Flats players, I need your advice.

shawshank72 · #1 07-28-2010, 04:39 PM

About a year ago, i switched to flats and love it.
Right now I am playing on ghs precision flats.
I need a suggestion from the experts of TB
I need a flatwound string that has thump and low end even on the D and G strings. I find the ghs to be too harsh on those strings and its driving me nuts.
I noticed a thread just like this but people suggested eq and pickup adjustments and i have tried all these suggestions and nothing worked on all 3 my p basses.
I want the D and G string to sound like my E and A string.
PLEASE no suggestions for what your favorite is, just what will work for that sound. Thanks
PS.(had an afterthought)
Would lighter guage strings still produce that low thumpy flat sound?

dmusic148 · #2 07-28-2010, 04:47 PM

LaBella 760FL.

superfunk47 · #3 07-28-2010, 04:50 PM

While they aren't my favorite, Labella gets a lot of love on here, and they seem to be pretty even across the strings. I've also heard good things about Chromes and DR Hi Beam flats, although I haven't had firsthand experience with either.

For what it's worth, I spent a long time frustrated with the GHS flats I was trying to make work, and then tried TI flats, and have been quite happy since. Course, I'm also itching to try the Chromes and DRs, both of which would be cheaper options to try, and both of which seem pretty well liked.

LightGroove · #4 07-28-2010, 04:52 PM

Thump and low end on the D and G... er um.... maybe switching to a fretless would help??

I would have to agree that i would shoot for some eq adjustments over strings.

Queg · #5 07-28-2010, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmusic148

LaBella 760FL.

+1

Even better are the heavier 760FM's if you don't mind the tension.

waynobass · #6 07-28-2010, 04:56 PM

Maybe your D and G don't get played as often, so they're less broken in and sound brighter.

**TheMutt** · #7 07-28-2010, 04:57 PM

I'd say go for the LaBella's as the Chromes will probably be too bright (although they are my favorites), and the DR's will be too mid-shy (IME).

Another string to try would be the RotoSound Monel Flatwounds. Nice deep full tone. I've got a set strung up on my jazz and they sound great.

shawshank72 · #8 07-28-2010, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waynobass

Maybe your D and G don't get played as often, so they're less broken in and sound brighter.

Could be possible, but is been a year with the same strings

shawshank72 · #9 07-28-2010, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMutt

I'd say go for the LaBella's as the Chromes will probably be too bright (although they are my favorites), and the DR's will be too mid-shy (IME).

Another string to try would be the RotoSound Monel Flatwounds. Nice deep full tone. I've got a set strung up on my jazz and they sound great.

You have any sound clips Mutt?

Already In Use · #10 07-28-2010, 05:03 PM

LaBella question...Says at their site their flatwounds are not suitable for string thru body basses. Anybody have 1st hand experience regarding this?

MatticusMania · #11 07-28-2010, 05:08 PM

Yeah, I play chromes, and the higher strings are pretty bright.

becker4567 · #12 07-28-2010, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Already In Use

LaBella question...Says at their site their flatwounds are not suitable for string thru body basses. Anybody have 1st hand experience regarding this?

Yes! While LaBella's will give you all the low end thump you want and they last forever (and I do mean forever), they will definitely break if bent in serious way. They are NOT ment for sting thru bodys.

REV · #13 07-28-2010, 05:13 PM

If you want that THUMP from all of your strings, try placing a foam pad underneath the strings back at the bridge. It will even out the tone from all the strings and reduce some of the brightness and suatain.

Tommygunn · #14 07-28-2010, 05:14 PM

Old Fender 9050s. Be weary buying em new, fender changed the design and they aren't as good now.

**TheMutt** · #15 07-28-2010, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shawshank72

You have any sound clips Mutt?

I can make some if you'd like. I have three basses. My SR5 is strung up with Chromes, the Jazz has the RotoSound Monel Flats, and my Carvin fretless has RotoSound Black Nylon Flats which are completely different from what you want.

shawshank72 · #16 07-28-2010, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMutt

I can make some if you'd like. I have three basses. My SR5 is strung up with Chromes, the Jazz has the RotoSound Monel Flats, and my Carvin fretless has RotoSound Black Nylon Flats which are completely different from what you want.

Dont knock yourself out, if you had something laying around i would love to hear the rotosounds.

shawshank72 · #17 07-28-2010, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REV

If you want that THUMP from all of your strings, try placing a foam pad underneath the strings back at the bridge. It will even out the tone from all the strings and reduce some of the brightness and suatain.

Definately going to try this!

dmusic148 · #18 07-28-2010, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Already In Use

LaBella question...Says at their site their flatwounds are not suitable for string thru body basses. Anybody have 1st hand experience regarding this?

I run the D and G thru body, but not the E and A. The E will almost certainly break if you do, and the A is risky. Works great for me this way. I do it mostly just to really jam the D and G saddles onto the bridge plate. Seems like a good idea to me but probably doesn't really matter, lol.

kirkm24 · #19 07-28-2010, 05:39 PM

Pyramids

dmusic148 · #20 07-28-2010, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirkm24

Pyramids

Yes, those are held to be very, very old-school thumpy sounding, if that's what you're after. Also VERY expensive.