flats,very flat on E string

bassmachine2112 · #1 06-09-2011, 10:30 AM

hi,got a set of flats for my p-bass and the A,D,G string are awesome until you come to the E string which sounds like a cardboard box.It goes thump for a short while like there is a foam pad under the string and you are palm muting at the same time,I took issue with the makers and they sent me another set -same result.The other strings are great but the E strings are unplayable,there is no vibration -they are dead.
Is it a duff batch or is this normal.
I love the sound and feel of these but is this how flats are ?
There is no sustain ,tone,just a quick thud.

SurferJoe46 · #2 06-09-2011, 10:35 AM

Chances are not good that you got two sets of strings - or a replacement E with the exact same bad characteristics.

I'd be looking at the pickup on the bass itself. You didn't say what type of bass it is - name, make model, year, engine size, etc.

bassmachine2112 · #3 06-09-2011, 11:06 AM

P-bass,Wizard thumper pick up-14k on the meter,perfect with any other strings.
Tried these strings on a t-bird,Ricky and a musicman-same result,all strings except the E perfect,growly good sustain.You can see them vibrating.E string dull thud,no sustain and no movement,no vibration just muted thump.
I hope that it,s just these strings as I do like the other 3.Maybe I,ll put a wound E string on .

fourstringdrums · #4 06-09-2011, 11:11 AM

What strings/gauge did you put on? Just curious.

SurferJoe46 · #5 06-09-2011, 11:17 AM

You CAN'T be using Roto 77s - right?

Never have I had a bad string in them so far.

Muckaluck · #6 06-09-2011, 11:22 AM

I've had a number of flats where the E had a different characteristic than the other strings. I've wondered in the past if it was due to me somehow breaking the core when I put the string on, so that is one possibility. I didn't crimp my strings before cutting back then so that's one possibility.

I had the E string much more thumpy and with much less sustain than other strings with a set of DR flats and Labella flats. My experience was different than yours in that the string went dead after 1-2 months of playing, while the other strings still maintained their character. Both these sets were 5 string packs and it really messed with string to string consistency when hitting the E and then going to the low B string. The only flatwound sets I have not experienced this with are tomastik flats and, funny enough, webstrings flats in the 110 guage.

Some have said that companies purposely give the E string a more dead character than the other strings. My research on strings like Labella and DR shows no evidence that the companies puposely make the E string more dead.

I currently have a set of Labella deep talking FM on my LOG bass. They've been on for about 1.5 months and I'm just starting to notice a different character with the E string. Not as noticable as with my previous sets, but definately noticable.

This still remains a mystery to me....

**countbassiedad** · #7 01-02-2012, 07:53 AM

Usually we hear the issue described as a "dead E string", but in my mind the problem is a tone imbalance across strings. I sometimes wonder if this is caused by too much emphasis on balanced tension vs balanced tone. Some folks like balanced tone while others want balanced tension. Not sure if you can have both at the same time.

To my dismay I have spent enough money in search of the “right” flatwound strings to buy a nice bass. My only consolation is that in the long run it’s cheaper to use flats because they don’t need to be changed very often.

I have a great respect and love for the tone of Pyramids and LaBellas, but I just can’t learn to like the “feature” of consistently warmer B and E strings relative to the others. I also must add that Max at Pyramid was exceptionally helpful to me in putting together a custom set.

I actually prefer the warmer sound of the bigger strings and have tried to warm up the others by going to custom sets with heavier gauge A, D & G stings. I assembled a custom set Pyramids that I liked quite well (110, 90, 70, 50) but after breaking several D and G strings (most recently yesterday) it has become unaffordable.

I would probably keep trying but have found that GHS flats are much cheaper and more balanced (tonewise) so for now they are my go-to for the vintage tone. I have them on two semi-hollows and they sound great. They are stainless - not quite as thumpy as the Pyramid nickels, so I may go back but for now they do the job.

For a bright tone almost like half-rounds (again balanced across all stings) Ernie Ball, Daddario and Roto77 all seem to fit the bill but I prefer Ernie Ball Group I’s for the Ray and the J.