what is the best Flatwounds?

[Flounder102Bass]

i had Daddarios chromes on my Fender USA but i was thinking is there Better flatwounds then Daddario chromes

[bassist4dalord]

Dude you've opened a HUGE can of worms. Here's my advice: If you like Chromes, stick with 'em. I like 'em. It's all up to you. End of thread.

[p-bass]

What tone are you after ? I use Chromes and GHS Flats.Chromes are brite and zingy...GHS are dark and thumpy.

[theory028]

Do the Chromes keep that zingy characteristic for very long? I have noticed that they are bright to an almost offensive degree. I have to roll the tone knob down to about 40% to get the sound I was expecting.

In one of the videos that JMJ was in for D'Addario (the Chromes video) he also noted that they have more top end than you'd expect. He also said that he sweats a lot and they mellow out after a few hours. I was just curious how much of that high end shrill will come off as the strings settle in.

I have practice tomorrow so that will be a good chance to break them a bit more. The last few practices have been on hot days so I sweat a lot but it has been really cool over the weekend. If tomorrow's weather is like today's then I probably won't be sweating a lot.

Chromes are the only flats I have experience with. I like how they feel and sound (provided I cut some treble). I am a satisfied customer. The only strings close that I have tried are the La Bella tapewound. Those feel nice too and sound awesome on my acoustic electric bass. It's a match made in Heaven. The black nylon wrapping looks pretty righteous, too. I'd consider putting a set on my ESP LTD B-4E just to spice things up. I used to have a set of the GHS tapewounds but they have mysteriously vanished. I had them in a basket I brought back from Iowa and are now nowhere to be found. I'll leave the tapewound strings out of this, though.

[lmfreeman9]

I like TI Jazz Flats, DR Hi Beam Flats, LaBellas and Pyramids.

[RCCollins]

Chromes are great for bright, modern sound and they have considerably more tension than most other flats. I don't think they are the best choice for a "vintage" vibe but they are certainly great strings and are VERY different from LaBellas, or my preferred TI jazz flats

[Jim C]

My only experience is with the Labella flats that my used bass came with; they were good but I didn't like the way they were wound on the tuners (cut pretty short and looking like the were about to come un-wound)

Tried Fender flats and thought the tone was OK but not great; also have high tension
Was headed towards Chromes but am concerend about being too bright
There was an aduio post recently that sounded good as compared to TI's IMO

[Count Bassie]

They'll mellow out a bit. Probably nothing will not require a little tone-tweak... but you might like the TI Flats better if the Chromes are messing with you that much. The TI's are more understated- no less hi-fi, just a different character. And considerably looser on the board.

I'm still deciding, myself. It's an expensive experiment though.

[Ric5]

Chromes are too clicky sounding.

I am not a fan of flats ... but to me the best sounding flats are Dean Markley flats.

[bhass]

Originally Posted by Ric5

Chromes are too clicky sounding.

Clicky sounding?

[mrjim123]

FWIW, check out this poll:
A Poll - What Are Your Favorite Flatwounds?

[Count Bassie]

Originally Posted by bhass

Clicky sounding?

You know what he means. They have a lot of 'high end' in 'em, so you get the fret-smack and finger-noise.

That's technique and tone settings. And yes, the strings of course.

[jgroh]

Originally Posted by Count Bassie

They'll mellow out a bit. Probably nothing will not require a little tone-tweak... but you might like the TI Flats better if the Chromes are messing with you that much. The TI's are more understated- no less hi-fi, just a different character. And considerably looser on the board.

I'm still deciding, myself. It's an expensive experiment though.

I have Chromes on my fretless and they sound great but I was going to "experiment" by trying TI's until I saw the price. Too expensive for an experiment.

[HogieWan]

Yes, there are better flats than Chromes for different basses and/or music. I use chromes on my fretless.

[billoetjen]

Good question, though poorly articulated. I also liked the poll (it would have been more interesting with a 4th choice - "depends."

But, back to the OP.
I was crazy about Chromes for about three years. Loved 'em so much that I had them on, literally, all my basses. There's a reason: they're great. Served me well and allowed me a nice range of tones depending on the technique I used.
Then I got and modded a P clone (SX, what else?) and the Chromes were okay, but they didn't have the tone I had in my head. Someone here on TB suggested LaBella's DTB. Now, I'd tried LaBellas (760FM) before and gave up on them. The set I had, combined with that bass and the tone settings I was used to gave an annoying ringy sound.
Went back to Chromes and liked it better. So, I listened to the TB'er (often a good plan) and switched to DTB 760FS. BANG! the tone in my head now came out of my speakers. Along with a good range of tones (perhaps not as wide as the Chromes), and a percussive attack that says Precision Bass.

On my fretless Warmoth, I had started with TI's; hated them because they had too much mwah. I just wanted a note that started with a thump and decayed linearly. The tone in my head has NO ROOM for all that fancy stuff. Just give me a clearly defined note, then give me the next... Chromes fixed that. But, the tone just had this sloping arch in the middle that I couldn't quite reconcile myself to. Wanted to try DTB on this axe (Warmoth string-through, with Villex pups). Remember that LaBella warns against using DTB's though-body. I didn't want to give up the string-though. Again, a bunch of folks on TB, claimed that they got away with it. Yesterday, I got a new set of extra long 760FS and put them on. Immediate improvement. I can't put the axe down. Sounds like a different instrument; the DTB really opened up the sound and brought out the fundamentals - so musical. So far they're surviving the though-body experience.

YMMV

One last thing:
Dude, get a copy of the "Elements of Style," it'll help fix your grammar.

[bertbassplayer]

I've been a long time chromes user on my Ibanez Blazer (Basically a P on steroids). I was at GC today and say they had the LaBellas and decided to get them bc of all the good things on here. I fell in LOVE with the tone I was getting from these. I have to admit they feel and sound totally different than the Chromes, but I liked them. I don't think I'll use anything else on this bass than those.

[Number27]

hmm intresting question..

imo every brand of flats i've tried is better than chromes :shrug:

including:
Fender
la bella
d'aquisto
pyramid gold
galli

oh! i forgot about the rotosounds.. they were garbage, so i guess chromes aren't totally on the bottom of the barrel

[curandero]

i just put some jazz rotosounds on my G&L tonight. can't say i'll be buying them again. my bass sounds like the life has been sucked right out of it. meh.

[Rockin John]

I have TI Jazz Flats on my '75 fretless Precision. I also have them on my USA DLX Jazz 5er.

I love the softness of the 'feel' and on the P especially, they sound warm and round tho there is brightness if you want it.

On the my main gigging bass - an El Cheapo fretless 6 - I use Roto Jazz 77s. A much different string to the TI and a set that I find I'm getting more used to. Higher tension, of course, tho not terribly so, and much brighter. Tho I'm basically old school, I'm starting to appreciate being able to add some of these strings' brightness from the bridge PuP.

Never tried Chromes. The TIs are about £50 (bout US$70?) for the 6 set, whilst the 77s are a bit more than half that.

The best I ever tried were Picato. They have a slightly un-polished feel to them which made breathy finger noise when I used them on an acoustic fretless. Beautiful.

John

[fuNKmaster83]

pyramid gold!!!