I use flats on all my basses, but the biggest reason I use them on the VI is that they are the best for filling the traditional bass role. When I need to use the VI as a straight up bass, I will run it through a bass amp, I will turn off the bass cut, and use the neck and middle pickups together, plucking closer to the neck. I don’t always use the VI for the strict bass function, but flats best allow for that. They also sound great through a guitar amp. I use a Vox ac15 guitar amp, so the treble and mid of that amp sound great juxtaposed with the round sound of flatwound strings.
Have to say I preferred the round wounds - but thank you for your amazing efforts in this video, it will definitely allow Bass VI players to be able to choose what they will prefer in advance. When players are often swayed by the loudest (but not necessary correct) voices on internet discussion boards like The Gear Page, having a video is worth so much.
I much prefer the sound of the round wounds. If the purpose is to fulfill the role of a bass, get a bass! The VI’s twanginess and edge is what I love about it. I was thinking of trying flats to help with some fret buzz, but I’m glad I found this video. Staying with the rounds for sure!
with the comparison, it seems to come down to preference. What a musician prefers one string over another. You can dial in the same tone with either string, it’s a matter of taking the time of making the adjustments. For me, my preference is flatwound strings for many years. Once in a while I’ll try some new style of rounds that come out but I always end up going back to flats. I prefer the smooth feel and noise free of flats. Plus GHS flats has that smooth silky chocolate tone to them❤🥰 Fender used to make a 5 string flatwound set that was the BEST. They were very nicely flexible and had an amazing tone of their own. But for some years now they quit offering them in a 5 string set. They still offer the 4 string flat set though. But I’m a fiver only player. Thanks for your video! I’ve been giving thought to the Bass VI of buying one. Very unique instrument! Cheers!
Flats are just awesome. I've ordered the limited Silver of this with the same La Bella flat set (I've been using La Bella flats on all my basses). Can't wait to get it, 4 week wait list.....
I've done the exact same comparison with the same strings . Leballa strings are def deeper warm more bass like . I prefer them over the fender strings . You will have to set up the bass because of the added tension . I also install a jaguar mute on mine as well. Really fun instrument to experiment with.
My main concern with the Bass VI in the first place, is the narrow string spacing. Sure enough, the chords sounded sloppy with the flats, presumably because you were having trouble with fingering because of the thicker gauges.
I had both original mid-60’s Bass VI and Danelectro 6-String basses. They were really cool but honestly there are a ton of baritone’s out there that cover most of that territory, particularly when tuned down a whole step. Shockingly, the Hooky Bass 6 Pro made by Eastwood is an incredibly high quality instrument and solves the string spacing issue. The humbucker can be split for two very usable sounds, and there’s a handwound Mojotone pickup that really takes that thing into the stratosphere. I bought one to try and after about 5 minutes was completely sold. I have no problems using it as the only bass in a trio, actually replaced my Jazz Bass because plugging into a good bass amp provides gobs of tight low end and the extended range lets me play in the baritone range as well. Plug one into an SVT and nobody’s gonna argue the low end or tone are missing. I’m definitely going with flats because I use them on most of my instruments anyway. No Bass VI is going to be the main instrument of someone whose life has been dedicated to playing 4 string bass. It’s a different instrument altogether. But for multi-instrumentalist’s, you do have the choice of everything from the Danelectro & Schecter (or whatever Robert Smith plays) for kind of a lower-tuned baritone all the way up to the Hooky as an actual alternative to standard bass. Grez also makes a gorgeous Bass VI that is likely the ultimate and buries the Fender, Dan-O, et al - If you can afford it, his bass makes the others feel and sound like toys.
I have had LaBella flats on my bass VI for 10 years and I just happened to purchase new rounds the other day online from a company called Stringjoy - interested to see how they feel. They are also $45 less 😮
I preferred the round wound strings, but I think that was just because you were playing better with the rounds. I imagine your fingers were getting used to the different feel so you weren't as clean in your playing. Nice comparison though.
Good demo. Interesting to hear such a clear comparison. I prefer the round-wounds. The flat-wounds lose too much of the dynamics, like the sound is going through a limiter - the attack is feeble and the character of the notes stays the same for so long, to me it's uninteresting. I guess it depends on how much space there is in the mix and the style of music.
