Flatwounds after a long time..FINALLY

5string5fingers · #1 01-19-2010, 01:04 PM

Finally got a set of chromes for my p bass. I haven't had a pair of flats in about 3 years. Back then I thought they sounded awful because I wanted that heavy growl that I heard in alot of the bands I listened to. So after hearing alot of clips of p basses with flats I've been craving for that fat thump so today (about an hour ago) went and bought some and threw them on my p bass and man I haven't stopped playing my bass since. They're still very bright as I knew they would be,but I'm playing the hell out of them to help dull them down. I'll post some sound clips later if anybody cares to hear what they sound like on SPB-2 basslines or just wants to hear period.

derekdecarlo · #2 01-19-2010, 01:29 PM

I would love to hear some sound clips. I've got some flats on a 89 japanese P I bought a while back that came on it. They sound so good, I'm afraid to change 'em. They are the only set of flats I've ever played to boot. I have no idea what kind or how old they are but they are dirty and I've been thinking about changing them, because I need to give it a good setup.

stflbn · #3 01-19-2010, 01:36 PM

The chromes will take a long while to really tame down. Don't expect it to happen like roundwounds do.

5string5fingers · #4 01-19-2010, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stflbn

The chromes will take a long while to really tame down. Don't expect it to happen like roundwounds do.

Yea, oh well I guess thats what the tone knob is for.

Craig_S · #5 01-19-2010, 02:28 PM

Next time, buy LaBella 760FL. Great sounding strings.

5string5fingers · #6 01-19-2010, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig_S

Next time, buy LaBella 760FL. Great sounding strings.

Yea I've played labellas before but I didn't pay for them. They're a little pricey.

Heres some sound files. Audio quality sucks but I'm too poor for fancy computer programs.
Tone full
http://www.zshare.net/audio/71421781decc4606/

Tone half
http://www.zshare.net/audio/7142189795868653/

Tone off
http://www.zshare.net/audio/7142194975d639ad/
The last clip will be a little hard to hear on laptop speakers since at that point it's pretty much pure bass.

bassist4dalord · #7 01-19-2010, 02:41 PM

I'm seriously GASing for two sets of D'Addario Chromes for my P-Basses (one fretted, one fretless) but being a college student with textbook costs has strained my finances

P.S. Guitar Center sells them for $35; they can be had for $27 shipped from Amazon.com (yes, the same set.) Crazy!

J. Crawford · #8 01-19-2010, 02:42 PM

I like my Chromes. They get lots of grief on here, but I like em.

5string5fingers · #9 01-19-2010, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassist4dalord

I'm seriously GASing for two sets of D'Addario Chromes for my P-Basses (one fretted, one fretless) but being a college student with textbook costs has strained my finances

P.S. Guitar Center sells them for $35; they can be had for $27 shipped from Amazon.com (yes, the same set.) Crazy!

Hahaha well I hope the sound clips dont make your gas worse,although i'm sure they wont with my crappy playing.

dave64o · #10 01-19-2010, 09:23 PM

You have good taste!

I have a set of Chromes on my Precision and also on my Jazz Deluxe fretless. They're not as thumpy as some other flats, but they sound great to me. I also like higher tension strings and the Chromes feel pretty good to me as well, much better than the TI Jazz flats that I used to have on the P. The TI's sounded FANTASTIC, but I swear I would have had to tune up a full octave to get rid of the floppiness.

theJello · #11 01-19-2010, 09:29 PM

They sell them by the pairs now?

aus_bass · #12 01-19-2010, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassist4dalord

P.S. Guitar Center sells them for $35; they can be had for $27 shipped from Amazon.com

You guys have it easy. Down here, they cost $68.

paganjack · #13 01-19-2010, 09:43 PM

I've currently got chromes on all 3 of my basses. I don't envision changing that for a long time. They get a really nice sound that isn't all dark thump nor all round growl, just loads of low mids. I find the tension to be quite pleasant to play on.

5string5fingers · #14 01-19-2010, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paganjack

I've currently got chromes on all 3 of my basses. I don't envision changing that for a long time. They get a really nice sound that isn't all dark thump nor all round growl, just loads of low mids. I find the tension to be quite pleasant to play on.

I love the tone,but the tension is something i'm having to get used to. I'm used to play Reg/reg light rounds.

paul_s · #15 01-19-2010, 10:09 PM

I've got the bottom 4 of a 5 string set of Chromes on a PJ, tuned CFBbEb, and they're absolutely my favourite sound. Very beefy, and they take to overdriven/distortion sounds quite nicely. I put a set of medium lights on my fretless, which really brightened it up just the right amount, so I stuck some on my jaguar, which I can't wait to use on my band rig.

I went to Chromes after using GHS Precision Flats, which are really really sweet and thuddy sounding, but in the past month I've been looking for a bit more brightness than they could offer. Not that I got rid of them, however, I imagine they'll go back on my jag once again in the somewhat near future.

steelhead2 · #16 01-20-2010, 08:39 PM

hey! GC WAS listing them for 28 bucks online(chromes) and uh=? 36 walk in? i said`do i have to buy online to get the online price',,,the guy got nervous handed me off to another guy,but yeah,,i got em for 28 bucks they state`best price' online so call em out on the carpet!

genstormbringer · #17 01-20-2010, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J. Crawford

I like my Chromes. They get lots of grief on here, but I like em.

I love my D'Addario Chromes Light Gauge .45 -.100. They sound gr8!
I have them on my Peavey Fury and my PBass, they are superb.

I used to use Rotosound and purchased them directly from Rotosound. I would buy a case (12packs) once every three months. It paid to work in the business for quite a while. I may buy a set of them just to compare 'em but I am hooked on Chromes right now. I am not saying the Rotos are good bad or indifferent just that my taste has changed and yes the Chromes are very bright for a flatwound string. It's gonna be hard to move on from the chromes I may even put them on my 4 string ALL Maple USA Cirrus.

So if you are looking for flat wounds those are my two choices I would take.

WayneS · #18 01-21-2010, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by genstormbringer

I used to use Rotosound and purchased them directly from Rotosound... I may buy a set of them just to compare 'em but I am hooked on Chromes right now.

I use Roto 77's.

How would you compare the tone differences of the two? I love the high end I get from the Rotos, but I'm always looking for something better. Is there a difference in the tension?

I even have a new set of SH77's (Steve Harris) that I dont plan on using anytime soon. I'm using the Roto 66's now.

guroove · #19 01-21-2010, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WayneS

I use Roto 77's.

How would you compare the tone differences of the two? I love the high end I get from the Rotos, but I'm always looking for something better. Is there a difference in the tension?

I even have a new set of SH77's (Steve Harris) that I dont plan on using anytime soon. I'm using the Roto 66's now.

Roto 77s and Chromes are pretty similar sounding to me. The Chromes have a tiny bit more of a metallic sound to them than the Rotosounds. To me, both are very bright for flatwounds. They are also a little on the stiff side, but a lot of people like that. The Chromes may be slightly stiffer.

WayneS · #20 01-21-2010, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guroove

Roto 77s and Chromes are pretty similar sounding to me. The Chromes have a tiny bit more of a metallic sound to them than the Rotosounds. To me, both are very bright for flatwounds. They are also a little on the stiff side, but a lot of people like that. The Chromes may be slightly stiffer.

Thanks!