Five & String Flats

thombo · #1 11-12-2009, 09:54 AM

Flats for 5ers & 6ers are covered in passing in other threads, but one has to read through lots of talk on 4-strings to get the info... nothing against 4-strings, but flats seem to be more temperamental than rounds, and the other threads seem to touch briefly on extended range basses, w/out really describing the feel, and then the thread goes back to 4-strings.

All things extended range flats welcome here!

thombo · #2 11-12-2009, 09:54 AM

i really want to try the La Bella Deep Talking 5's, but i haven't found a dealer in my area.

i tried a set of D'Addario Long Scale Chromes over the weekend, and had big plans to write a review on them. Unfortunately, the silk winding on the bridge end of the B and E strings wouldn't fit through the bridge on either my MIA P-bass 5er or my EB/MM SR5.
though i never wound them, the silk on the A-G strings barley cleared the nut (maybe a 1/4" at best). both basses are 34" scale.
i know a lot of people love Chromes, and i was hoping i would too. are my experiences normal?

Grateful · #3 11-12-2009, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thombo

Unfortunately, the silk winding on the bridge end of the B and E strings wouldn't fit through the bridge on either my MIA P-bass 5er or my EB/MM SR5.
though i never wound them, the silk on the A-G strings barley cleared the nut (maybe a 1/4" at best). both basses are 34" scale.
i know a lot of people love Chromes, and i was hoping i would too. are my experiences normal?

I had a similar issue with Chromes not going through the bridge on some other basses. I just unwrapped the silk there and was able to get it through.

I have had LaBellas on 6 string basses before. They are great strings, though they seem higher tension than the Chromes. I had TI Jazz flats on a 5 string fretless once, and took them off pretty quickly due to their uber-low tension leading to very little sustain. Though I might give them another shot on a fretted bass.

Chromes are what I've been using for now on my fivers, and have been very pleased thus far.

stflbn · #4 11-12-2009, 10:21 AM

http://juststrings.com

I've had to widen the holes in bridges on multiple basses to accomodate Flats. Just a dremel tool and about 5 seconds needed.

Most 35" scale basses will need Chrome's Extra Long or Super Long ( can't recall what they call them) but they're definitely not a standard Long type.

Another excellent Flat string that's more alive sounding is Sadowsky's.

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thombo · #5 11-12-2009, 10:33 AM

does unwrapping the silk on the bridge side of the stings cause them to fray quicker?

i thought of drilling out the bridge, but that seemed a bit drastic... maybe i'll consider it.

MoBeach · #6 11-12-2009, 10:34 AM

I just ordered some TI Flats for my Pedulla Pentabuzz, I'll report in after they're installed. I'm HOPING they're what I'm looking for.

stflbn · #7 11-12-2009, 10:35 AM

IMHO, taking the silks off 'could' subject the strings to more potentially sharp edges of the bridge. Or, just simply allow the strings to scratch the bridge more easily. The silk is just padding essentially.

Reaming out a bridge isn't a big deal at all and is done way more frequently than you'd think. Particularly for E strings and low B strings on 5-string basses.

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JazznFunk · #8 11-12-2009, 10:36 AM

Lakland has the Joe Osborn Custom Wound 5-string flats that are fantastic. One of the few 5-string specific flatwound sets that I've used that really sing. I prefer the light gauge in these strings... very similar feel to a medium-gauge roundwound string, but with very good sustain for a flat.

DavePlaysBass · #9 11-12-2009, 11:41 AM

I just tried a five string set of Sadowsky Flats on a SX Fretless J. The B and E required drillng out the bridge holes. I took the bridge off the bass to do it but it only took about 5 minutes. My jam buddies raved about the tone of my SX Fretless with the Sadowsky flats at its first jam session last week. More than they rave about my Sadowsky RV5 with steel strings.

I have also done TIs on 5 strings. I think the 136 TI B is a great sounding B string. It has great definition and a nice fat sound down low (much better than the TI flat E).

Overall I prefer the Sadowsky flats although I might prefer the B on the TIs. Although I have not done an apples to apples comparison on the B string.

engedi1 · #10 11-12-2009, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavePlaysBass

I have also done TIs on 5 strings. I think the 136 TI B is a great sounding B string. It has great definition and a nice fat sound down low (much better than the TI flat E).

Overall I prefer the Sadowsky flats although I might prefer the B on the TIs. Although I have not done an apples to apples comparison on the B string.

Great thoughts Dave. I also love the TI flat b string on my Sadowsky M5-24. These strings on such an aggressive bass are a delight. One of the advantages of TI flats on a 5, is that I can play a lick in the first position and get a nice growl out of the E and A strings. If I want thump, I can play the same lick on the B and E strings.

