Can someone tell me anything about these Sadowsky flats?

Jake of Bass · #1 08-24-2010, 02:40 AM

I've never bought flat wounds, so I have no idea what is good.

I've been watching these ones on eBay for ages, just haven't bought them. Can someone tell me a bit about them please? ie. worth the money, any good, can do better, etc.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....T#ht_654wt_911

Thanks

Emibass · #2 08-24-2010, 03:14 AM

Use search function for "Sadowsky flats"

I use them on my MIA Jazz...awsome strings

One Drop · #3 08-24-2010, 03:59 PM

Great flats, great strings

CapnSev · #4 08-24-2010, 04:19 PM

They have very-roundish properties (lots of high mids, bite, slap well, very aggressive, etc.)

The low B isn't my favorite, and they're slightly on the stiff side, but they're my second favorite flats next to TIs.

One Drop · #5 08-25-2010, 02:29 AM

I also like the way they can go from Motown thump to rock growl, very responsive to attack.

Jake of Bass · #6 08-25-2010, 09:31 AM

Thanks for the replies guys. I did search for "Sadowsky flats" before posting the thread, but being a flats noob I wanted to be sure of these particular ones.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapnSev

They have very-roundish properties (lots of high mids, bite, slap well, very aggressive, etc.)

The low B isn't my favorite, and they're slightly on the stiff side, but they're my second favorite flats next to TIs.

TIs? Not sure I understand. Either way it sounds like I can't go wrong.

CapnSev · #7 08-25-2010, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake of Bass

TIs? Not sure I understand. Either way it sounds like I can't go wrong.

Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats. They super-pricey, but worth every penny.

jab · #8 08-28-2010, 06:56 PM

i've used them they work fine . they have good sustain for flats they sound good with fingers or a pick

**lowendfriend** · #9 08-28-2010, 07:39 PM

I use them....a little on the brighter side for flats ( a good thing)....agree on the B being a little muddy on a 34" scale.

New from Sadowsky they sell for 48 + shipping.

Good strings....I may have liked the medium gauge better than the heavy.

mongo2 · #10 08-29-2010, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapnSev

They have very-roundish properties (lots of high mids, bite, slap well, very aggressive, etc.)

The low B isn't my favorite, and they're slightly on the stiff side, but they're my second favorite flats next to TIs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowendfriend

I use them....a little on the brighter side for flats ( a good thing)....

I've been wanting to try them for a while now but haven't gotten to it, however brightness isn't so good for me. I prefer my flats to sound like flats, not trying to sound like rounds.

So thanks, you just saved me the expense of trying them.

Jake of Bass · #11 08-29-2010, 06:08 AM

So these are a lighter gauge, yeah? I'm looking to put them onto my Cort Fretless 5. Good choice of string for that?

gbarchus · #12 08-29-2010, 06:17 AM

I think the Sadowsky flats sound similar to TI flats but higher tension. I use both.

They are both as close to well worn round wounds as flats can get. Both have good definition without the twang.

I know it may be a trade secret, but does anyone know who makes Sadowsky flats?

Gale

One Drop · #13 08-30-2010, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mongo2

I've been wanting to try them for a while now but haven't gotten to it, however brightness isn't so good for me. I prefer my flats to sound like flats, not trying to sound like rounds.

So thanks, you just saved me the expense of trying them.

I would never call them bright, nor as mid-focused as TIs. They are a bit more defined and a bit growlier than Labellas, at the expense of a bit of thump, but to my ears they are nothing like rounds in attack or overall tone. Pity if you would pass these up.

mongo2 · #14 08-30-2010, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by One Drop

I would never call them bright, nor as mid-focused as TIs. They are a bit more defined and a bit growlier than Labellas, at the expense of a bit of thump, but to my ears they are nothing like rounds in attack or overall tone. Pity if you would pass these up.

Your description of their tone reinforces my decision that they're not for me. Thanks.

Emibass · #15 08-30-2010, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbarchus

I know it may be a trade secret, but does anyone know who makes Sadowsky flats?

Gale

Labella, but it has nothing to do with their strings,

One big diference is that Labella´s flats can´t go trough the body because they brake. I have my Sadowsky flats strung trough the body and no problem (Roger himself told me so too)

Beautyfull strings, love them

One Drop · #16 08-31-2010, 02:19 AM

I'm setting up an old Tokai Hard Puncher to give to my drummer (bless him, he's learning bass and guitar, too), so I put Labella FL760s, Sadowsky .105s, and same guage Chromes on to see which sounded best on this bass. All were magnificent but I could really hear easily the differences, confirming my original impression.

Labellas: darkest and thumpiest, tons of low mids, a bit growly, closest to the sound of upright strings.

Sadowsky: very similar to the Labellas, but with more growl, less thump and more even sustain, and slightly more aggressive (more mids?)

Chromes: very little classic flats thump, much more high mids, not as growly as the previous two, and the most 'modern' sounding flat of the three.

Maybe not the prevailing consensus, but I hear the Chromes as being much closer to TIs than any other flat, though the TIs are a bit richer and more complex in their midrange voicing.

All of them have a big strong fundamental, and share enough qualities to make them very recognizably flatwounds.

In the end I left the Chromes on as they will give him a lot of flexibility when playing with other people, and I'm not wasting a set of broken in Sadowskys on a drummer, no matter how nice he is.

mongo2 · #17 08-31-2010, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by One Drop

Labellas: darkest and thumpiest, tons of low mids, a bit growly, closest to the sound of upright strings.

Sadowsky: very similar to the Labellas, but with more growl, less thump and more even sustain, and slightly more aggressive (more mids?)

One of my favorite strings are the Labella 760s so it's very informative to see that comparison, particularly regarding the thump.

I also use Labella 760N nylon tapewounds a lot, even more thump and low mids in my application.

I like the thump.

One Drop · #18 08-31-2010, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mongo2

One of my favorite strings are the Labella 760s so it's very informative to see that comparison, particularly regarding the thump.

I also use Labella 760N nylon tapewounds a lot, even more thump and low mids in my application.

I like the thump.

I love the thump, too. I also have a P that wears the 760s (Jamerson set), and which always has a foam mute under the strings.

Jake of Bass · #19 09-07-2010, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbarchus

I think the Sadowsky flats sound similar to TI flats but higher tension. I use both.

They are both as close to well worn round wounds as flats can get. Both have good definition without the twang.

I know it may be a trade secret, but does anyone know who makes Sadowsky flats?

Gale

Thanks. How high a tension, when compared to something like EB Slinkys (rounds) that I'm used to?

gbarchus · #20 09-07-2010, 07:41 AM

JoB,

"How high a tension, when compared to something like EB Slinkys (rounds) that I'm used to?"

I couldn't say because I haven't used Slinkys but maybe someone else can chime in.

I was comparing them to TI flats. Some people feel the TI flats are a little too loose so I thought the Sadowsky flats might be an option for those who want a brighter flat but don't like the low tension of the TIs.

I think flats, in general, are higher tension than round wound strings.

Gale