All flatwound users come here!

[jamersonburton]

hey all!
heres an idea, ive searched and havent found a thread like this
Anyhow:

People sometimes say that flats will feel sticky when new, well how about you state what type of flats your using and then say how long it took for that sticky feeling to go away... if they ever did.

Not sure if this is a great idea for a thread but lets see...

[Shakin-Slim]

I use GHS Precision's. They felt sticky for about a day or 2. I suppose it depends on how much you play, though. I love these strings and don't think I'll be using anything different any time soon.

[lowsideonacurve]

GHS Precision Flats felt sticky when new, but Thomastik Infeld Jazz Flats didn't feel sticky at all. I can't say how long the GHS's felt sticky since both basses were stolen just weeks after I put the new strings on them.
The D'addario flats I put on a replacement bass didn't feel sticky at all, so it must be certain brands that use a coating.

[62Jazzbass]

Originally Posted by lowsideonacurve

Thomastik Infeld Jazz Flats didn't feel sticky at all.

+1

Never noticed Roto RS77s feeling sticky either.

[flaquito]

I play Carvin flatwounds, and don't remember them feeling sticky when they were new.

[Chazinroch]

TI Flats are good right out of the box.

[countbassiedad]

I give new flats a quick pass with Dunlop Ultraglide and then buff them out a bit. Some are more cruddy than others but they all clean up fairly easily. Even a good wipedown/buffing with a rag or paper towel shines em up. Wrap it around the string then buff up and down the neck.

I use GHS, Ernie Ball, Daddario, Pyramid and LaBella. Pyramids seem to need more cleanup than the others - maybe its a tarnish type thing on the nickel.

Never thought much about it myself.

[5StringFool]

My DR Legends, and Chromes weren't sticky either.

[TheMightyWoot1]

I have noticed that "sticky" feeling before, as well, but mostly on less expensive strings. Countbassiedad, you are right on with polishing them, that is the way to go. Bassically (heh) its the edges of the nickel tape that causes that sticky feeling, so I like to be slightly more aggressive and use emery cloths intended for frets to polish out flatwounds on my customer's basses. I do it right out of the package, before they even go on the instrument.

[lowendfriend]

No sticky rotosound 77

No sticky Sadowsky flats

No sticky cheap Detroit Steel flats

No sticky DD Chromes....

What dis sticky about?

[BassBob1]

I had one set of chromes that felt sticky for a few hours of play. The set of TI's i had felt sticky for a few days. The 2 sets of roto's I tried didn't feel sticky but the E and A strings were rougher and felt different than the very smooth D and G. I don't really think it is that unusual for any new string (round or flat) to have a sticky or grippy feel. I had DR stainless lo-riders that felt a little grippy for a few hours as well. Either way it's not something you should really worry about. It's nothing a few hours of play shouldn't take care of.

[WilliamSandoval]

Fender Flats (new packaging) stayed sticky for months!

[4001]

Rotosound RS 77 LD (on one bass)
No sticky.
I wipe them down a lot so that might have something to do with it.

[tjh]

I am of the opinion that hand condition has a lot to do with some of that sticky feel also ... even playing at different times of the day, and in differing weather conditions can tend to slightly change the feel of flats ... also, hardened fingertips tend to slide better .. add to that, some people have a type of reaction to string finishes that create a different feel than the next person ... JMHO

[PBnJBassist]

A bit of sticky on D'Addario Chromes and sticky on new Fender flats. Everything else was fine.

[phangtonpower]

Don't remember La Bella's or Ernie Ball's being sticky.

[rosskratter]

Definitely not LaBella's...I've been using them for years and never had that issue.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by rosskratter

Definitely not LaBella's...I've been using them for years and never had that issue.

I did, but it went away qucikly. All flats feel sticky at first to me.

[Bassamatic]

My 2 year old LaBellas still get sticky from time to time - I think it depends on the temp and humidity. I keep some FingerEase in my gig bag just in case. No problem with TIs or Chromes, so far.

[Lowactnsatsfctn]

The first set of Chromes I had was a little on the dirty side, Probably from their manufacturing procedure. None since have been dirty, and I didn't find any of them to be sticky. Stickyto me is the gloss on the back of theneck on a cheap Ibanez.