All my basses have rounds on them, but after hearing all the fuss about flats on a P bass, I want to string mine up with some flats. :hyper: I don't know anything about the different kinds of flats so I came here.

I want something that sounds good on a P bass and is easy to play. What brand of flats is good for someone who is transitioning? I also want something affordable so TIs are out of the question :smug:

d'addario chromes

well if want, u can get the intermediate form of flatwounds (nylon tapewounds).

other than that, i suggest going to your local music shop and trying out basses that have flatwounds.

other than that, i suggest going to your local music shop and trying out basses that have flatwounds.
Ok, now I am really jealous :( You actually have music shops with basses that have flats on them :eek:

I would agree that chromes are a good starting point. Plus, they are probably the only flats you will find locally.

The carvin catalog had good prices for flats.
I tossed it but I remember it was low.

Yeah, shops over here don't have basses with flats except the one MIM fretless Jazz bass that sometimes floats around.

How are Fender flats?

d'addario chromes
+1

Rotosound makes some nice flats. I have a set on a P bass now,

Fender flats stay on my '87 P-Bass!!
I dont care much for rotosounds, Sadowsky's are OK too!!

How are Fender flats?

Fender flats are more "old school" than say chromes. i.e. More thump, less bright, and less sustain.

Fenders are higher tension, but much smoother. The price is usually very good for Fenders.

GHS Precision flats. So very smooooth and have a really nice thump!

H

I use Fender flats and love them. They are quite a bit stiffer than what you're used to, but sound and play very nice. I love the fact that I can play four hours at a gig and my fingers are still fine!!

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-9050L-Stainless-Flatwound-Bass-Strings?sku=101252

I'm thinking about trying those... I'd probably be able to find those at Sam Ash :p Would you recommend using a lighter gauge than rounds? I like 45 - 105 for rounds.

Naahh...stick with what you like now. That way you have an honest comparison between the two.

Would you recommend using a lighter gauge than rounds? I like 45 - 105 for rounds.

Flats are typically higher tension affairs. If you use the same gauge flats as rounds, you'll probably have to adjust your truss rod to get the action back the way you're used to it.

scott

rotosound all the way :-D

Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats.

http://www.daddario.com/Resources/JDCDAD/Images/Products/ECB80.gif
Or, these
http://www.daddario.com/Resources/JDCDAD/Images/Products/ECB81.gif

rotosound all the way :-D
Good but not for a newbie. Too stiff. Heck, they are too stiff for some veterans who have been playing for 10+ years. :scowl:

SIT Powerflats get my vote for cheap/great flats...

Sadowsky Flats are awesome too, but are signifacantly brighter and sound more like Rounds without the zing....

LaBella Deep Talking flats for ubber thump and low end goodness...

Then TIs....great great great sounding strings, but I'm digging the higher tension ones lately

that's the order I get my flats in when I get them...

I bought a set of light Chromes (.45 - .100) and they are very nice. To my surprise they have blue silks too :D They sound very bright out of the package, sort of like rounds. I love the feel of them, and the fact that there is no finger noise anymore. :)

http://www.daddario.com/Resources/JDCDAD/Images/Products/ECB80.gif
Or, these
http://www.daddario.com/Resources/JDCDAD/Images/Products/ECB81.gif

I just slapped these (the 4 string version) on my J bass... love 'em so far.

Rotosound makes some nice flats. I have a set on a P bass now,

+1

I love my Rotosound flats on my Squier P-Bass, they are nice and heavy.

I just slapped these (the 4 string version) on my J bass... love 'em so far.
+1, they really thump out the natural sound of your bass including the highs.

Try the new DR flats. I find that they're very similar to rounds, yet they're perfectly flat.

La Bella 760FL's, big warm lows, smooth top, medium low tension and very very smooth feel.

George

La Bella 760FL's, big warm lows, smooth top, medium low tension and very very smooth feel.

George


+1, but I think you made a very wise choice in the strings you selected if tension is an issue. I personally prefer the Chromes and LaBella's tension wise over the GHS or TI's when it comes to a P bass. The GHS are too heavy and the TI are too light. IMO.

Not to hijack this thread, but i have a related question. What do you guys think about webstrings flats? I know they're more likely on the lower end of things, due to the price and all, but I just want to know how they compare to some of the other popular choices, particularly tension-wise.

Reason I ask is that I have a MIM jazz strung up with webstrings flats and I like them, though they feel a bit too stiff for me to play comfortably, so I was wondering where they fall regarding to Chromes, TI's, Fender's etc. I just haven't had the chance to try any other brands and I want to make an informed purchase.