Thuddiest flatwounds?

bassinstincts · #1 01-01-2010, 10:34 AM

I started out with tapewound LaBellas on my Wes Lambe archtop ABG (which, after a bit of aging, made for an solid uprighty sound).
But I missed the edge of metal...so I switched to some pre-aged TI Flats, which have a little too much of a hard edge for the purpose.

Can anyone recommend flats that will have a truly thuddy sound, but still have some fidelity?

Thanks.

markjazzbassist · #2 01-01-2010, 11:27 AM

pyramid golds were the most dead and thuddy that i played. i much prefer labella FL's, but they're not thuddy, more of a classic flat sound with some mid's character.

pbass888 · #3 01-01-2010, 11:30 AM

la bella 760 fl been on my jazz plus for a few weeks best thud and tone for a classic flat sound ive heard in years imo... much better than chromes (too bright) , fenders( too stiff) and seem to sound better each day.

Bassinstincts can you tell me about the tapes?

Craig_S · #4 01-01-2010, 11:55 AM

I'm loving the LaBella 760FL's on my P-Bass. I don't really hear thud from them, though. They're just great sounding strings.

bassinstincts · #5 01-01-2010, 12:08 PM

Thanks, all

Meatrus · #6 01-01-2010, 12:15 PM

Fender flats after they have aged a bit are quite thuddy. If the stiffness bothers you get the 40-100 gauge, they arent bad at all tension wise, and may suit. Also they are cheap!

bassinstincts · #7 01-01-2010, 01:03 PM

Thanks. I have been told that the Fender Flats are tunelessly thuddy, but maybe I should consider them. What I am looking for is strings that sound like upright strings...with no ping or metallic overtones.

Meatrus · #8 01-01-2010, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassinstincts

Thanks. I have been told that the Fender Flats are tunelessly thuddy, but maybe I should consider them. What I am looking for is strings that sound like upright strings...with no ping or metallic overtones.

I see. I certainly wouldnt say the Fenders are tunelessly thuddy, in fact I wouldnt mind a bit more thud from mine, and they are 6 months old, with every day playing. I'm sure they would suit after using them for a month or two (they are actually brightish for flats when new).

However to get a tone like you describe I would recommend Rotosound Trubass over anything else. I didnt recommend them in the first place as you mentioned not wanting tape wounds (as you still may not want), but the Trubass nails that tone (imo) perfectly after hearing more of what you are after.

Good luck whatever you go with, and a happy New Year

.

bassinstincts · #9 01-01-2010, 04:25 PM

Thanks. I will give both the rotos and Fenders a shot.

And Happy New Year to you!

Finsterino · #10 01-01-2010, 04:44 PM

Detroit flats are pretty nice too.

ljazz · #11 01-01-2010, 04:46 PM

I actually find Fenders to be about the snappiest. I just put a set back on my Jazz ..... the darn things have got to be 12 years old.... I took it to rehearsal, and used for everything, including the slap stuff. I don't think they'll ever die. They came right back off. Too bright. I replaced them with a set of equally ancient Labellas, and they thump hard...... I think it takes a bridge pup to really get the "fidelity" (as you say) and definition out of them..... but really, a lot of that depends on gauge.

I've been a die hard D'Addario hater for years, but Chromes are the only string that seem to compliment the pups on my '08 MIA P. The first set I had were the super longs, so I could string through the body, but the D string started to develop some really strange overtones (severe break angles and flats don't get along).... put a new set on a couple of months ago top loaded. They're finally getting that "broke" in sound after a couple of months of solid play, and they're really sounding great. Just enough thump, and enough mids for clarity. If you try them, make sure you give them more than just a few weeks to break in. Really, I think you need at least two months to get them where they need to be.

TIJF's are the same way in that you have to give them enough time. Maybe even more than 2 months. I hear alot of comments on the high end, but really, the set I have on my G&L SB1 are anything but bright.

Unfortunately, flats are like a baseball glove. You've got to spend a ton of time getting them to where they are right for you...... and then, after all of that time, is when you decide if you like them or not.

bassinstincts · #12 01-01-2010, 05:54 PM

Yes, it has taken months out of the package for the TI flats to sound right. And the LaBella tapewounds took even more time to lose most of the "ring". I am hoping that the Rotosounds will be less lively sounding at least partially because of lower tension.

bassinstincts · #13 01-04-2010, 09:28 PM

Rotos ordered from Big City Strings (very helpful people). I will be interested to hear and feel them.

RD · #14 01-05-2010, 02:34 AM

I recently accquired a Korean Lakland HB that has more thud than any other bass I've tried. It's strung with tapeless deep talk'n Labellas, that are pretty thick and thuddy. Even compared to the tape wound Labellas, that I've used on similar basses, in the past.
RD

Meatrus · #15 01-05-2010, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassinstincts

Rotos ordered from Big City Strings (very helpful people). I will be interested to hear and feel them.

Cool, let us know what you think of them, when they arrive.

mcapote · #16 01-05-2010, 06:20 AM

post up how you find the 88s, I use 77s on my ibanez, been considering what to get on my spector legend custom. been looking at the 88s and also the steve harris series which from what i can tell are thicker guage 77s

bassinstincts · #17 01-05-2010, 07:01 AM

Will do. I am hoping the strings I have ordered fit the damn bass.
We will see.

Meatrus · #18 01-05-2010, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcapote

post up how you find the 88s, I use 77s on my ibanez, been considering what to get on my spector legend custom. been looking at the 88s and also the steve harris series which from what i can tell are thicker guage 77s

Yeagh I'm pretty sure the Harris set are just a heavier gauge of the 77s, so wouldnt suit the OP very well (bright flats).

I have had the Trubass 88 on my fretless for three years now, and they dont sound any different to when I put them on. They are thuddy, but still clear enough, and sound quite like a double bass (to me at least), they last forever too!

kirkm24 · #19 01-05-2010, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

pyramid golds were the most dead and thuddy that i played. i much prefer labella FL's, but they're not thuddy, more of a classic flat sound with some mid's character.

+1,000!

I loved Pyramids on their own playing through my amp at home but with a band they were so thuddy that I got totally buried in the mix. I realized then that some highs and mids are not a bad thing. La Bellas 760FL's are great strings.

If you do want total thud, Pyramid Golds are where it's at for sure. I've tried them all and these win hands down. They sound like a pair of flats that have been sitting on a bass for 25 years played by a guy with hands covered in chicken fat. You don't even need a foam mute to get a super dull thuddy upright sound with no sustain.

Jared Lash · #20 01-05-2010, 04:58 PM

If we're not talking tapewounds (which can get pretty thuddy) and just traditional flats, I'd say DR Hi-beam flats are the "thuddiest". They sound the deadest straight of the package and are really thumpy. Too thuddy for me actually though they felt and played great.