Making a balanced chrome set

KingRazor · #1 08-31-2010, 02:18 PM

I haven't played on Chromes in person, but I have played flats (unknown brand, could have been chromes possibly) and I have heard sound clips of chromes and they definitely seem like the flats I want.

The problem is the tension is pretty unbalanced in their sets. So I want to try and make a balanced set.

Unfortunately there's another problem. Even though they have a .055 gauge string listed in their tension guide, it doesn't look like any of their sets include a .055 gauge string. The lowest gauge D string they sell is a .060, which in order to make a balanced set would require me to get a .045, .060, .80 and .110 set. A bit heavy for my tastes.

Yet another problem is they don't sell their strings individually, at least, not chromes. So even if they did sell a .055 gauge D string I'd have to buy two seperate packs of strings.

Why does D'Addario have to be so difficult?!

FunkMetalBass · #2 08-31-2010, 02:28 PM

Most companies don't sell a majority of their strings as individuals. If you contacted D'Addario, though, they might be able to help you out. Otherwise, DR, Rotosound, TI, and a slew of others have great, accommodating customer service.

KingRazor · #3 08-31-2010, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

Most companies don't sell a majority of their strings as individuals. If you contacted D'Addario, though, they might be able to help you out. Otherwise, DR, Rotosound, TI, and a slew of others have great, accommodating customer service.

I'm sure they do, but I really like the sound of Chromes so I wanted to try them out.

One Drop · #4 08-31-2010, 03:03 PM

Tension doesn't always mean stiffness.

joelb79 · #5 08-31-2010, 03:38 PM

I used the Chrome's light set. I see what your getting at with the 45-60-80-110.. Just try the lights i bet you they have the feel you like based on your 45-80 choices. The 100 E sounds just fine, I would think that the ones above 100 (105-110) would be way too hard, I might be wrong.

Light chrome flats felt best to me though. Much easier to express your notes. FYI, my XL set is 40-55-75-105.

KingRazor · #6 08-31-2010, 03:47 PM

The set I would go with ideally would be .040, .055, .075, .100. But that's not an option :P

This isn't an issue of low tension vs high tension as much as an issue of balanced tension.

With a 40-55-75-100 set the tension would be 37.6, 36.6, 36.4, 38.4; all very close

jasper383 · #7 08-31-2010, 06:50 PM

Brook Mays has a really good Bass Chromes selection:
http://www.brookmays.com/department.asp?prodcode=k9ae

I just scanned the list real quick, but it looks like they have all of the gauges you're looking for, except the .100 as a single. You could buy the .100 as part of the 45-100 set.

Either this, or contact D'Addario. They have great customer service, as do most string companies, in my experience.

Be careful, you won't want to go back after you assemble a very even tension set.

KingRazor · #8 08-31-2010, 10:50 PM

I'll probably talk to Daddario and see what I can get.

The reason I was going with Daddarios is they have a lot more of the zing that round wounds have than most flats. However, recently I've been looking into TI Jazz Flats and they seem to have even more of that. Plus the tension on them appears more balanced. I think I might want to give them a try (although at $50 a set I really hope I like them)

mongo2 · #9 09-01-2010, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasper383

Brook Mays has a really good Bass Chromes selection:
http://www.brookmays.com/department.asp?prodcode=k9ae

I just scanned the list real quick, but it looks like they have all of the gauges you're looking for, except the .100 as a single. You could buy the .100 as part of the 45-100 set.

This.

Then you'd already have a 45-100 set to try if the tension matched set doesn't work out.