Strings closest to the old Fender Flats

[OhValhalla]

The thread is pretty much as the title says. I'm looking for still-in-production flats that are closest to the old formula Fender Flats. I have had a set of those strings in medium (55-105 I believe) on my alembic for something like six years and they are by far my favorite set of strings.

For those of you who have played these strings, you probably know the sound. If you haven't, I guess I would describe them as very percussive, thumpy and creamy. I believe they were quite bright out of the package, but I cannot remember fully(It's been six years after all). Anyway, the most important part is that when they went dead.. they went really dead, not in a bad way though. They are also very high tension, which I think is a crucial factor in the sound of these strings.

Now, the obvious answer is to just go experiment with different strings and I have to some extent.. but the problem with experimenting with flats is that you don't hear what they 'really' sound like until you've had them on the bass for a year or more and it is really much easier to just ask the bass public and hope someone was in the same situation as me. I believe the logical answer here is the Labellas, but I'm hoping people can weigh in for me so I don't have to waste time and money breaking them in.

As far as strings I have tried: I tried the GHS flats which are very good strings by all means, but they don't have the same feel and thump as the fenders. The string wrapping is nearly invisible, meaning that there is no visible space between the wrappings. This is probably a good thing to most as it creates an extremely smooth surface, but for some reason I just like the space that some other strings have like the fenders and chromes.

I've also tried the chromes. Again, great strings. Very close in feel, but as most know, they are very mid-range heavy and never got the percussive thump that the old fenders got.

To be fair, I probably haven't let these strings break in enough, but I'm not in much of a hurry since I still have the old fenders and they are still best by my ears. Any help would be much appreciated!

[Blues Bass Man]

I liked those old Mexican made Fender Flatwounds. I remember them starting out bright...but would mellow into a thumpy and percussive sound.
The GHS Precision Flatwounds are about as close the the old Fender Flats as far as I can find. The GHS Flats don't start out like the Fenders....but they do remind me of the Fenders when they would break in....and the GHS sound like that right out of the pack.
Sorry I can't really be of help....but the GHS are as close as I can find to the old Fenders.

[top028]

What happened to fender flats?! I use them, and like you, I haven't changed them for a while. I do need to get some in case I break a string. When I was playing out alot, I was replacing the fender flats about every 6 months, due to a broken string. I love their punch, string to string balance, and low-mid content. Overdriven, the definition cut through but also melded with the sound of the band.

here is my history:
On my shortscale archtop, I have Tomastic flats. Those have been on for about 10 years now. They sound amazing, but they are low tension. I am toying with the idea of replacing my long scale basses strings with these. I really dig in on those basses, and I like to feel that resistance so I may miss that.

Rotosound's tapewounds are a nice high tension, but I didn't like the string to string tone balance (its been a while since i've tried them).

They are pricey, but I also like labela's taperwound black nylon. they have a nice tension and good thud with definition. I DONT like the jamerson set by them, but maybe I didnt leave them on long enough! They did not have the punch I needed and the taper at the nut started too soon for my bass.
I am not a fan of chromes or anything Diadario makes, I am sure I am in the minority.

I hope this is helpful

[OhValhalla]

Originally Posted by top028

What happened to fender flats?! I use them, and like you,

The old fenders were replaced by the new ones which are apparently similar to Chromes. They are in a green package with a big F on the front, unlike the older fenders which have a precision bass on the package.

I've tried lots of tapewounds, but I never truly love them like I love flats. They have a great wooly/wooden tone, but I can't help hearing these plastic overtones that they give off for me.

Originally Posted by Blues Bass Man

The GHS Flats don't start out like the Fenders....but they do remind me of the Fenders when they would break in....and the GHS sound like that right out of the pack.
Sorry I can't really be of help....but the GHS are as close as I can find to the old Fenders.

As far as the GHS, I should really give them more time. Perhaps I have too light a gauge for me. Mine are 45-105. They are clear enough to do some interesting chording, but haven't got to the level of thump as the fenders. They are wearing in on my Jazz currently.

Anyone else feel free to chime in!

[Johnny Alien]

Lakland Joe Osborn Flats are what I consider to be closest to that classic Fender flatwound sound.

Edited to add: The Lakland rounds are essentially GHS Boomers so the JO flats might be similar GHS Flats.

[GM60466]

GHS Flats are as close as you are going to get

[PBnJBassist]

Get the Original 1954 (Jamerson) set from La Bella. You're a med+ gauge user, so trying anything less isn't (probably) going to cut it since that "fuller" sound is associated with thicker strings. If you love high tension strings, the '54s will be right up your alley as well.

[JTE]

Um, how old are you talking about? The original 850s were totally different than anything offered by FMIC since 1985 or so. They were tight and stiff right off the bat, but mellowed as they got played in. The had the percussive thump that flats are great for, but they also had a distinct note in them (something I always found lacking in LaBella's Old Originals). The closest I've found to the original 850s that Fender shipped on basses until '82 or so are GHS Precision Flatwounds.

John

[OhValhalla]

Originally Posted by JTE

Um, how old are you talking about? The original 850s were totally different than anything offered by FMIC since 1985 or so. They were tight and stiff right off the bat, but mellowed as they got played in. The had the percussive thump that flats are great for, but they also had a distinct note in them (something I always found lacking in LaBella's Old Originals). The closest I've found to the original 850s that Fender shipped on basses until '82 or so are GHS Precision Flatwounds.

John

I think I am talking about the 90's-2000's production. In this picture.

So it looks like the general consensus is GHS Flats or Labella. Can anyone weigh in on the Rotosounds?

Thanks again for the information!

[Luckydog]

Nothing will match the percussive kick in the gut power of the old fenders. Ghs are not that close imo. Roto 77 are not percussive imo.

