Looking for Flats for a string thru bridge

tlr1293 · #1 12-28-2010, 07:13 AM

Not liking Chromes.
Love the tone TI's kick out, but they are just a tad too loose that my play style creates excessive fret-clank.
Not looking for the $75 Pyramid experiment.
LOVE, LOVE Labella FL's.

About to get my first Fender American Standard and would love to string it up with my favorite style of string - flats.
(thru the body)

Any suggestions on flats, halves playing like flats?

Labella make strings like the Fender 8250's that come on new Am Std's?

Thanks all.

PS. no need for the 'don't string thru the body suggestions'. The 'it doesn't make a difference' argument is OK for some - but this is a request for suggestions on flats (or similar) strings that CAN be strung thru the body. Appreciate your enthusiasm, but rather just get positive suggestions - thanks.

madmatt · #2 12-28-2010, 07:22 AM

Well LaBella specifically states do not string through body.
I am using Fender .050-.100 flats through the body of my American deluxe P and they are working well.
And they are cheap too!

JTE · #3 12-28-2010, 10:43 AM

I have GHS Precision Flats on my Sting Bass (Fender's replica of a 1954 P bass, with the two saddle string-through bridge). I love those flats (and the Lakland version, the Joe Osborn flats) because they like they have about the same tension as my favorite rounds, the DR Sunbeams and Hi-Beams. Plus, while they have the essential thump that I want from flats, they also have a definite note (unlike the LaBellas I used 30 years ago).

While Lakland warns not to string them through the body, I did and they worked fine, having been on that bass for well over a year, maybe two.

John

REAPER52 · #4 12-28-2010, 10:46 AM

I am using TI j344 flats strung through on my Jazz Fretless and love them.

tlr1293 · #5 12-28-2010, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REAPER52

I am using TI j344 flats strung through on my Jazz Fretless and love them.

Did you find the tension tighten a bit with stringing through the body?

Intangible · #6 12-28-2010, 11:45 AM

I really like the DR flats I got, though I haven't gone through the body with them.

REAPER52 · #7 12-28-2010, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlr1293

Did you find the tension tighten a bit with stringing through the body?

didnt really notice any tension difference , but i was not really paying attention to that - i just love the feel -sound and everything about these strings. alot of people on here say the tension is to low for them, i guess to me its not an issue. i play blues and motown stuff and dont really dig in alot , so thats my take . do a search on T I'S
in the strings section -for that matter do a search on flats and youll get lots of different veiws.

And the thing about flats are not for strung through - doesnt seem to hold water to me either.

C.Linton · #8 12-28-2010, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTE

I have GHS Precision Flats on my Sting Bass (Fender's replica of a 1954 P bass, with the two saddle string-through bridge). I love those flats (and the Lakland version, the Joe Osborn flats) because they like they have about the same tension as my favorite rounds, the DR Sunbeams and Hi-Beams. Plus, while they have the essential thump that I want from flats, they also have a definite note (unlike the LaBellas I used 30 years ago).

While Lakland warns not to string them through the body, I did and they worked fine, having been on that bass for well over a year, maybe two.

John

+1 on the GHS Precision flats. I like the tone, and they are silky smooth, and they are not that expensive. They come in an extra long version that is perfect for a string thru setup. I have them on all my basses but one. I may change one or two basses to rounds, just for variety's sake, but these are staying on my primary. (Squier VM P).

JTE · #9 12-28-2010, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlr1293

Did you find the tension tighten a bit with stringing through the body?

I also had some TI Jazz Flats on my Sting for a short while (I'd used TI Flats on my Precision and on my fretless too). I didn't like them so much. First, they really don't sound like a traditional flatwound string to me. It's a wonderful sound, but not what I want for a flat. Second, the tension is just uncomfortable for me. Just a bit too light, especially when I switch from the other basses to one strung with the TI's.

And, no, there's no difference in tension when you string through the body. Plenty of threads about that one already -including my true side-by-side test... but the OP doesn't want this thread to dig into that mess again, he's only looking for discussion of what strings work STB.

John