D'Addario Chromes; Finally, what I've been looking for

RSalvador · #1 07-08-2006, 08:19 PM

So far I’ve tried the dead Stainless round wounds that came on this bass used, DR Nickel round wounds, D’Addario Half Rounds, and now D’Addario Chromes (flat wounds), and the Chromes are the best yet. I’ve really been wanting to try the Chromes because I wanted reduced string noise and the smooth feel. I went with the Half Rounds because I was afraid the Chromes would be too thumpy and not defined.

Wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong!!! The Chromes have the most piano like charity of any of the strings I’ve tried to date. They even have a decent slap tone, though I don’t slap much. Plus they give the most consistent sound tone from B to G string. All others I’ve tried had a very noticeable thinning out of tone as you got to the thinner strings. I thought it was because of my bass or something. These retain the same defined tone throughout. Chords and double stops sound beautiful on my bass now, no mud.

I realize my bass might be naturally brighter that others with it’s wood make up, active soap bar pickups and onboard preamp I have no shortage of highs and mid-highs to bring out the definition and the chromes may not give you the exact same results, but I don’t think there is any reason to be concerned that these strings will be too boomy for you if your wanting to go to flats but still like well defined highs in your tone. I know they will mellow out, but from what I’m hearing now I think they will mellow right into a smooth versatile tone that is finally what I was looking for. Between this bass and my SX fretless I’ve probably spent over $150 on strings in the last 6 months. But it’s been more than worth it. I thought so many times I should just buy a new bass. But now I know that the right strings can make the difference. FWIW.

Cheers

markjazzbassist · #2 07-08-2006, 10:21 PM

+1, chromes are great strings. i use them on my fretless.

Ole Man Blues · #3 07-09-2006, 05:35 AM

D'addario Chromes are the best strings I've found for my application. It gives me a hugh low end with awesome punch when I need it. What more coiuld I ask for. Oh and they last forever. Just wipe em down and their ready to go again.

What a deal.........

OMB

**bassman314** · #4 08-11-2006, 10:58 PM

What's the Mwah like on the Chromes?

I just got a Lakland 55-01 fretless, and it has nickel rounds.. I LOVE the mwah I get, but I dislike the tinny brightness.. and I'm concerned about fretboard wear..

I know the tinny brightness will go away once the strings deaden, so maybe I'll stick with rounds on it.. but I'd still like to hear..

And how smooth ARE they? I've heard that the half-rounds and ground round strings aren't all that smooth, and I know the fender fretlesses that I've goofed around with that were strung with fender flats seemed to grab my fingers...

Delberthot · #5 08-12-2006, 04:36 PM

They are very smooth.

Ground wounds begin life as rounds and are literally ground down. Half rounds have oval shaped wrap wire.

Flats use flat ribbon wire. Chromes are hex core wire with wraps to build up the thickness before the flat outer wire is wrapped. this is then ground to make them very smooth

i think that they are called chromes as this is what they look like

The Dave · #6 08-12-2006, 05:03 PM

Slight correction - D'Addario Half Rounds are ground wounds. Compression wound strings have wrap wire that is compressed to an oval shape.

tplyons · #7 08-12-2006, 09:53 PM

I'm one of those nuts who prefer rounds on a fretless and flats on a fretted

Chromes are the weapon of choice though

fourstringbliss · #8 08-13-2006, 08:46 AM

How are Chromes for tension? I've got a 35" scale 5-string and the Elixir's that came installed are a bit loose. The B-string is a bit floppy, and the E-string isn't clear enough. I play fingerstyle - do Chromes retain clarity enough to cut through a heavy mix?

snowdan · #9 08-13-2006, 10:24 AM

d'addario has all string tension specs published. so has TI.
chromes in 40-95 compare to jazz flats afaik.

i can say from experience that jazz flats also compare to 40-100 fatbeams, then a 45-100 chromes set would be similar to DR fatbeams in a 45-105 gauge.

pure guesswork though...

zongeek · #10 08-13-2006, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tplyons

I'm one of those nuts who prefer rounds on a fretless and flats on a fretted

Chromes are the weapon of choice though

You too? We ought to start a club.

