First set of flats.

Basso54 · #1 11-26-2011, 03:53 PM

Hi all. I've been all over the forum here and have narrowed my choices down at this point. Just want a little more input, some plus/minus of each string. Thanks.

Edit: Forgot the bass specs. This is on a franken-p. It's a Squire II MIK body with original guts and a MIM jazz neck. Running through an Ampeg Micro VR and 2x10 cab. I'm not a professional musician anymore. Just playing around at the house for fun. wanted to toy around with some of these since I've never used them before.

makkE · #2 11-26-2011, 04:13 PM

I started with chromes, so I voted them.

Good points: They still have some brilliance to them, so the transition from flats will be easier. I still had a bit of a hard time the first weeks, because at first my ears were not used to distinguish the notes without the sawing high mids that rounds give you.

They are also relatively cheap, though there are even cheaper options - in fact I think any flat will do, because despite differences from flat to flat, they are still all flats.

Keep in mind that due to generally higher tension on most flats (Ti flats being an exeption), you might want to try flats that are lighter gauge than your rounds.
I switched from 105 rounds to 100 chromes, and it felt kind of the same.
After I knew I dig flats, I got some heavy labellas, knowing what to expect tension wise.

Long story short, if you just want to try them out to toy around, any flat will do, no need to spend much IMHO.

Also, on a P, flats just work

Floyd Eye · #3 11-26-2011, 04:23 PM

I like Chromes, but I am also broke and cheap. If you can afford it, I would look at T.I. LaBella or Pyramids.

Deaky · #4 11-26-2011, 04:25 PM

Rotosound jazz 77

**Coolhandjjl** · #5 11-26-2011, 04:25 PM

Consider Fender 9050CLs. Not as crispy sounding as D'Addario Chromes, and much more tone than LaBella DTBs.

mmbongo · #6 11-26-2011, 04:40 PM

GHS or Ken Smith PressureWounds. Kind of an in-between of rounds and flats. No roundwound zing, and no flatwound dead thunk. Just right!

sethlow3 · #7 11-26-2011, 04:51 PM

Chromes for sure! They have a great sound and feel. If you are worried about tension, go with the lightest gauges. They got a high grade on bass player magazine's string shootout too.

Bass Player String Review Dec 04

treekiller · #8 11-26-2011, 04:52 PM

Depends where you are coming from, but Chromes are a good starting point. I have them on both of Jazz basses as well as both of my Precisions and they sound good on all of 'em. They do have a bit of "zing" at first, but after playing them a while they settle into a warmer tone than most flats. They feel great too!

**jmattbassplaya** · #9 11-26-2011, 04:58 PM

Chromes.

I like them a lot, although I do find them to lack definition on the E string. I also have a set of TI's, but they aren't as punchy as the Chromes. They also have a weird feel. I've gotten use to them and I like them a lot now, but I can see how some people would never get use to them or care for them.

Basso54 · #10 11-26-2011, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deaky

Rotosound jazz 77

What makes them worth having over other flats?

SLaPiNFuNK · #11 11-26-2011, 07:00 PM

OP: GHS Brite Flats are Half Rounds... not Flat Wounds... if you want GHS Flatwounds you need to look at the Precision Flats.

AdamR · #12 11-26-2011, 07:09 PM

Im using Roto Jazz77s on one of my Ps. I like them a lot even though I still prefer the round wound 66s. The 77s have a great bell like undertone to them that I really dig.

I know someone has mention the tension difference, I actually went with a heavier gauge for my flats then my rounds.

Basso54 · #13 11-26-2011, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

OP: GHS Brite Flats are Half Rounds... not Flat Wounds... if you want GHS Flatwounds you need to look at the Precision Flats.

Thanks for the heads up. Are the pressurewounds flats or half rounds as well?

Shakin-Slim · #14 11-26-2011, 09:40 PM

I'm a GHS Precision Flats guy. Love them.

SLaPiNFuNK · #15 11-26-2011, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basso54

Thanks for the heads up. Are the pressurewounds flats or half rounds as well?

Pressurewounds are Round Wounds where the outer winding is pressed into more of an oval shape. This gives the outer surface of the string a smoother feel since there is more surface area per winding.

Half-Rounds start out as standard round wounds basically but are then machined into a flat surface like a flatwound. They have tonal characteristics of Flats but the flexibility of a round wound. Although keep in mind the mass is different between a .100 round wound and a .100 half-round since the half round started out as a larger string and was machined to be a .100.

Flats are wrapped with a flat ribbon of steel or other material. Depending on how the flats are wound (how tightly or whats going on underneith the outer wrap) will determine the flexibility of the string.

Here is an image of a standard Round Wound / Compression Wound (aka Pressure Wound) / and a Slick Round (aka Half-Round):

madmatt · #16 11-26-2011, 10:20 PM

I am using GHS 3025's right now and I like them.
They are a .045-.095 set.
I just bought some Chromes tho. The .045-.100 set. I hope I like them too.

electracoyote · #17 11-26-2011, 10:29 PM

Another vote for Chromes. Lots of TB love for those, great baseline starting point. So of the three you listed, I voted for them.

I also had good results with Ernie Ball, which don't seem to get so much love here, but they did the trick for me.

I'm also kind of new with flats and have limited applications for them. As the need increases, I'll be trying different brands, but some of them, I'm not real keen on the gauges/sets offered.

Basso54 · #18 11-27-2011, 12:26 AM

I think that I may pick up a set of chromes and a set of GHS flats. I've played GHS strings for years on all my basses. Bass boomers initially and Flea signatures as of late. I tend to stay way clear of Ernie Ball strings. Every set I tried has just felt like garbage, but to each his/her own.

soulman969 · #19 11-27-2011, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

GHS or Ken Smith PressureWounds. Kind of an in-between of rounds and flats. No roundwound zing, and no flatwound dead thunk. Just right!

+1 I'd agree that if your going from rounds to flats this is a nice stopping off point to try. I replaced a set of GHS P Flats with these going in the opposite direction (flats to rounds) and I've been very happy with them. This comes from a guy whose played rounds for 20 years.

Not all that costly at about $20 a set through BassStingsOnline.com so if you really need a flat it's not like you're throwing $50 away to give them a shot.

Omnipharious · #20 11-27-2011, 05:21 AM

I bought a set of Detroit Flats -which are stainless steel- from Webstrings.com (if it hasn't already been mentioned). I put them on my P bass with Fender '62 pickups many months ago, and I haven't been able to put the damned thing down since. Just as most said, for the first week, I was not sold on them, but the more I played them, the smoothness, both palpable and audible, was just irresistible. I got the lights, which are like 95-40 (Electric Bass Strings - Stainless Steel - Webstrings) and they are surprisingly tight for such a light gauge, but still very easy to play.

They're the only flat's I have experience with, but I am just enamored with them, and they will be strings that I am going to keep on this bass forever, hopefully. Very recommended, especially for the price (just $17 for a good set of bass strings- what?!).