Fender flats (green wrap)?

Grissle · #1 03-19-2013, 12:37 PM

I have these on my P bass and am wondering how they compare with Labella flats or GHS P flats?

backup · #2 03-19-2013, 12:41 PM

they are brighter, have more crisp, less thud, less tension. overall good strings. similar to chromes somehow.

superHEAVYfunk · #3 03-19-2013, 12:47 PM

I've got those on my P right now and I used to use Chromes exclusively... Although I have no idea what gauge they are, they have considerably more tension. Mine are really old though, so I can't speak on how they sound new but compared to my well worn Chromes, they actually have more thump but a strange top end that I'm not used to hearing.

Its strange to me that my experience with these strings and backup's here are so different - opposite, even. :S

jamersonburton · #4 03-19-2013, 12:50 PM

Do you have any recordings with the flats of your bass handy?possibly DI?

superHEAVYfunk · #5 03-19-2013, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamersonburton

Do you have any recordings with the flats of your bass handy?possibly DI?

Who, me? Or the OP?

sigmafloyd · #6 03-19-2013, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superHEAVYfunk

I've got those on my P right now and I used to use Chromes exclusively... Although I have no idea what gauge they are, they have considerably more tension. Mine are really old though, so I can't speak on how they sound new but compared to my well worn Chromes, they actually have more thump but a strange top end that I'm not used to hearing.

Its strange to me that my experience with these strings and backup's here are so different - opposite, even. :S

Fender redid their flats a few years back. The old version were very high tension and thuddy. The newer ones are somewhat similar to chromes. I find them less tense than chromes. Both had green silks

superHEAVYfunk · #7 03-19-2013, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sigmafloyd

Fender redid their flats a few years back. The old version were very high tension and thuddy. The newer ones are somewhat similar to chromes. I find them less tense than chromes. Both had green silks

AHA! That answers a few questions that have been rolling around in my head the last few days as well. Thanks!

Mine must be the old ones... Have you an idea about how long ago Fender switched it up?

Grissle · #8 03-19-2013, 02:05 PM

These are from an 01' MIM Jazz fretless

Mojo-Man · #9 03-19-2013, 08:51 PM

I like the new set.
Somewhat like Chromes, but less tension.
Brighter than old fender flats. Ware in nice. well balanced.
I would use these if i can't get TIJF344-flats.
Still my favorite.

seanm · #10 03-19-2013, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo-Man

I like the new set.
Somewhat like Chromes, but less tension.
Brighter than old fender flats. Ware in nice. well balanced.
I would use these if i can't get TIJF344-flats.
Still my favorite.

+1 (except I don't like TI flats). I actually prefer the newer Fender flats to the older ones. Basically like chromes only cheaper. If you are looking at Chromes I would try the Fender flats first. If you like them you have just saved some $.

But if you really want that tradition flatwound thump, you still have buy LaBella

petrus61 · #11 03-19-2013, 09:48 PM

I was I diehard TI fan but I was very glad Fender included the 40-100 gauge as case candy with my new 58 AV Precision. It's like they were made specifically for this bass. Kudos to Fender for including them. Aside from what might have been a keen marketing ploy, I can't think of any other flat that would suit this bass better.

I bought a set of TI's with the intention of throwing them on this bass because of my success with them on P's in the past. On a whim, I took them off and tried the included Fenders. So glad I did. It's all this bass will ever be wearing.

I have to disagree on the D'addario comparisons though. These are much more balanced and lower tension. Plus they are smoother to the touch and don't have that shrill high range/mid scoop I find on the Chromes, IMO.

RCCollins · #12 03-19-2013, 09:51 PM

Traditional flats sound great on a P-bass.

You'll notice that TI's are called "jazz flats" and show a jazz-type bass on the package? That's because they're designed for a jazz bass tone profile - they're designed to compliment the jazz bass tone.

dannster · #13 03-19-2013, 09:53 PM

I recorded this track with the 9050CL's on an Aerodyne loaded with Fralins. Fuzzed out with a El Grande Bass Fuzz.

https://soundcloud.com/dannster/the-...cross-dressing

seanm · #14 03-19-2013, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petrus61

I have to disagree on the D'addario comparisons though. These are much more balanced and lower tension. Plus they are smoother to the touch and don't have that shrill high range/mid scoop I find on the Chromes, IMO.