Budda Master, consegues usar a afinação de uma barítono nesse Bass VI, por exemplo em Si? E conseguir a mesma sonoridade e estabilidade de uma barítono, por exemplo de uma Danelectro? Abr e keep on rockin´
Pois faz sentido, suponho que o Bass VI está mais orientado para fazer o trabalho de um baixo do que propriamente ser capaz de ambos. Ou seja, só há uma solução saudável, ter um de cada 😂😂😂
This really highlights the similarity of tone between new flatwounds and old used roundwounds. In a mix with other instruments the difference would be so minimal. So you are left with how they feel under the fingers.
When I got my most recent bass, I was weighing whether to put flats on it or try artificially aging the roundwounds it came with. I decided to try rubbing some hemp hand cream on the rounds, and was really surprised how effective that was. Instant aging.
Nice! If I'm the only bassist in the band I'd use the flats. If I'm a bridge playing between the bass and rhythm guitars then I'm liking the stock Fenders.
The Flatwounds technically sound “better”and “proper” especially with Overdrive and if you plan to play it solely like a bass. However the flatwounds kills it’s vibe and character. The buzz, and top end is part of its sound especially when you play chords. You can hear what I am talking about better if you play spaghetti western licks.
SPOT ON assessment - and worth replying as much because I always wonder if it's just me. The hybrid character this is known for, at least as far as later Beatles recordings are concerned, depends on roundwounds. Flatwounds take it squarely to 'traditional' bass territory for guitarists who want the low-barrier entry (at the same time acknowledging Entwhistle turning RotoSound into a household name).
I own the very same bass. when I bought it had round wounds one it and I struggled somewhat to get it to play w/o much buzz. eventualy i pulled the trigger and bought the very expensive flats but never looked back. as you pointed out, the feel is splendid and also i prefer the overdriven sound with flats. one thing to mention, I put the staytrem bridge on and lost the trem arm which also added to the playability. like your first riff big time!
@@BuddaGuedes I paid $52 for the labella 'deep talkin' bass' things. they sound great but are too firm...the luthier [a friend of mine, but not cheap] i had to hire for 2hours says there's an irreparable bow on the low side of the neck. wish i could post photos/videos. he's lowered the action and tried to fix the bow. nope. going back to amazon; sure wish i'd got it from sweetwater. out of the box and tuned up those are the worst round wound strings i ever played...it was about 1" high off the 12th fret. it's going back. but i gotta get the strings off, old ones back on. just luck. i'd hang it on the wall cos it's shiny, but ugly, imo. i wanted it for the sound. heavier than my U.S. '05 jazz bass. i recommend getting the FENDER 1962 bass VI pdf from the fender site. there is no real manual for Squire i've found. lots of differences. as one might imagine i'm kinda uptight about it.. no mo' cheapie fenders for me. thanx for info about jag bridge cover. wish me luck w/ return! regards.
@@BuddaGuedes the ledzep sung is dominated by string noise. It's louder than the bass line on my tablet while the flat wound line has no noise only notes.
The flat-wounds sound better if palm-muting but the round-wounds sound marginally better otherwise. I wonder if the string tension is the same - the better test would have been between LaBella round and flat-wound. I have had 2 of these guitars and I had a pack of Rotosound 'Jet Bass' round-wound strings (the reference was to Jet Harris who did several great-sounding recordings using one of these in 1962). Incidentally despite looking great, the Bass VI doesn't sound as good as a much more basic Danelectro (and the latter doesn't have that dreadful floating tremelo system or, as in the case of the original VIs, a horrible rubber pad mute!).
The flatwounds sound ... I wanted to say crisper?! But then after the second and third comparison they just sound a little... I don't really know?! I feel like they sound a little more attacky when struck lightly and a little more bass-y when struck more heavily. Hard to say man I think it depends on what you want to play with them. The palm muted stuff showed no real difference to my ears. I mean, there was SOME, but yeah, that's like the difference between new and older strings. Then again, as always, I am no guitarist ^^D
I use flats on all my basses, but the biggest reason I use them on the VI is that they are the best for filling the traditional bass role. When I need to use the VI as a straight up bass, I will run it through a bass amp, I will turn off the bass cut, and use the neck and middle pickups together, plucking closer to the neck. I don’t always use the VI for the strict bass function, but flats best allow for that. They also sound great through a guitar amp. I use a Vox ac15 guitar amp, so the treble and mid of that amp sound great juxtaposed with the round sound of flatwound strings.
