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07-25-2007, 04:27 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Saratoga, CA | | | Flatwounds, confused.
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I'd like to buy some flatwound strings, less than $30, but I have no idea what brand or gauge to get. I don't like floppy strings that much, so medium/high tension I guess. Help?
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07-25-2007, 04:30 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cleveland, OH | | | I like D'Addario Chromes. I bought them for $29.99 at Sam Ash. |
07-25-2007, 05:30 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Saratoga, CA | | | Cool... What about Fender flats? They're really cheap for flatwound. What brand would last the longest?
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07-25-2007, 05:43 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lansing, Michigan | | | Flatwounds really don't have a life/death sort of sound. They sound better when worn in, and do not really have a nice brilliant top like rounds. however, i found that fenders sounded like roundwounds when i used them. I sold the bass before I could experience them mellow out so I would have no idea on how long they last.
Generally, flats can last 6-8 months for a busy player, maybe years for an occasional thumper.
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07-25-2007, 06:57 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Saratoga, CA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by joelb79  Flatwounds really don't have a life/death sort of sound. They sound better when worn in, and do not really have a nice brilliant top like rounds. however, i found that fenders sounded like roundwounds when i used them. I sold the bass before I could experience them mellow out so I would have no idea on how long they last.
Generally, flats can last 6-8 months for a busy player, maybe years for an occasional thumper. | Yeah, I LOVE the old Fender P-bass with flats thumpy sound. I want that. Which strings would be best for that?
edit: and also, if I wanted higher tension, do I buy higher gauge strings or lower?
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Ibanez ATK300 / SX PJ / Yamaha BB415 / SX ABG --> Peavey Combo 300
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Last edited by dinghy : 07-25-2007 at 09:58 PM.
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07-25-2007, 11:50 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cambridge MA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by dinghy Yeah, I LOVE the old Fender P-bass with flats thumpy sound. I want that. Which strings would be best for that?
edit: and also, if I wanted higher tension, do I buy higher gauge strings or lower? | There are many flatwounds that'll get you that sound. Fender, GHS. Rotosound, Labella. The 2 brands that are a little different are the Chromes (very high tension, long sustain) and TI Jazz Flats (low tension, more musical)....Higher gauge=higher tension, but more importantly=bigger sound!
Also, I've got GHS Precision Flats on my 78 P. 45-105. Not super high tension, but not low. Great thumpy sound.
Last edited by jmceachern36 : 07-25-2007 at 11:53 PM.
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07-26-2007, 12:41 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Saratoga, CA | | | Thank you very much, I'm getting some of those GHS 45-105's right now. Sounds like exactly what I want.
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Ibanez ATK300 / SX PJ / Yamaha BB415 / SX ABG --> Peavey Combo 300
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07-26-2007, 12:49 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Louisiana | | | I had an on-going gig playing in a gospel setting a few years back and the church I played in had this ancient Pevey Foundation strung with Fender flats. I can't say I've heard many better tones. It's like Flea said, old basses are more used to being a bass and less used to being a tree.
As far as tension, I've always been told flats had better tension than rounds but that could by ignorance speaking.
TI flats have gotten pretty popular lately as well...
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07-26-2007, 01:15 AM
| | Registered User
Endorsing: Ampeg | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Apopka, FL | | | TI Flats are very low tension, though. I think GHS were probably a good choice for what the OP wanted. I use Fenders or LaBellas myself, but GHS would be just as good once they go dead. |
07-26-2007, 04:49 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cleveland, OH | | Quote:
Originally Posted by dinghy and also, if I wanted higher tension, do I buy higher gauge strings or lower? | Well, the gauge of the Chromes were the same as the Fender strings that came on my Squier. However, the tension of the Chromes is higher, as I was able to take some relief out of the neck and get my action much lower. Those stock Fender strings were flapping all over the place. The Chromes made it feel like I got a brand new (and better) bass. |
07-26-2007, 07:44 PM
| | Pat's the best! | | Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Northern Virginia, USA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by dinghy I'd like to buy some flatwound strings, less than $30, but I have no idea what brand or gauge to get. I don't like floppy strings that much, so medium/high tension I guess. Help? | Flats are generally high tension. Carvin sells flatwound strings under their own brand name at their web site which are fairly decent. They should give you an idea if you really like the concept. |
07-26-2007, 07:57 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Connecticut | | Quote:
Originally Posted by dinghy Cool... What about Fender flats? They're really cheap for flatwound. What brand would last the longest? | People generally say that flats sound better the longer they're on, so they should last as long as you want them to! If you want a brighter sound, then try Chromes. You'd have to change them fairly often (2-4 months?) if you want them bright, I'd guess.
