The Last Bass Outpost

I'm really into this. 

(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0343/4368/2183/products/gibson-gibson-usa-sg-standard-bass-olive-drab-w-tortoise-pickguard-basg21doch3-28840547549319_2000x.jpg?v=1639763081)

https://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/products/gibson-usa-sg-standard-bass-olive-drab-wtortoise-pickguard-1351958

I like the Pelham Blue with tort even better!

I do like the military use look of the green thing. Buy one, get a Humvee free!

Flash thought: The SG Bass/SG-Z/EB-0, -3 & -4-common SG body shape has established itself as Gibson's most durable and consistently successful bass design since the TBird Rev. The reintroduction of the shape for basses via the SG Bass has now been around uninterruptedly for pretty much as long as the first round did in the 60ies/70ies. Who'd have thought. Not bad at all for a short scale in a long scale world, especially how badly the SG-Z (which was long scale) tanked commercially in the late 90ies/early 00ies.

What stands out most to me are the bound necks on both. I like the looks of bound necks.

Døømbæss, you of all people ... I was hoping for some more (needless to say: Scandinavian) unemotional, sparse & sober austerity from you that shies away from all embellishments cluttering and obstructing the inherent minimalist nature of things!!!

(https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_auto,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1920,h_1080/https://sfd-craft.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/1_difference-between-Scandinavian-Minimalist-design.jpg)


I find neck binding kitschy. And not Gibson'ish at all. Are we a Ric forum now where every bass is tarted up like a soldier from the Napoleonic wars?  :mrgreen:

(https://external-preview.redd.it/fv0M64bxGDAlkPsGrr6rSfGuIy3NjneVSzr-caZqJ08.jpg?auto=webp&s=9549c7b142eb25eea370d90c008bcd6c017243e2)

I like them both, but the green especially. I'm usually not into binding or tort, but both are working well here.

Come now Uwe, what's this working class pride?  Sure neck binding on Gibson basses is uncommon as they were always treated as second class citizens (but happens - see the Triumph), but the flagship guitars always had neck binding - collectors love to spot fake LPs by the lack of fret end "nibs."

A parchment pickguard would make those pop in my opinion. The fretboards are too red-ish to play ball with a tort pickguard with similar hues. Very nice basses all the same!

Thumbs up on the color.

Thumbs down on the bound board and tort guard.

Not bad, at least they didn't do vintage white and three color sunburst.
It's funny when Gibson finally puts out something with tort and it's nicer than anything you can get on a Fender. Seems like there's a lot of drooling over these on certain other large bass forum for that reason.

Quote from: Alanko on January 13, 2022, 11:22:33 AM
A parchment pickguard would make those pop in my opinion. The fretboards are too red-ish to play ball with a tort pickguard with similar hues. Very nice basses all the same!

Rosewood varies in colour some.... anyway that's the reason I thought the tort worked - matching the fretboard.

I am surprised about the bound board rejection.  Like I don't care too much either way.

Quote from: Granny Gremlin on January 13, 2022, 12:49:20 PM
Rosewood varies in colour some.... anyway that's the reason I thought the tort worked - matching the fretboard.

I am surprised about the bound board rejection.  Like I don't care too much either way.

Revisionism has a new name and it is "Jake'ism". You used to be up in arms bro how crap binding is, how it devalues a bass and "is just plastic for which wood is sacrificed". You might have conveniently forgotten, Jake, but we all have an eye on you ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=af1DAWB2mrw

Quote from: uwe on January 13, 2022, 01:27:06 PM

WHAAAAAAAAAT?!

Revisionism has a new name and it is "Jake'ism". You used to be up in arms bro how crap binding is, how it devalues a bass and "is just plastic for which wood is sacrificed". You might have conveniently forgotten, Jake, but we all have an eye on you ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=af1DAWB2mrw

You remember well.  Not devalue - so much as look cheap (the general market consencus being that it adds value, or it is a feature of deluxe top of the line instruments).  BUT we were talking about body binding, which is thicker vs a thin strip like when it's a neck - doesn't bother me in the same way.  And even then I always added the caveat that if it wasn't cream, but pinstripe (like my D'Angelico - actually double pinstripe) or checkerboard/tux (like a Ric) or black (like my Triumph), or tort (rare but I've seen it - Gretsch maybe?), or any other material other than plastic (dunno if anyone does that ), it's not so bad.

