Another set of D'Addario Chrome Flatwounds

DeadMike · #1 10-30-2006, 12:40 PM

Ok, so I'm crazy about flats. I've outfitted my jazz basses with D'Addario Medium Chrome flats and love the sound. On my Spector Rebop 4, I put a set of Flea's signature Boomers on before our last gig and was severely disappointed.

Disappointed because I'm used to the flatwound sound. I've never thought about flats on the Spector, but today, I went out and picked up another pack of my tried and true Chromes and will be switching out the strings tonight. With any luck, this is exactly what I guess I was looking for and I'll give it a go at practice tomorrow evening.

I've got 4 more hours at the office, so in killing time....

Does anyone else use Chrome flats on a Spector Rebop?

rhp335 · #2 10-30-2006, 02:59 PM

I've got a Spector Rebop 5 which is my number one gigging bass, I've been toying with the idea of flats, but wanted to wait for the new DR set before I made the switch.

I ordered a set from juststrings today, but I'm going to stick them on my Ibanez 505 as a trial. If they have the tension I want then the Rebop may be next.

Not the answer you wanted, but interesting we're both in the same thought pattern.

DeadMike · #3 10-30-2006, 03:12 PM

The gig I played was mixed by a guy who played bass. At any rate, he really put my bass out front, which I was pretty happy about, but I hadn't really payed much attention to how the Boomers sounded coming off a PA stack before.

What I heard was almost all brittle, crunchy, top end...and that was enough for me. I totally understand the tone that he pulled through the PA and that's cool, but I want more thump and deep boom. That's one of the reasons I've become so happy with flats. I guess we were just on opposite ends of the sonic spectrum.

I held off putting flats on, because the Spector was my only bass with roundwounds, but I think I'm at a point where I really want to solidify MY sound and I can give up a little versatility.

Ole Man Blues · #4 10-30-2006, 05:32 PM

Chromes are my string of choice for quite a while now. I bought a set of the D'addario Chrome "Soft", they seem to be super warm almost too much on my P Bass. I'm wating to try a set of the NEW DR Hi Beam Flats before I purchase another set of the Chromes. I've been hearing some pretty good reviews coming in on them..........

OMB

open_space · #5 10-31-2006, 01:46 AM

Everytime I read good posts about flats, I start to wonder what I am doing wrong.

I just don't like the sound I get with flats. The first ones I tried were Fenders but they were mediums and were too hard for me. And my bass sound was just a massive wall of lows and that's all. I didn't really like them at all so I put a set of Ernie balls and was much better of.

A few days ago I decided to try Chromes. I guess my mistake was that I bought a set of mediums (50-105) again, and I can't play them easily. But that's one thing.

I was suprised to see that they are a bit SHORT for a Fender P American Standard. It says long scale on the pack, but I guess they were made with a vintage bridge in mind, because when I put them on, they cloth coating was actually on the nut and I had to scrape it off a bit. Ernie balls are actually much longer. But that's ok, I can live with that.

So then I went to the rehersal and the sound was just horrible. Nothing vintage in them, lots of hi mids for some reason, just sounded bad. Everybody noticed how horrible the bass sounded, it was just a different beast. And the band's sound was just falling part. I was frustrated because the fenders sounded much better. Chromes are just too bright, but it's actually a different kind of bright than what rounds have.

I mean I am using a cheap crate amp for rehearsal, but even with old rounds it sounded much better. Maybe the strings thru body combo is not good for Chromes? I don't know. Maybe there is something with the tension? All I know that I have a gig in a few hours and I will have to suffer through it.

Any advise? What am I doing wrong?

pharaohamps · #6 10-31-2006, 05:36 AM

I'm a huge fan of flatwounds myself - been playing them since I got my first bass almost 15 years ago. I had a set of Rotosound Swing Bass 66's on my bass, and couldn't stand all the finger noise. My dad said, "you should get some of those flat strings." Flat strings? "Yeah, when I played bass back in the '70s, we had these flat strings that didn't make finger noise like that." So the next day I went to the music store and bought a pack of GHS flatwounds, 40-95. Only set they had in the whole store! But they went on the Jazz and stayed there until I got rid of it. Kept the strings though. They're on my '62RI P right now! Had the strings since '93, and they sound just as good today as they did 13 years ago.

