What are good, all around Flats? This will be my first time trying flats!!! - Page 2

markjazzbassist · #21 07-15-2006, 05:08 PM

either get a lighter set of chromes or play them a lot for a month and then they'll loosen up.

i think strings sound the best after about a month of hard playing. they loose that zing and steel sound and get more thumpy and punchy. plus flats are the kind of string that you don't need to replace unless you break one. plenty of basses play flats that are years and years old.

thebassclef · #22 07-15-2006, 05:13 PM

Flats by nature have a higher tension than rounds. No matter what guage or other string, or how you set up your bass, they will always seem stiffer to you until you get use to them.

thebassclef · #23 07-15-2006, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

plenty of basses play flats that are years and years old.

My Rotosound Jazz 77's are 4 years old and sound better every day.

dunamis · #24 07-15-2006, 06:11 PM

+1 on the TI Jazz Flats. They may cost a bit more but they last and last. IME, they are the ultimate fingerstyle string.

suthrnslew · #25 07-15-2006, 06:47 PM

Go to juststrings.com
They don't have tension pounds listed for most of the strings, but they do for TI Jazz flats and D'Addario chromes.
The 4 string TI Jazz set and the 4 string light gauge set of D'Addario chromes are pretty close in tension.
I have a set of Fender 9050ML flats on a P bass.
I think I'll try a set of the .040-.095 chromes to get lower tension and hear what they sound like.
I think D'Addario has tension specs on all strings on their home page, don't know about TI.
juststrings.com seems like a good outfit, never had a problem with ordering several sets over the past couple years.

rotero · #26 07-15-2006, 07:19 PM

+100 on the TI Jazz Flats.

Listen, if the Chromes were too tense (which was my opinion also) you owe it to yourself to try the best string made in the world. Get a set of TI's. Unless you play them for a while through your rig you won't know what all the fuss is about. They are low tension, but not noodles by any means. (Think 40-100 roundwound D'Addarios)

All this will mean for you is you will be able to play with a lighter touch. The amount of nickel in those strings will make your pickups and amp very happy. Between the low tension and the fat sound produced, what you wind up with is a string that allows you to play with more nuance than any other string I've ever tried. They deliver the mwah like no other. I have played everything from standards to finger funk to full tilt classic metal with these things and they just rule. You won't even think of changing them for about three years (and then decide to never change them) so the price is not really an issue.

Assuming you are ready to make the flats vs. rounds trade-off of more fundamental for less harmonics...more thump and throb for less brilliance and snap...then you should be happy.

Listen to the new RHCP album to hear what flats on a Jazz are capable of. It is quite a broad range of good sounds.

(And I bet Flea's are TI's!)

LoveThatBass · #27 07-19-2006, 09:11 PM

TI's have a good sound, easy as butter to play, last a long long time. My only complaint was that to pluck them fast I had to do it near the bridge to get enough tension.
They really tone a Jazz bass down. In fact you would have a hard time telling it was a Jazz by listening. They are deep, smooth, mellow, no growl hardly at all.

bazzanderson · #28 07-20-2006, 07:40 AM

Chromes + 1

Great tone, feel and tension.

canopener · #29 07-20-2006, 10:36 AM

D'Addario Chromes. And if you can't find Chromes, Fender 9050ML's.

Ole Man Blues · #30 07-20-2006, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

+1 on the chromes. i love them.

+1 here on the Chromes........

OMB

jamesblue · #31 07-22-2006, 09:17 AM

Chromes should be the only flats for sale!!

Just kidding, if you don't like the top end just cut it, if the tension is too much, get the light "95" set, if you go with the heavier gauge you'll build up hand strength quickly and to me sound better.

Highly recomend getting a set up when you change string type, $25-$40 is well worth what you get. If you stay with the same strings you shouldn't need a set up for quite a while.

jobo4 · #32 07-22-2006, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modern Growl

Well, I threw on some D'addario Chromes on my P and think they sound great! - One issue though is the tension. Very hard to play. After lowering my action and tightening my neck relief, it made it a bit better, but still very stiff...

What would you recommend now? - again, I like the sound of the Chromes, but way too stiff!!

I feel the same way about Chromes: too stiff. I like the Sadowsky flats made by LaBella with the 100 E string. Nice mix of tension and playability. You will enjoy!

BaldBass · #33 08-07-2006, 02:16 PM

I cast my vote for LaBella Deep talking flats (50-109)

**MAJOR METAL** · #34 08-07-2006, 06:30 PM

Sadowsky makes a Flat wound string.

Moe Monsarrat · #35 08-08-2006, 08:55 AM

I use the Chromes, Ernie Ball's & the Dogal Jaco flats. All are good & the Dogals are probably the best(& most expensive). They are made in Italy & if you want a giggle, go to their website, which has been somewhat humoursly translated into English. Apparently the cores are made from "carbon fibber".....LOL.

ElBajista · #36 08-08-2006, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoveThatBass

TI's have a good sound, easy as butter to play, last a long long time. My only complaint was that to pluck them fast I had to do it near the bridge to get enough tension.
They really tone a Jazz bass down. In fact you would have a hard time telling it was a Jazz by listening. They are deep, smooth, mellow, no growl hardly at all.

I must respectfully disagree. With a bit of Low-Mid boost on my B100R and the selection of my bridge-most coil, I can get a phenomenal Jazz-Killer growl with TIs. Technique has a lot to do with this, too.