Could be the light gauge you play. I use Fender 9050M (105 to 55) on one bass and Chromes ECB82 (105 to 50) on another and I find they are very, very, close.

petrus61 · #15 03-19-2013, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanm

Could be the light gauge you play. I use Fender 9050M (105 to 55) on one bass and Chromes ECB82 (105 to 50) on another and I find they are very, very, close.

Unfortunately, it seems to me that no matter the gauge on Chromes, the D and G always seem to have too much tension compared to the E and A. I've tried to like them (even the 55-105) but cannot get around the the harsh top end they seem to have to my ear. I know there is a break in phase with all strings, but the cons outweigh the pros with the D'Addarios for me. One thing they all had in common was that it was a constant struggle to hear anything aside from low end and top end. I will always think of them as the flat that almost put me off flats forever (before I had access to other brands and types).

I really like LaBella's, but the E on anything aside from the 105 has always seemed like it did not belong with the rest I the set. I was surprised by the Fenders, especially after hearing all the comparisons to Chromes. D'addario is a great company with great service, but my ears and fingers simply don't get what others can out of them. Silly me for plunking down $65 on a set of strings that now sit in a closet while my bass now sports a $25 set that kills. It's all subjective. If there is a bass that Chromes sound good on, it hasn't been in my stable yet.

seanm · #16 03-19-2013, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petrus61

Unfortunately, it seems to me that no matter the gauge on Chromes, the D and G always seem to have too much tension compared to the E and A. I've tried to like them (even the 55-105) but cannot get around the the harsh top end they seem to have to my ear. I know there is a break in phase with all strings, but the cons outweigh the pros with the D'Addarios for me. One thing they all had in common was that it was a constant struggle to hear anything aside from low end and top end. I will always think of them as the flat that almost put me off flats forever (before I had access to other brands and types).

I really like LaBella's, but the E on anything aside from the 105 has always seemed like it did not belong with the rest I the set. I was surprised by the Fenders, especially after hearing all the comparisons to Chromes. D'addario is a great company with great service, but my ears and fingers simply don't get what others can out of them. Silly me for plunking down $65 on a set of strings that now sit in a closet while my bass now sports a $25 set that kills. It's all subjective. If there is a bass that Chromes sound good on, it hasn't been in my stable yet.

Fair enough. What bass did you put the Chromes on? All of my current basses are P basses FWIW.

petrus61 · #17 03-20-2013, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanm

Fair enough. What bass did you put the Chromes on? All of my current basses are P basses FWIW.

I tried Chromes on a slew of basses leading up to when I primarily started using Fender style instruments. After they (light gauge...40-100?) pulled the baseball bat neck on my 50's Classic out of whack, I decided they were no longer worth the trouble. I can understand a mild truss tweak for a heavier gauge, but I went from 45-105 Fender Pure Nickel (the old ones) to the light Chromes and the action shift was way more than I felt was reasonable to have to deal with. I used to go with Chromes because of price so they had their shot on a lot of the basses I've owned.

Ill be honest, the particular incident involving my classic 50's was the nail in the coffin for what was a long stint at trying to like something that just didn't work for me. If I had Talkbass, more money and experience, I could have saved myself a few years of thinking all flats were like that.

mmbongo · #18 03-20-2013, 06:57 AM

You can now get balanced tension/custom sets of Chromes at www.bassstringsonline.com

I'm using a somewhat custom set on my Brubaker Brute 5 string. I have a normal 4 string set with a Super Long B string, because I modded the bass to run the B string through body. mainly because anything over a .120 is a pain to fit in the bridge top loaded.

petrus61 · #19 03-20-2013, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

You can now get balanced tension/custom sets of Chromes at www.bassstringsonline.com

I'm using a somewhat custom set on my Brubaker Brute 5 string. I have a normal 4 string set with a Super Long B string, because I modded the bass to run the B string through body. mainly because anything over a .120 is a pain to fit in the bridge top loaded.

Those sound interesting.

bassbully · #20 03-20-2013, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanm

Could be the light gauge you play. I use Fender 9050M (105 to 55) on one bass and Chromes ECB82 (105 to 50) on another and I find they are very, very, close.

So you are saying overall the Fender flats feel , sound and play as well as the chromes? I'm a big time Chromes player but know the Fender flats are cheaper and a bit easier to find in these parts. I am interested in trying a set. I use 100-45 med I guess...all P basses.
The old Fender flats were like trying to play steel rods instead of strings..horrible IMO.