this is good news nevertheless.