My two Jazzes and my P have flats. I keep roundwounds on my EBMM Sterling because I like the crunch, and I have rounds on my Dano Longhorn because I haven't found short-scale flats that I like yet. Any recommendations?

Matt Farrow

DeadMike · #7 10-31-2006, 08:07 AM

I have yet to plug in. Rehearsal was cancelled, but sitting on my couch last night, I instantly knew that I was going to be really happy with my sound. It's going to be really thick. Going through the Spector tone pump pre, it's going to sound like a warm slab of butter! I'm all set.

nad · #8 10-31-2006, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by open_space

I was suprised to see that they are a bit SHORT for a Fender P American Standard. It says long scale on the pack, but I guess they were made with a vintage bridge in mind, because when I put them on, they cloth coating was actually on the nut and I had to scrape it off a bit.

Weird, I've got a set of .050 - .105 on my American Standard P through the bridge as well, didn't run into this issue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by open_space

Any advise? What am I doing wrong?

Sounds like you don't like flats, that's all.

I hated them for years, and only have them on my P for That Sound, so they aren't the be all end all for me anyhow.

bazzanderson · #9 10-31-2006, 02:06 PM

I string my MIA Jazz V with Chromes

.40, .60, .75, .95, 1.10. BEADG. Yep....and no floppy B. I love the tone and feel more than any roundwound I've played. I don't understand when some bassists say flatwounds don't cut through the mix. Rounds sound "fuzzy" and "wet" and almost always a little distorted in the upper registers to me....bear in mind I'm fingerstyle rock solely. Flats or at least chromes always sound clearer, deeper, drier and much louder in the mix than any round (with the exception of the Will Lee strings I've tried before). Chorded lines on the D and G string ALWAYS come through louder and clearer with Chromes than with any rounds I've used. All of the above is of course just my opinion mind you.
-Bazz-

FunkyWilly · #10 10-31-2006, 03:14 PM

I have a Fender 51 Precision Reisssue and it has the stock Fender Super strings on them. I want to try flats and I've heard good things about the Chromes. Can I use them with my string-through body bridge? What set would I look for to fit a string-through bridge?

Any suggestions about which strings to buy if I'm used to the weight of the stock strings (.045, .065, .080, .100)?

Also, how would you compare the Chromes with the Fender Flats?

This is my first bass guitar, so I don't have a lot of experience choosing strings.

thanks,
Willy

ogyen · #11 10-31-2006, 07:13 PM

FunkyWilly, if you go for chromes, or any d'addario strings, you want super long scale to string throught the body, long scale for through the bridge, and probably regular light gauge. Chromes are my favorite flats, but you'll never know if they're right for you until you try'em.

Nedmundo · #12 10-31-2006, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by open_space

I was suprised to see that they are a bit SHORT for a Fender P American Standard.

* * *

Maybe the strings thru body combo is not good for Chromes? I don't know.

Any advise? What am I doing wrong?

There's your answer -- they should be long enough if you string through the bridge. I've read it's not a good idea to string flats through the body, because the sharper angle over the saddle can damage the winding. I don't know how often that really happens, but for that reason I strung my GHS flats through the bridge on my Am. Ser. P, and...they're too long! So I guess it's live and learn there.

As for your tone issues, I don't know, but the amp is a likely culprit. I'm finding Chromes sound fantastic in my band mix using a fretless P.

And I agree with BuzzAnderson about the D & G strings. With the GHS flats on my P, those strings sound better than they have on any of my other basses, ever. This got me thinking about leaving flats on D & G, and maybe using pressurewounds on the A & E strings for a little more brightness down there.

open_space · #13 11-01-2006, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nedmundo

There's your answer -- they should be long enough if you string through the bridge. I've read it's not a good idea to string flats through the body, because the sharper angle over the saddle can damage the winding. I don't know how often that really happens, but for that reason I strung my GHS flats through the bridge on my Am. Ser. P, and...they're too long!