I am playing my first jam session tonight with the TI's flats on. I had had steels on my Sad after a year of flats, and I am excited to be back home in the land of warm punchy tone.

mrufino1 · #11 11-12-2009, 11:13 PM

I use GHS light gauge flats on my stingray 5, it is a mix of their lightest 4 string flats set and the 128 B. Sounds huge.

johnp352 · #12 11-14-2009, 10:28 AM

My main instrument is a Rick Turner Renaissance Deuce Tenor bass, 30" scale, 5 strings, tuned "a" to "f" in fourths. When I was experimenting with a home made prototype of this instrument, using a pos "dano" baritone, I realized, as I have been using flats for the last 20 years, I would have to source the strings. I had the incredible good fortune to make the acquaintance of Fan Tao, a string design genius (the term is NOT used lightly btw) at D'addario. One of his projects was the proprietary string design for Ned Steinberger's electric cellos. Mr Tao hipped me to quite a few things I didn't know about flats..how various winding methods influence feel for example. I ended up with a set of Chromes, which , after trying and playing GHS (endorsed them way back) rotosound, Thomastik (too floppy, not enough mids AKA "punch"), and Labella (which I like but had too much tension) fit the bill for me.

I string my bass 80/60/40/34/22..all flatwound. I have been experimenting with the top two "c and "f" strings, gauge wise, anywhere from a 20 to a 24 for the "f", and a 30 to a 34 for the "c". As this is a short scale instrument, I found the Chrome guitar strings work as well, a little different feel due to winding methods, but close enough. And, you can get Chromes for guitar starting at an 80 and going to a 20 in closely graduated gauges..if you play a short scale bass..or a Bass VI etc, this is a good option not a lot of people are aware of.

I like clean, articulated mids, some heft in the low end, and NOT a lot of ring..more of a jazz and pre 80's funk sound. The Chromes deliver this, along with the fact that I like the feel, right in the middle of not too loose/too tight. There's plenty of bass, and the 2/3 note Freddy Green/Catfish Collins chords I play have the funk as well..

Jumbotron · #13 11-14-2009, 11:07 AM

I use Carvin flats (they're actually labellas). They're good value, and sound quite good for my purposes. The only knock is that the B seems a little shorter than the rest. I've run them through the body before without an issue, but you can't do that with the B unless you want the silk on the wrong side of the nut.

thombo · #14 11-14-2009, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jumbotron

I use Carvin flats (they're actuallylabellas). They're good value, and sound quite good for my purposes. .

so the carvin FW50 flats (in the lame packaging) are la bellas? wow! are they the same stings as the Deep Talkin' stings? at the very least, i noticed the gauges are different.

regarding flat wound low B's, i noticed that flats tent to be lighter gauges. is this b/c flats have hire tension?

JustDavid · #15 11-14-2009, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thombo

does unwrapping the silk on the bridge side of the stings cause them to fray quicker?

i thought of drilling out the bridge, but that seemed a bit drastic... maybe i'll consider it.

I don't view it as even close to drastic, merely an unfortunate requirement. Even though I realize it's easier & cheaper to have all string holes the same size, I cannot imagine why they ship bridges that don't accept common B strings.

engedi1 · #16 11-14-2009, 02:34 PM

Small Update...Did a jam session at a Nashville club with my TI equipped Sadowsky m5-24. It totally killed! I didn't like the house rig that I had to use (carvin) but my bass sounded awesome. The B String in particular was great. Often, active fivers can be overwhelming with bass power on the b string. But the faster decay of the TI allows the tone to come through strong and powerful and then gets out of the way. This is true of the note on the 9 fret or the 1st fret. Couldn't be more impressed.

Also, on rock n roll tunes, I switched to a pick and really dug in and got a great snarly thump. Big thumbs up!

BTW, my bridge is just barely able to accept the .136 TI B string.

DRN-PWNS · #17 11-14-2009, 04:46 PM

Ive been using chrome's son my 5'er for a while now. I found that some forcing was needed to get the b string into the bridge. but i eventually did get it before reaming was necessary. I find that the chromes are far better then any other strings ive tried on my fiver because they have a very nice tension and they are very thumpy.

Sharkman · #18 11-14-2009, 07:36 PM

Ok,

Thomastik JF345

I have them on my 35" with ABM bridge.
They won't go 36" or through body unless you go the "razors on red silk" way.

These are the end of my quest for strings.

I admit that the TIs take some getting used to, so, my "2nd" best would be the deep talkin' flats by la bella. Very good "full" sound.

Strings, amps and basses with sterile hollow sound have been my sworn enemies for years. I'm a bit chubby myself, you know?