Sadowsky flats VS Hi-Beam flats

[Scutterflux]

Does anyone have a comparison review of the Sadowsky flats VS Hi-Beam flats ???

Both fairly expensive strings, and would like an Idea of the tonal differences, feel, tension, sustain, thump, etc.. before I order a set.

What I'm looking for is a string with deeper tone, med-light tension, old school slap-ability. I really like the labella's, however just thought I'd try a few others out as well. The Sadowsky's sound like they'd be about right to me with a little more upper mids, but I've also always liked the other DR strings, and the thought of roundcore flexability without being as sloppy as the TI's is really appealing.

[Yamarc]

Bump, interested in this too!

[CLMSHQ]

I love the sound of Flats, very old school...I really like DR Strings but have not tried their Flats. I have tried and liked D'adarrio's Chromes were nice not as sticky as RotoSounds.
I wish I could play more often with flats' but my hand often gets stuck to the string.

[Scutterflux]

anyone else?

[sunbeast]

Haven't tried the Sad's, but the DRs are very old-school/thumpy to my ears (I did buy my set right when they were 1st intro-d though, so it could be different now).

Karl

[One Drop]

I wish I could help you with a first hand comparison but I was sidduaded from trying the DR flats by the reports trickling out thast they are a very old school sounding flat (nothing wrong with that- it's just that I love my LaBellas and fenders for those tones).

But I can say how good the Sadowsky flats are. They have the same basic voice as the LaBella FL760 set but are a bit less thumpy with more attack. They don't really sound brighter to me but rather more aggressive than the LaBellas- I think of Chromes as fairly bright but not the Sads.

They can smooth out much like the LaBellas (but not quite as much) but they can growl a lot more, and respond a lot to digging in a bit.

I still prefer the LaBellas for Reggae, but the extra grunt and grind makes the Sadowskys the perfect rock flat for me- very nuanced and rich but still in your face and HUGE like a good flat should be.

Last night I was listening to a roughly recorded gig of ours before I started playing my Tokai P with Rotos instead of the Jazz with Sadowsky flats I had been playing. We do a lot of punk/pop stuff and early punk, and though I feel the P/Rotos combo nails the original tones of most of what we play better, I wouldn't hesitate for a second to use the J with the Sadowskys for any gig. I couldn't believe how good they went to tape and how much clarity and articulation there was while still keeping the bottom very solid.

Finally, they are a joy to the touch- polished smooth and just the right amount of tension, although this last is very personal.

edited to add:

New they were a bit clanky and hollow but they wear in really nicely. I've had a set on my Jazz for a year now and they have rounded out but lost none of their attitude.

[Scutterflux]

Thank you

Sounds like the Sads are more for my Jazz bass, and not my G&L. The Jazz I was thinking needed a little more articulation or definition than the labella's are offering And that sounds like the Sads will offer that. However for the G&L I'm looking to avoid any more grunt, It's harmonically potent richness creates a grunt like an ocean liner whistle, which I'm looking to smooth and tone out. I've got the TI's on there now, and their not too bad, infact pretty nice, just not tight/punchy enough in the bottom. They've been getting better with time though.

[zombywoof5050]

Originally Posted by Scutterflux

..The Jazz I was thinking needed a little more articulation or definition than the labella's are offering And that sounds like the Sads will offer that.

You never mentioned which set of LaBellas you are referring to (FX, FL, FS, FM, or 'Jamersons'), so which were they? Indeed the Sadowskys may be the ticket, but if you were using one of the heavier LaBella sets, a lighter set (like the FL or FX) may work well for you also.

[trb6pJM2]

I don't say i really have an opinion either way on the strings, but, i fyou want full upright warmth, or you have a fretless an you want the fretboard to stick around for a couple years, get Tomastik infields, theyre the best flats out there.

[Scutterflux]

Originally Posted by zombywoof5050

You never mentioned which set of LaBellas you are referring to (FX, FL, FS, FM, or 'Jamersons'), so which were they? Indeed the Sadowskys may be the ticket, but if you were using one of the heavier LaBella sets, a lighter set (like the FL or FX) may work well for you also.

I have a fairly light set, the 104's I think

Originally Posted by trb6pJM2

I don't say i really have an opinion either way on the strings, but, i fyou want full upright warmth, or you have a fretless an you want the fretboard to stick around for a couple years, get Tomastik infields, theyre the best flats out there.

I don't Like the TI's on my Jazz bass, they just don't work for me, But they work pretty good on my G&L but a little loose on the lows. not tight like the labella's however they are more defined.

It seems to be a trade off right now. But from what I gather the Highbeam flats are going to also be similar to labella's, I wonder now the differences between those two?

[svtb15]

I have never tried the DR flats.. But i Love the sadowskys flats. they may be the smoothest and shinniest flats that i have played.. round tone with a good snap on top when new.. once they settle in they loose top end but still retain good mid definition.. more old school than the dadarrio chromes.
Dadarrio chromes are one of my favorites.. very even sounding to me from top to bottom... and even out over time to a big sound that has real nice growl.. i use them on my alleva coppolo kbp4.. i love digging in real hard on these strings at times... not as smooth as the sadowskys or shinny but very nice for my uses.

[00Funk]

Im new to flats. My first set I bought were DR high beam flats.

Im not impressed. I guess I'll try chromes next

[jomahu]

i just sent my bass (TBC single M 5-er) to be set-up. putting some sadowsky flats on them.
i pick it up today. after reading this thread, i really can't wait to see how it plays and hear how it sounds.

[Yamarc]

Bump

[One Drop]

Originally Posted by Scutterflux

Thank you

Sounds like the Sads are more for my Jazz bass, and not my G&L. The Jazz I was thinking needed a little more articulation or definition than the labella's are offering And that sounds like the Sads will offer that. However for the G&L I'm looking to avoid any more grunt, It's harmonically potent richness creates a grunt like an ocean liner whistle, which I'm looking to smooth and tone out. I've got the TI's on there now, and their not too bad, infact pretty nice, just not tight/punchy enough in the bottom. They've been getting better with time though.

Stay away from the Sads on the G&L in that case as they will definitely add too much grunt.

How about a set of Dean Markley flats? They have all the thump in the world, are extremely well balanced string to string, and are a very smooth sounding and feeling string. I wish I could give an opinion on the DRs, but I've never seen or heard a set, never mind try them.

[DavePlaysBass]

I had a G&L L-2500 that sounded great with D'Addario XLs. I would suggest Chromes althought I never played them on my G&Ls.

[dcr]

Have never tried the Hi-Beams Flats or Chromes for that matter. And for me, there's no reason to after trying the Sados. I LOVE 'EM!!!! As stated above, they do have a bit more articulation and a touch less "thump" than traditional flats, but that's what I love about them. I've never really cared for the "pre-dead" sound that you get out of a lot of flats, and the Sado's are certainly NOT in that category.

I've got a set on my passive maple-boarded P/J 5 FrankenBass, and it does old-school like nobody's business when I roll the tone back. But there's just enough top end if I need it when I roll that tone knob forward.

PERFECT, IMO!

EDIT: The sound of the Sados kinda remind of GHS Brite Flats, except smoother and with less tension.



dcr

[dfp]

which set of Sadowsky flats? i'm curious about the 40-100 as a flat that i might be able to slap/pop like i do on a 45-105 set of rounds.... anyone tried the light gauge flats for that?

[One Drop]

If I'm not mistaken, Sadowsky only sell one gauge of flats.

[dfp]

according to the sadowsky web site, you are mistaken. i notice d'addario also has a 40-100 set of flats, a good bit cheaper...