Cheap Vintagey Flats

BassoP · #1 01-15-2007, 09:00 AM

I want to throw some flats on my P copy (Has groudnwounds now and is still kind of bright for that whole motown thing). I know Jamerson and Duck Dunn use/used labellas, but I don't really want to shell out that much. How are the fender and webstrings flats? Or do I just need to bite the bullet?

SuperDuck · #2 01-15-2007, 09:23 AM

A lot of people like the Fender 9050 flats. As far as an old-school tone goes, they do a pretty good job. I would recommend them for your situation. Keep in mind that when you're shelling out the money for flats that they last a looooong time. When you think of how much time you get vs. cost, they come out to be much more economical than roundwounds that one might change once a month or so. Flatwounds can last well over a year (or many years!). Some people just never change them.

BassoP · #3 01-15-2007, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperDuck

A lot of people like the Fender 9050 flats. As far as an old-school tone goes, they do a pretty good job. I would recommend them for your situation. Keep in mind that when you're shelling out the money for flats that they last a looooong time. When you think of how much time you get vs. cost, they come out to be much more economical than roundwounds that one might change once a month or so. Flatwounds can last well over a year (or many years!). Some people just never change them.

Well, there's that too. I think my groundwounds have been on for about 2 years, but I hardly play that bass.

FidgetStone · #4 01-15-2007, 04:35 PM

I just put a set of the same Fenders on my Stingray to calm it down a little bit. A Stingray with a maple neck is a naturally bright bass to start with. So far I am pleased with how they darkened up the sound and gave the bass a vintage P-bass thump that I haven't heard from it before.

That being said, my MIM fretless Fender Jazz is a dark thumpy bass already, and based on previous string experiments, I think that these strings would be way to dark for it. I had TI flats on it before and they worked well. The TI's are brighter than the Fenders and way more expensive. The Fenders only set me back a whopping $13 at Guitar Center.

Good luck . . .

SherpaKahn · #5 01-15-2007, 05:25 PM

Flats may not be very cheap, but as mentioned above, they'll last you a long long time. Many people have sets of flats on their basses for months on end, even years. There are some people on this board using 30-year old flats. You could spend 500 dollars on those, (not that you need to), and it would still be a bargain after all these years.

...That is, unless you get tired of the sound, or are just curious. I have several sets of flats sitting around on in my string box, and only have one bass strung with flats (MIM Jazz Bass with D'Addario Chromes), but the flats I tried out and decided not to use on that bass are still quite usable, as they'll be for many years.

BassoP · #6 01-15-2007, 05:47 PM

I'll probably grab the fenders. I played a set on a 55 P reissue and the whole package seemed pretty cool. If I really stick with it, maybe labellas later. thanks for all the input.

SherpaKahn · #7 01-15-2007, 05:51 PM

I think the Fenders will be a great choice. Very dark, thumpy, old-school sounding strings. Just remember to buy them a gauge lighter than you usually would; because they are ribbon-wound instead of wirewound, flats will be stiffer (not more tense, but just harder to bend), than rounds of the same gauge. The 9050M (medium gauge) Fenders feel like bridge cables to most people.

Also, once you put them on, you might want to play (or sautee) them for a few days to kill the snap and zing that they start off with. After a week or so, they'll sound pretty like they will for the rest of their life. Bon appetit!

FidgetStone · #8 01-15-2007, 06:04 PM

"Just remember to buy them a gauge lighter than you usually would; because they are ribbon-wound instead of wirewound, flats will be stiffer (not more tense, but just harder to bend), than rounds of the same gauge. The 9050M (medium gauge) Fenders feel like bridge cables to most people."

I wish that I had SherpaKahn's tip before I bought the medium gauge. They sound good but do have the tension of bridge cables.

Good advice . . .

SherpaKahn · #9 01-15-2007, 06:12 PM

I wish I had my tip before buying them, too. All three sets, that is. Now I buy my flats in the light gauge. I still hang on to the thicker strings if I feel like building up my finger strength some day.

I'll tell you what, though: During those few months when I was using the 9050M strings, I could rip the paint off of walls with my grip. Or I could simply opt to sand it off with my beastly calluses. No pain, no gain.

Beefbass · #10 01-15-2007, 06:48 PM

My vote is for Fender 9050"s in light, or medium light gage.

Chris Breese · #11 01-17-2007, 09:16 PM

Labellas are the bomb for a p bass. hands down. in my opinion.

thebassist1234 · #12 02-03-2007, 08:53 PM

Too expensive? Try being a cellist....

200 bucks a year on strings.

SherpaKahn · #13 02-03-2007, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebassist1234

Try being a cellist...

200 bucks a year on strings.

Try being a bassist obsessed with his "crisp, defined tone"...

400 bucks a year on strings.

greenboy · #14 02-04-2007, 09:43 AM

The Labelllas at Carvin.com - and I think Detroit Strings have some flats in their cheapie lineup too.

**Chef** · #15 02-06-2007, 07:43 AM

The Fender 9050's are niiice, my second fav's next to the LaBellas.
LaBellas can be had for ~$25/set from Imperial Guitar, google them.

svtb15 · #16 02-06-2007, 08:47 AM

Webstrings flats are real old school.. and cheap... very dead like the way they used to be decades ago,,,

Nighttrain1127 · #17 02-17-2007, 06:55 PM

SIT Power Flats.

zachbass02 · #18 02-19-2007, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nighttrain1127

SIT Power Flats.

+1 I've got a set on my Jazz bass and am actually pretty impressed with them thus far. Thumpy, but not completely dead. Very usable outside of old school vintage sound, but still thump. They're not as smooth as I expected though, but I'll leave them on for a while cause they sound amazing on that bass.

vindy500 · #19 02-19-2007, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FidgetStone

"Just remember to buy them a gauge lighter than you usually would; because they are ribbon-wound instead of wirewound, flats will be stiffer (not more tense, but just harder to bend), than rounds of the same gauge. The 9050M (medium gauge) Fenders feel like bridge cables to most people."

I wish that I had SherpaKahn's tip before I bought the medium gauge. They sound good but do have the tension of bridge cables.

Good advice . . .

i bought the heavy gauge

Chris Breese · #20 02-19-2007, 06:59 PM

You can get used to them! And you can lower your action a bit to compensate for the stiffness. If they are really stiff, you can lower the action even more! You may not want them clacking against the frets, but you can find a happy medium! Flats forever!!