ernie ball flats...

doktorfeelgood · #1 11-23-2011, 03:53 PM

....who uses them and in what gauges; how's the tension, feel, and do they last? I'd appreciate any info.....THX

solidmaui78 · #2 11-23-2011, 04:55 PM

id like to know too about the 5 string set

nashman · #3 11-23-2011, 05:06 PM

I have a set on my Fender P 4-string. I use the Group III set (.045 .065 .080 .100 ). Tension seems "normal" - not too much or too little. Like most flats - I think they will last a very long time - unlike rounds. I;ve had the current set on for well over a year - and I think they have a lot more mileage left.

I use EB Hybrid (roundwound) Slinky's on my Ray (.045 .065 .085 .105).

I like and would recommend both.

whitespike · #4 11-24-2011, 07:07 PM

I just put some Group III on my Ric as well. Not nearly as weird sounding as some flats when new. SO far sound really good. A bit sticky feeling at first. But the sound beats the Chromes I was using for my purposes. I go for a wam, thumpy mid range, low treble sound.

doktorfeelgood · #5 11-26-2011, 01:01 AM

Bump-City....

Duke21 · #6 11-26-2011, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nashman

I have a set on my Fender P 4-string. I use the Group III set (.045 .065 .080 .100 ). Tension seems "normal" - not too much or too little. Like most flats - I think they will last a very long time - unlike rounds. I;ve had the current set on for well over a year - and I think they have a lot more mileage left.

I use EB Hybrid (roundwound) Slinky's on my Ray (.045 .065 .085 .105).

I like and would recommend both.

I use the group III as well on my Westone Thunder 1A fretless. They feel a bit sticky, the tension is fine, thus seems normal to me. I've no experience with flats otherwise. What I can say is they sound nice, even nicer when my step son plays this bass.... I'm a round wound man and plays with a pick, my son is a good finger player, and when he grab my bass I get this Jaco vibe. I've the strings for well over two years, seem to hold nicely.

doktorfeelgood · #7 11-28-2011, 10:57 AM

bump-a-rooskie

electracoyote · #8 11-28-2011, 11:03 AM

I have a P Bass strung up with EB Group III flats. I like 'em. I also have some experience with LaBellas on my Hofner and D'Adarrio Chromes on a Fender Coronado. In general, I'm still experimenting with flats and appropriate gauge for the instrument, but I get no red flags from the EBs.

screaminglucy · #9 11-28-2011, 11:09 AM

they are similar to chromes in feel but sound warmer to me

Budbear · #10 11-28-2011, 06:45 PM

I've had a set of Group III's on my Warwick Flashback for the last 2 years. They're still going strong & have gotten slicker and warmer with time. Full, deep lows and mellow highs. Very vintage vibe with the lipsticks on this bass. Tension is in the middle, not loose and not too tight. I like 'em better than Chromes, Fenders, Labellas and GHS.

doktorfeelgood · #11 11-28-2011, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Budbear

I've had a set of Group III's on my Warwick Flashback for the last 2 years. They're still going strong & have gotten slicker and warmer with time. Full, deep lows and mellow highs. Very vintage vibe with the lipsticks on this bass. Tension is in the middle, not loose and not too tight. I like 'em better than Chromes, Fenders, Labellas and GHS.

Great testimonial.....exactly what I was looking for....Thanks

doktorfeelgood · #12 12-01-2011, 08:25 PM

bump-city....

Joe Smithberger · #13 01-02-2012, 10:06 PM

Any five string experience with these? The gages look interesting.

king_biscuit · #14 01-02-2012, 10:35 PM

They are ok. Very, very, very similar -- identical -- to Chromes. I prefer a flat without so much hi-mid clank, like La Bellas or GHS Precisions.

RadioactiveGuy4 · #15 01-02-2012, 10:44 PM

I use the .50-105's on my jazz bass that I keep tuned to drop d and a half step down. I love the lows with these strings. This is the first set of flats I have used so I don't know anything about them feeling sticky but I do like a lot of tension when I play and these do a great job even when tuned down

doktorfeelgood · #16 01-09-2012, 09:06 PM

I got a set of the Group III's for Christmas and right away put them on my VM P-bass with a DiMarzio Willpower pup and I gotta say they are amazing strings. I'm very glad I tried them out....
I ordered the same set for my '68 Jazz-parts bass and I don't ever see me going back to any other string, ever. I REALLY like these strings. I've tried Fender flats and D'Addario Chromes and although they worked fine, I didn't really care for them for the long haul.
Before I installed them, I wiped them all down one at a time with a clean cotton rag with a small amount of acetone on it to clean the oil off of the strings from the manufacturing process and it made a huge difference. There was a fair amount of black oil that came off the strings. That cleaning made the string very smooth...no stickiness whatsoever....If you like flats, you should try these. They have a great feel, the tension ain't too high and they sound really good on the bottom and the midrange.