Jazzin' · #11 08-14-2006, 11:16 PM

I have Chromes on my fretless too. I havne't played too many kinds of flats, so I will have to eventually change strings to try new ones. But there's a good chance I will unltimately end up with Chromes. I like the tension and the mwah I can get out of them.

pierce · #12 08-15-2006, 12:12 AM

i play chromes on all my bg's (except my fernandez nomad, but it might get some too), and there all fretted. i dont know how it would sound on a fretless, but i would put them on if i get one. i might even consider putting them on an acoustic (if the tension allowed)

i like them because i like the feel of them, but still get a bit of bright on them. i think round wound players will miss the presence of the string, and i find that traditional flat players think they are too brash (and feel sharp to the touch). i leave these things on till they break (usually 2 years).

i cant wait to try them on a l-1500/2000.

(and the nomad, of course)

btw, i have trouble finding them in town, so i usually have to drive down the peninsula, over the bay, or across the net. i have to keep extra sets, because if they break, its a pain to get some.

tbrannon · #13 08-15-2006, 01:39 AM

I play Chromes on my G&L L2000, an old Peavey T-20 fretless and I'll be putting them on my *hopefully* soon to be had 5 string Alembic Rogue.

I love the Chromes. I've tried TI Flats and didn't like the sound near as much as I liked the Chromes.

My advice: Give 'em a shot.

Energy · #14 08-15-2006, 06:13 AM

I use Chromes 40-100 on my Precision. With these strings, a long journey came to an end, just like RSalvador described it.
Fans of traditional flats might find the Chromes sound too bright, but that wears out after a few weeks. Anyway, for me they are perfect. My P sounds like an animal.

BTW: the fact that the Chromes will last for several years (if they don't break) makes them the cheapest strings I ever had.

Moe Monsarrat · #15 08-15-2006, 03:08 PM

I started using them a few months back. I really love them. They make every bass I own sound better. More like what I wanted them to sound like all along.

fourstringbliss · #16 08-15-2006, 04:54 PM

How would these sound on an active 5-string? What's the tension like on these strings?

markjazzbassist · #17 08-15-2006, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fourstringbliss

How would these sound on an active 5-string? What's the tension like on these strings?

they're flatwounds. the tension is very high compared to roundwounds.

ihixulu · #18 08-15-2006, 05:16 PM

I use Chromes on my StingRay 5, and they are the ideal strings for me. Between the onboard EQ and the strings' inherent timbre I can get a suitable tone for just about every style of music I am called upon to play. Their slap tone is not as bright as what you'd get with a set of DR's but more akin to early Larry Graham (think Sly and the Family Stone "There's a Riot Going on"), they totally nail the disco/funk tone. Tonally, more mids than Labellas, more highs than Fender, with a more focused low end than either of those, IME

Very well made, last a long long long time.

Regarding tension - Having tried many brands of flats I would actually place Chromes on the softer side of things. Certainly not as loose as TI's but softer than Dean Markleys, and very much softer than Labella, Fender, Roto's and others. Talking similar gauges, of course. The neck on my bass tells me they have less tension than a set of standard gauge Roto Swing Bass Strings so I'm not sure I'd generalize they are that much more tense than rounds.

bgavin · #19 08-15-2006, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

they're flatwounds. the tension is very high compared to roundwounds.

Actually, if you compare like gauge sets (45,65,85,105 etc), the Chromes are always right in the middle of the tension. Rounds have both higher and lower tension, in the same gauge.

fourstringbliss · #20 08-15-2006, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ihixulu

I use Chromes on my StingRay 5, and they are the ideal strings for me. Between the onboard EQ and the strings' inherent timbre I can get a suitable tone for just about every style of music I am called upon to play. Their slap tone is not as bright as what you'd get with a set of DR's but more akin to early Larry Graham (think Sly and the Family Stone "There's a Riot Going on"), they totally nail the disco/funk tone. Tonally, more mids than Labellas, more highs than Fender, with a more focused low end than either of those, IME

Very well made, last a long long long time.

Regarding tension - Having tried many brands of flats I would actually place Chromes on the softer side of things. Certainly not as loose as TI's but softer than Dean Markleys, and very much softer than Labella, Fender, Roto's and others. Talking similar gauges, of course. The neck on my bass tells me they have less tension than a set of standard gauge Roto Swing Bass Strings so I'm not sure I'd generalize they are that much more tense than rounds.

I have an active 5-string. So, with judicious EQ'ing I should be able to get a useable sound for pretty much anything, right? do they cut through the mix well? I need to be able to cut through without being too bassy.