I also went off on how I can't stand LP Standards due to the all cream hardware (pup rings, switch tips, jack plate, poker chip etc).  HATE IT.  But a bound neck is fine - comes off as a contrasting pinstripe from the front, vs a large block of boring plastic.

The one exception for cream body binding is a black beauty - somehow the contrast makes it work.... though I'd still prefer something else.

Devil is in the details, bud. 

Tort is just personal preference to me. If I loved a bass otherwise, I'd put up with it, but if there were a choice, I'd go with something else.  The tort fetish you see elsewhere is a mystery to me.

Neck binding is different. The look is okay, but I like wood there, not plastic, and it's not necessary.

Tort has its place in nature.

(https://www.ladbible.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=720,quality=70,format=jpeg,fit=pad,dpr=1/https%3A%2F%2Fs3-images.ladbible.com%2Fs3%2Fcontent%2F0adc8ce95f89617e179aca3ebcb2d120.png)

On a bass, it can look just right, but it's not a fetish to me.

I like tort on white colors and earth tones. Not on red or blue, and not on most greens.

(//)

Quote from: uwe on January 13, 2022, 04:24:39 PM
Tort has its place in nature.

(https://www.ladbible.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=720,quality=70,format=jpeg,fit=pad,dpr=1/https%3A%2F%2Fs3-images.ladbible.com%2Fs3%2Fcontent%2F0adc8ce95f89617e179aca3ebcb2d120.png)

On a bass, it can look just right, but it's not a fetish to me.

Those look like turtles, not tortoises.

Tortoises don't do well underwater.

Lieber Herr Professor Dr. Nitpicker:

duh, I know they're (sea) turtles and not terrestrial tortoises, godneptunedammit!  :mrgreen:  Not that there is a difference in German where we refer to both as "Schildkröten" (literally: shield toads) which of course confuses amphibians and reptiles (in zoology, the differentiation wasn't always clear in the past, though by now we know that reptiles are much closer to birds than to amphibians like toads).

Still, the origin material (before it was produced artificially) of tort came from sea turtles not land tortoises, "tortoise shell" was a misnomer (see, it not only happens in Germany!). Real tort was won from two species, the hawksbill sea turtle

(https://voiceforthespeechless.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/hawksbill-seaturtle.png)

and the (less valuable and hence less decimated) loggerhead sea turtle

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Caretta_caretta_060417w2.jpg/1200px-Caretta_caretta_060417w2.jpg)

Both critters are committed underwater f***ers, Dave!

(https://ak.picdn.net/shutterstock/videos/1016183167/thumb/1.jpg)

You feel a bit dry, hon, mind crawling to the pool?!

Reminds me of an old t-shirt from my youth...........

(https://i.imgur.com/TrFwCq7l.jpg)

This forum has been good for many things such as the introduction of the descriptive term donut bumper - decorated with the David Westheimer mark of excellence, no less - into my vocabulary (my protected upbringing had shielded me from this). Now I can add helmet humper, vielen lieben Dank.

Which reminds me:

My daughter Teresa had a group of tortoises as pets, these were sexually quite active all year round. Even at an early age, she was thus no stranger to the inner workings of nature. You know us, we were liberal parents.

When on an African vacation we visited a park located on one of the Seychelles islands that kept a group of (rather large) tortoises it became obvious that something (neck-biting, heavy breathing and hissing, the bumping of shells - really an orgy of reptilian scale) was afoot. A middle-aged couple, coincidentally German, did however misconstrue the scene and the wife said:

"Look at these two, they are fighting!"

To which my daughter, at that time seven or eight years old, helpfully conveyed:

"Naw, don't think so, they're screwing more like."

Her little brother Leon, back then about four to five years (and himself sexually active from a disturbingly early age), added his biological expertise:

"Definitely screwing, these people have no idea."

