GHS Precision flats vs. D'Addario Chromes flats.

billiam5billion · #1 10-13-2011, 03:14 PM

I've been pricing a new set of flats for my P lately and noticed that these are very comparatively priced, which do you prefer and why?

Jay2U · #2 10-13-2011, 06:02 PM

d'Addario Chromes, as they really give me wings.

soulman969 · #3 10-13-2011, 07:46 PM

Seems the majority here prefer the Chromes. I just picked up a CV Jazz used and it has what I believe are Prescision Flats on it. It's a fairly dark string and somewhat muddy on the E. Also seems to be a very high tension string so it inhibits my playing style a bit. I'm putting a set of GHS Pressure Wounds on the jazz but saving these flats for a PBass. I think they'd sound much better on it.

boodakon · #4 10-13-2011, 08:03 PM

I've only tried the Chromes and loved it on my starter fretless. I tried 'em on my Bee bass and hated it. They came off the next day.

Matthew_84 · #5 10-13-2011, 08:16 PM

I put chromes on my p as my first set of flats. The G string had a metallic twang sound to it, and after several months I heard clips of a guy comparing various flats, and the GHS's didn't have that twang. I tried them and they were WAY better. The tone was a lot better (I don't find them dark or muddy at all), they had less tension and were relative to the tension of rounds whereas chromes are very, very stiff. I didn't like that. Chromes also have some sticky coating on them. I personally love GHS's and have no ambition to try other flats. In my opinion of course.

loopee · #6 10-13-2011, 08:24 PM

I tried Chromes and didn't like them......I tried GHS flats and put them on my Warwick Corvette Shortscale and they were wonderful but I had to sell the bass (too heavy)....tried the GHS on my Landing and took them off.....I've got Fender Flats on my Landing Shortscale now and love them....also put Fender's on my Fast Bass but might try the Sadowsky's next......Have GHS Pressurewounds on my active Fish Bass headless.....they sound great on that one....I put Rotos on my Beatle Bass....they're OK but I wouldn't want them on any other bass....

bassnat · #7 10-13-2011, 08:35 PM

Chromes

aus_bass · #8 10-13-2011, 09:17 PM

GHS Precision flats. They give a fuller, fatter sound and are very consistent string to string. Not as bright as the Chromes.

Nothing wrong with Chromes, but the GHS give me the sound I'm after, which is an old-school vibe.

Can't go wrong with either, it just depends on what tone you are after.

vin*tone · #9 10-13-2011, 09:58 PM

I did not like chromes on my 70s P - too twangy. I replaced the Chromes with med guage Labellas and it was night & day - prevented me from selling the bass.

I moved the Chromes to my 51P and they sound great on that.

soulman969 · #10 10-13-2011, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aus_bass

GHS Precision flats. They give a fuller, fatter sound and are very consistent string to string. Not as bright as the Chromes.

Nothing wrong with Chromes, but the GHS give me the sound I'm after, which is an old-school vibe.

Can't go wrong with either, it just depends on what tone you are after.

Absolutely accurate way to describe what I hear out of them too. Definitely have that sound of the way my Jazz Bass did in the 70's.

If I played with a pick these strings would be fine for some stuff but they just don't give me enough defintion playing finger style. I lose the growl as well.

kelto · #11 10-13-2011, 10:13 PM

bought a Squier Precision Deluxe (PJ pups) from a fellow TBer and he sent the bass to me with chromes on it, now as my FIRST flats i have to say i L-O-V-E them, was always wanting to experiment with flats and they feel so good, the only qualm i had with flats is right now I'm in a popy punk band and i knew most flats wouldn't let me cut through ,especially since there adding a 2nd guitarist (which i am very against but eh) but honestly im going into the first practice with this bass and i may actually leave these strings on just because they might just have enough brightness to em.

So as a flat noob i would say i love the chromes

::::BASSIST:::: · #12 10-13-2011, 10:48 PM

I use both. The newer chromes (as in the last 4 years) are not as good as their older version. The GHS have slightly less tension, are smoother and not nearly as bright. I prefer them over the newer version Chromes.

fretlessguy · #13 10-14-2011, 08:30 AM

The Chromes are a bit brighter in tone, the GHS P-Flats more old school in tone. I found the GHS strings smoother and less tensioned than the Chromes.

tdub0199 · #14 10-14-2011, 08:34 AM

Chromes

billiam5billion · #15 10-14-2011, 09:00 AM

Thanks for the input everybody. Sounds like the GHS flats are more what I'm going for.

jaywa · #16 10-14-2011, 09:25 AM

I've been running GHS Precisions on my 78 P for a couple years now (same set the whole time). This is the first set of flatwounds I've ever played so it's hard for me to compare but I really like them. The feel, sound and tension are all very well suited to my playing style (80-20 fingerstyle to pick), and the material I play.

+1 to the evenness of sound across all strings and that's a major benefit in my book. The fundamental and attack characteristics, especially played fingerstyle, complement our kick drum sound extremely well and we've gotten numerous compliments about how well the kick drum and bass mesh together in our FOH mix.

The only real knock I have on the Precision Flats is, when played with a pick, the midrange almost completely disappears. There's a bunch of bottom and a lot of "click" on top but not much in-between. This might be the only reason I would consider trying Chromes the next time out.

coronado3 · #17 10-14-2011, 09:30 AM

Chromes for me... I have had a couple of sets of the GHS p flats and the E string sounded weak and somewhat choked.... The chromes are a bit bright out of the box, but quickly wear in.

ajn · #18 10-14-2011, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fretlessguy

The Chromes are a bit brighter in tone, the GHS P-Flats more old school in tone. I found the GHS strings smoother and less tensioned than the Chromes.

+1

I use and like both, and the above is exactly my experience with them. The GHS flats have less tension than even the 45-100 guage Chromes. I had been pretty committed to Chromes, but I really like the P-flats on a P-bass.

Commreman · #19 10-14-2011, 09:57 AM

I've had Chromes on my Jazz for about two years. I love them. I've ton TONS of gigs (100+) in that time, and these strings just keep getting better. I'm using the .40-.100 set. These strings sound articulate and huge in the mix.

jaywa · #20 10-14-2011, 10:05 AM

Are Chromes a lot more expensive than the P Flats?

I remember being pleasantly surprised at the price of my P Flats when I bought them at my ma and pa shop a couple years ago, after hearing horror stories about how spendy flatwounds were.