[JayB]

I'd say the La Bella 740FS is a good bet. A dark, tense string thats nice and punchy in the mix in "fender-y" gauges, as opposed to the normal "balanced" sets La Bella puts out. When mine broke in, they reminded me a lot of my old fender mediums.

[PBnJBassist]

Originally Posted by Luckydog

Nothing will match the percussive kick in the gut power of the old fenders. Ghs are not that close imo.

I'm not sure what other people have experienced, but it seems plenty of players notice that the "D" and "G" strings for GHS Precision flats seem a bit different than the rest of the set. I've seen more than enough people point this out (my set is the same way) so I can see why this pulls GHS flats a bit further from sounding close to the old Fender flats.

[OhValhalla]

Originally Posted by PBnJBassist

I'm not sure what other people have experienced, but it seems plenty of players notice that the "D" and "G" strings for GHS Precision flats seem a bit different than the rest of the set. I've seen more than enough people point this out (my set is the same way) so I can see why this pulls GHS flats a bit further from sounding close to the old Fender flats.

Yeah. That was one of my problems with them. I'm not sure if it is just the gauge though. (They are a bit top heavy in the medium gauge) But the G especially is very brittle/thin sounding in comparison to the E and the A. It lends itself to good sounding chords, but not very high in the thumpy department.

Can anyone confirm that it is just the gauge? As in... if I got a higher gauge G string, would it resolve the problem?

[Davo737]

I've had the exact opposite experience with the GHS Precision flats. I've been using them for years, and one reason is because I've found them to be the most balanced right out of the package. With most brands I've tried, the D and G were significantly brighter or twangier than the E and A strings for the first few weeks (or months, depending on the strings). However, I have found that the GHS tend to be equally thumpy across the board right from the start. IMHO, they have a very percussive, old-school type of tone. I also like the fact that they are wound on a round core - they feel much less stiff than the old Fenders or LaBellas in comparable gauges. All this said, I only use the 45-105 and 55-105 sets.

[gnjpowell]

What's wrong with the current MIUSA Fender Flats (green box) ?

[chuck norriss]

Originally Posted by OhValhalla

I think I am talking about the 90's-2000's production. In this picture.

So it looks like the general consensus is GHS Flats or Labella. Can anyone weigh in on the Rotosounds?

Thanks again for the information!

Labella DTB is a very nice string. I don't think they make a bad product. I appreciate the darkness.
I put Rotosound flats on a Jazz three weeks ago (Duncan QP-neck, Armstrong-bridge). They seem dry yet bouncy through a pure channel but after preamp & compression, & some slight eq adjustments they sound ideal--just a novel flatwound old school sound that maintains clarity & definition, and doesn't stray too far from rounds. Standard stuff. If I had to guess, I'd say the majority of Motown cats used Rotosound flats.
Former set was Rotosound 77 which is a great (one of the greats) among roundwounds. I'd say for someone going from rounds to flats, Rotosound are a good transition. However I do catch myself craving the bright edge that comes with the roundwounds but I can still slap & pop the Roto flats.

Chromes are still going strong on my Precision fretless--I think I'm on my second year with this set of Chromes. Hard to compare between a jb & a P bass but I'm happy with both. You know best when you hate a string, well that hasn't happened to me yet with either of these sets of flats.

[RCCollins]

Originally Posted by gnjpowell

What's wrong with the current MIUSA Fender Flats (green box) ?

the green box 9050s are much more "modern" flats, very similar to D'Addario Chromes - I share the OPs disappointment with the "upgrade". GHS and/or certain LaBellas may be the closest, but the grey box 9050MLs remain my preferred string...

[Luckydog]

Originally Posted by gnjpowell

What's wrong with the current MIUSA Fender Flats (green box) ?

Prob nothing wrong with them, per se....but they are *nothing* like the old fenders. Ive used most flats and the old fenders are unique. Thats a niche that would still find customers if a company wants to reproduce them. If youve played the old fender 9050's for any reasonable period, you will know the difference between them and all the others. You will not find anything like them out there now.

[gnjpowell]

Were the "old" grey box 9050MLs MIM? Did these actually come in a plastic bag type package with a folded-over paper insert with the printing on it? Anyone got a pic?

[PBnJBassist]

Originally Posted by Davo737

I've had the exact opposite experience with the GHS Precision flats. I've been using them for years, and one reason is because I've found them to be the most balanced right out of the package. With most brands I've tried, the D and G were significantly brighter or twangier than the E and A strings for the first few weeks (or months, depending on the strings). However, I have found that the GHS tend to be equally thumpy across the board right from the start. IMHO, they have a very percussive, old-school type of tone. I also like the fact that they are wound on a round core - they feel much less stiff than the old Fenders or LaBellas in comparable gauges. All this said, I only use the 45-105 and 55-105 sets.

From what I've been getting (I do more digging than I should) from reading customer reviews and forum testimonies (from more than just TB), the GHS 55-105 set seems to solve this issue. I'm not going to point the fact that the "G" is .10 gauges larger or the "D" starts to cross in-between extra light & regular light gauge "A" strings with their .70 gauge "D." I'm a firm believer that the thicker the string, the more thump can be had. Again, just speculation, but most people that have this set seem to adore it - which is why I ordered 2 of them to upgrade my P-bass from the 45-105 set and to string on my Jazz.

Originally Posted by gnjpowell

Were the "old" grey box 9050MLs MIM? Did these actually come in a plastic bag type package with a folded-over paper insert with the printing on it? Anyone got a pic?

I don't know about where the old packages of Fenders were produced, but I do remember they came in a plastic bag. I could be wrong since I'm thinking of the packaging with a blue Fender Precision bass on the front with a gold pickguard.