Ernie Ball Flatwound Strings

cassius987 · #1 07-18-2010, 08:10 PM

[I did a search of ernie+ball+flatwounds and got nothing helpful.]

Has anyone tried these? I love Chromes but they people at D'Addario refuse to let me buy a set in the right gauges for balanced tension--45/60/80/105. I would have to buy three sets of Chromes to make that, so that's a no-go. Along comes Fender's new flats which are the next closest thing, and they come 45/60/80/100. Very close! But not close enough. I need more tension on the E string.

I want to buy singles of the Ernie Ball flats. Can anyone compare them to other flats? What are they like? Chromes, GHS Precision Flats, TI Jazz Flats, older Fender flats, Pyramids, what?

73jbass · #2 07-18-2010, 08:21 PM

You can go to Just Strings and get single strings to put your own custom set together.

cassius987 · #3 07-18-2010, 09:08 PM

Not with Chromes, unless you mean the EBs, in which case yes I know.

My question is, what are EB flats like. I know about JS.com.

Just so you don't think I'm crazy... Singles for D'A Chromes

jasper383 · #4 07-19-2010, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassius987

Not with Chromes, unless you mean the EBs, in which case yes I know.

My question is, what are EB flats like. I know about JS.com.

Just so you don't think I'm crazy... Singles for D'A Chromes

That's interesting; there have been times when Just Strings has just about every Chrome gauge in stock.

As for EB flats, I believe D'Addario makes them. Many here will disagree with me, but they are able to hear and feel things I can't.

The only difference I can tell is the Chromes have colored ball ends.

There was a time when D'Addario made the EB rounds and flats, and I still believe they make the flats.

Darth Tater · #5 07-19-2010, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasper383

There was a time when D'Addario made the EB rounds and flats, and I still believe they make the flats.

I concur, sir.

cassius987 · #6 07-19-2010, 06:46 PM

Well butter my biscuit. With any luck I CAN get 45-60-80-105 "Chromes"!

Aaron Mc · #7 07-19-2010, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasper383

As for EB flats, I believe D'Addario makes them. Many here will disagree with me, but they are able to hear and feel things I can't.

The only difference I can tell is the Chromes have colored ball ends.

I don't know who makes the EB flats, but I tried both Chromes and EB flats on the same bass and I also could not tell the difference.

cassius987 · #8 07-19-2010, 08:25 PM

Darn you guys. Now I have to spend money again.

dave_bass5 · #9 07-20-2010, 05:43 AM

Ive got a set of EB group III flats and i dont like them. They sound quite dark to me. I also use Chromes and i love them (if im in a flats mood).

Double Agent · #10 07-20-2010, 07:04 AM

I find the EB Group II flats on my P-bass are not as bright as the Chromes were. They are pretty close though, but they sound a little more like traditional flats to me....mellower with more bottom and less in the high mids and highs. Also, I tried them in identical gauges (.050-.105) and the EB flats feel like they have a slightly higher tension. They aren't night and day different, but different enough that I prefer the EB flats for a more authentic old-school tone where I find the Chromes are more versatile.

Keep in mind that even if D'addario makes EB flats (I have no idea if they do or not), that doesn't mean that EB flats are simply repackaged Chromes. If D'addario is making them, they are probably making them to Ernie Balls specs...a common practice in the string industry from what I've read. I have never cared for Ernie Ball rounds, but I am enjoying their flats quite a bit.

countrybass007 · #11 07-20-2010, 07:16 AM

My basses strung with flats all have Ernie Ball flats. I have to agree that I haven't noticed a big difference in the flats I've tried, the EBs just sounded a bit more like the flats I used to use in the 60s. Maybe a bit mellower than the others.

73jbass · #12 07-20-2010, 07:18 AM

I had a set of EB flats on a Sterling and loved them.Kind of reminded me of Labellas.

lmfreeman9 · #13 07-20-2010, 09:20 PM

I tried EB's once and they are just OK. Middle of the road, like a poor man's LaBella's or Chromes without the funky high mids.

selowitch · #14 07-20-2010, 09:28 PM

FWIW, I am just delighted with the set of Chromes I have on my MIM J-Bass. Very expressive, versatile, and lively. Also less string noise than roundwounds, unsurprisingly. The only negative with the Chromes is they really don't work for slap very well. Can't have everything. Fortunately for me, I don't do much slap.

cassius987 · #15 07-20-2010, 09:47 PM

I decided I'm going to stick with my 45-60-80-100 set of Fender 9050Ls (the new faux-Chromes). They're great--it's kind of like, I am dating a 9, so why risk everything hoping for the next girl to be a 10. Screw it. Yeah, the E is a *bit* lower tension than I want but not bad. The real reason I wanted a bigger E was for my Hipshot D-tuner but when I play my normal style, softly, it's not a problem.

Ski3223 · #16 07-20-2010, 09:52 PM

Yeah I use EB flats on my 'Ray and I love em. Wanna try the Sadowskys some time in the future though!

lmfreeman9 · #17 07-21-2010, 06:21 AM

Sadowskys have much better highs

BZadlo · #18 09-09-2010, 04:54 PM

I have a set on one of my basses right now.
I have been a die hard LaBella 760FM user for years but am really into the EB Group II's.
They sound somewhere between the LaBella's and Chromes in my opinion.

Musicman20 · #19 09-11-2010, 04:58 PM

Are EB Flats ok strung through body?