Unsticky flats

[Banana Bread]

Well my problem that i find very re-occuring and annoying is, all of the flat wound strings I play are so so, ...sticky, you know? My fingers just wont roll off them correctly, as if there is velcro on my fingers, and on my strings. So which flat wound strings have you guys found, are not like that, thanks in advance.

[markdavid]

I have used Daddario Chromes and they don't seem sticky to me compared to most flats although I was less than impressed with their sound (too bright for me)

[Alan U]

Rotosound flats are always fine with me.
Are you sure you haven't got sticky fingers?

[K2000]

I like to use an emory board on my fingertips. Then wipe off the dust. Then lube up my fingertips with oil from my nose or behind my ear. Sanding your fingertips reduces the friction (smooth surface).

I've only used "used" flats (on a bass I bought used). They may get less sticky after you use them a while.

Flats are less sticky to me than rounds... rounds tear up my fingertips. Rounds rip my callouses open. Flats are more user-friendly than rounds, IMO.

[62bass]

I never have that problem on any of my basses, all strung with Thomastic flatwounds, although others have said the TIs feel stick for a short while when new. But the condition of my calluses, the humidty and temperature do seem to play a part in how slick any flatwound sounds. If it continues to bother you, try using GHS Fast Fret before you play. It won't gunk up and deaden the string like some of these products do. Cleans the strings nicely too.

[ducatiman]

bananabread-

you may want to try cleaning your strings with a lens
cleaning cloth (alcohol). must be residue on yer fingers from all that b'nana bread u been eatin. LOL, serious about the cleaning, tho.

----------------------Duc

[Banana Bread]

alright sounds good, i will do, thanks for the reccomendations and such.

[cmhgreg]

The smoothest I've tried are La Bellas, but I'm using some TI's that are about 3 years old and although they were a bit sticky at first they are very smooth now.

[Orco87]

I had that problem with some TI's that I had on one bass... I thought something was wrong with me as I always wipe the strings down when I'm through playing... Before I sold the bass I even wiped the strings down and cleaned with alcohol... no effect, the one string that was a tad sticky was still sticky.

why do some flats get sticky? just curious....

[jmal]

I've tried most of the flats currently available and I have to agree with the fellow that suggested LaBellas. They are much smoother than any other string. I also think they sound better than any other string; my tastes lean toward Motown, blues, jazz, etc.

[DocBop]

I've never found flatwounds to be sticky unless they are tape or coated strings. Usually when strings get gunky is due to individual body oils and such not the strings. Wiping down your strings after you play to get the gunk off. Pour some alcohol on a soft cloth and wipe down each string avoid getting the alchoal on the bass itself. I would also wash your hands in warm water before playing. I like to do it because the hot water gets the blood flowing to my fingers, but also gets any gunk off my fingers.

[Bass Mule]

I think what you might be experiencing (especially if you don't use flats normally) is increased friction, which is actually quite normal with flatwound strings. Think about a racecar with slicks (bald tires). There is more tire-to-pavement contact because of the lack of tread pattern on the tire, so there is more friction for better control, acceleration, deceleration (under certain circumstances, of course).
Think of the raised bumps on your roundwounds as the treads of a tire, or even better, think of them as a non-stick surface. If you've ever looked at a magnified picture of a non-stick pan, you'll notice a ton of tiny ridges, designed so there is less surface contact between food and pan. Without those ridges, there is more contact, creating more friction. Your flatwound strings don't really have ridges (or shouldn't, anyway), so there will be a high amount of flesh-to-string contact, creating more friction. When you slide up and down the string, it will require slightly more effort than you would feel playing round wounds.

[Orco87]

interesting... good to know, thanks for the info.

[bthiemann80]

I know the sticky feeling your talking about. Whenever I switched from playing roundwounds to flats I noticed it and it took a little bit of getting used to. After a while w/ the strings though I noticed that they tended to get less sticky and downright smooth. I just switched from fender flats to the rotosound RS77's and at first the RS77's felt WAY sticky and had a lot of texture to them. But after even a half hour or so after playing the RS77's they felt much smoother. I imagine after a couple of days of some good playing they'll feel as smooth as butter.