A quick Fender flats L/ML tension question

kipsus · #1 01-20-2008, 10:25 AM

I had a set of Stainless Steel ML Fender flats on ym fretless but found them to be too stiff, so I downtuned to DGCF and that felt quite OK. Now I got a L set as a gift that is ,005" lighter on all strings.

The question is, how much lighter it really is? If it's like ML set tuned to DGCF, then I'm putting them on. If not, I'll try to sell them and buy some GHS strings.

Any input appreciated.

glwanabe · #2 01-20-2008, 11:05 AM

How long did you give them? Fender flats take a while to break in, then they become a bit looser. Fenders are at the top of my list for flats, once they are broken in. I do not like them new. Give them a chance to mature a bit.

The lights also have a rep as being very twangy on the D and G in that size. They should be better once they have matured as well.

I've got a set of well broken in ML on my Geddy Jazz. The combo flat out works. Great growly tones, and a solid bottom.

kipsus · #3 01-20-2008, 11:20 AM

About a year. They do have a great tone, just that after a while I felt that theres too much tension for me. Downtuned a wholestep and voila!

KrispyJones · #4 01-20-2008, 12:08 PM

the LM are stiff like hell !!!! no comparsion to the L - the best flat string to me !!!

jasper383 · #5 01-20-2008, 12:14 PM

The Ls are surprisingly less in tension than the MLs. My Guitar Center only had the MLs, and they turned me off of Fender flats for a long time. Ordered a set of Ls, and they are looser. Fenders are my second favorite flat, next to TI.

mello_bedwetter · #6 01-20-2008, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glwanabe

How long did you give them? Fender flats take a while to break in, then they become a bit looser. Fenders are at the top of my list for flats, once they are broken in. I do not like them new. Give them a chance to mature a bit.

The lights also have a rep as being very twangy on the D and G in that size. They should be better once they have matured as well.

I've got a set of well broken in ML on my Geddy Jazz. The combo flat out works. Great growly tones, and a solid bottom.

I have the Geddy but the stock strings are on it, Fender medium rounds. Have you tried the Fender flats in the medium gauge on your Geddy? The reason I'm asking is that's the only gauge the music store in town carries. I have medium flats on my Fender Standard Jazz and love the sound, they are EB's though.

glwanabe · #7 01-21-2008, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mello_bedwetter

I have the Geddy but the stock strings are on it, Fender medium rounds. Have you tried the Fender flats in the medium gauge on your Geddy? The reason I'm asking is that's the only gauge the music store in town carries. I have medium flats on my Fender Standard Jazz and love the sound, they are EB's though.

I have tried the "M" set on a Precision only. They are a great sounding string. I did string up a set of LaBella's .049-.109. They worked well, tonewise, and I might stick another set of them on again , but in a lighter gauge.

I had the Labella's on this bass before I had put longer barrell screws on a vintage bridge. This kept me from properly intonating the bass. On the Geddy the bridge mounting location is approx 5/16" further back than standard. This means that while a BAII has plenty of adjustment, the vintage style with the standard 1.5" screws is to short.

While I really like the Fenders on here now that I have it properly set up, I'm interested to see what some lighter gauge Labella's would sound like. I also had a set of Chromes on this bass for a few weeks, and they worked well.

I've tried some Roto flats on this bass as well. I did not like them as much. There was just something about them on the Geddy that sounded off. They sound fine on my Standard jazz though.

I also think that a lighter gauge string as opposed to a heavier string works better with this bass.

mello_bedwetter · #8 01-21-2008, 06:19 AM

glwanabe....thanks for the info. I just may get some flats on the Geddy today.

kipsus · #9 01-21-2008, 12:33 PM

So I did put them on.. The E string is too twangy (like a piano - lotsa a harmonics but no fundamental). Which might be okay for other strings but not the lowest one. So might end up leaving old E + new A D G strings.

Oh and flats can go "dead". Mines were so dull that I had trouble tuning them with harmonics..

KrispyJones · #10 01-21-2008, 02:20 PM

are you talking about fender flats ?

they need to be played about 3-4 weeks untill they sound good
but then they re the best flats on earth !!!

joelc1319 · #11 02-20-2009, 07:35 AM

Revival!!

I'm interested in the 9050's for my Am. J-Bass, mainly because of the price, but also because of the tension. As someone who finds DR Lo-Riders a very good tension, but DR Hi-Beams way too sloppy, how do ya'll think I would find 9050L's or 9050ML's? I have used 45-100 Chromes (on a different bass) and like the tension of those as well. Any thoughts?

Edit: woops, forgot to add gauge of the SS Lo-Riders. I love the 45-105 set!