7 String FLATS! Where to get them?

Mr. Pickles · #1 10-17-2008, 08:56 AM

Hey gang,

I've read the stickies, searched, been to JustStrings.com and the ERB forum, asked John Turner, etc. But, so far, I've been unable to find a set of Flats for my 7 string LEJ f'less (34").

Any suggestions?

fretlessman71 · #2 10-17-2008, 09:01 AM

My guess is that a high F string is simply going to be too thin to put a wrap on of that magnitude - you'll probably be limited to using a plain string.

Unless your F string is really a low F#, in which case I don't know what to tell you...

Mr. Pickles · #3 10-17-2008, 09:16 AM

I figured as much. Should I just order a set of sixers and a separate F roundwound?

Thunderscreech · #4 10-17-2008, 09:18 AM

That would work perfectly.

THSL · #5 10-17-2008, 09:22 AM

for the high F string, get a flat wound guitar string and thread it through a bass ball end before you thread it through your bridge...

D'Addario makes a .020 Chromes Flatwound for guitar...

Buskman · #6 10-17-2008, 10:07 AM

Depending on the exact gauges (and brand preference) you're looking for, you might want to check these out:

http://www.juststrings.com/chromesda...lestrings.html

http://www.juststrings.com/flatwound...lestrings.html

http://www.juststrings.com/precision...lestrings.html

http://www.juststrings.com/jazzbassr...lestrings.html

Good luck!

fretlessman71 · #7 10-17-2008, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THSL

for the high F string, get a flat wound guitar string and thread it through a bass ball end before you thread it through your bridge...

D'Addario makes a .020 Chromes Flatwound for guitar...

Buyer Beware - a guitar string may not be long enough to reach.

Remember it's got to be at LEAST 3 feet long, and a wound string at that tiny gauge is going to have an even tiny-er core... and you're asking a .020 string to maintain tension being tuned three half-steps higher than it was designed for (consider that this same string is designed to be tuned only a whole step higher than the F you want on a much shorter scale).

OTOH, it's a cheap experiment. If it breaks or doesn't reach, you're out what, $4?

pointbass · #8 10-17-2008, 10:29 AM

I've been using LaBella 760FM-CB-XL flats (6 string set 29-49-69-89-109-128) with a SIT plain steel .020. That's the closest I can get to keeping an even tone across the fingerboard without the .020 sounding too bright/tinny. The high F roundwounds really don't maintain the same tonal quality and the difference in tone and output is unacceptable, IMO ....

Mr. Pickles · #9 10-17-2008, 10:52 AM

Thanks, everyone.

Mr. Pickles · #10 10-27-2008, 11:21 AM

Thanks, everyone!

I've ordered the following from Just Strings to solve my dilemma based on the advice given in this thread:

RotoSound Electric Jazz RTS_RS776LD Bass Monel Flatwound LongScale 6 String, .030 -.130, RS776LD

D'Addario Electric Bass DAD_XLB020p
Plain Steel XL .020,XLB020p

I have an appt. with my luthier on Saturday. He'll be reslotting the lines that have chipped out on the fretboard.
Once that's finished, and the bass is set up, I'll report back to let everyone know how it worked out.

Mr. Pickles · #11 11-07-2008, 09:38 AM

Mr. Merchant has my bass being relined at the moment. I forwarded the strings to him for a set up.

Anyone else using the Rotosound flats?

Mr. Pickles · #12 11-16-2008, 07:16 PM

Picked up my bass from repairs. I like the Rotosounds so far; they're very smooth and fast. The D'Addario single .20 is noticeably brighter, though. I'm going to have to break it in to mellow it out. No big deal, though, as I'm not playing too much on the high F yet.