GHS Precision Flats vs. Fender 9050 stainless stell Flats

[dubstylee]

Hey everyone, I'm looking to put an affordable flat wound on my Fender P & J basses. I was wondering if anyone had any opinion on these two sets of strings. They are both pretty affordable and have the vintage thump I like. I play Reggae, Blues, and Funk. Thanks for your opinion.

[mello_bedwetter]

I didn't like the GHS flats. The Fender's were pretty good. I ended up getting Ernie Ball flats. I use the 2804's or the 2806's. Just my opinion though.

[mellowgerman]

i would prefer the fenders. not sure why but they just sounded better IMO

[Valerus]

I use Fender flats, sound awesome

[JTE]

Counter opinion. I had one set of the Fenders, hoping they'd be close to the original 850s Fender shipped their basses with until the early '80s. No such luck. I found the Fenders to be very stiff, twangy, and brittle sounding. I've had a set of Lakland's Joe Osborns, which are very similar if not identical to the GHS Precision flats (GHS does make Lakland's strings) and love them. They have more tension than TI, and sound like a real flatwound string, but they still have a definite note in them. They don't sound like a dull kick drum thud even after years of use.

jte

[the low one]

Originally Posted by JTE

Counter opinion. I had one set of the Fenders, hoping they'd be close to the original 850s Fender shipped their basses with until the early '80s. No such luck. I found the Fenders to be very stiff, twangy, and brittle sounding. I've had a set of Lakland's Joe Osborns, which are very similar if not identical to the GHS Precision flats (GHS does make Lakland's strings) and love them. They have more tension than TI, and sound like a real flatwound string, but they still have a definite note in them. They don't sound like a dull kick drum thud even after years of use.

jte

How stiff did you find the GHS flats ?

[Mastermold]

Originally Posted by JTE

Counter opinion. I had one set of the Fenders, hoping they'd be close to the original 850s Fender shipped their basses with until the early '80s. No such luck. I found the Fenders to be very stiff, twangy, and brittle sounding. I've had a set of Lakland's Joe Osborns, which are very similar if not identical to the GHS Precision flats (GHS does make Lakland's strings) and love them. They have more tension than TI, and sound like a real flatwound string, but they still have a definite note in them. They don't sound like a dull kick drum thud even after years of use.

jte

I wonder why GHS flats aren't getting more love at TB. A few people have said they dig them, but for the most part all I hear about are TI and La Bella flats.

[waynobass]

I like GHS Prec. flats. They seem neither stiff nor floppy, just about right.

Plus they don't cost an arm and a leg. No set of strings should cost more than $20!!!

[lonote]

I like Fender 9050's a lot. For years, I have used them on my P-Basses and used D'Addario Chrome flats on my J-Basses. Recently the store was out of D'Addario Chromes so I put a set of 9050's on my Bacchus and it sounded fantastic. I may start using 9050's exclusively on all my basses. I never cared for Precision Flats, they sounded weak to me.

[Mastermold]

Originally Posted by lonote

I like Fender 9050's a lot. For years, I have used them on my P-Basses and used D'Addario Chrome flats on my J-Basses. Recently the store was out of D'Addario Chromes so I put a set of 9050's on my Bacchus and it sounded fantastic. I may start using 9050's exclusively on all my basses. I never cared for Precision Flats, they sounded weak to me.

I've had good luck with Fender 9050MLs and have them on three of my basses right now: 57 AV P-bass, 51 P-bass reissue, and my Rogue viola bass.

They thump and have nice tone. But they're not as responsive as the La Bella 760FLs I've got on another P-bass. The La Bellas play great, but lack the thump the Fenders have.

Hence the reason for my thread about my quest for the perfect flats -- "still haven't found what I'm looking for!"

[Mojo-Man]

Originally Posted by waynobass

I like GHS Prec. flats. They seem neither stiff nor floppy, just about right.

Plus they don't cost an arm and a leg. No set of strings should cost more than $20!!!

+1
Good tension.
I like sound of strings.

My second fav. next to TI-flats.