Switching to Flats: Tension Question

92FIGMO10 · #1 11-15-2009, 05:52 PM

Hey, I'm been wanting to switch to flats for a long time now and I'm finally getting my chance.

I've done alot of looking around here on talkbass and I've seen that a number of people feel like flats have a higher tension or a stiffer feel than rounds. I'm curious if to know if it might be a good idea to go with a lighter gauge when I switch to flats.

Right now I'm using D'addario rounds; ".105, .85, .70, .50". I am often detuned all the way down to C#, so I need strings that are big enough to not be floppy when I do so. This set has served me well and I want flats that'll behave similarly as far as tension goes.

Would I still be able to detune like this with a set of flats where the E and A were ".100" and ".80" and not lose playability or the beefier tone associated with heavier strings?

Please help me out and feel free to give me any recommendations on string choices and I am open to any brand.

superhand · #2 11-15-2009, 10:24 PM

I have D'addario Chromes on my Jazz bass and I love them. Mine are .050 - .105 and they are perfect for me. The tension is much higher than rounds which takes some getting used to. I like the feel of higher tension strings. I can't stand strings that feel floppy.

You lose some of the high end frequencies with flats, but its a bass right? Leave the high end for the guitar.

I only use standard tuning, so I can't help you there.

eyecandy · #3 11-15-2009, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superhand

I have D'addario Chromes on my Jazz bass and I love them. Mine are .050 - .105 and they are perfect for me. The tension is much higher than rounds which takes some getting used to. I like the feel of higher tension strings. I can't stand strings that feel floppy.

You lose some of the high end frequencies with flats, but its a bass right? Leave the high end for the guitar.

I only use standard tuning, so I can't help you there.

do you use 50-105 Chromes and tune to standard 440 ?

superhand · #4 11-15-2009, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyecandy

do you use 50-105 Chromes and tune to standard 440 ?

Yes.

Meatrus · #5 11-16-2009, 06:35 AM

More of a difficult question than the usual flats tension/stiffness question, as you are down tuning. Normally I would recommend a gauge or two lighter, as the feel of tension on standard gauge flats can be killer with some makes (Rotos and Fenders for sure, not sure about chromes).

So my guess would be the extra stiffness of flats in standard gauge could work out well for you, as the downtuning will get rid of a lot of tension. I wouldnt want to go lower gauge with that tuning.

smo · #6 11-16-2009, 07:57 AM

Hi 92FIGMO10

I'm in the same boat myself - I tune to C on a 34" scale.
I found the tension charts to be a good guide, as manufacturer's like D'Addario are very good at supplying this info! What scale they use to get this info I dunno....

After much forum-bashing for me I've come down to a few options. Many here on TB agree these have good tension.
Rotosound RS77LE = 110, 95, 75, 50
D'Addario Chromes ECB82 (long scale) = 105, 85, 70, 50.

There are a few other options like the La Bella Jamersons too....

I haven't yet had any of these to test yet - but the 77's and Chromes are in the post as we speak. ;-)

Good Luck - and let me know how you go.

davelowell2 · #7 11-16-2009, 08:31 AM

I play in a band that has a few songs in a low C. I just use the lowest four of a five string set. I tune C E A D. The B up to a C really helps with floppiness. I don't ever change this tuning when playing with this band.

GizmoTheOne · #8 11-16-2009, 08:55 AM

Few months ago I was in the same situation, so I hope I can help.

I tune C# on the E string too, and realized a lot of flatwounds strings don't go over .105. I didn't really search much about it and thought I'd go for .110 or .115 (flatwound). So I bought a Ernie Ball Flatwound set with a .110 gauge and it felt EXTREMELY hard on my fingers. I got used to it, yet it is very high tension compared to rounds.

I would suggest .105, I believe with .100 you could lose a bit of tone, and even get floppy on the low C#. You can also go for .110 or a low tension .115 (like Rotosounds), but you will have to get used to pluck a little harder, because flats have higher tension than rounds indeed.

92FIGMO10 · #9 11-16-2009, 07:57 PM

Thanks everyone for your input. I've come to think that the ".105" set'd be my best option. However, I probably should've mentioned that my bass is a 35" scale. Does that change anybody's advice?

