Thumpiest flats that are EZ on the neck

RicPlaya · #1 02-26-2009, 10:19 PM

Just tried a set of cheap flats from webstrings, like the tone but way to gooey and floppy. I am a little worried about the neck because it already seems a little touchy and it's very skinny. Looking for the old school classic thump thing but dont want to put a lot of pressure on the neck. I dont think I would mind strings that were med to med hi tension. What would be good suggestion without stressing the neck? thanks

Muckaluck · #2 02-26-2009, 10:33 PM

D'addario Chromes are mediumish.

I have DR Flatwounds and they seem medium high tension to me. They get a pretty good oldschool thump.

Don't forget Tomastik flats. Those are real light tension although not what I would call old school classic thump.

Mr. Ray · #3 02-27-2009, 08:21 AM

LaBella or Pyramid Gold are both great flatwound strings. the Labella are a little thumpier. The Pyramid are super warm, my favorite.

RicPlaya · #4 02-27-2009, 09:36 AM

I really want to try Labella's or maybe the Fenders, heard GHS are somewhat thumpy too but I am concerned that the jazz neck with not like it and get too much pressure on it. Everything DR makes is good though I have not seen the flats yet..I think the TI are too floppy for me. I play faster classic rock and really try to hit the parts and if the string is too floppy I can't hit all the notes how I like with the webstrings SS flats I have on there now, which I heard are very similar to the TI's.

BaldBass · #5 02-27-2009, 09:40 AM

I highly recommend Labella Deep Talkin flats

jmceachern36 · #6 02-27-2009, 10:03 AM

I play a Fender Jazz with GHS Precision Flats on it (45-105). The tension feels pretty good. Not as stiff as others at the same gauge (LaBella and Chromes). Only slightly stiffer than rounds. Classic flatwound sound. And $20.

morehorn · #7 02-27-2009, 10:14 AM

d'addario and fender flats are the darkest sounding IMO. i love labellas (and use regularly) but i feel like they have a little more high end

flats are easy on the fretboard but can be rough on old skinny necks if the tension it too high

if you wants something thumpy and easy on the bass, try black tapewounds, rotosound, labella, fender, whatever. they are deep, dark, and really low tension

RicPlaya · #8 02-27-2009, 10:18 AM

Thanks guys

Buskman · #9 02-27-2009, 10:26 AM

[quote=RicPlaya;7044240]I really want to try Labella's or maybe the Fenders[quote]

IMO, I'd stay away from the Fenders. They have a great old school tone, but are very high tension.

Like it was said before, Chromes or DR flats might be worth a shot - both are similar in tension, and the DR set (to me, anyway) seems to have a little more overall 'thump' to them. Both are great strings, though!

stingray56funk · #10 02-27-2009, 10:30 AM

Labella Deep Talkin' Flats I'd say. Less tension than Chromes but more tension than TI Flats. Most importantly...awesome tone once they settle in!

RicPlaya · #11 02-27-2009, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmceachern36

I play a Fender Jazz with GHS Precision Flats on it (45-105). The tension feels pretty good. Not as stiff as others at the same gauge (LaBella and Chromes). Only slightly stiffer than rounds. Classic flatwound sound. And $20.

How thumpy are the GHS? There's a set I can pick up locally 45-95 for 25.00, and I don't have to drive 60 miles round trip in rush hour to get the Labella's or DR's from GC. I will make the trip if the GHS is not what I'm going for and lack the thump. But I heard the tension is midway and maybe good for the little jazz neck?

RicPlaya · #12 02-27-2009, 04:39 PM

Well I pulled the trigger on the GHS lights 45-95 long scale. The guitar tech at the music store recommended the lights for the jazz necks. He says his Geddy Jazz's neck is really touchy and these strings work on that bass. Tension is not too high like other brands and they really provide a good vintage tone with decent thump when broken in. He also said since I play a lot of classic rock these strings can cut and have decent highs, a good verstile all around flatwound. So I took his advice and will give a report here shortly after jamming with the band this weekend. I still want to try Labella's but I don't think the neck can handle it.

jmceachern36 · #13 02-28-2009, 06:55 AM

They're thumpy. They don't take to long to break in either. You got a lighter gauge so there shouldn't be any tension issues. Regarding the Labella's or any other string and tension. You have to take into consideration the gauge of the string. The Labella's that are 45-105 seem a little too stiff for me but thay also make a set that are approx. 43-104 that have less tension. Of course the gauge of the string will affect the sound as well.