In stern silence, the German couple left the scene of our despicable failure as parents in a hurry.

Reptile Orgy -  Now that's a band name  :-* 

FWIW I did the blue, the O.D. a little less (even though my husband has an Epi Firebird in that color) , love the bound neck and the trapezoid markers - the Tort not so much on these basses. 

Gibson could do so much more with their basses, but I think we all know that.

(https://i.imgur.com/vCORroT.jpg)

Quote from: TBird1958 on January 14, 2022, 09:31:19 AM

Reptile Orgy -  Now that's a band name  :-* 

You disappoint, Mark. I thought you'd go for Committed Underwater F***ers.


And I hate it how you drag everything down to your own swampy level. (Warning: NSFWM ... mammals)

(https://art.ngfiles.com/images/1006000/1006077_marikazemus34_orgy-in-the-reptile-den.jpg?f1566860989)

Whoa! 

That's a damn pervy cartoon - you must be working from home, I think your firm's Firewall wouldn't allow such sexy reptiles!

And dammit I just bought this '64 II. 

(https://i.imgur.com/tVpr5tx.jpg)

Why don't Gibson reissue the TB II?!?!? Lovely bass btw!

"That's a damn pervy cartoon - you must be working from home, I think your firm's Firewall wouldn't allow such sexy reptiles!"

Nope, it was from my office computer, but my firm's firewall hasn't really grasped the concept of AI yet. It cannot fathom that a colorful cartoon with fantasy reptile creatures could involve graphic depictions of oral sex. Computers are dumb and only recognize the evident. But I cannot access anything on Facebook with it, go figure. And if you guys link anything to Facebook, I can't see it here, not even that there is a link, I just draw a blank.

Anyway, it was Dave who got us on this slippery slope of copulating reptiles! I'm innocent and all of this happened against my will. I had no idea that being invited to flights across the Pacific and the Atlantic plus to the Caribbean in private jets with famous rich people I had never met before might somehow involve expectations of physical gratitude from my side. How unlikely is that!

PS: That 64 is a lovely specimen, much like mine. I dare you to string it with anything but flats!!!

  I'll have to see if my work computer lets me see that 'toon - I'm doubtful, Lighting Industry types are a bit stodgy. 

I didn't get to see your '64 last visit, it was not at the office. Yours is likely better, this one has a headstock repair and will need a new repro PG and TRC to be presentable. Surprisingly it has both covers.
I really doubt I'll flats on it, I honestly detest them -  they do not feel good to my fingers, and I still play with a pick, I need to order a set of Ken Smith Rock Masters and possibly some SITs.   

But you have enough basses with roundwounds!

Besides flats & pick is a great combination. Try D'Addario Chromes, they still have enough zing and don't sound muddy at all, just focused.

Quote from: TBird1958 on January 14, 2022, 10:55:01 AM

Whoa! 

That's a damn pervy cartoon - you must be working from home, I think your firm's Firewall wouldn't allow such sexy reptiles!

And dammit I just bought this '64 II. 

(https://i.imgur.com/tVpr5tx.jpg)

That looks like a good one.  Exceptionally cushy case, too!

Quote from: uwe on January 14, 2022, 06:10:47 PM
But you have enough basses with roundwounds!

Besides flats & pick is a great combination. Try D'Addario Chromes, they still have enough zing and don't sound muddy at all, just focused.

I just can't stand touching flats.....Ugh. Not trying to dog anyone that likes them, just not for me!  FWIW I think it has a set of flats on it and of course i will try it out that wat.....For a short while.

Quote from: uwe on January 14, 2022, 06:10:47 PM
But you have enough basses with roundwounds!

Besides flats & pick is a great combination. Try D'Addario Chromes, they still have enough zing and don't sound muddy at all, just focused.

I've never understood why anyone would want flatwounds with zing. Like Ernie Ball promoting their Slinky Flatwounds as sounding like rounds. Why? If you want it to sound like rounds, buy rounds.

Flatwounds with a pick can be a great sound, so many examples. But it's not for everybody, and it's not supposed to be zingy.

Quote from: TBird1958 on January 14, 2022, 10:55:01 AM

And dammit I just bought this '64 II. 

