Flat wound string tensions

[rymiraflores]

Can someone who has used several different flats give a rough idea of the types with less tension......I currently have rotosounds and they feel pretty stiff, and I prefer less tension on the neck..I´d rather change strings than a neck.through neck !!!
I know TI´s are probably the lightest but I´d like some more ideas.

[Rezlax31]

I heard DR Highbeam flats are pretty easy on the neck.

[WayneS]

If the Rotos sound good, use them (thats what I use). If your neck is properly setup you shouldnt have a problem.

[rymiraflores]

does anyone use ernie ball 2810s...are they nickel or SS?

[bassbully]

Light gauge chromes are pretty good.

[Nighttrain1127]

The lowest tension flats I have used are Thomastic Jazz Flats but some people think they are too low tension . They sound very good and smooth and have plenty of lows. The Highest tension flats I have used are Fender Flats. I have also used D&R chromes Roto 77's And Labella Deep talkin. All much highre tension than the Thomastiks.

[bassbully]

I just put on a set of TIs and i dont get all the hype on the low tension. They are low for a flat but not like some act around here. They feel like rounds tension wise to me. Fenders are like steel rods unplayable IMO. I would say try TIs, again IMO the low tention thing is overblown they feel like rounds tension wise and are nice.

[superfunk47]

Originally Posted by bassbully

I just put on a set of TIs and i dont get all the hype on the low tension. They are low for a flat but not like some act around here. They feel like rounds tension wise to me. Fenders are like steel rods unplayable IMO. I would say try TIs, again IMO the low tention thing is overblown they feel like rounds tension wise and are nice.

+1. To me they're perfect feeling. People here make them out to be "loose" somehow. That aint how they feel though, they feel about like medium/medium light rounds in terms of tension, at least to me. I can't stand Labellas or Fender flats. They're higher tension than my upright. I can't understand how that can be comfortable for anyone, but hey, different strokes for different folks.

[king_biscuit]

I think TI flats feel like these in terms of roundwound tension: http://www.juststrings.com/rts-fm66.html

In my experience TI flats are nowhere near as taut as medium rounds, and I find the looseness unplayable. So people do seem to love them however.

[JustDavid]

D'Addario Chromes tension numbers are similar to same gauge rounds from them.

TIs are quite low for tension; D'Addario's lighest Rounds are less. Though I find them VERY playable for hard-pulling fingerstyle over the neck pickup, even the B at 34" scale. I found them too low for tension at first, but the sound had me stick with them.

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by king_biscuit

I think TI flats feel like these in terms of roundwound tension: http://www.juststrings.com/rts-fm66.html

In my experience TI flats are nowhere near as taut as medium rounds, and I find the looseness unplayable. So people do seem to love them however.

I hear ya and for awhile the tension issue scared me away not the price. I finally bit and now found out....whats the big deal? I am sorry but for flats they feel perfect since most are hard on the hands and necks. I could never see them unplayable...but thats me.

[v-grooves]

Originally Posted by rymiraflores

Can someone who has used several different flats give a rough idea of the types with less tension......I currently have rotosounds and they feel pretty stiff, and I prefer less tension on the neck..I´d rather change strings than a neck.through neck !!!
I know TI´s are probably the lightest but I´d like some more ideas.

I started with LaBella Flats (Jamersons) and the tension was way too much on my 75 jazz. I then tried the TI's and the were perfect for my needs. If anyone wants the LaBellas, they are free.....just pay for the shipping. Send a PM.

*** Update: The strings were given to Karter 2000. I hope nobody was offended that I posted this here.....this was truly a freebie, not a for sale. I would however like to hear back to get another opinion on the LaBella strings and the perceived tension.

V

[hbarcat]

I would recommend LaBella Deep Talkin' Flats.

In the past 2 years I have had on my "old school" bass:

- Rotosound Steve Harris signature Flats
- La Bella Deep Talkin Flats
- Dr Hi Beam Flats

and I've found that the Rotos and the DRs have been much higher in tension than the LaBellas.

[Jim Carr]

These extra light Chromes are a nice alternative to TI flats. They also come in extra long. I like them a lot.

http://store.daddario.com/category/1...ng_Scale_40-95

[king_biscuit]

Originally Posted by v-grooves

I started with LaBella Flats (Jamersons) and the tension was way too much on my 75 jazz. I then tried the TI's and the were perfect for my needs. If anyone wants the LaBellas, they are free.....just pay for the shipping. Send a PM

V

PM I'll take um. Thanks!

[Deacon_Blues]

Ive tried the following ones:

Rotosound Steve Harris flats, .110 - .050 - Very high tension, thick strings. Loved the sound when fresh, not when broken in.

D'addario Chromes, .095 - ? - Put them on a fretless P I borrowed. Sounded nice, but I gave back the bass before the strings had broken in properly.

Chromes, .100 - .040 - Put these a week ago on my stingray copy. Still very bright sounding, medium tension. Waiting for them to break in.

TI jazz flats (long scale set) - I have these on my fretless squier VM jazz. Sounds nice, very low tension.

Pyramid Golds .100 - .040 - My favorite strings ever. Great sound, great feel, low, but not very low, tension. Just perfect. I'm on my first set of these, and in that one the g string was bad. However I got a replacement quickly when I mailed them about it. The new one was (is) fine.


A bass player I know commented on the Labella Jamerson set the other day when I spoke with him about it. He said they were very high tension strings, nearly unplayable. He loves TI's, btw.

[JamesTaylor85]

I've used rotosound before and i wasn't impressed only because they were really tight, they sounded sexy but the stiffness was too much to keep them on, to my knowledge the rotosound are supposed to be lower gauge than what it says because they are wrapped in nylon, e.g. when its .65 its really around .50, but using them made me think twice about that, Fender Flats are the best flats I've used, id recommend them in a heartbeat when it comes to flats

[xgator4u]

I personally use Rotosound Steve Harris Flats, I love them. They are bright new, and play in nice and warm. If you are worrying about the string tension "wrecking" your neck, you either do not have something set up correctly, or you do not play your bass enough, or both.