| Flats are NOT necassarily higher tension than rounds. It depends a lot on the individual string sets. Thomastic-Infield Jazz flats are very very low tension flats that sound great. They're quite popular with a lot of players for that reason. Yeah, they're expensive but if you like them you'll likely never have to buy another set for your bass so in the long run they're dirt cheap. On the other hand a set of LaBella Old Originals would be way higher in tension than most rounds. So, don't let people make invalid blanket assertions like that.
OK, I've not put any flats on my 55-01, but I've spent a lot of time over the last 30 years with different strings on a lot of different basses. My personal preferences for flats are Lakland's Joe Osborne flats (45-105 or whatever the E string is). They have about the same tension under my hands as the rounds I like (DR Hi-Beams and Lakland's stainless, again in the 45-105 range). They have a great fundemental thud I expect from a flat, but they also have a definite note in there instead of an indistinct percussive effect.
You mention the string-through-body, but my experience stringing all three of my Laklands (and another bass that gave me the option of STB or top-load on the same bass) is that STB doesn't do anything to either sound or tension. So if you want to try flats on your 55-01, just do it. String through the top of the bridge instead of the body and see if they work for YOU.
jte
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JTE
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Lakland Owners' Club # 248
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