What. A. Score. Congrats...

Quote from: Dave W on January 14, 2022, 10:58:03 PM
I've never understood why anyone would want flatwounds with zing.

Reducing fretwear would be my best guess.

I can't play flats to save a life, but will admit that a lot of my toying with tapewounds initially came from desire to save whatever was left of frets on my older basses...and the fact that White Nylons can emulate rounds pretty darn well was a huge plus for me.

Weird, cause I don't like the feel of rounds...sort of like fingernails and chalkboard.

LaBella low tension flats just feel good to me.

Quote from: patman on January 15, 2022, 10:32:27 AM
Weird, cause I don't like the feel of rounds...sort of like fingernails and chalkboard.

LaBella low tension flats just feel good to me.

Same here

Quote from: patman on January 15, 2022, 10:32:27 AM
Weird, cause I don't like the feel of rounds...sort of like fingernails and chalkboard.

LaBella low tension flats just feel good to me.

That's how I feel about Flats - Different strokes, and again I'm not being critical of those who like them. I always had rounds on every bass so the tactile is what I'm accustomed to.   

Quote from: TBird1958 on January 15, 2022, 10:51:32 AM
   

That's how I feel about Flats - Different strokes, and again I'm not being critical of those who like them. I always had rounds on every bass so the tactile is what I'm accustomed to.

I feel the same as you, although I can try to tolerate flats on violin basses if necessary. 

D'Addario doesn't pay me for this (man, I should really ask!), but Chromes are in a league of their own. They have flatwound thud and fundamental, yet also a halo of (never nasty sounding) presence, not like trebly rounds at all. And they never lose that, I've had the same set on my Washburn AB-20 for more than a decade, they still retain sparkle.

They are also smooth to play, not yucky like some old fllat sets can be, Labellas especially. The only drawback of Chromes is that they make bending a real man's job, they're stiff as hell.

Ñow, does anybody have Jim D'Addario's number?

Do your best Elvis curled-lip sneer while doing so.... 8)

Quote from: uwe on January 15, 2022, 11:32:14 AM
D'Addario doesn't pay me for this (man, I should really ask!), but Chromes are in a league of their own. They have flatwound thud and fundamental, yet also a halo of (never nasty sounbding) presence, not like trebly rounds at all. And they never lose that, I've had the same set on my Washburn AB-20 for more than a decade, they still retain sparkle.

They are also smooth to play, not yucky like some old fllat sets can be, Labellas especially. The only drawback of Chromes is that they make bending a real man's job, they're stiff as hell.

Ñow, does anybody have Jim D'Addario's number?

Well, I'll consider a set for my AB-20. The '64II will likely start with a set of Ken Smith Rock Masters.

Quote from: patman on January 15, 2022, 10:32:27 AM
Weird, cause I don't like the feel of rounds...sort of like fingernails and chalkboard.

LaBella low tension flats just feel good to me.

I get some weird dermatitis from rounds. I'm not sure if it's the nickel or something else. Flats are touted as kinder on your fingers, but they just break your fingers in differently. Playing a long sweaty set on flats does things to your fingers!


Rotosound rounds feel the worst to me. I guess it's the curse of being first; you don't feel like you have to improve your product. Rotos feel like they are going to leave metal filings on your fingers, yet they are ubiquitous here in the UK and old guys (who never try any other strings) love them. Yeesh!

Wow, super nice 64 II there.  Congrats.

Chromes seem to have come on my ES Les Paul Bass & I bought a set for both of my LP Jr DC basses. They are definitely growing on me. After more years of round wounds than I would like to admit to, I'm digging flat wounds......

Quote from: ajkula66 on January 15, 2022, 01:28:24 AM

Reducing fretwear would be my best guess.

I can't play flats to save a life, but will admit that a lot of my toying with tapewounds initially came from desire to save whatever was left of frets on my older basses...and the fact that White Nylons can emulate rounds pretty darn well was a huge plus for me.

I never use stainless steel rounds, and I've never had a problem with fret wear using nickel-plated rounds. Then again, I'm not pounding the strings against the frets and board.

