best flatwounds?

[FLEMMERAN]

so i need a new set of strings and i was wondering:
what are the best flatwounds?

[58super]

TI Jazz Flats no comparison.

[LoveThatBass]

TI Jazz flats are very good, just a little lower on tension than I like. If plucking fast you need to do so closer to the bridge where tension is higher. They are smooth and brighter than most flats while retaining excellent low end. They do the URB thing nicely plucked near on the neck. They mellow a Jazz bass so much it sounds more P like with no growl.
No doubt good choice of strings if you can live with the lower tension.

D'Addario Chromes are good medium tension strings also.

[paul n]

Disclaimer: these are just my opinions, your ears may tell you differently, if so go with they tell you!

TI's are OK, but I really don't like them much at all. I tried D'Addarios too and just couldn't stand them, to me they're flats for people who don't really like flats.

For me it's LaBellas. They're highly pollished and supper smooth, better than either the TIs or the D'Addarios in that regard (with a name like "Chromes", you'd think they'd finnish them better). To me Labellas are the classic flat sound, James Jamerson used them Duck Dunn uses them and Paul McCartney uses them. Tension wise, it depends, the newer flat design is lowwer tension than the Jamerson set. I've heard it's not just the guages either, the over all tension is higher on the Jamersons as compared to a set of the regular flats comprised of the same guages. The only down side with LaBellas, is that not all guage sets have the same tonnal ballance. I bought a set of the ROund-wound guaged flats (45-105) figuring it would feel closer to what I was used to. However that set has a common problem, the top strings are noticably brighter than the bottom strings. They dont get gradually brighter as you go up, but rather there a jump between the A and D strings. Aparently they WILL even out, but that means you ahve to wait a few months while they break in. The next set lighter and the next set heavier sound much better, more balanced. My favorite set is the Jamersons. I have big, very strong hands, and have troube not digging in, so they're extra heft is nice. However, they can be murder on you neck. The truss-rod nut on my RI P-bass has sunken a bit because of those strings (luckily this is easily fixable). That said I'm not using them right now. These days I'm using a set of Fodera roller wound Anthony Jackson strings (exposed core) in Jamerson guages, they feel wonderful, but the exposed core makes them a bit more ringy thatn I'd like. Next time I'll probably just get a regular set in those guages.

There are other brands out their that are suposed to be good too. I've heard favorable things about Pyramids (the only nickle wraped flats I've found other than the TIs). The set I had aon my guitar a while back were great sounding and very well finished, very smooth (they chrome plate their plain strings, nice!) however, they are VERY expensive, which is why I havn't tried them. I just can't bring myself to spend $50 for something that I might not like. They are also only available in one guage and are medium tension.

RotoSound flats have a good cult following. Steve Harris uses them, and I've heard good stuff about them. Again never tried them and for some reason they don't really apeal to me. Not sure if I read something or if I'm just wary of RS's QC? I believe they are suposed to be pretty high-tension.

Fenders; I like Fender guitar strings, but the round-wound bass strings that came on my P-bass were terrible, so I'm not sure if I'd want to risk trying their bass flats or not. I have heard good things about them though. They are supposed to be VERY high tension.

My 2¢

~Paul

[SBassman]

You want to scan the older threads. There's a Ton of dialog on flats.

Also, you're just not going to find a definitive answer. There are enough variables that you really have to decide for yourself what attributes of the string you want.

My own personal favorite in the flats world: DAddario half rounds.

[zombywoof5050]

Originally Posted by paul n

I've heard favorable things about Pyramids (the only nickle wraped flats I've found other than the TIs).

Awhile back I did extensive searches and did find someone else who offers nickel flats: Zeta. They are 34" scale and come on their Crossover bass. But they are very expensive, which is what prohibits me from trying them. Zeta also states that their strings are made for them by D'Addario, which I found odd because D'Addario does not make any nickel flats under their own name.

And to stay on topic, I really like the LaBella 760FL set of flats. Tensionwise, I would say they are between TI Flats and D'Addario Chromes. I used the TI's for about four years then ultimately decided that I needed a bit more tension, afterwhich I tried the Chromes but they were too tight for me.

[Darth Tater]

I'll agree on the Chromes...they are great flats if you don't like the 'non-tone' of real flats.

TI flats were not for me, I actually preferred the D'Aquisto Stainless Flats to the TI's, and they cost $18 instead of $60.

But I use the Chromes now because they have a bit more zing. But if you want zero zing, look at the D'Aquisto SS flats.

