Flatwounds for Washburn T24

falco · #1 08-09-2010, 09:01 AM

I had a chance to buy Washburn Taurus T24 bass in MINT condition for half a price. It's natural matte finish - very beautiful and also plays pretty well for that price, so I simply couldn't resist that deal, though I wasn't really looking for that kind of bass at the moment. Her'es a picture:

This weekend I was asked to join a band which plays "easy listening" music - bossa novas, jazz standards etc. So I decided to use my new bass in this band, but I need to restring it to flatwounds. Up to this moment I was playing only roundwound Rotosound Swing bass strings, gauge .45 - .105, on my Epiphone Thinderbird bass.

Which one of these strings and which gauge would you recommend for this Washburn passive bass and for this type of music? My main options are: GHS Precision Stainless Steel Flat Wounds, Ernie Ball Flat Wounds and D'Addario Chromes, but I am open to other popular flatwound strings as well.

Sundogue · #2 08-09-2010, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by falco

I had a chance to buy Washburn Taurus T24 bass in MINT condition for half a price. It's natural matte finish - very beautiful and also plays pretty well for that price, so I simply couldn't resist that deal, though I wasn't really looking for that kind of bass at the moment. Her'es a picture:

This weekend I was asked to join a band which plays "easy listening" music - bossa novas, jazz standards etc. So I decided to use my new bass in this band, but I need to restring it to flatwounds. Up to this moment I was playing only roundwound Rotosound Swing bass strings, gauge .45 - .105, on my Epiphone Thinderbird bass.

Which one of these strings and which gauge would you recommend for this Washburn passive bass and for this type of music? My main options are: GHS Precision Stainless Steel Flat Wounds, Ernie Ball Flat Wounds and D'Addario Chromes, but I am open to other popular flatwound strings as well.

While mine is a custom Washburn XB125, I have mine strung with the Chromes. Nice articulation and clarity but very full, smooth and even throughout. The gauge would be more of a personal preference.

Nice bass by the way.

**Staccato** · #3 08-09-2010, 09:36 AM

Very nice bass, Congrats! Try the chromes, there's a used set or two on TB. PM me if you can't find them.

falco · #4 08-09-2010, 12:57 PM

2:0 for Chromes. Okay, I'll give 'em a try! But which scale of strings do I need? Washburn say's T24 is 34", but D'Addario's medium scale is 32-34" and large scale is 34-36".

busta_bird · #5 08-09-2010, 01:04 PM

I have a T24 and I must say it's the duck's nuts. I've enjoyed playing that bass over any other I've owned to tried. It's up for new strings, so I may try chromes as well.

falco,

I believe either will be fine. I'm almost positive I've had both on there.

jasper383 · #6 08-09-2010, 04:11 PM

Use the long scale Chromes.

mccartneyman · #7 08-09-2010, 04:50 PM

Chromes are very nice. If you're not too put off by low tension, I think TI Jazz Flats might work better for "easy listening." They're expensive, but a set will last you three years or so.

falco · #8 08-11-2010, 04:34 AM

Considering that I'm not sure about the gauge sizes I like, I think I'm going to buy two sets of D'ADDARIO CHROMES - ECB81 .045-.100 and ECB82 .050-.105. Though I am liitle bit worried whether ECB82 might be too dark sounding for my liking.

How much will these two sets differ by sound? I have had some heavy gauge D'ADDARIO Nickel roundwounds on my Thunderbird, probably, .055-.110, but I didn't really like them because the sound was too dark and somehow muddy. I like my roundwounds to be zingy.