The most significant fret wear I ever had was with the flats I had on my Musicman (USA) SUB bass for a dozen years. Didn't chew up the frets, just wore flat spots on them.

That reminds me of Joe Osborn's claim that when he finally replaced the LaBella flats on his Jazz Bass, there were indentations on the underside of the strings, from the frets. As much as I admired his playing, his story was preposterous. Stainless wrap is much harder than standard nickel-silver fretwire.

Remember, Der Maestro says flatwounds need to be changed more often.  :mrgreen:

(https://i.imgur.com/5wmUigb.jpg)

Uwe, forget frick sakes my kids saw that filth cuz I was perusing this thread on the livingvroomvTV/computer..  NSFW warning PLZ!

You darn reptile porn lurker!  :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Buy'em a group of pet tortoises, Jake, nature will teach them everything they'll need to know.  8)

And I did give a warning!

"And I hate it how you drag everything down to your own swampy level. (Warning: NSFWM ... mammals)"

Actually, the style reminded me of Robert Crumb's legendary Fritz the Cat comics - and we all know how that is by now considered art:

(https://img.posterlounge.de/img/products/610000/606355/606355_poster_l.jpg)

But as a lifelong keeper of reptiles I can (re)assure you, the depiction was/is inaccurate. Reptiles (unlike mammals) don't do oral sex - never ever. Don't feel bad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRM03pkMY1c

It's a little retro and a bit passé
But you know you make her feel A-OK
And she feels alright, the stars are bright, the missionary position

And the acrobats, well they tend to scoff
All you know is that you can get her off
And you feel alright, the stars are bright, the missionary position

The tried and true is good enough for me and you
For me and you
The tried and true is good enough
Don't need anymore, we don't need anymore

A rebranding effort might just be the thing
But a name's a name and we're continuing
Always feeling fine, it ain't the wine, it's the missionary position

There are pros and cons to each different pose
But we don't see any need to get to those
'cause we're feeling great, a heightened state, the missionary position

The tried and true is good enough for me and you
For me and you
The tried and true is good enough
Don't need anymore, we don't need anymore
Don't need anymore, we don't need anymore

You might have positions you can recommend
But I don't know if we'll ever get to them
'cause we feel alright, the stars are bright, the missionary position

You might pride yourself, you're so avant garde
But we're neoclassicists, I guess, at heart
Patronise all you like, we both like the missionary position

Missionary, missionary, missionary, missionary...

It's a private matter as to frequency
But we both are smiling as you well can see
And it ain't no joke, it ain't baroque, it's the missionary position

It's a little retro and a bit passé
But you know you'll make her feel A-OK
And she feels alright, the stars are bright, the missionary position


Further proof for the musical and lyrical brilliance of the Brothers Mael no one in this forum ever seems to "get".

Quote from: Dave W on January 16, 2022, 01:14:27 AM

Remember, Der Maestro says flatwounds need to be changed more often.  :mrgreen:

(https://i.imgur.com/5wmUigb.jpg)

Zis izz luffly  :mrgreen: ;D 8), Dave, how could you keep it from me all ziss years, I zought vee vere friendz?!

And what happened to Der Maestro, why is he no longer part of Fender's sales assault?

Another German scientist with skills transferable from making V2 rockets to making bass strings....

Quote from: uwe on January 16, 2022, 01:12:44 PM
Zis izz luffly  :mrgreen: ;D 8), Dave, how could you keep it from me all ziss years, I zought vee vere friendz?!

And what happened to Der Maestro, why is he no longer part of Fender's sales assault?

Haven't I posted that here before? Maybe it was at the Pit. I've had the image for probably 20 years, not sure when it was used by Fender. Would Leo have used this? I'm guessing 70s CBS era.

Fender needs to bring back Der Maestro.

Quote from: Pilgrim on January 16, 2022, 01:33:00 PM
Another German scientist with skills transferable from making V2 rockets to making bass strings....

https://youtu.be/TjDEsGZLbio

"Haven't I posted that here before? Maybe it was at the Pit. I've had the image for probably 20 years, not sure when it was used by Fender. Would Leo have used this? I'm guessing 70s CBS era."

