NO MORE CHROMES FOR ME!

[fordkisskrazy]

Sorry but need to vent, I've been using flat wound chromes for 3 years on three of my bass's. I bought a new p bass, squier vm, 2 weeks ago and bought chromes for it right away.Put em on or tryed to and the d and g strings just broke right where you put them in the tuners, I mean just snapped! I took them back to gc and they gave me a new set, now two weeks later I'm ready to take the bass back. It sounds like poo! nothing I do makes it right. I thought I really screwed up buying this squier but heck it played and sounded better then any of the mim fenders I was gonna get, I let my ears and fingers decide not the name.Shoot my jazz sounds deeper and fuller, Thinking the pickup or something is messing up I put the stock strings back on to take it back and holy cow! it sounds like a p bass again! I put that set of chromes on my nr tbird and its sounds like crap. These strings just suck! they don't sound like they are even a set, very mismatched. Also no matter what, they make my bass's sound almost distorted? or like you would have the gain turned up all the way on a small amp, even on my big rig it sounds the same. Pure poo! Don't know if anyone else is having any problems with chromes, hope not but they' ve lost my buissness. Now to find another set of flat wounds........ Any recomendations?

[pedroims]

I have TI and Sadowsky on my P's , thinking on getting lakland flats for my JO. I tried chromes and did not like them.

[mdogs]

Hmmm, would you say they sucked the life out of your bass?

[shawshank72]

I have a set of chromes that are at least 5yrs old, if anything happened I would cry. They play smooth and buttery.

[88ric2030]

I've got them on a Ric, a Beatle bass copy and a Dano Longhorn, all great sets , no problems.

[BassDaddy77]

Hmmm. Maybe the Chromes need to break in for a couple weeks? I've never heard anyone say that they sound distorted, but folks have experienced a "chorus-like" quality to the sound when they are brand new. My Chromes are very even string to string and are wounderful sounding. As far as other brands are concerned, I hear that LaBella flats are great especially when paired with a P bass. I'm sorry to hear about your experience with the Chromes.

[fordkisskrazy]

mdogs YES! thats it exactly, sucked the life right out of it.
Shawshank72, I know what you mean the set I took off my nr tbird to try this pos set of strings are three years old and its gonna suck when they go.
Bassdaddy77, I think they are just bad, I've never had a set sound so uneven and well just bad. I play atleast 2 hours a day usally more and I've been playing this bass hard since I got it so am sure its the strings. Don't know if its just a bad batch or what but I aint wasting my time or cash on em

[mccartneyman]

Having used TI Flats for years and tried Chromes, I can now safely recommend Sadowsky flats over either one. Didn't really care for the Chromes except on a Lakland DJ% with Fralin PUPs. The Sadwoskys sound great on my 55-94.

[Koog]

I'm not familiar with Chromes, but do play flats exclusively using RotoSound RS77LDs. One of the things Roto says is that if you run past the silk on the strings with your windings so there is string metal on the post there is a danger of string breakage and the RotoSound warrenty is void.

So, if the Chromes have silk on the post end and your windings leave metal on the post, maybe this is what causes the breakage. I would think the problem would most commonly occur on E and G, depending on your headstock configuration. And, of course, B on a fiver.

Conversely, if the silks on the ball end of the string sit on saddles, it will dampen sound. It is better to have the string metal contact on the saddle.

Check these two things, it may help you solve the problem.

As an FYI, the Roto RS77LDs work for me on basses from 33" scale to 35" scale with no problem with the silks on either end. I do have a 32" scale and because I'm so sold on these strings, I'm having my luthier convert the 32"er to a string through to give me enough stringing length on the bass to accommodate the "proper silking" on both ends.

Hope this helps, and if the Chromes don't work for you, don't give up on flats. Try the Rotos....they're awesome strings. I've used them very successfully for many years in both live show and studio recording settings. And, I've never broken a Roto.

Good luck!

Koog.

[TeamTrejo]

I switched to these.

Buy Fender 9120 Nylon Tapewound Bass Strings | Acoustic Bass Guitar Strings | Musician's Friend

Still smooth like flats but to my ears seem brighter without being harsh

[CamiloDíaz]

La Bella Deep Talkin Bass Standard. Nuff said

[tjh]

" if the Chromes have silk on the post end and your windings leave metal on the post, maybe this is what causes the breakage. I would think the problem would most commonly occur on E and G, depending on your headstock configuration. "

... that would be pretty tough to do on Chromes, as the silk runs long on post end, very near the nut ... I actully like the Chromes I have, for what they are, not what I would call a 'conventional' sounding flatwound, but unique in itself ...

[Sleeq]

NO MORE CHROMES FOR ME!

You have chosen... wisely.

[fordkisskrazy]

Hey thanks all. And yes the chromes were on right, the first ones that broke broke in the silk right as I was bending them down after putting them in the holes in the tuners, they just snaped. I hadent even started tightening them yet.
Think I'm gonna order a set of La bellas and maybe a set of the new fender flats. I love the sound of flats so to me they are a must have. Thanks again.

[Darth Handsome]

I love Chromes. Love love love love love them.

Not that you asked.........

[cybersnyder]

I'm quite happy with my chromes. But I prefer the .100 set over the .105 for a little less tension.

[wshines1892]

eh, your call. I like them FOR CERTAIN THINGS. I think a lot of people take the praise that they get around here out of context and think that the power of chromes will zap through your bass and make your dream tone come true. It just won't work that way though.

A set of strings has certain characteristics that some people may like, and some may not. At the moment, I have my P strung up with Daddario Pro Steels, which sound great broken in. When they were new though, I hated the things.

Now the Chromes are sitting on my fretless J and I like the tone I get form both of them. Rounds don't boom like flats and flats don't grind like rounds.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by BassDaddy77

but folks have experienced a "chorus-like" quality to the sound when they are brand new.

I have experienced this with my Chromes, but I was used to it from having previously used D'Addario strings and had the same issue with new Ernie Ball strings. I figured it was just a part of getting new strings, as a few days playing and that chorus-like sound was gone.

Originally Posted by cybersnyder

I'm quite happy with my chromes. But I prefer the .100 set over the .105 for a little less tension.

Yup, 0.045 - 0.100 for me. I havent bought new strings for my 5er yet, but I plan on trying out the .045-.132 Chromes before trying anything else.

[4Mal]

hmmm. I just loaded a newly finished P with a fresh set of chromes. No breakage, no chorusing just the typical zing of a new 'Chrome' ... I like 'em. I like TIJF's too and laBella 760N tapewounds...

[canadian_man_44]

This is not an issue I've ever had with Chromes. Seems like it might be a bad batch as has been indicated at some point earlier, it could have been a bad batch. The good news is D'addario has great customer service. Fill in the form at the link below and give them your complaint and they will generally send you out a replacement set free of charge....at least that has been my experience.
D'Addario Strings : Contact Us