Good Flats for a 5 String P?

thisSNsucks · #1 05-19-2009, 04:05 PM

I have a 5 String P coming my way this week and as a lover of Flatwounds, I was curious if you could recommend me some good flats for a 5 string.

I currently use TI's on my 4 banger and I love them, but I'm concerned that the low tension may not give me a good B string, though I'm hoping I'm wrong.

Thanks!

bongomania · #2 05-19-2009, 04:10 PM

It's a crapshoot, and very subjective. I have three 34" 5'ers, and I've owned a few more, and whether the TI flat low B was good or not varied dramatically from one bass to the next. Same is true for every other brand/model I've tried. IOW as far as I can tell, there's no guideline other than "try it and see", because it varies for different basses.

Mastermold · #3 05-20-2009, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thisSNsucks

I have a 5 String P coming my way this week and as a lover of Flatwounds, I was curious if you could recommend me some good flats for a 5 string.

I currently use TI's on my 4 banger and I love them, but I'm concerned that the low tension may not give me a good B string, though I'm hoping I'm wrong.

Thanks!

I've got TI flats on my Fender P5er and really like them. Very easy to play. The B-string was just okay for about the first week I played them, but after that it started to season and now I'm pleased with the tone. They're staying on for the next few years I'm sure.

ElMon · #4 05-20-2009, 03:26 PM

I really liked the Sadowsky Flat's I had on my RV5. Nice tension, good pitch clarity down low. The TI's were nice as well, but too floppy for my tastes.

Sparkdog · #5 05-20-2009, 03:31 PM

I've been using Chromes for a long time and have never found anything I like better, so I put a set on my Lakland DJ5. They were superb.

Great B string tone and beautifully balanced.

You will have to special order the extra-long set for a 35" scale because I guarantee nobody has them in stock, but the standard 5 string set fits 34" scale just fine.

Mastermold · #6 05-20-2009, 03:51 PM

Yeah I had D'Addario Chromes on a Squier fiver and liked them. I'd be willing to try them on a Fender P5.

HogieWan · #7 05-20-2009, 03:56 PM

chromes sound great on my jazz-ish 5er fretless

chunkstyle · #8 05-20-2009, 04:14 PM

sadowsky flats or TIs.

the TI B-string sounded great on my G&L L-1505. it was a little loose, but so were the other strings. if you like TI Flats now, you'll love them on your 5 string Fender.

Joe Smithberger · #9 05-22-2009, 08:45 PM

Here's a vote for LaBella Deep Talkin Light Gage flats. I have them strung through the bridge (not the body) and they are very nice. I think the Sadowskys and LaBellas are interchangeable. Both of these sets have a tapered B and the G string is unusually strong sounding compared to the rest of the set.