Sonically I can't hear a huge difference, but the biggest change imho is less fret noise movement. Huge improvement.
There’s less sustain and less zing too. And the feel is also super different
I'm just crazy, but I like fret noise 😂
Have to say I preferred the round wounds - but thank you for your amazing efforts in this video, it will definitely allow Bass VI players to be able to choose what they will prefer in advance. When players are often swayed by the loudest (but not necessary correct) voices on internet discussion boards like The Gear Page, having a video is worth so much.
Thanks a lot
I'm a Flatwound user mostly anymore and preferred the tone in this comparison.
That overdriven flatwound sound is quite unique and amazing! Like the sound of this bass with any strings...
Me too. Thanks
I use flats on all but one of my basses. Older, deader the better
That’s right
Flatwounds for sure if you're playing it as a bass. If you're using it like a deeper-voiced guitar, roundwounds might be better.
I love it as a strange bass more than a guitar
EXACTLY what I thought by the end.
Just use unwound 1st and 2nd. And don't try to sound like other people unless you're in a tribute band.
Fender now makes 24-100 Gauge Strings for Bass VI.
Great
But not flatwound. There a a bunch of companies who make rounds for the VI.
@@allrequiredfields The Round Wounds have a lower tension & are gentler on the fretting hand
@@RockStarOscarStern634 but have string noise, ruin frets and fingertips more.
@@yeoldefoxeh254 Actually these are made in a way to avoid that problem
Thank you for the demo. The flatwounds sound good but I’ll take the flexibility of the roundwounds on this particular instrument.
🤘🏻🤘🏻
I switched to flats soon after I got mine and I've never regretted it (but then I prefer flats on all my basses)
I love it on this one too
I much prefer the sound of the round wounds. If the purpose is to fulfill the role of a bass, get a bass! The VI’s twanginess and edge is what I love about it. I was thinking of trying flats to help with some fret buzz, but I’m glad I found this video. Staying with the rounds for sure!
Great that it helped
You lose sustain and jangle with the flats but gain that sonic woof when you drive the flats. Get 2!!
Eh! Eh! I’ll keep the flats
with the comparison, it seems to come down to preference. What a musician prefers one string over another. You can dial in the same tone with either string, it’s a matter of taking the time of making the adjustments. For me, my preference is flatwound strings for many years. Once in a while I’ll try some new style of rounds that come out but I always end up going back to flats. I prefer the smooth feel and noise free of flats. Plus GHS flats has that smooth silky chocolate tone to them❤🥰 Fender used to make a 5 string flatwound set that was the BEST. They were very nicely flexible and had an amazing tone of their own. But for some years now they quit offering them in a 5 string set. They still offer the 4 string flat set though. But I’m a fiver only player. Thanks for your video! I’ve been giving thought to the Bass VI of buying one. Very unique instrument! Cheers!
The goats have a very distinct attack and sustain that I love
Flats are just awesome. I've ordered the limited Silver of this with the same La Bella flat set (I've been using La Bella flats on all my basses). Can't wait to get it, 4 week wait list.....
👌let me know when you get it
@@BuddaGuedes Sure! About to get to the seller in mid-august.
What distortion are you using at 9:30? Excellent video!
It’s a Janis Mirsnieks
I don't know which strings I preferred, but that was a really informative video. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks a lot
I've done the exact same comparison with the same strings . Leballa strings are def deeper warm more bass like . I prefer them over the fender strings . You will have to set up the bass because of the added tension . I also install a jaguar mute on mine as well. Really fun instrument to experiment with.
The Jaguar mute is a great addition. Where did you get it
@@BuddaGuedes I found it on ebay. Fender still makes them. You will have to drill a hole below the bridge to install it.
Thanks a lot
Be interested to hear flats on higher register
Sounds marvelous
My main concern with the Bass VI in the first place, is the narrow string spacing. Sure enough, the chords sounded sloppy with the flats, presumably because you were having trouble with fingering because of the thicker gauges.
