String Identification - Flats, no silks (photos)

BigBeatNut · #1 04-17-2010, 06:28 AM

This is going to be a tough one I think.

It's a nice growly flatwound that's an odd one out in a set that came with the bass. Haven't found anything to match it. I think it's an A strung in the E position ... so detuned and that may contribute to the growl ... that and it being on a fretless.

The only other distinctive thing is that there a clear gaps in the windings ... gaps on labellas are much tighter.

Pics

Any help would be appreciated as I'm starting to get obsessive about the sound of this string.

Andy

CBgaragebassist · #2 04-17-2010, 07:33 AM

Laklands come strung with GHS Precision Flats. I've no idea if the one for Lakland have silks. Also, i believe they're branded as Joe Osborn Flats.

EDIT: I just looked at my GHS flats, they look a bit different. Winding is alot tighter. Maybe Fender flats?

Meatrus · #3 04-17-2010, 07:43 AM

My first thought was Fender flats, but unfortunately no, as they have green silk at the ballends.

mobis.fr · #4 04-17-2010, 08:02 AM

i know that labella (109-49) have a nice deep blue silk at the headstock end, but i can't remember if they have silk at the balls end...

BigBeatNut · #5 04-17-2010, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mobis.fr

i know that labella (109-49) have a nice deep blue silk at the headstock end, but i can't remember if they have silk at the balls end...

I think you might be right ... but it's really the string with NO silk that I want to identify.

Andy

BigBeatNut · #6 04-17-2010, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkusBass

Blue are Chromes. JO's are black, GHS Precision Flats (same as JOs) are purplish.

Hmmm ... looks like I can rule out those 3 anyway.

**lowendfriend** · #7 04-17-2010, 09:09 AM

I'm putting up pics of "similar to's"

My first reaction was Sadowsky Stainless Flats (Black Labels). But on close inspection, they have grey silk real close to the color of the strings. I also see the wrap is tighter than your pic. (Sad's are wound by LaBella).

The second pic is Detroit Flat Stainless from webstrings.com. No silk but a smoother wrap style than your pic.

That's it for me.

**lowendfriend** · #8 04-17-2010, 09:14 AM

BTW, maybe the dark blue silk on the other string is down in the winding post. They don't wrap silk where there in smooth winding on the string.

BigBeatNut · #9 04-17-2010, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowendfriend

BTW, maybe the dark blue silk on the other string is down in the winding post. They don't wrap silk where there in smooth winding on the string.

No ... that string has been on off the bass in my quest ... no blue silks. The other thing that tellls me they're not part of the same set it that my mystery 'E' and the 'A' you can see in the picture are pretty much the same guage. I think somebody broke an 'E' string from the original set (with blue silks) and just grabbed something else ... that happened to be an 'A'.

BigBeatNut · #10 04-18-2010, 06:42 PM

Appreciate all the help so far, guys.

Andy

BigBeatNut · #11 04-20-2010, 02:01 AM

There was in idea on another forum that the mystery string might be a groundwound.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EssentialTension

Are the gaps in the windings on Brite Flats due to them being groundwounds?

If so, does that suggest OP's strings might be groundwounds?

Nice idea, but I just had the cut end of the string under a magnifying glass ... the outer wrap is definitely rectangular. There was an inner wrap that appeared to be round.