"New" Fender Flatwounds

88ric2030 · #1 03-01-2010, 08:28 PM

Just looking at Musician's Friend and I ran across these. Just wondering if anybody here has tried them yet. If so are they any different from the old Fender flats, or is this just new packaging ?

Reason I ask, they are on sale for $18.99. I tried the "old" Fender flats once, hated the high tension (prefer Chromes for flatwound)
and swore I'd never buy them again, but if they've revamped them somewhat, I'd be willing to give some a shot at this price.

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...ght?sku=423285

jasper383 · #2 03-02-2010, 04:01 AM

Looks like same strings (9050 model), with new packaging and new gauges.

The 45-100 set looks interesting; same gauges as the ECB81 set of Chromes, and Fender's the 50-100 set always seemed kind of strange gauge-wise.

Meatrus · #3 03-02-2010, 04:20 AM

I'm sure they are the same as the old ones, but they may be worth trying again using the 45-100, they dont have bad tension at all. The 45-100 isnt new either, and were around way before the new packaging, (I know because I have them on my bass!

). So I cant see anything new except the pack, which does look pretty cool compared to the old one

.

Onalargerock · #4 03-02-2010, 10:58 AM

yes looks like new packaging same old stock number juststrings has the the light in the new packaging but still have heavier gauge in the old would have been interesting if fender did have another flat wound.

Onalargerock · #5 03-02-2010, 11:02 AM

just been to the fender site new box packing fo all there strings bass and other here they are http://www.fender.com/features/strings/#bass_strings

PSPookie · #6 03-02-2010, 11:36 AM

I put a set of these on my L2000 on Friday. I'm playing through a new amp and the strings aren't broken in yet so the jury's still out. Based on my memory of the old Fender flats, these have a more manageable tension.

jasper383 · #7 03-02-2010, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meatrus

The 45-100 isnt new either, and were around way before the new packaging, (I know because I have them on my bass!

). So I cant see anything new except the pack, which does look pretty cool compared to the old one

.

The 45-100 set is new: The light set used to be 45-95, and is now 45-100.

The ML set 50-100 and M 55-105 set haven't changed.

Meatrus · #8 03-02-2010, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasper383

The 45-100 set is new: The light set used to be 45-95, and is now 45-100.

The ML set 50-100 and M 55-105 set haven't changed.

So I see....now

, I thought I remembered them being 100 on the E, which is how this http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/produ...50_100_55_105_ site says, but you can see on the pack that it says 95. My (and that sites!) bad.

Beefbass · #9 03-02-2010, 03:53 PM

The new ones say Made in USA, where the older sets say Assembled in Mexico with USA materials. I'm guessing that it means that they're using a whole new facility to make these in? There's nothing on Fenders website indicating this.

If so, I HOPE they're doing a better job. I still really like their roundwounds, but I can swear, the last couple of sets of Fender flatwounds I've used had something wrong with them. They were definitely different from the first ones I bought 10 years ago.

My name is Mudd · #10 04-26-2010, 05:41 PM

Just in case...y'all know that this isn't the only thread for these strings, don't you? I know PSPookie already is aware, but some of you may have missed the other one.

Meatrus · #11 04-27-2010, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by My name is Mudd

Just in case...y'all know that this isn't the only thread for these strings, don't you? I know PSPookie already is aware, but some of you may have missed the other one.

Check the date of the two threads, nobody (except you) posted here since the other thread has been up

.

My name is Mudd · #12 04-27-2010, 03:07 PM

Yeah, I noticed that...afterwards (I wasn't terribly alert yesterday in general for some reason, and this just proves it). I'm still hoping for an answer to my tension question in the other one, tho...

guitardefector · #13 04-28-2010, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88ric2030

Just looking at Musician's Friend and I ran across these. Just wondering if anybody here has tried them yet. If so are they any different from the old Fender flats, or is this just new packaging ?

Reason I ask, they are on sale for $18.99. I tried the "old" Fender flats once, hated the high tension (prefer Chromes for flatwound)
and swore I'd never buy them again, but if they've revamped them somewhat, I'd be willing to give some a shot at this price.

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...ght?sku=423285

BUY THEM!! I just put them on my Squier II P-bass. They sound heavenly, with a smooth, creamy low end. They're not "plumber's snakes" like the old ones and they have a lot less tension. That oily. garage smell is still there but not as pungent.
They do mimic DA Chromes, but they're not as rubberbandish as chromes, just solid, classic Fender.

My only beef initially was that they seemed to clang more than the old ones when I fretted, but I can overlook that. Overall, they're amazing! Gonna buy more sets soon to stock up. I don't get the lower price and Made in USA?? Always thought that would make them even more expensive but...I ain't complaining.