Maybe that’s the thing but it’s a very inspiring tool
I had both original mid-60’s Bass VI and Danelectro 6-String basses. They were really cool but honestly there are a ton of baritone’s out there that cover most of that territory, particularly when tuned down a whole step.
Shockingly, the Hooky Bass 6 Pro made by Eastwood is an incredibly high quality instrument and solves the string spacing issue. The humbucker can be split for two very usable sounds, and there’s a handwound Mojotone pickup that really takes that thing into the stratosphere.
I bought one to try and after about 5 minutes was completely sold. I have no problems using it as the only bass in a trio, actually replaced my Jazz Bass because plugging into a good bass amp provides gobs of tight low end and the extended range lets me play in the baritone range as well. Plug one into an SVT and nobody’s gonna argue the low end or tone are missing. I’m definitely going with flats because I use them on most of my instruments anyway.
No Bass VI is going to be the main instrument of someone whose life has been dedicated to playing 4 string bass. It’s a different instrument altogether.
But for multi-instrumentalist’s, you do have the choice of everything from the Danelectro & Schecter (or whatever Robert Smith plays) for kind of a lower-tuned baritone all the way up to the Hooky as an actual alternative to standard bass. Grez also makes a gorgeous Bass VI that is likely the ultimate and buries the Fender, Dan-O, et al - If you can afford it, his bass makes the others feel and sound like toys.
I have had LaBella flats on my bass VI for 10 years and I just happened to purchase new rounds the other day online from a company called Stringjoy - interested to see how they feel.
They are also $45 less 😮
That’s true
Hey, followup? How do they feel? Are are the LaBella's the least expensive flats you know of for a VI?
the flats will sound even better after they're a little 'broke in'... about a month for me...
That’s right. It’s getting better all the time
I perfer the sound with the flat-wound strings. Thanks for an informative video..!
Thanks. Me too
I preferred the round wound strings, but I think that was just because you were playing better with the rounds. I imagine your fingers were getting used to the different feel so you weren't as clean in your playing. Nice comparison though.
🙏🙏🙏
I dig the flats. Less klak klak and string noise.
The playability is super great
Good demo. Interesting to hear such a clear comparison. I prefer the round-wounds. The flat-wounds lose too much of the dynamics, like the sound is going through a limiter - the attack is feeble and the character of the notes stays the same for so long, to me it's uninteresting. I guess it depends on how much space there is in the mix and the style of music.
Thanks a lot for sharing
The flats make it sound like an actual bass though, and not an ugly piano.
I love the feel of the flats and I’m keeping it. But I don’t think they are worth the money
Budda Master, consegues usar a afinação de uma barítono nesse Bass VI, por exemplo em Si? E conseguir a mesma sonoridade e estabilidade de uma barítono, por exemplo de uma Danelectro? Abr e keep on rockin´
Boas Julho que sim mas deveras ter que fazer setup e talvez mudar o nut
Pois faz sentido, suponho que o Bass VI está mais orientado para fazer o trabalho de um baixo do que propriamente ser capaz de ambos. Ou seja, só há uma solução saudável, ter um de cada 😂😂😂
both sets sound very close, I slightly prefer the flat wound sound
This really highlights the similarity of tone between new flatwounds and old used roundwounds. In a mix with other instruments the difference would be so minimal. So you are left with how they feel under the fingers.
They feel great and that’s why I’m keeping the Flatwound strings
@@BuddaGuedes I agree, I started with flats 40 years ago and they always seemed bass like to me. Rounds are very much a guitar sound and feel.
Thanks a lot for your comment
When I got my most recent bass, I was weighing whether to put flats on it or try artificially aging the roundwounds it came with. I decided to try rubbing some hemp hand cream on the rounds, and was really surprised how effective that was. Instant aging.
That’s really a cool trick
Budda, acho que preferia as cordas que tinhas antes. Já agora, quais eram? Não dei conta dessa informação.
Eram as originais
Thank you!
You’re welcome
Fender round 24-100 set. $15. You won't be disappointed.
Thanks a lot
Nice! If I'm the only bassist in the band I'd use the flats. If I'm a bridge playing between the bass and rhythm guitars then I'm liking the stock Fenders.
