D'addario Chromes

LittleGiant · #1 12-02-2010, 06:40 PM

I have been a round wound boy for years now but i recently changed to flatwound chromes on my short scale. They sound immense.

Is this a trick every bassist is missing, or do people not use them? If so why not?!

Rallypoint_1 · #2 12-02-2010, 08:08 PM

I love my chromes! Good choice.

number six · #3 12-02-2010, 08:10 PM

Sshhhh it's a secret.
String manufacturers won't make much profit if we all keep one set of strings on for 5 years.

KingRazor · #4 12-02-2010, 11:43 PM

If I was going to play flats, I'd use chromes. But I'm a round wound kinda guy

phmike · #5 12-03-2010, 12:31 AM

I think a lot of folks just buy whatever the local store sells and most local stores don't carry a good selection of flats because folks don't ask for'm - so . . . . flats are something a lot of folks are missing. Also flats last so long stores don't have much repeat business for folks buying flats. (online is another thing but I still see a lot of folks scared to buy online so they buy local where the selection is poor) I live in Nashville, TN so you'd think there would be a good selection of strings to choose from around here but it ain't so. Corner Music has as good or better a selection of bass strings as anybody in town but they still have rounds 10 to 1 over flats. (I hear the Low End (Murfreesboro, 20 miles from Nashville) is a good store but I have not been there in over a year) In the past year I've only seen 3 sets of 5 string flats in stores in Nashville and they were asking almost full retail for them.

mccartneyman · #6 12-03-2010, 09:11 AM

It's pretty much standard for stores to carry only rounds or just one brand of flats. This has been the case since the early 1070s, when Chris Squire's sound made almost everyone turn against flats. Now people apparently are beginning to understand that flats sound great in many situations. It's almost funny, in fact, to see comments by younger players who think they have discovered flats. I gave up looking for flats locally and order all my strings over the Internet.

Samsound · #7 12-03-2010, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mccartneyman

This has been the case since the early 1070s, when Chris Squire's sound made almost everyone turn against flats.

Wowee! Chris Squire rockin the electric bass in 1070, what a pioneer! Lol. (I knew what you meant).

Frankjohnson · #8 12-03-2010, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phmike

I think a lot of folks just buy whatever the local store sells and most local stores don't carry a good selection of flats because folks don't ask for'm - so . . . . flats are something a lot of folks are missing. Also flats last so long stores don't have much repeat business for folks buying flats.

Man - How True is Dis??? Yeah man - the local store won't carry what I use, and gets what he gets, and charges RUDE prices on most of it. I know I love Fender 9120s, and get them for under $20 shipped on line, he charges $30. The strings he carries are what "He" likes, and never includes Chromes, Roto Flats, TI's, GHS Flats, or any of the others people mention.

You are at the mercy of trial and error, other peoples advice, whats in stock, or just using what you "always got" because its what "they always have".

mccartneyman · #9 12-03-2010, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samsound

Wowee! Chris Squire rockin the electric bass in 1070, what a pioneer! Lol. (I knew what you meant).

Chris also helped to build Stonehenge. Look it up on Wikipedia.

rumblethump · #10 12-03-2010, 09:46 AM

So far I have them on a Beatle Bass, 67 Eb3, Carvin LB75, and a P Bass. Great strings!

Balog · #11 12-03-2010, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phmike

I think a lot of folks just buy whatever the local store sells and most local stores don't carry a good selection of flats because folks don't ask for'm - so . . . . flats are something a lot of folks are missing. Also flats last so long stores don't have much repeat business for folks buying flats. (online is another thing but I still see a lot of folks scared to buy online so they buy local where the selection is poor) I live in Nashville, TN so you'd think there would be a good selection of strings to choose from around here but it ain't so. Corner Music has as good or better a selection of bass strings as anybody in town but they still have rounds 10 to 1 over flats. (I hear the Low End (Murfreesboro, 20 miles from Nashville) is a good store but I have not been there in over a year) In the past year I've only seen 3 sets of 5 string flats in stores in Nashville and they were asking almost full retail for them.

Retail stores were charging full retail prices? THOSE BASTARDS!!!!

chadhargis · #12 12-03-2010, 11:09 AM

I tried Chromes and liked them except for the low B. It was a bit too thuddy and dead sounding for my taste.

I've found that a good broken in set of D'addario XL Nickel Wounds give me the tone I like. Not too bright and "zingy" (is that a word??) yet they have a nice warmth to them.

I have them on both my basses and they suit me.

kraigo · #13 12-03-2010, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chadhargis

I tried Chromes and liked them except for the low B. It was a bit too thuddy and dead sounding for my taste.

I've found that a good broken in set of D'addario XL Nickel Wounds give me the tone I like. Not too bright and "zingy" (is that a word??) yet they have a nice warmth to them.

I have them on both my basses and they suit me.

I use Lakland Joe Osborns on my five string Noguera fretless. The heavier set on D and G, the lighter set on B, E and A. The B on that bass is really nice.

KO

dave64o · #14 12-03-2010, 01:15 PM

I had them on a Jazz Deluxe fretless and currently have them on an SX Jazz and a Precision V. I love them - they feel and sound great.

I even debated putting flats on my FNA Jazzman but decided putting flats on it would kind of defeat the purpose of a Warwick, so I put different strings on it. I just did that yesterday, so we'll see. Maybe I'll change my mind after I play them for a while.

phmike · #15 12-03-2010, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Balog

Retail stores were charging full retail prices? THOSE BASTARDS!!!!

Really - what's the world coming to?

After rereading it my comment does seem wrong. I guess to put it another way think about the weekend warrior, teen in the store with mom or the living room rock star standing in front of a rack of bass strings with the 2 or 3 packs of flats priced $40+ each and the giant tub of rounds priced buy one pack for $10 and get one pack free.