Medium-low Tension Flats?

[KingRazor]

I don't like super high tension strings, but I don't like floppy strings either. I've heard people say strings like TI Jazz Flats are too floppy (and their sound isn't quite the best from what I've heard from recordings with them). But then most other flats sound like they have as much tension as steel bars. Is there a happy medium?

Another question: Does anyone know what flats Lakland uses? Do they have their own in-house brand or does some other company make them?

This is kind of the sound I'm going for from flat wounds:

http://lakland.com/ac_glaubpj.htm (click finger funk: flats to hear what I'm talking about)

[KingRazor]

The Labella 760FL set looks pretty nicely balanced. How's the tension compared to a round wound set of similar gauge?

[RCCollins]

those are the lowest tension labellas, and they're still pretty stiff.

[Marton]

GHS 95-45 are medium-low tension, IME.

Or low tension, but not floppy.

Try them, they're cheap !

[KingRazor]

Originally Posted by Marton

GHS 95-45 are medium-low tension, IME.

Or low tension, but not floppy.

Try them, they're cheap !

Do they have a more balanced set than that? Like 105-45?

Edit: What's the difference between the M3075 (Brites) and the M3050 (Precision) flats?

[Shoewreck]

TI Jazz Flats are not floppy at all, compared to rounds.

[ReBass]

I've never found TI flats to be floppy either. They're very well balanced, and IMO sound great - both live and recorded.

[bassmandallas]

Sadowsky flats made by Labella is how I roll

[KingRazor]

Interesting, a lot of the time I read that TI flats are really floppy. But I'm just not all that interested in their tone, I've heard it recorded and don't like it as much as strings I've heard.

Any know about the GHS strings? Which ones are fairly low tension and which ones sound more like the ones in that recording?

[ExaltBass]

Another Sadowsky flat user/fan here. I use their 45-105 set on my P-Bass, P-J & Fretless. They are very musical and get nice and smooth with age. I have used their 40-100 sets until recently, but wanted just a 'smidge' more tension.

BTW: I did try TI and they were too floppy for me. DR & Fender were the other end of the spectrum... too much tension.

[lowendfriend]

Sadowsky flats are a good recommendation for what the OP is looking for. They are not floppy but they are nicely "pluckable" if that makes any sense. They are not high tension and as stainless flats they have a little brighter side to them. Go with the larger of the two black label gauges. For your reference in string discussions, the Sadowskys are manufactured by LaBella to Roger's specs.

[KingRazor]

Do Sadowsky strings have that cloth on the ends? I hate that (not a total deal breaker though)

Also, where can you buy Sadowsky flats?

[mccartneyman]

Originally Posted by KingRazor

Do Sadowsky strings have that cloth on the ends? I hate that (not a total deal breaker though)

Also, where can you buy Sadowsky flats?

Buy Sadowskys from Sadowsky directly, or from EBay, where I got mine. They do not have wrapping. Tension on Sadowsky flats is somewhere between TI and Chromes. Lakland Joe Osborn Flats are made for Lakland by GHS and tension is the highest of the four I've mentioned. I do not find TIs to be floppy, but "floppy" is in the fingers of the player. I currently have Sadwoskys on my 55-94 and they have a bit more top end, more bottom and less mid than TIs. Chromes sounded better on my Jazz bass.

As for how TIs sound when recorded, bear in mind that the bass and how it was recorded has everything to do with how it sounds. I did a session last year with 3-year-old TIs on my 55-94. We went straight to the board, through an Amplitube plug-in, with the 55-94 controls set flat except for a slight rolloff of mids and favoring the rear pickup a bit on the blend knob. Two weeks later while mixing, the engineer called to ask what bass I had used because they couldn't get the other bassist's Sting Ray, with rounds, to sound as good.

[KingRazor]

Unfortunately Sadowsky doesn't appear to list the prices of their strings on their site.

[phmike]

I always heard folks say TI Jazz flats were floppy but I tried them and think they are just fine. If you pluck/dig in hard they will seem looser than other flats but if you pluck lightly (and turn the volume up to compensate) they feel great.

[KeiBau]

Originally Posted by KingRazor

The Labella 760FL set looks pretty nicely balanced. How's the tension compared to a round wound set of similar gauge?

The Labella 760FL along with their "sibling" Sadowsky flats are my favorites. Sadowsky on my fretless and Labella on my BTB fretted. I've also used Chrome flats and both TI rounds and flats on the BTB. I agree with mccartneyman on the comparisons of those. None of the strings mentioned have I disliked.

[mcm]

chromes 40-95. this gauge range doesnt get mentioned enough around here. not too stiffy and not too floppy.

[WoollyMammoth]

I like the TI flats. Just play them closer to the bridge. I am using some Rotosound 77LD right now and didn't like them at first. The E was just weird, but after some time of settling in I think they sound better than Chromes. They are. bit stiff...

[WoollyMammoth]

Originally Posted by WoollyMammoth

I like the TI flats. Just play them closer to the bridge. I am using some Rotosound 77LD right now and didn't like them at first. The E was just weird, but after some time of settling in I think they sound better than Chromes. They are. bit stiff...

By weird I am dying that it was super stiff and had no life or sustain. But it git better by the day as did the other strings too.

[jasper383]

Originally Posted by RCCollins

those are the lowest tension labellas, and they're still pretty stiff.

There is a La Bella 760FX set that is thinner gauge. 38-96 I believe. They are in the TI Jazz Flat ballpark.

I suggest the light Chromes, the La Bella 760FX set, or the light GHS Precision Flats.