That’s a good approach
I liked these ... but ended up with Stringjoy Bass VI set.
I’ll look it up but I’m loving these strings
The Flatwounds technically sound “better”and “proper” especially with Overdrive and if you plan to play it solely like a bass.
However the flatwounds kills it’s vibe and character. The buzz, and top end is part of its sound especially when you play chords. You can hear what I am talking about better if you play spaghetti western licks.
Great
SPOT ON assessment - and worth replying as much because I always wonder if it's just me. The hybrid character this is known for, at least as far as later Beatles recordings are concerned, depends on roundwounds. Flatwounds take it squarely to 'traditional' bass territory for guitarists who want the low-barrier entry (at the same time acknowledging Entwhistle turning RotoSound into a household name).
back in the 60s a bass vi would come with flats from the factory
That was my thought
I own the very same bass. when I bought it had round wounds one it and I struggled somewhat to get it to play w/o much buzz. eventualy i pulled the trigger and bought the very expensive flats but never looked back. as you pointed out, the feel is splendid and also i prefer the overdriven sound with flats. one thing to mention, I put the staytrem bridge on and lost the trem arm which also added to the playability. like your first riff big time!
Thanks for sharing
Don't these strings break in? That's what I read anyway.
They break in and get better with time
but that flatwound click/pick cuts thru in a mix...
Yes it does
@@BuddaGuedes I paid $52 for the labella 'deep talkin' bass' things. they sound great but are too firm...the luthier [a friend of mine, but not cheap] i had to hire for 2hours says there's an irreparable bow on the low side of the neck. wish i could post photos/videos. he's lowered the action and tried to fix the bow. nope. going back to amazon; sure wish i'd got it from sweetwater. out of the box and tuned up those are the worst round wound strings i ever played...it was about 1" high off the 12th fret. it's going back. but i gotta get the strings off, old ones back on. just luck. i'd hang it on the wall cos it's shiny, but ugly, imo. i wanted it for the sound. heavier than my U.S. '05 jazz bass. i recommend getting the FENDER 1962 bass VI pdf from the fender site. there is no real manual for Squire i've found. lots of differences. as one might imagine i'm kinda uptight about it.. no mo' cheapie fenders for me. thanx for info about jag bridge cover. wish me luck w/ return! regards.
Round wound string noise is totally destructive
I don’t agree but I love the flat feel
@@BuddaGuedes the ledzep sung is dominated by string noise. It's louder than the bass line on my tablet while the flat wound line has no noise only notes.
I like the flatwounds better.
Me too
Flatwounds for me.
Me
Too
Love the flats! I have to get a Bass VI!
It’s a great tool
I don't like flat wounds, with it sound the VI just like a Bass and that kills the magic and special sound of the Instrument.
I love it
The flat-wounds sound better if palm-muting but the round-wounds sound marginally better otherwise. I wonder if the string tension is the same - the better test would have been between LaBella round and flat-wound. I have had 2 of these guitars and I had a pack of Rotosound 'Jet Bass' round-wound strings (the reference was to Jet Harris who did several great-sounding recordings using one of these in 1962).
Incidentally despite looking great, the Bass VI doesn't sound as good as a much more basic Danelectro (and the latter doesn't have that dreadful floating tremelo system or, as in the case of the original VIs, a horrible rubber pad mute!).
O actually love it! The flat have more tension but I love the feel
The flatwounds sound ... I wanted to say crisper?! But then after the second and third comparison they just sound a little... I don't really know?! I feel like they sound a little more attacky when struck lightly and a little more bass-y when struck more heavily. Hard to say man I think it depends on what you want to play with them. The palm muted stuff showed no real difference to my ears. I mean, there was SOME, but yeah, that's like the difference between new and older strings. Then again, as always, I am no guitarist ^^D
Thanks a lot my friend. Miss you
The comparison is flawed ! You should loop the flatwounds also so the two loops can be compared !
Really?!?
Round wounds felt better in sound.
🙏🙏
Factory strings for sure!!
Thanks a lot
Sorry, but this video is useless. You can't tell anything when the tones are so obscured by gobs of effects or distortion.
Really!!?!! it was super useful to me. It’s usually why I do videos