Looks earlier to me, would have probably been considered already low pc in the 70ies, I'd pair it more mid-sixties when Hogan's Heroes showed on TV, the orange-brown tone looks 60ish too.

Lehrer's Wernher von Braun song (a favorite of mine) is of course brilliantly acerbic - you can tell that his parents must have come from Germany (he was born in the US before the Nazis took power) and that German or at least Yiddish was spoken at home, his German pronunciation is faultless.

Quote from: Pilgrim on January 16, 2022, 01:33:00 PM
Another German scientist with skills transferable from making V2 rockets to making bass strings....

Yeah, our ideas generally really fly and hardly ever bomb.

(https://cdnb.20m.es/sites/127/2019/01/Telefono-rojo-t2-620x349.jpg)

Quote from: uwe on January 16, 2022, 05:26:51 PM
Yeah, our ideas generally really fly and hardly ever bomb.

(https://cdnb.20m.es/sites/127/2019/01/Telefono-rojo-t2-620x349.jpg)

Dammit that's a great movie.... Utterly brilliant.

Quote from: Dave W on January 14, 2022, 10:58:03 PM
I've never understood why anyone would want flatwounds with zing. Like Ernie Ball promoting their Slinky Flatwounds as sounding like rounds. Why? If you want it to sound like rounds, buy rounds.

Mainly for fretless. To get the Jaco tone without forming grooves in the fingerboard. I'm using half-rounds (groundwounds) on my fretless.

Well that sure got interesting! I should check in on weekends more often.  ;D

Uwe, your African zoo story had me spitting out my tea!

Mark, awesome bird, congrats!

Quote from: Dave W on January 14, 2022, 10:58:03 PM
I've never understood why anyone would want flatwounds with zing. Like Ernie Ball promoting their Slinky Flatwounds as sounding like rounds. Why? If you want it to sound like rounds, buy rounds.

Flatwounds with a pick can be a great sound, so many examples. But it's not for everybody, and it's not supposed to be zingy.

Quote from: ilan on January 17, 2022, 04:18:14 AM
Mainly for fretless. To get the Jaco tone without forming grooves in the fingerboard. I'm using half-rounds (groundwounds) on my fretless.

Also for those with sissy hands or eczema like I have (as well as a compulsion to clamp down with your fretting hand much more than you need to) flatwounds are less hurty.... but if you like the sound of rounds. Or if you like sliding a lot you don't get as much extranious noise (like a pic slide on guitar) covering up the actual note.

There's also fret wear, but as Dave said (implied) that is a long slow process unless using steel string - but roundwounds, being textured like a file, would speed it up at least a little no matter the material.  In fact I have used string cutoffs before to file nut slots - you know they're sized right.

I use string cutoffs for nut-work also...

It works.

So do I! Kinda foolproof.

Nut work? I think I'm on the wrong forum again  :-*

I find roundwounds around your nut kinda an acquired taste and a bit on the chafing side. I think that's where flatwounds or even rubber coated ones really come into their own and offer a more comfortable feel for the connoisseur adult player.

But what do penguins have to do with it? Apparently Norwegians - they're everywhere - know a secret or two about that.

(https://i.discogs.com/wcBITJbnicdBGwZLNA_74_EcYOU8nVsu54L7CLs89jg/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:585/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWltYWdlcy9SLTIy/MTgyNzctMTYyMzU4/OTUyOC0yNDkyLmpw/ZWc.jpeg)

(https://cdn.gaystarnews.com/uploads/Penguins_Bondage_Gay_Gus_Waldo.jpg)

https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/gay-penguin-bondage-book-angers-parents-after-being-found-pre-school-library180515-132004/

In the end, only Uncle Frank - that great unsung American explorer of human psyche - would know!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRHn6TsvteQ

We've finally done it: from the zing of D'Addario Chromes to Zappa - all in one thread.

Quote from: Dave W on January 16, 2022, 01:14:27 AM
I never use stainless steel rounds, and I've never had a problem with fret wear using nickel-plated rounds.

SS rounds is all that I've used for decades.

