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Roundwound vs Flatwound Bass Strings With Sound Demos

Ukulele Wales

3,268 views

Roundwound vs Flatwound Bass Strings With Sound Demos

A full comparison of round wound and flat wound bass strings using the same model instrument. Both strings are Kala / La Bella strings and I talk about the technical aspect, the playability and the feel of the strings.
Please remember bass strings are very sunbective and these are just my opinions.

‪@kalabrandmusic‬

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Roundwound vs Flatwound Bass Strings With Sound Demos

Roundwound vs Flatwound Bass Strings:
00:00 Intro to Roundwound vs Flatwound Bass Strings
00:40 Round wound bass strings
02:37 Flat wound bass strings
05:35 Sound demos of roundwound and flatwound strings
10:36 Conclusion and overview of the strings comparison

Instruments and equipment used:
Kala SB Orange Paisley U•BASS with La Bella Round Wound Strings
Kala SB Tobacco Burst U•BASS with La Bella Flat Wound Strings
PhilJonesBass Suitcase Amp DI'd into
Rode Procaster 2

Website: http://ukulele.wales/
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Ukulalien Play Along Channel: ukulaliensukuleleclub

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20 Comments

@UkuleleWales Creator 4 months ago Pinned

👉 I really wanted to do this comparison before I put flat wound strings on my new Orange Paisley mini bass to have a really good idea of the different strings on the same bass model..
:yt:You can find my previous string comparison video, including rubber strings here: https://youtu.be/dfx1yu9M7EA?si=dwapCc8uhf1DmnwQ
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🚀If you'd like to support the channel and get the backing tracks and PDFs from this video please consider joining - https://www.patreon.com/c/UkuleleWales

@fiendishthingy1630 4 months ago

My grand-nephew started playing bass in a local band last year. He normally uses his 4-string round wound Ibanez. He was saying he wanted to pull his old 5-string Ibanez out of mothballs and try flat wound on it, but they were way out of his affordability. He had his 35th birthday coming up last November, so old Great-Auntie decided to spoil him by gifting him a 5-string set of flats. He seems to like them (fortunately), but they just recorded their first "album" with him using his 4-string round wound. (He lives way over on the other side of the U.S. from me with his family, so I seldom see him)

Thank you for this demo/comparison of rounds vs flats. I had no idea what the difference was (I was imagining "flat" strings).

@denattheoakleyoutpost6740 2 months ago

I just purchased my first Kala solid body u-bass. Watched this vid while waiting for the bass to arrive. Very useful info. Kudos and thanks to the host for posting!

@michaelspenceley7316 4 months ago

I use flat wound strings on my Kala fretless U-bass. I love them, especially when doing a slide on the fretless.

@jillgeary1313 4 months ago

Thanks Rachel. I have flats on my Kala solid body too. Reggae - definitely like the flats. Jazz - like the flats.

@JohannesHeld 4 months ago

These flat wound strings sound like I imagine your upright bass to sound.

@madness8556 2 months ago

I've had my sunburst Kala solid body U Bass restrung with flatwound strings and it's so much better in terms of playability and tone! I really dislike the metallic tone from the roundwounds and the flatwounds also avoid the annoying fret noise in addition to providing that warm vintage tone. Great video as always Rachel!

@Helene-aka-MLadyX 3 months ago (edited)

Both my Uke Bass and 3/4 Bass have flatwound strings. Love it 🙂

@Grampalele 4 months ago

Very nice video! My definitely untrained ear seems to prefer the round wounds. I enjoy classic rock and classic country, if it matters. Now, all I need is a nice Kala SB U-bass!

@heigoensling 4 months ago

For U-Bass I find compromis strings for diferent music:
Galli Strings UXB810 Ukulele Bass

@alanm8431 4 months ago (edited)

I play mostly blues and reggae. I have flats on my Kala solid body UBass - I like the lower tone. I have rounds on my Ibanez GSRM20 but I'm conflicted whether to change to LaBella 760FM-P. Nice sound comparison, the difference really comes through on my elderly JBL PSW-1000 subwoofer. Thanx. Love the t-shirt...

@malcolmbennett3907 4 months ago

I've put flat wounds on my Flight Minj JB and have just bought a Kala SB U-Bass with round wounds on. I like the brightness of the round wound strings, so I will leave as is . Just my personal preference. 😁

@Jaspermanning-g5q 11 days ago

Thanks, nice playing. I think I need to buy flatwounds, since they sounded better in every example.

@CornishCockney 4 months ago

That was VERY interesting; I could hear how jazz and reggae sounded better (to me) on the flats but pop, country and even the walking bass at the end sounded better on rounds. Just my take. I have flats on my Kala and rounds on my Flight JB; should probably be the other way around.

@hobiegal 4 months ago

I love flatwounds. I currently play a short scale Ibanez Mikro (28.6”) and have been considering buying either a Kala or a Flight UBass. I enjoyed your video comparing the two and haven’t decided for sure yet as I feel I might have trouble changing between scale lengths ( I’ve only been playing for 5 months). I’m curious what flatwounds you use on your UBasses since I know I’ll want to put flats on if I do buy one. Thanks and I really enjoy your channel!

@veronicagrillo6695 4 months ago

Dove si puo' comprare la t- shirt?

@madness8556 4 months ago

Great video as always Rachel! It's flatwounds all the way for me. What flatwounds besides the very pricey Kala ones are available for these mini U basses?

@anorak211 4 months ago (edited)

I have never played flats, but there is a definite difference in sound, but in a band set up the difference might not so apparent. A good eq set up might mean a full range of tones with either type of string? Personal taste but I prefer the rounds.

@Yves-y7f 4 months ago (edited)

Hello! Excellent video as always. I really love your channel, thank you for your outstanding work. I totally agree with you: roundwound or flatwound strings is only a matter of personal taste. However, I think there might be something you may not have pointed out: the tone difference when you play bass with a pick or with your fingers is much bigger with flats than with rounds. IMO, as far as the "attack" is concerned, playing flats with a pick produces a tone rather close to the one you get when you play rounds with your fingers. I love McCartney's Beatles bass tone and as far as I know, back then, he mostly played on flatwounds with a pick. That's why I have put flats on all my basses (including my Kala U-bass solid body, thanks to your tuto). I play them with a pick and I get a "mild" and "melodic" tone quite close to McCartney's... But of course I wish I had just a fraction of his talent!