DavePlaysBass · #10 11-16-2009, 09:11 PM

I am playing a set of Sadowsky 45s. They feel compariable to a medium set of rounds. I like them quite a bit. I have played the Ernie Ball 50-105s which I believe are in the Chrone neighborhood and I think they were a bit stiffer. I think the Sadowskys are just perfect tension wise. Sound wise the Ernie Balls were clanky where as the Sadowsky are just voiced to cut in the high mids without excessive clank.

basscheez · #11 11-16-2009, 09:16 PM

My "feeling" is that flats feel lighter than the same diameter rounds. Maybe because my finger seems to slip off the smooth string easier. I haven't measured, just my opinion.

smo · #12 11-16-2009, 10:47 PM

Yes - the scale matters.

The longer the scale, the higher your tension will be on the strings.

Number27 · #13 11-17-2009, 04:27 AM

i don't understand when people post these threads and word them like "i've been wanting to switch to/try flats for a while now and now i can".. what was stopping you before? were you endorsed by a company that makes you buy roundwounds? does you band leader hate flats? did you need to gather the courage to go and spend 40 bux on some strings?

sound of bass · #14 11-17-2009, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Number27

i don't understand when people post these threads and word them like "i've been wanting to switch to/try flats for a while now and now i can".. what was stopping you before? were you endorsed by a company that makes you buy roundwounds? does you band leader hate flats? did you need to gather the courage to go and spend 40 bux on some strings?

Ever think about financial status? I would have tried every string out there by now but cant afford to waste cash on strings that may suck! Time after time! I can experiment when I have the extra bucks!

92FIGMO10 · #15 11-17-2009, 06:02 PM

Well I think I'm gonna go with the ".105" set. I think I'll manage quite well with the new tension. I can adjust as the pros of the flatwound tone outweigh the cons for me.

The main reason I posted here first instead of just buying the strings was in fact because of my financial situation. It's hard to scrape up the extra cash so I try to have researched thoroughly before buying this kind of stuff.

Thanks everyone for your help. I should have the strings within about a week and I'll be sure to post back on how it goes.

Meatrus · #16 11-17-2009, 06:04 PM

Look forward to hearing how it went

.

Number27 · #17 11-19-2009, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sound of bass

Ever think about financial status? I would have tried every string out there by now but cant afford to waste cash on strings that may suck! Time after time! I can experiment when I have the extra bucks!

not buying it. i'm poorer than most of the people i've ever known and yet i can still afford a set of strings when i want them. it's $40.

in any event i've kept all my old strings, most of which are flats, so if you really can't afford to try out a few different types then i'd gladly send you some of my used (never abused

) ones. flats sound better when they're worn in anyway.

Meatrus · #18 11-19-2009, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Number27

not buying it. i'm poorer than most of the people i've ever known and yet i can still afford a set of strings when i want them. it's $40.

in any event i've kept all my old strings, most of which are flats, so if you really can't afford to try out a few different types then i'd gladly send you some of my used (never abused

) ones. flats sound better when they're worn in anyway.

I think the point was that not many people are wealthy enough to try several different sets of strings. So its worth getting some opinions first to find out if you are likely to enjoy them.

Also in this case it would have been perfectly possible for the OP to buy a set of strings that would have been useless (too light) for C tuning.

mntngrown · #19 11-19-2009, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meatrus

I think the point was that not many people are wealthy enough to try several different sets of strings. So its worth getting some opinions first to find out if you are likely to enjoy them.

Also in this case it would have been perfectly possible for the OP to buy a set of strings that would have been useless (too light) for C tuning.

I don't downtune but I have the detuner on the E string which drops it to D and the 105 chrome plays well. Not too floppy. 34" scale too. Try em

Meatrus · #20 11-20-2009, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mntngrown

I don't downtune but I have the detuner on the E string which drops it to D and the 105 chrome plays well. Not too floppy. 34" scale too. Try em

I was referring to light gauge strings, if you read the rest of the thread you will see I recommended standard.