Fenders are high tension. That's all I know. 
If any of my info's wrong, feel free to correct me.
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07-31-2007, 11:31 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2005 Location: Massachusetts | | Quote:
Originally Posted by joelb79 Generally, flats can last 6-8 months for a busy player, maybe years for an occasional thumper. | Can't agree here. Even with a regular gigging bass player, flats should last years. I now change my strings maybe every 3 - 4 years at this point. |
07-31-2007, 12:03 PM
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Originally Posted by FenderP Can't agree here. Even with a regular gigging bass player, flats should last years. I now change my strings maybe every 3 - 4 years at this point. | No kidding. I guess Duck Dunn would be considered an occasional thumper then...he had a set of Fender flats on for what, 20+ years before they kinda fell off the bass?
+1 on the GHS recommendation for a string that is nice and tight feeling. |
07-31-2007, 12:28 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2005 Location: Massachusetts | | I only change my strings that often "just because" sometimes.
I use the Rotosound RS77LEs on my P (and the RS88 on my fretless) and they're great strings. Easily had for $30. If you want high tension, it doesn't get better than Rotos  They're not floppy at all, either. Some like that feeling, others find them too stiff.
All flats are not created equal, so see which feel right and sound right to you. Many here swear by T-Is; I hated 'em. Same with the LaBellas. They're not bad strings, I just found they were not for me.
Experiment, have fun, and let us know what you wound up liking. |
07-31-2007, 12:49 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Saratoga, CA | | | Well I ordered online, so I could only take your advice. I ordered GHS medium flats from wwbw.com and they came in 2 days with the cheap shipping.
Strapped 'em in, they're still not totally cozy yet(get out of tune quickly), but I like them. No finger sound, a good tension, but they don't sound quite 'dead' like most flatwounds do yet. I'm hoping that will happen soon. I like 'em better than my old rounds, which I think were Rotosound.
Next time I order strings(probably won't be a while, flats and all) I'll try out the Roto flats.
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Ibanez ATK300 / SX PJ / Yamaha BB415 / SX ABG --> Peavey Combo 300
_,.~-*'`'*-~.,_,.~-*'`'*-~.,_,.~-*'`'*-~.,_,.~-*'`'*-~.,_,.~-*'`'*-~.,_
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07-31-2007, 03:41 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: new yawk | | | IMHO ...9050m stainless fender flats, .55-.105 , no flop (hi-tension), DEEP THUMP, quick break-in , too.
$23 at my local mom/pop store
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Last edited by ducatiman : 07-31-2007 at 03:44 PM.
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07-31-2007, 09:07 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Columbus, OH | | | Fender flats are good budget flats. |
07-31-2007, 09:13 PM
| | Registered User
Artist:TC Electronic RH450 bass system | | Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Fort Madison, IA | | | webstrings has decent flats very cheap.. |
08-01-2007, 06:14 AM
| | Dry and Heavy | | Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Swiss Alps | | Quote:
Originally Posted by ducatiman IMHO ...9050m stainless fender flats, .55-.105 , no flop (hi-tension), DEEP THUMP, quick break-in , too.
$23 at my local mom/pop store | Careful, those gauges are the ML set. Lovely strings.
The 9050Ms are much larger, stiffer, and sound much duller and thumpier. Not bad, but very different. | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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