Flats with a good B

jongor · #1 06-18-2005, 12:31 PM

I recently got a fiver and want to put flats on it. However, I know how hard it is to find a B that sounds good on a 34" scale bass.

Any suggestions on a flat B?

Richard Lindsey · #2 06-18-2005, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jongor

I recently got a fiver and want to put flats on it. However, I know how hard it is to find a B that sounds good on a 34" scale bass.

Any suggestions on a flat B?

Best I know of is the .136 that comes in Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats. But I dunno how well it would work if you tried to mix 'n' match with different flats. I'd suggest going with the full JF345 set, pricey though that is. At least they last a long time.

jongor · #3 06-18-2005, 01:41 PM

Really! Those are my favorites for my 4 string!

I figured because of the low tension, which I love, the B would suck a$$.

Thats good news....thanks!

Richard Lindsey · #4 06-18-2005, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jongor

Really! Those are my favorites for my 4 string!

I figured because of the low tension, which I love, the B would suck a$$.

Thats good news....thanks!

That B is very far from sucking. I did get a dud T-I low B once, but T-I's US distributor promptly sent me a new one that was up to spec.

If you like the 4 string set, I think you'll like the 5.

bassmonkeee · #5 06-18-2005, 02:53 PM

I'm a big fan of both the TI Flats (on my Bongo 5 string fretted) and the Sadowsky Flats (on my Bongo 5 string fretless).

But, if you are already a fan of TI Jazz Flats you can't go wrong with the 5 string set.

Quadzilla · #6 06-18-2005, 03:24 PM

For a fairly high tension flat, I've found that the D'Addario Chrome Flats are VERY nice. The low B is very tight and bright!

Squidfinger · #7 06-18-2005, 03:28 PM

I currently play a Lakland P-bass strung BEAD with D'addario Chrome flats. I originally got it from the Lakland factory with a set TI's on it. Unfortunately this set also had the 4th bad E I'd gotten in a row from TI (low end comparable to the A and very zingy). I don't know why it took me so long to learn my lesson.

My impression of the TI jazz flat B:

Way too middy!!!!!! It was overpowering and really didn't balance well. B's already don't balance well IMO but this was ridiculous. Then of course there's that famous TI low tension. A blessing and a curse at the same time. I can no longer deal with it.

The D'addario Chrome flats are best described as a medium tension flats. They have a hex core so are a little bright, it'll die down though. They are also less "sticky" than other flats because they have a chrome coating on the outside.

jongor · #8 06-18-2005, 04:11 PM

You know what, I just dug through my closet and found an unused set of Chrome 4's, maybe I'll just get a B from Juststrings to go with them.....I've always liked those strings, and used them for a long time before putting the TI's on my 4.

brooklynbassguy · #9 06-19-2005, 06:19 AM

Sadowsky Flats, are by far the best an most balanced 5 string set I've eve used. The "B" is taperwound and sounds like the other strings.

Fuzzbass · #10 06-21-2005, 07:59 PM

Sadowsky flats are nice, but I think I prefer the B string of the TI Jazz Flats.

afroman · #11 06-23-2005, 01:29 PM

I put D'Addario Chromes on my Stingray5 and I absolutely love them. I'm finnally 100% in love mith my Stingray. I haven't tried other brands but I love the sound I get with the flats on the Sr5.

Take care...

ErnieD · #12 06-24-2005, 04:53 PM

Did I read that right on Juststrings.com? They want $18.00 for a single D'Addario XL Chrome (.132) flat. I bought a set of these in 4 string pack to put on my MIM jazz. But I just won a 5 string fretless on the bay last nite so I figured to order a single B string to use on this new fretless 5, but geez is that reasonable for one string? BTW, I emailed BG and they say the stock strings on that bass, KSD proto-j fretless 5er are the Ken Smith med lites. Are those round wound? Is it bad to use anything but flats on a fretless?

jongor · #13 06-26-2005, 07:23 AM

Ya, and over $20 with shipping.....might as well get a complete set.

I'm having a hard time finding the strings I like on a certain bass, and boy is hard to do with the cost of them!

You can use rounds on a fretless, but depending on the fretboard wood and the string, you'll get wear.

I'd recommend the Thomastik jazz flats, or Daddario Chromes.

Toneman · #14 07-11-2005, 08:34 PM

best kept secret:
Lakland Joe osborn signature flats. I have chromes on one jazz bass & the laklands on my other and the chromes are a fine string but the laklands made by GHS are killer.