Sadowsky Flats: Who uses them and what do you think of them?

[WJGreer]

Originally Posted by madbassplaya

Thanks for the info guys. I am a rounds player but was wanting a bit thicker sound without all the string noise.

Me too - a rounds player looking to experiment a little. I put a set of Sadowsky flats on my Valenti J5 to see how it sounded. It sounds great - frankly brighter and livelier than I expected from a set of flats. A good choice for roundwound players, IMO.

[zombywoof5050]

I had a set of LaBella flats (760FL, 43-104 gauge) on my Precision for 5 years, and loved every minute of it. But I wanted to try the Sadowsky flats, so I put on a set of the 45-105 gauge. They are a very balanced set, with a little more tension than the 760FL, and they have a more modern tone.

I disagree with the guy that said the Sadowsky flats are the smoothest, as I found the LaBella flats to be way more polished/smooth.

I had the Sadowsky flats on my Precision for a month, and decided that I was really missing the tone and smooth feel of the LaBellas, so I ended up getting another set of LaBellas and put them back on. Immediately upon playing on the new set of LaBellas I knew I was home.

I'm not trying to badmouth the Sadowsky flats, as they are a nice set. I'm just relating my experience and my ultimate preference for the smoother feel and purer Fender tone that I achieved from the LaBellas.

YMMV..

[nemo]

Originally Posted by zombywoof5050

I disagree with the guy that said the Sadowsky flats are the smoothest, as I found the LaBella flats to be way more polished/smooth.

Well that would be me

I have both sets on basses on front of me and they are smooth /polished about the same with small nod towards the Sads.
I would not describe the difference as way more.
On the other hand, I found TIs and Chromes discernably stickier/ grabbing in feel.

[zombywoof5050]

nemo,
Maybe the Sadowsky set that I got just isn't polished or something. They have that same 'brushed' look (and feel) similar to the Chromes I once tried, but the LaBellas are as smooth as glass. I thought maybe the LaBellas were smoother because I played on them for 5 years, but the unused set that I opened were just as smooth.

[nemo]

Yes, you probably got some nonstandard set, mine was smooth right of the box.

[madbassplaya]

Originally Posted by WJGreer

Me too - a rounds player looking to experiment a little. I put a set of Sadowsky flats on my Valenti J5 to see how it sounded. It sounds great - frankly brighter and livelier than I expected from a set of flats. A good choice for roundwound players, IMO.

Good to hear. I tried chromes and did not like the clankiness/high tension they had to them.

[ExaltBass]

My Sadowsky flats are SMOOOTH!

[lmfreeman9]

I just started using the Sadowskys and they are very nice, great highs and plenty of thump. I also use the DR Hi Beam flats and they also have great highs, lower tension than the Sadowskys too.