Nedmundo, how would I string my American P through the bridge only? It seems that I would need a new bridge. Someone mentioned, that I would need super long scale chromes for American P and I guess that was my mistake. Mine are just long scale. Maybe I will get a different bass someday with a different bridge and string it with these Chromes, but I am putting Ernie Balls back tonight.

I played a gig with chromes last night going to PA directly with a DI box. The bass was definitely present in the mix, but it was just a different sound. Not that bad at all but it felt weird to me. I guess if I had a tube amp, it might have been a holy grail of tone, but I will stick with rounds for now.

FunkyWilly · #14 11-01-2006, 07:40 AM

Thanks ogyn. My bass teacher likes the Chromes, and I tried them on his P-bass, so I thought I might give them a try on mine. I'll look for extra longs since my bridge only has the option of stringing through the body.

-FunkyWilly

DeadMike · #15 11-01-2006, 08:07 AM

FunkyWilly - I've tried the Fender flats before the Chromes, and honestly, I think the Chromes win. My thing is that I still want that warmth of flats, but nut just a dull thump. More of a bright thump, I guess. Fender flats, IMHO, are much duller than Chromes...which I know some people go for.

pharaohamps · #16 11-01-2006, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeadMike

FunkyWilly - I've tried the Fender flats before the Chromes, and honestly, I think the Chromes win. My thing is that I still want that warmth of flats, but nut just a dull thump. More of a bright thump, I guess. Fender flats, IMHO, are much duller than Chromes...which I know some people go for.

You think so? I have Fender 9050s on two of my basses right now and I find them much brighter than most flatwounds. I guess everyone has their own opinion. I never liked Chromes on bass, though I played the guitar versions for years (0.013-0.056", yow!) They just seem to have so much string tension to me. My fave flatwounds are GHS 3025 or 3050, then the Fender 9050s, then the TI Jazz Flats. I love the tone of the TI's but they're too floppy for my taste. Chromes are way down on the list for me. I'm going to be trying the DR flats on my Sterling, to see how they are, I've heard good things.

Matt Farrow

lonote · #17 11-01-2006, 08:25 AM

I have Chromes on all my J-style basses (Fender flats on my P-Basses). The brighter sounding Chromes seem better suited to J-Basses while I prefer the fat thump of fender flats on my P-Basses. YMMV

DeadMike · #18 11-01-2006, 12:37 PM

Yeah, I totally agree with LoNote. I'd probably put Fender flats on a P-bass, but seeing as I don't have a P-bass, I'll have to stick with my set-up.

It's funny, though. I'm the only person I know locally (or at least in my circle of musician friends) who plays flats. I find that the selection of flatwound strings are almost non-existent.

I was talking to one shop owner and he was surprised I used Chromes and said he'd start stocking them. I then reminded him that I'd probably keep mine on for a few years, so there was really no rush....

FunkyWilly · #19 11-01-2006, 02:14 PM

Thanks DeadMike. Clearly, it's a matter of personal opinion... but I think I'll give flats a try. Probably the Chromes.

Nedmundo · #20 11-02-2006, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by open_space

Nedmundo, how would I string my American P through the bridge only? It seems that I would need a new bridge. Someone mentioned, that I would need super long scale chromes for American P and I guess that was my mistake. Mine are just long scale. Maybe I will get a different bass someday with a different bridge and string it with these Chromes, but I am putting Ernie Balls back tonight.

Well, I guess I don't know the year of your P-bass, but I believe American Standards/Series have had dual-access bridges since at least 1995, which can be strung either way. Before that, they were mostly through the bridge only. My 2004 has a dual access bridge, and I go through the body with rounds, but just through the bridge with flats.

Now that I think about it a little more, I'm not sure how much extension on the tuner end you'd get going through the bridge anyway. It might be no more than 1 cm. I guess it depends on the depth of the ferrules when you string through the body, and I don't have a good mental picture of that on my P-bass.