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One last try with flats

#121
TomB said:
I have the exact same problem w/my '63 Silvertone Dano. I gave up on the Labellas for fear of damage, and ended up using XL's. I'd still like to find a set of flats that works for that set-up. I think unwinding the Labella's might work, but Labella E-strings are fussy about sharp bends. Yes, they DO break when you string them through the body, for instance. I'll be curious to hear if unwinding could work or if it just unravels completely... or breaks.
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I thought about this, and that's why I'm just going to order another short scale set and use these on my violin bass ;)
 
#122
Have you ever tried Galli Jazz Flatwounds? Here is what the company say about them, "Flat chrome steel on a hexagonal core with a smooth surface, a unique string combining perfect intonation and exceptional smoothness, with powerful volume and long sustain."

From personal experience (on a Am. St. Pbass) the above description is correct - nice funky sound, nice feel. To get an idea, here's a link to a video on YouTube from a guy who plays them:

Blame it on the bass line - Saturnino bass cover - YouTube
 
#124
Flats vs. Rounds.
I go back and forth on this too.
One day I swear by Flats on one of my basses, then the next day I am back to Rounds.
I wish I could make up my mind because they both require their own type of action.
 
#125
madmatt, I think I'm finally over wanting to change back to rounds, at least for my regular band. But yeah, it was a tough one.

Phaidrus, the Gallis sounded good in that clip but they seem impossible to find in the US. And they don't come in a 40-95 or 40-100 set, which is a deal breaker for me. Got to have my wuss strings ;)
 
#126
JimmyM, I'm sure there are a couple of stores in Europe who would be happy to ship the over to the US for not much $$.

However, as you mention, they come in 45-65-85-105. They are low tension though, so they don't feel stiff or difficult to play at all. Give them a go, if you have a chance. If interested, I could have a look for some internet sites you could order them from. They cost just over 30 Euros in the Old Continent.
 
#127
By the way, I ordered a set of DR flats from Jason @ Bass Strings Online, who was very helpful talking about the vicissitudes of flats on the phone. They arrived last week but I think I'll wait for a while before I put them on, till the Gallis start sounding less interesting as they do at the moment.
 
#128
Johnny Alien said:
Have you tried Thomastik flats? Because by your descriptions it sounds like they would make you a believer in flats. They are expensive but I can bet you will love them. Complex tones with great mids but they still get that thump. The lower tension makes them feel much more like rounds to play.
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That's a good call. I also like the Pyramid Gold strings that Alembic would routinely put on their basses in the early-mid 70s. Are those still around?
Edit: I guess they are:
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Once again, really expensive, but as Joe Osborne and James Jamerson demonstrated, you can keep those suckers on your bass for a really long time....
 
#129
Sure the Pyramids are around! That's what I had on the Pbass before I switched to the Gallis. The Pyramid Gold flats are superb strings, exceptionally well made (the best by far so far, according to my experience) and the tone is exactly what they promise: old school. They are mellow right from the start and a joy to play. But combined with a Pbass, they sounded a bit boring after half a year or so. Not because their tone changed - not at all - but because I decided I'd rather try emulating some more modern sounds/basslines.
 
#130
Just put on LaBella flats light guage on my Spector LX4 this last week. Feels good on the fingers but the difference from the rounds that come on it is big. I keep looking to see if I have my pickups turned up! And of course I do. Love the feel and going to try them a few more days but so far the tone is scary soft and dull.

I got together with our lead player and singer and his wailing guitar drownds me out just jamming now. Have to try them in a live mix with the band to decide though since some say similar things till they get them in a live mix, then love them. I want to give them a fair shot but like I say, I like the way they feel but seem to lose so much over the rounds.
 
#131
OK, so did a gig with my Realistic violin bass and the new Hofner Labellas. I like that when you grease them up they actually lose a good amount of zing immediately. It had deadened D'addario Halfrounds on it, which sounded good but were always a little too ringy. I don't think that'll be a problem with Labellas. Had a problem with the G string in the set I got for my P Lyte, but they're sending me a new one on Monday, and judging by the Realistic, they should be perfect.

Don't know that I'm going to put them on all my flatwound basses, though. Thinking about putting my 13 year old set of Fender flats on my 76 PJ, even though they're 45-105. And the Labellas aren't as middy as the Chromes or Halfrounds so I'll probably try the Chromes on the Longhorn first since it's pretty mid scooped.

Anyway, I think I'm through updating this thread. Looks like I'm all sorted now. Thanks for reading, sympathizing, and suggesting stuff, everyone!
 
#132
I kinda have the same "problem". I tried flats for the first time a few months ago, RotoSound, because that's all I use. I really liked them (still using them) but they have advantages (they're smooth and "boomy" sounding) and disadvantages (not enough attack at a gig).

I have, however fixed my problem. I use my bass with flats for playing at home about 80% of the time, recording stuff (I find the flats are alot easier to hear than the rounds on demos and such) and acoustic shows. The bass with rounds gets played alot less at home compared to the one with flats, and I also use it for band practice and shows.
 
#133
JimmyM said:
OK, so did a gig with my Realistic violin bass and the new Hofner Labellas. I like that when you grease them up they actually lose a good amount of zing immediately. It had deadened D'addario Halfrounds on it, which sounded good but were always a little too ringy. I don't think that'll be a problem with Labellas. Had a problem with the G string in the set I got for my P Lyte, but they're sending me a new one on Monday, and judging by the Realistic, they should be perfect.

Don't know that I'm going to put them on all my flatwound basses, though. Thinking about putting my 13 year old set of Fender flats on my 76 PJ, even though they're 45-105. And the Labellas aren't as middy as the Chromes or Halfrounds so I'll probably try the Chromes on the Longhorn first since it's pretty mid scooped.

Anyway, I think I'm through updating this thread. Looks like I'm all sorted now. Thanks for reading, sympathizing, and suggesting stuff, everyone!
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I started on a Hofner in the 60's and traded it for a P-bass, then finally a Ric. All had flats. I quit for about 15 years and when I started up again the world had changed. I got a MM-5 with rounds and went crazy for the next 10 years trading basses, strings, amps, etc. I still have the MM- de fretted/flats now. Have a Dingwall/rounds, Spector 5/rounds, Dean12/flats&rounds for octaves. Now my main player is a Mexi Jazz that I pieced together and went through a bunch of flats until I found DRs! Man, they did it for me. I just love their tone. The Sadowskys came in second. All the others sounded too roundwound or had the wrong tension. I just picked up a Hofner CT and it has flats- I have 2 P-basses with flats and because the music I am in now, the round wound basses are left behind at home.


.
 
#134
Phaidrus said:
By the way, I ordered a set of DR flats from Jason @ Bass Strings Online, who was very helpful talking about the vicissitudes of flats on the phone. They arrived last week but I think I'll wait for a while before I put them on, till the Gallis start sounding less interesting as they do at the moment.
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Good luck with that. One problem with flats is- they season, not go bad. You'll prolly end up swapping them before long. BTW, you'll LOVE Drs!!!
 

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