Flatwounds with the best sustain and flexibility?

Funkfaker · #1 01-06-2011, 11:15 AM

Hello all,

I've been using D'addario Chromes 45-100 over the last few years, but I'm looking for a set of flats that have more sustain and bit more flexibility with regard to tension. The only hitch is they have to come in extra long scale due to a string thru body.

Any thoughts on where I should start?

Cheers!

Muckaluck · #2 01-06-2011, 11:19 AM

I like my DR flatwounds. They seem to be a bit looser than chromes, are extra long and might have a touch more sustain. I've had no problem with them on 35" basses.

madmatt · #3 01-06-2011, 11:27 AM

I have tried the Chromes and the silk would run up over the saddles if I top-loaded. If I went through-body the silk would pull down over the nut.
So....
I use the new Fender .050-.100 set!
They go through the body of my Fender Amer. Deluxe P just fine. They are very Chromes-like too: pretty loose.
Best of all they are cheap, $19 bucks!

PSPookie · #4 01-06-2011, 11:28 AM

I'm not sure which has the best sustain but the TI flats are, by far, the most flexible flats I've tried.

Funkfaker · #5 01-06-2011, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmatt

I have tried the Chromes and the silk would run up over the saddles if I top-loaded. If I went through-body the silk would pull down over the nut.
So....
I use the new Fender .050-.100 set!
They go through the body of my Fender Amer. Deluxe P just fine. They are very Chromes-like too: pretty loose.
Best of all they are cheap, $19 bucks!

How is the sustain on the Fenders, MadMatt? After a week do you lose a lot?

Thanks!

madmatt · #6 01-06-2011, 11:35 AM

Oh yeah I meant to comment on that.
The sustain is actually better than I expected. I use to have bad sustain on my D string with the old Fender flats, but these fixed that!
I have had them on for a little over two weeks...

Funkfaker · #7 01-06-2011, 11:45 AM

Thanks, folks. I love nickles, so I'm going to give the Fender's and the TI's a try, first.

Cheers!

turbo2256b · #8 01-06-2011, 11:54 AM

I like the Pyramid Gold flat wounds. Used them for years and at some point they stopped importing them. There back and have ordered a couple sets for my basses and a couple sets for my son's Jaguar gutar.

buffalobillh · #9 01-06-2011, 11:54 AM

I played TI's exclusively for fretless. Haven't found anything quite like them for fretless tone, mwah, and playability. I have some Daddario EXL 170's I use on a fretted bass that are flexible and very comfortable to play.

Marton · #10 01-06-2011, 12:01 PM

The TI are really flexible, and have a good sustain. But on my bass, I needed to top-load the E string, the silk is longer at the headstock. I didn't had problem on the other 3 strings.

iiipopes · #11 01-15-2011, 07:37 AM

I use a set of the new Fender 9050CL 45-60-80-105 strings for my custom P-style bass with through-body stringing. They are the most flexible, best tone, consistent flats I've ever played in 35+ years. They have converted me from rounds. Instead of sounding hollow or thuddy, they actually have a subdued growl about them.

One Drop · #12 01-15-2011, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Funkfaker

Thanks, folks. I love nickles, so I'm going to give the Fender's and the TI's a try, first.

Cheers!

I was under the impression the new Fender flats are made by D'Addario and are either identical or very similar sounding to their own Chromes.

You might want to try the TIs instead.

jallenbass · #13 01-15-2011, 09:08 AM

Try tapewounds. To me they're a hybrid round/flatwound.

pudgychef · #14 01-15-2011, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jallenbass

Try tapewounds. To me they're a hybrid round/flatwound.

they are certainly flexible.....but I find it feels like playing a bass tuned down 4 steps....too flexible and less sustainy imho

fretlessguy · #15 01-15-2011, 11:36 PM

Naturally I'd suggest the TI Jazz flats, but GHS Precision Flats in .45-.95 gauge are a close second.

anonymous122511 · #16 01-15-2011, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marton

The TI are really flexible, and have a good sustain. But on my bass, I needed to top-load the E string, the silk is longer at the headstock. I didn't had problem on the other 3 strings.

Maybe you need one of these TI flat "super longs" designed for 35" scale instruments:
http://www.juststrings.com/toi-jf36096.html

Ron G · #17 01-16-2011, 06:20 AM

I like GHS Precision Flatwound less tension then other flats I have tried they fit 34" and 35" scale.

This is a quote from Ben Kenney (Incubus) he's using medium-gauge strings:

The GHS flats are more pliable than a lot of other flatwounds, so I can have high tension, but still bend notes. Other flats sound great, but you can hardly get vibrato with them, they're like high-tension wires.