D'Addario Chromes

Jeralya · #1 12-13-2006, 01:29 PM

I am sure I am way behind the times on these, but I just picked up a set for my fretless warwick and they breathed new life into it. I was considering selling/trading and these things changed my mind, just perfect tension and brightness with a great feel. I am considering throwing some on my P bass which is currently strung with EB Hybrids, but I am not sure how it would sound on a fretted. Anyone use these on a fretted? Like them?

Kael · #2 12-13-2006, 04:35 PM

If you dig that old school motown tone, then slap some flats on your P bass. If you like that irritating zingy crap, then don't bother. Chromes are a little brighter than most other flatwound strings. Not that they are trebly, just that they seem to have a strong presence in the upper mids. While I am not just gaga over them, they are the best string I've found for my fretless J thus far. That slightly zingy sound (although no where near as zingy as rounds) will tame down a bit as they age. They still stay pretty durned bright for a flat though.

TI's are the only flat with more high end info than Chromes IME. Seems like most people here here on TB tout TI flats as the end-all be-all flat wound string, but I dig the Chromes feel way more than the TI's. Sure the TI's sound pretty good, but they are just too floppy for me. Ick... Still I've heard that they tighten up if you remove them from your instrument then string them back up a few times. Might give my used set another shot on J to see if their tension has improved any. I doubt it, but we'll see.

depalm · #3 12-13-2006, 05:19 PM

Same happened here today with my '78 P-bass. I bought this bass used this year with a set of La Bella. The bass sounds really nice with LB but when I installed the DD Chromes... BUM, the beast comes alive!

I don't know how this strings are made but they seems to be made for my P-bass.

Great tone, very well balanced from E to G, great feel under my fingers, good tension, just roll off a bit the tone knob to get rid of the extra treble.

I'd like to know if they get better or not with age!

Jeralya · #4 12-13-2006, 07:32 PM

Guess I gotta bite the bullet and try them, probably won't be for a few weeks, but I'll let you guys know how it goes.

For the record my previous strings used on the fretless were Fender 9050 flats (too high tension,) Rotosound rounds (loved the tone, but they did this bizarre stretching phenomenon on it and died in a week,) and D'addario half rounds (SO MUCH TENSION!!!)

So, I am pretty happy to have found these beauties, because my bass was on the way out.

Mean Mr Mustard · #5 12-17-2006, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kael

If you dig that old school motown tone, then slap some flats on your P bass. If you like that irritating zingy crap, then don't bother. Chromes are a little brighter than most other flatwound strings. Not that they are trebly, just that they seem to have a strong presence in the upper mids. While I am not just gaga over them, they are the best string I've found for my fretless J thus far. That slightly zingy sound (although no where near as zingy as rounds) will tame down a bit as they age. They still stay pretty durned bright for a flat though.

TI's are the only flat with more high end info than Chromes IME. Seems like most people here here on TB tout TI flats as the end-all be-all flat wound string, but I dig the Chromes feel way more than the TI's. Sure the TI's sound pretty good, but they are just too floppy for me. Ick... Still I've heard that they tighten up if you remove them from your instrument then string them back up a few times. Might give my used set another shot on J to see if their tension has improved any. I doubt it, but we'll see.

I've had my Chromes for about 6 months now, they are the only flatwounds I have used but man the brightness has really tones down. That zingy crap is really annoying isnt it!? :P

I play in a punk band and at shows I am usually the only bass player there will a warm tone and not a clangy trebly tone.

JanusZarate · #6 12-17-2006, 04:39 AM

I just installed a set of Chromes yesterday, and I'm loving the tone! The overall growl and warm low end I get out of them is amazing. Plus, they're high-tension and hex-core, so they're very much like my old DR Lo-Riders in stiffness, but much much smoother.

With a bit of EQ adjusting, I was able to maintain the tone of these strings and get some extra top end for rock-calibre clarity.

It'll be interesting to see how the tone changes with age, but I'm looking forward to it!

vcs700s · #7 12-17-2006, 06:51 AM

I put them on my P Bass Special after I bought it. I love them! Great sound and fun to play!!

Highly recommended.

fourstringdrums · #8 12-17-2006, 08:04 AM

I had Chromes on a G&L JB-2 and I hated them. I use Labella flats, and to me, those sound and feel like flats right out of the pack. Chromes were too bright and zingy out of the pack for me. Alot of people have said that I should've just given it time and let them break in, but I guess I just have a certain expectation when putting on flats for the first time. They need to feel smooth and just have that old school smooth, round tone right away. Chromes don't do that for me.

4Mal · #9 12-17-2006, 08:52 AM

Chromes have a litle more rign that a lot of flats and that works really well on fretless I think. I prefer the 'woody' quality of the TIFj's for fretted basses. I haven't used LaBella in ages but know a few folks who swear by them.