Looking for the right flats

klharper · #1 10-11-2006, 11:18 PM

Hey guys,
I'm thinking of switching over and trying flats for a bit. I have a TBC JJ and looking for a nice set of flats to compliment it

. But a few things to ponder.

Is it a bad idea to be slapping/tapping on flats? I'm not huge on either but I do on occasion.
Mainly I'm looking for a nice tone though. While I do want flats, I dont want super dark tone or anything - perhaps a tone that is bright for flats, but fat and mellow if it WERE to be coming from rounds. So I'm probalby looking for the brighter sets of flats that are out there.
Also, I need decent tension. I can't really stand super floppy strings. But I don't need to be really working my hands just to play, I am actually predominantly a violin player haha

So, basically, I need a good set of flats with mellow tone (but with brightness, especially if you're talking relative to a lot of flats) and decent tension, but nothing I'd want to tight rope walk on.
Right now I've been mainly looking at TI Jazz Flats and Labella 760 FS/FL (I hear there's a jump in tightness from FL to FS, despite its slight gauge differences?). Am I in the right direction? Suggestions?
Thanks!

::::BASSIST:::: · #2 10-12-2006, 12:24 AM

I've tried alot of different flats and I always come back to the Chromes. Its to the point now I dont even bother looking elsewhere. Best flats made in my opinion, although those pyramids look nice too, but they are tres expensive.

sunbeast · #3 10-12-2006, 12:54 AM

D'addario Chromes and Rotosound RS77s are both very bright flatwound strings with high tension. The Rotosounds have a higher tension in my experience than the Chromes, and they are my favorites soundwise...but they have a lower output than most strings which bothers me (the outer layer is made of "Monel," which is apparently not as effected by magnetism as other string materials), and they are known for selling the occasional bad string out of the box (I've only gotten 1 in 3 years, but people are constantly claiming this to be a problem). I just bought a set of the just-released DR Hi-Beams flatwounds, but haven't really had them long enough to make an opinion (they literally just started selling them within the last couple of weeks!). I think the LaBellas are the highest tension of all but have a more old-school (not bright) sound- I have never tried those. The TIs are also more old school in tone, and reputedly have the lowest tension of all- I wouldn't recommend either of those strings for what you are looking for (but this is based completely on other peoples experiences- I haven't tried the LaBellas or TIs).

You can slap and tap with flatwounds, but it won't be the same as with roundwounds- you won't get nearly as much high end snap and pop with any flatwounds, and they tend to have somewhat less sustain- which makes tapping a little different. However, once you've played flats for awhile, other strings will feel like sandpaper on your fingers! Flats make it much easier for me to play really fast finger picking passages and move quicker with the left hand on the neck as well- which is why I have stuck with them on at least 1 bass at any time.

Karl Zickrick

LoveThatBass · #4 10-12-2006, 05:16 PM

D'addario Chromes or Rotosound RS77s

Of the two, expect the Chromes to last longest

saxnbass · #5 10-12-2006, 05:31 PM

The flats that I always used were the D'Addario Chromes.
Only D'Addarios I ever liked. I want to try the new DRs though.

bertbassplayer · #6 10-15-2006, 08:20 PM

I have EB Flats on my Warwick and they seem to have a bit of brightness to them while still being nice a mellow.

Marcus · #7 10-15-2006, 10:24 PM

The only flats I've EVER liked were Sadowsky flats... I don't know who makes'em, but they're branded as Sadowsky flats. They feel nice, have good tension and have killer low-mids, with a fair amount of bright top end.

klharper · #8 10-15-2006, 10:58 PM

I just picked up a set of Chromes, 45-100
So I guess I'll sit on those for a while and see how I like them
Theyre the only flats I got a generally accepted "bright sound" response for, next to the Rotosound 77s (which I was originally looking at). I had heard the same thing for LaBellas (which seemed to be generally not accepted as being bright), that Sadowskys are much like LaBellas. But I'll keep all these ideas in mind.
Thanks for all the input, more would be appreciated as well too

klharper · #9 10-15-2006, 11:42 PM

Oh, and
Since I have a TBC, I can top-load the strings through the bridge or string-through the body. Is there a "preference" that works better for flats (I think I remember reading somewhere taht someone had problems with flats on a string-thru, but that could have been entirly coincidence).

And, should I cut the strings at the ends? (I just realized I have no wire cutters...) I've seen a few posts about people having trouble having chromes fit on their basses, and I've seen a few peopel say just not to cut them.

6pack Jon · #10 10-16-2006, 12:38 AM

Its actually the wrappings on the end of the Cromes. Sometimes it goes into the nut area. You might want to cut that way. The rest of the ends you would cut like any other string.

Dan Molina · #11 10-16-2006, 02:03 AM

I like dean markley's they're very dark sounding. I don't think they make them anymore though.

Chromes are nice if you like bright flats.

tplyons · #12 10-16-2006, 08:57 AM

When given the choice I've always strung flats through the bridge rather than the body. IMO one of the beautiful things about flats is the seeming lack of sustain that adds to the thump.

Vandelay · #13 10-16-2006, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus Alan

The only flats I've EVER liked were Sadowsky flats... I don't know who makes'em, but they're branded as Sadowsky flats. They feel nice, have good tension and have killer low-mids, with a fair amount of bright top end.

+1, I've got Sadowsky flats on my P-bass right now and I like them pretty well. Marcus Alan's description of the feel and the tone seems correct. I've never tried any other flats, so I can't compare. They definitely DON'T sound like rounds, so be prepared to spend some time getting used to them.

clanner · #14 10-16-2006, 10:36 PM

i can't find the dr flats anywhere online. i always loved their rounds (switched to TI flats to record) and was hoping they'd come out in flatwounds (i'm kind of disappointed in the d'addario half wounds, to rough feeling)

i'd sat wither tomastik infeld jazz flats or the new dr flats.

any one know where i can get the drs online our in a shop in the atlanta/marietta/powder springs GA area?

Dan Molina · #15 10-16-2006, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clanner

i can't find the dr flats anywhere online. i always loved their rounds (switched to TI flats to record) and was hoping they'd come out in flatwounds (i'm kind of disappointed in the d'addario half wounds, to rough feeling)

i'd sat wither tomastik infeld jazz flats or the new dr flats.

any one know where i can get the drs online our in a shop in the atlanta/marietta/powder springs GA area?

http://juststrings.com/drstringselectricbassguitar.html

seanm · #16 10-16-2006, 11:34 PM

For those who like the Chromes, I'm interested in the guage you use. I myself prefer the "orange set", 50-105. But it seems most people like the "red set", 45-100.

Dan Molina · #17 10-16-2006, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanm

For those who like the Chromes, I'm interested in the guage you use. I myself prefer the "orange set", 50-105. But it seems most people like the "red set", 45-100.

I'm using the Orange .105's as well. I prefer the higher tension of the E.

saxnbass · #18 10-17-2006, 03:11 AM

I don't know about flats, but I like my roundwounds 45, 65, 85, 105. Medium

I don't know if they have that for the Chromes. I used the Chromes once, and actually liked them cause they were bright for being flat wound, could still play my slap quite nicely. They were the "Pink Set" cause that's all the store had, Light I think.