Lower tension flats (not TIJFs)?

[Jared Lash]

So here's the deal. I bought some Jazz Flats a while back. I liked the tone okay initially, but after they settled in I liked it quite a bit. They are perfect for reggae, so I've moved them onto a beater Squire Jazz that I'll be taking to an audition.

But for the modern hip-hop/modern R&B (think Pino with D'Angelo) they are just too floppy, especially if I downtune at all.

But at the same time, I'm very comfortable on lower tension rounds (Sunbeams & Slinkys on two of my basses) and while I'm okay with somewhat higher tension, I don't want a huge difference.

What's next up on the tension ladder after TIs?

Any suggestions?

[elBandito]

Chromes in light gauge(40-100) are fairly low tension. Feels about the same as medium(45-105) rounds.

[ProfGumby]

The chromes are great, but will give you a very zingy sound, especially at first, for flats. The Detroit Bass flats from webstrings are awesome too. Deeper fatter flatwound sound, without the tension.

I have some DR flatwounds on one bass and the Detroit flats on another. Both have that great thump of a flatwound, but the Detroits from Webstrings are much nicer to play. I have never done any measuring of the tension or any type of comparison from any posted specs, but the Detroits just feel so nice!

And they are 19 bucks a set!


www.webstrings.com

[Darkstrike]

Chromes are the next step up in tension.

[fretlessguy]

I second Darkstrike for Chromes. GHS Precision flats as well.

FG

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by ProfGumby

I have some DR flatwounds on one bass and the Detroit flats on another.

Thanks for the recommendations. However, in the interim I got a chance to play a bass with Chromes and just wasn't a fan. I'm very interested in DR Flats at the moment. How is the tension on those?

I'm pretty much down to the DRs or the LaBella 760FLs. Anybody know how those two compare tension wise?

Thanks!

[Mr. Ray]

Pyramid Gold or Labella Light Flats

[Deacon_Blues]

Originally Posted by Mr. Ray

Pyramid Gold or Labella Light Flats

+1. I haven't tried the light labella flats but I liked the standard gauge although I have only one day experience with them (I put them on my dad's bass).

The pyramids are relatively low tension and reminds a bit of the TI's, and you can here how they sound heavily downtuned by clicking on the link in my last post in the "...flatwound convert" thread (post 398). They have a very typical flats sound, and are miles away from the chromes soundwise.

[lmfreeman9]

I use the DR Flats and the LaBella FS. The DR's have slightly less tension.