Silencers VS Chromes

KYJazzy · #1 09-21-2006, 09:09 PM

Can anyone with good experience with both of these give me an A/B of what to expect? I'm looking at a set for my new 5-string after the stock rounds wear out.

I'm looking for fat bottom end with little noise, but also some cut and clarity (I know, I know...impossible isn't it). When talking about clarity I'm specifically concerned with the B string. I think these strings hit middle ground with those qualities but want to know what I can expect with either.

Or is there better to be had than these? (Not really interested in TI Flats because I've heard they are floppy.) If it helps, I've had a set of Fender 9050ML's on a jazz and liked then just fine, but they were a bit too stiff.

zachbass02 · #2 09-22-2006, 07:21 AM

I'm curious to see the response to this thread, I've got a set of silencers that my Deluxe Jazz V will be wearing once my d'addario's die.....I'm curious about them....

To rebuttle the TI claims of floppiness, I've got a 4 string set of jazz flats on my P and I absolutely love them. I never felt they were floppy, even when brand new and on my 4 string jazz. I feel they've even tightened up since then as they're getting broken in. Granted I've had this set and have been switching them on and off between basses for well over 1 1/2 years.

bassbully43 · #3 09-22-2006, 07:29 AM

Nice post since you asked a question i have also wondered myself. I am a silencer user on my 5 stringer and soon my 4 after the Fender strings wear out. I have thought about chromes and was very tempted about buying a set but was told i would'nt get the brightness from the chromes as i get from silencers from one bassist. I like my B with silencers and wonder if the chromes are stiffer and are they bright enough or more dub?

The Dave · #4 09-23-2006, 09:23 AM

I'm using D'Addario Half Rounds on my Jazz and they're great. They feel smooth and sound fat without the muddy sound of flats and without the high end harshness of rounds. I really digs 'em! It's a cool best of both worlds kinda string.

bassman blue · #5 09-23-2006, 09:49 AM

silencers and chromes are two different animals in my opinion. silencers still have some grit to them and are somewhat bright sounding. i like the tension on the silencers and sit makes great strings, long lasting. the chromes are of course smooth and a more thuddy sounding string but for a flat they do have some brightness, but too stiff, high tension for me. i love ti flats. floppy? i've never experienced that but then i find chromes too high tension, so maybe relatively speaking. i have never tried the nickel half rounds by d'addario but have been tempted, if i wasn't totally happy with my ti flats.

KYJazzy · #6 09-23-2006, 03:56 PM

Just to add, I'm also a little concerned about putting silencers on my 5-string because I saw that SIT only makes one set with a .120 gauge b string - to me that just sounds like its begging to be floppy. Maybe leaning toward the chromes a little more now, or maybe halfrounds.

it's so hard to figure out what strings you might like other than spending lots of cash.

The Craw · #7 09-23-2006, 07:22 PM

I'm not a 5 string guy but I've played both. To me, 50-105 Chromes feel about as stiff as Fender 9050MLs. I've played 45-105 Silencers and I'd call them a little tighter than average for their size, but they're more flexible feeling than flats of the same size.

Chromes and Silencers don't sound anything like each other. Chromes have more highs than most flats but they're still flats. They don't have the clarity of rounds. Silencers are low noise, have plenty of low end but they have the attack you expect from rounds.

SIT has a toll free number and they do answer the phone. You might want to call and ask them about that 120 B.

bassbully43 · #8 09-24-2006, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KYJazzy

Just to add, I'm also a little concerned about putting silencers on my 5-string because I saw that SIT only makes one set with a .120 gauge b string - to me that just sounds like its begging to be floppy. Maybe leaning toward the chromes a little more now, or maybe halfrounds.

it's so hard to figure out what strings you might like other than spending lots of cash.

That 120 B is perfect IMO........no flop good and tight and nice tone.