Flatwounds for 7string bass (or sixstring)??

[jimsnade]

Hello everybody
I just browsed this forum in search for flatwounds for my Conklin GT7 fretless (yeah!!!) I bought this bass last week and I'm really impressed - a fantastic sound, great sustain and it's so easy to play,much more comfortable than my sixstring.Unfortunately it came strung with conklin snakeskins roundwounds and it has already scratches in the ebanol fretboard.I tried to "google" for flatwounds but of course -no chance.Now I'think of sixstring flats + a single .022-.027 flat.

Does anybody know where to find an F string flatwound,and a decent set for a sixstring? I thought of trying a guitarstring but it's too short for the 34"
Thanx a lot
Cheers
Jimmy

[ZolkoW]

I think, guitar strings might be long enough, especially if the tuning machine is located near enough to the nut.

And it's just an opinion, but don't care about those scratches... yes, they come fast after starting to play the instrument, (so you can see them after an hour) but they don't get deeper.. maybe in years, to notice.

[bigbeefdog]

Originally Posted by jimsnade

I tried to "google" for flatwounds but of course -no chance.Now I'think of sixstring flats + a single .022-.027 flat.

I'd think you might have to go the BEADGC six-string set route, and add the Low F# separately - possibly from a different manufacturer.

If I were in your shoes, I'd shoot off an Email to some of the larger, more reputable online string vendors - juststrings.com and bassguitarstrings.com come to mind - and see what they can cobble together for you.

BTW, welcome to TB.

[James Hart]

Originally Posted by jimsnade

a single .022-.027 flat.

D'Addario makes a .030 "Half-Round" (a groundwound)

Your best bet I think would be to email SIT and see if they make or will make a "Power Flat" (also a groundwound) in the guage you want. Once you know it's possible, you could hit someone like Chad at www.sonicstrings.net to order it. You could always just tell Chad what you need and have him do the legwork... He's tracked down and carries everything I've looked for so far.

[jimsnade]

Thank you very much.It was a great help.I could find a sixstring set from Thomastik and now I'll start my search for the seventh. I think I'll try to keep the roundwound conklin.022 at first and see if the sound is too different from the flats.Probably it won't ruin my fretboard as it is quite thin.
I was just too worried by the scratches.....

[James Hart]

Originally Posted by jimsnade

I was just too worried by the scratches.....

that is "scoring" and I've seen it take years to start to wear past that stage.

and flats will wear away wood too.... just because you switch to flats, doesn't stop the board from wearing!