Had La Bella not discontinued Deep Talkin' Rounds a few years ago I'd still be on that train. GHS stainless rounds on my Bass V are the only leftover from that era, though.

The only nickel rounds that I actually like are Stringjoy, and I've tried just about everything on the market when it comes to short scale offerings.

Quote from: ilan on January 17, 2022, 04:18:14 AM
Mainly for fretless. To get the Jaco tone without forming grooves in the fingerboard. I'm using half-rounds (groundwounds) on my fretless.

Quote from: Granny Gremlin on January 18, 2022, 07:49:27 AM
Also for those with sissy hands or eczema like I have (as well as a compulsion to clamp down with your fretting hand much more than you need to) flatwounds are less hurty.... but if you like the sound of rounds. Or if you like sliding a lot you don't get as much extranious noise (like a pic slide on guitar) covering up the actual note.

There's also fret wear, but as Dave said (implied) that is a long slow process unless using steel string - but roundwounds, being textured like a file, would speed it up at least a little no matter the material.  In fact I have used string cutoffs before to file nut slots - you know they're sized right.

Both valid reasons, but Ernie Ball didn't introduce them for either. They're supposed to be general purpose strings.

I've used string cutoffs too, but most nut materials are softer than frets.

BTW, I first gave SIT strings a try after finding out that that's what Jack Bruce used in his later career. He used Rock Brights Stainless on his fretted and fretless Warwicks. I use the nickel Power Wounds.

Most of my stuff has flats , I like TI Flats on Rics & Pbasses , I keep fresh Slinky's on the Ray . The Unicorn has DR Black Beauties . The Samurai has TI's too . For short scale basses I generally prefer a stiffer flat and have bounced between LaBellas and GHS . I've been keeping BriteWires on the SG and DC Jr . The SG will probably get flats in the future . My Longhorn still gets most gigs , it's still got the factory rounds on it from 98 or so . It's got a great woody thump . I'm hoping my Dano DC will develop the same woody thump , it's got older BriteWires . Spirocores on the upright , Thunderguts on the Ashbory and uke . I seem to buy strings every other month or so . Next set will probably be for the Bass V1 , I'll get the newer Fender set with the heavier E . I'll stick with rounds on that .
I lump strings into three groups , rounds , flats , and then ancient dead rounds , that have that flat wound thump . I'm not including the rubber ones for the ultra short scales .

Quote from: Dave W on January 18, 2022, 11:24:45 PM

I've used string cutoffs too, but most nut materials are softer than frets.

Nickel strings on nickel frets will make an impact over a decade or so easily.  Even water wears away the rock.  Sure, with steel strings it's just more of a threat, but either way it happens if you keep and play the bass enough.  Nobody is saying you can saw through a fret in 10-15 minutes like you can a cheap plastic nut (as is it takes a surprising while - roundwouunds aren't the most efficient file and I wouldn't use them to slot a fresh nut so much as to widen/deepen existing slots a smidge especially when trying a new string gauge).

My '64 EB-0 has Labella Deep Talkin' Flats, and they've aged nicely after nearly 10 years installed.  It sounds the strings were made for that specific bass.

But then, I think Labella DTFs are the right flats for almost any bass.

Quote from: Granny Gremlin on January 19, 2022, 09:07:35 AM
Nickel strings on nickel frets will make an impact over a decade or so easily.  Even water wears away the rock.  Sure, with steel strings it's just more of a threat, but either way it happens if you keep and play the bass enough.  Nobody is saying you can saw through a fret in 10-15 minutes like you can a cheap plastic nut (as is it takes a surprising while - roundwouunds aren't the most efficient file and I wouldn't use them to slot a fresh nut so much as to widen/deepen existing slots a smidge especially when trying a new string gauge).

All depends on your technique. I've always used a light touch on bass and guitar, but some guys -- especially guitarists -- can chew up frets in short order using nickel rounds.

Stainless steel round wrap wire is much harder and the surface is like a bunch of little files. Some brands are finished much better than others, and that makes a difference.

"I've always used a light touch on bass and guitar ..."

People too, not to forget!  ;D