Arw vintage flats feasible?

[chris1125]

So this might seem like a terrible question but I've been thinking about this for some time. When I'm doing walking bass lines and jazz stuff I love to put really old flats on my jazz bass. It is very mellow, not punchy, not trebly with weak sustain sort of like an upright. Right now I have a set of flats that are probobly five years old or so and going strong, but in a way they are not quite as dead as I would ideally like them, they still have a lot of sustain really.

I was thinking about this and I've tried a couple of different things, foam under the bridge etc none of them worked as well as I would hope so here is my idea, flats have been around since the 40s right? What if I found a set of very old flats (10 years +) and used them. These flats would have to have been top notch quality I assume to stay strong and there couldn't be any rusting or things like that. Do you think this would achieve the sound I want? If it would, where would I ever find vintage flats?

[JimmyM]

I have a set but I'm not giving them up But you never know...most people like to hang onto theirs but you might find a set. It would work if you could find them. Still, I think half the fun is making them go dead yourself and seeing how long it takes.

Or you could do what everyone does when they want deader flats...rub greasy foods all over them.

[chris1125]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Or you could do what everyone does when they want deader flats...rub greasy foods all over them.

Is this a joke? Haha

[nashvillebill]

Or do what I did...bought the flats years ago, put them on, and never took them off. Seriously, I have three basses, and all of them have flats on them that are over 10 years old. But then again, I'm an old fart.

[Jay2U]

To my experience it is often one string in a set, which starts sounding and feeling 'old'. After a while a second one becomes 'mature'. There must be a way to 'burn in' a set of strings in a relatively short period of time. It would be nice if some manufacturer could offer pre-worn strings. There must be a way. I'm thinking of a device which over-tensions the strings slightly, at an elevated temperature, agitating them continuously. Maybe a nice project, if I can find some time.

[teleharmonium]

I would say it's worth a try although I wouldn't pay a premium for old strings. I do have an unused set of probably late 50s or early 60s German short scale flats that are still in a sealed package which I figure I will put on a Hofner if I ever own one in the future. I was given these as a gift, it seems like a difficult thing to find on short notice. If you watch ebay for a year or two you would likely turn something like that up.