Chromes B string - need other option

crs · #1 03-02-2013, 11:14 AM

I recently put a set of Chromes regular light flats on my Rapture J-2. I really like the sound of the flats except for the B string.

I find the .132 too large and the string has more thud with much less resonance than the E.

I was planning to just try a lower gauge flat but also considered using a nickel for the B.

Any suggestions?

mmbongo · #2 05-13-2013, 06:52 PM

bump...I'm finding the same thing!

bassist4dalord · #3 05-13-2013, 07:58 PM

Yep, same thing happened when I had Chromes on my 5er. I want to try some Fender 9050-5L (40-125t) flats on it. The tapered, .125 B is appealing, and I've heard that the new Fender flats are similar (but not the same) to Chromes.

mmbongo · #4 05-13-2013, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassist4dalord

Yep, same thing happened when I had Chromes on my 5er. I want to try some Fender 9050-5L (40-125t) flats on it. The tapered, .125 B is appealing, and I've heard that the new Fender flats are similar (but not the same) to Chromes.

That's exactly my thinking! Considering Sadowsky flats also since they have a tapered .125 as well but cost quite a bit more.

**millertx** · #5 05-13-2013, 08:36 PM

The DR flats have a .125 B string, although it is not tapered.

bassist4dalord · #6 05-13-2013, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

That's exactly my thinking! Considering Sadowsky flats also since they have a tapered .125 as well but cost quite a bit more.

Yep, the Fender 9050-5L will be the next set for my 5er. Currently strung with D'Addario Tapes, which are cool, but don't really have the attack I'm looking for with this bass. I've read some really good things about the Fenders, so I'm excited about it.

**svtb15** · #7 05-13-2013, 11:11 PM

I need to try the Fender flat B string.. I have the 9050 Cl set and LOVE them over another brand that i used for years... I am not a fan of the Chromes low B.. All thud and no tone at all. Its almost impossible to intonate it ...

I have a set of sadowsky flats on my Sadowsky 5....These sound more like an old school flat.. less bright than Chromes or fenders. But The Low B is not that great either.. The G to E feel consistent.. but the sadowsky low B left me thinking. it aint happenin' I think they are priced too high for what they are. Maybe i just got a bad one..
I would rather use Chromes at half the price.
But if you like good attack and ping on a new set of flats the Fenders do it in spades. Now i need to try their ow B string.. I hope it is better than the sadowsky and Chromes set

Tankdave · #8 05-14-2013, 12:09 AM

I replaced the Chromes with Tomastik Jazz, fantastic sounding strings. They need a higher action though. LaBella lights also have a better "B" than the Chromes and have you thought of trying "Tapes"?

mmbongo · #9 05-14-2013, 06:50 AM

I thought about tapes, but the two things that stuck out to me were 'high tension' and 'non-conductive'. Two things I can't have.

Emibass · #10 05-14-2013, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svtb15

I need to try the Fender flat B string.. I have the 9050 Cl set and LOVE them over another brand that i used for years... I am not a fan of the Chromes low B.. All thud and no tone at all. Its almost impossible to intonate it ...

I have a set of sadowsky flats on my Sadowsky 5....These sound more like an old school flat.. less bright than Chromes or fenders. But The Low B is not that great either.. The G to E feel consistent.. but the sadowsky low B left me thinking. it aint happenin' I think they are priced too high for what they are. Maybe i just got a bad one..
I would rather use Chromes at half the price.
But if you like good attack and ping on a new set of flats the Fenders do it in spades. Now i need to try their ow B string.. I hope it is better than the sadowsky and Chromes set

Oh no, I just pulled the trigger on the 5 string set. Please don´t tell me the B is not good.

bassist4dalord · #11 05-14-2013, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

I thought about tapes, but the two things that stuck out to me were 'high tension' and 'non-conductive'. Two things I can't have.

I've had a pretty good experience with my D'Addario Tapes, but I don't think they're quite the sound I'm looking for with this bass. They're not really high tension; they're like light-gauge rounds.

madbassplaya · #12 05-14-2013, 07:11 AM

I'm really liking the idea of a nickel round for a B string and a set of chromes for the rest. I've never met a flatwound B string that I've liked.

Then again, I've never met a B string I've loved either. I prefer D standard on my 5ers.

**svtb15** · #13 05-15-2013, 08:15 AM

Let us know... It didnt work for me. But maybe i got a bad Low B.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emibass

Oh no, I just pulled the trigger on the 5 string set. Please don´t tell me the B is not good.

**svtb15** · #14 05-15-2013, 08:17 AM

Its the only way that i know how to make it work... I usually use a Nickle Low B and leave it on.. Then use a 4 string set of chromes or Fender 9050s...

Quote:

Originally Posted by madbassplaya

I'm really liking the idea of a nickel round for a B string and a set of chromes for the rest. I've never met a flatwound B string that I've liked.

Then again, I've never met a B string I've loved either. I prefer D standard on my 5ers.

rodl2005 · #15 05-15-2013, 08:32 AM

That's what I'm doing too.
Chromes or TI 4 set & a Ni roundwound B string. B's are pretty thuddy after a cuppla gigs anyway. Suits me sir.

Fuzzbass · #16 05-15-2013, 11:19 AM

My favorite flats have been the TI Jazz flats. Recently I installed a set of Fender 5 string flats and I like them a lot! They're a little bright right now, but I expect them to settle in and when that happens I might like them as much as the TI's I've had for years, which of course have already settled in.

I've also tried LaBella tapes, Sadowsky flats, and D'Addario Chromes... those didn't work for me. With Sadowsky and D'Addario it was bad B string response. Not bad as in horrible, but even after tweaking action/intonation I wasn't able to get the B to match the other strings.

I also got a set of D'Addario half-rounds that another friend had on his basses. I thought they sounded great on his fours, they kind of had a flatwound vibe to them, but I haven't tried them on one of my fivers yet.

Fuzzbass · #17 05-15-2013, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tankdave

I replaced the Chromes with Tomastik Jazz, fantastic sounding strings. They need a higher action though.

Right... TI flats have very low tension. When I install them on a bass I usually loosen the truss rod rather than raise the bridge saddles. Of course I re-tighten the truss rod when returning to higher-tension strings.