RicPlaya · #14 03-01-2009, 11:52 AM

Well I had a good opportunity to play the strings with the bahnd at practice. I can say the discriptions were accurate. I wouldn't call them thumpy on the jazz, maybe they would be more thumpy on a P. My bass has the S1 switch, so I was able to get a lot of different tones. The flats being really pronounced with the lows really make the bass sound a lot better. With S1 switch engaged I am able to ge a really nice fat tone, it sounds like a P without the thump. But the tone does not get washed away in the mix, it's low and strong and all the strings are very deep and in your face. When I use the back pick up more like a jazz, it really gets a good grindy oldschool tone, I can blend the front pick up into the mix to add some lows to it. I also feel with flats the tone knob plays a more important role coloring the tone. Overall I am pleased, the tension is a touch higher then say DR lowriders. Flats are the way to go with Fenders, you have to think when Leo was making these basses, all he had to use was flats so the pick ups IMO are really voiced for that. I like rounds, but in a band setting the flats really put my tone where it needs to be in the mix. It's low and strong and I have to be careful not to drown out the rest of the band, which was difficult to do with rounds. I really like the fact that I can get really low in tone, and still not get washed out like with the rounds. I would recommend these strings, with this gauge for Fender jazz basses or any bass with really skinny necks. The A string being on the small side was a little thin at first, but a boost with the low mids, and mids really made the A and D string sound as prominent as the E. I never had a bass sound so powerful in the higher registers even with the lighter guage strings. It's a good all around vintage style string and is very versitle. I would like more thump, but I do realize I am playing a jazz not a P.

jmceachern36 · #15 03-01-2009, 01:14 PM

The strings are going to break in over the first month. My guess is that they are going to sound even better.

RicPlaya · #16 03-01-2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmceachern36

The strings are going to break in over the first month. My guess is that they are going to sound even better.

Just wondering if found the same to be true with these strings on your jazz canpared to what I just mentioned? Can't wait for them to mellow out a bit and get more thumpy.

jmceachern36 · #17 03-01-2009, 02:43 PM

I just bought my jazz. They've been on for 3 weeks and sound great. Here's a vid of somone with a jazz bass and flats and a great sound. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Veqn...eature=related....I also just change my flats on one of my P basses. Don't ask why. So one bass has 2 year old flats and one 3 weeks. The newer strings have more sustain right now. Less thump? Still sounds great though.

RicPlaya · #18 03-01-2009, 04:25 PM

I've seen that clip good stuff for sure! I'm not a big slapper (because I suck at it) but she seems to do well slapping on flats.

jmceachern36 · #19 03-04-2009, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RicPlaya

Just wondering if found the same to be true with these strings on your jazz canpared to what I just mentioned? Can't wait for them to mellow out a bit and get more thumpy.

Update for ya. The flats on my jazz are mellowing out very nice. I'd say they sound better than on my 2 P basses.

RicPlaya · #20 03-09-2009, 10:06 PM

Update:

Tone is great form the GHS flats. They are getting a little thumpy. I find myself still seeking more tension I think. I find myself playing closer to the bridge because that's where the tension allows me to articulate the notes the best. My hands feel a little tired from maybe digging in to hard for compensating the looser string.

The neck of the bass really likes the tension, but maybe I should consider a little stiffer string? I dunno, they just feel a little too loose still... I don't like the string tension at all over the neck pick up.

Is this common for low tension strings to make you dig in a little harder to play the faster passages? Because that's what it seems like, but I have only been playing flats for a little over a month so I am not sure what I should be expieriencing.