For me it's LaBella 760FL's .43 to .104, medium low tension, very smooth, smoother than the TI's and a nice balance from warm lows to highs.

George

[Squidfinger]

I'm in love with my TI flats. Very unique strings. Try doing a search if you want more info as they have been talked about alot in the past.

Tried Chromes for awhile but found the D and G too zingy.

My friend put a set of GHS flats on his MIM P-bass a couple of weeks ago and I think they sound great. Definitely less mids than the TI's but that's what I liked about them.

[Joe Beets]

I used D'Addario Chromes for many years. They would be my first choice except that they don't make a set that will work with a 32 inch scale. The "E" string was not quite long enough and the fabric wound part of the string laid in the nut groove. I spaced it up higher with a little piece of a matchbook, but the string never sounded quite right.

Next I tried the La Bella's. They were OK, but a little too dark sounding.

Then I tried the TI324 Jazz Flats, .043-.106 and they were just right. They are a little bit looser than the chromes, but all you have to do is lighten up your right hand technique a bit to compensate. A side benefit of the lighter touch is that my hand is more relaxed and doesn't tire as easily. Complicated riffs and three finger picking is a lot smoother also with a light touch. I like the sound of the Jazz Flats, full and round on the bottom and not too twangy on the top. I don't like that thin, trebly, twangy, banjo-like sound that is so popular today. Of course, if that's what you're after, you don't want flat-wounds anyway.

The sound of various brands of strings is very subjective. I recommend (if you can afford it) getting a set of each of the following and see which one works out best for you.

Fender Steel Flats
La Bella Deep Talkin' Bass
D'Addario Chromes
TI Jazz Flats

Good Lucki

[darthplagis]

ive had the fender flats on a few of my basses (1 pack hehehe) they are kind of tight at first but after a week or so settle down (or i got used to them) the tone balance seems pretty even too (still after 6 yrs).

[jvb]

Rotosound 77 flats for me.

[BadB]

TI Jazz Flats
GHS Brite Flats

[jamesblue]

I use Chromes and like the "zing" that is reported in this thread. The high end makes the tonality of the notes more defined IMO.

I guess if you want a traditional flat sound go with labellas.

BUT, just turning down the highs will get you a similare sound using the Chromes.

[pierce]

Originally Posted by Darth Tater

I'll agree on the Chromes...they are great flats if you don't like the 'non-tone' of real flats.

+1 thats exactly why i use them. my style of music doesnt lend itself to flats, but my playing does.

[TroyK]

I just went from LaBella DTB FLs to TI's. It's too early to tell, but I think I'm going to like the TIs better in every way. They are lower tension, but not a big deal unless you're digging hard with a stiff pick or something. YMMV. The LaBellas are a fine string, I did find them a bit tonally inbalanced. They were pretty stiff, i know that I couldn't have dealt with heavier gauges in that string, but many people do.

I have used the Fender Flats before and really liked them. Liked them as much as the LaBellas. I think they are very similar, but much cheaper. The tension was too much for a jazz bass I used to own.

Nobody talks about Ernie Ball flats, but I liked them too. Inexpensive, not as smooth, not as tense. Nice balance, nice tone. Good, albeit not exciting strings.

I'm too new to TI's to declare them the winner, but I have a feeling it will be the last flatwound I ever try. Then again, electric bass is no longer my bread a butter, I'm a upright guy 95% of the time, so my needs are limited and specific.

Have fun in the world of Flatwounds, for me there was no turning back.

Troy

[BrandonEssex]

Does anybody know where to find flatwound strings for an extended scale six string instrument? ie. 38"?

[westland]

The question is 'best flatwounds?' ... but I think you need to ask 'for what?'

I've tried the TI Jazz flats, the Daddario Chromes on my Dean fretless, and I decided I didn't like either, but like the Daddario XL nickel mediums the best (roundwounds).

I've been experimenting with my new Rob Allen Deep 4, which comes with LaBella nylon flats. My initial impression was that the instrument literally 'sings' ... there is a rich bloom, whereas I had been expecting more of a double bass sound. Rob suggested that the LaBellas are a bit bright until they are broken in, and indeed that seems right. They've gotten 'flatter' sounding as I've played them. Last night I put on Rotosound 88's (Rob sent me these with the bass, and suggested they would give more of a DB sound). These really now do sound like a DB ... very full and woody, but with a bit faster decay.

Flats seem to have a lot more individuality than roundwounds ... maybe that comes from a combination of brightness, bloom, string noise, and other things, whereas roundwounds are just differentiated on brightness.