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Stack Rank Your Three Favorite Flats

#43
matante said:
Yes. That helps a lot, but "for whatever reason they just don't quite work" still sounds like a hypothetical at best, and disingenuous at worst, rather than a real world situation. And it still leaves the door wide open to many types of strings aside from flatwounds.

Saying, "don't quite" sounds like you'd simply need a different brand or gauge of the same type of strings.

I would say either retract the first paragraph entirely, or change it to "All my basses have roundwounds and I'd like to experiment with flats on one of them." Even stating it's a P-Bass is unnecessary if you're not chasing a tonal goal.
Click to expand...

I'm sure this is all very interesting. But TB forum postings aren't being graded last I heard.

So could we possibly get back to having people just list their ranked three preferences for flats and you give it a rest?

Thx. ;):)
 
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#44
I can't really participate in this thread, except to say that I have always matched the flats to the bass.

My Squier VM Mustang had GHS Precision flats.

My Squier VM P bass and Fender Aerodyne both had Fender 9050M flats.

My Ibanez SR505 had Chromes.

My EBMM Big Al has EB Cobalt flats.

So I don't really have a favorite set of flats per se. It's all about what goes well with the instrument I'm playing.
 
#47
I've got three different brands of flats on three of my Basses.....how that happened I don't know.

Any way, to rank them-

1) TI JF344 - They're on a 95 MIA P
2) Fender 9050 - They're on an SX P
3) EB (not sure of the model #) - Tuned BEAD, on the SX J in my avatar
 
#48
DigitalMan said:
Any suggestion is fine. I'm guessing tapes won't be one of the top two or three suggestions but I'm open to ideas.
Click to expand...

I like a smooth warm sound from flats. Like you, I'm a fan of Rotosounds. Been using them pretty much since they came out. So when it comes to flats, I want then to be as far away from my trusty Swing 66 set in terms of timbre as possible.

So in order of preference:

  1. Labella Copper White Nylons (750C set: 50-105) Unique sound and feel. Smooth, warm, and mellow with complex but not in your face mids. One day break-in. One of my all-time favorite strings, and the only tapewound I can say I ever really liked. And I've tried them all
  2. D'Addario Chromes (ECB81 set: 45-100) Not so much brighter as they are a clearer sounding flat. Two to three day settle in period.
  3. Tomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats. "They are what they is." You like them or you don't. I like them. About the only flat worth using on a short-scale bass AFAIC. Lasts forever.
(Note: I recently ordered a set of red copperwound strings from Gabriel Tenorio Strings. I'm not 100% sure if they're flats or rounds, although I suspect they're flats. But I love the sound of copperwound electric bass strings on a Ripper. Unfortunately, 'real coppers' have become pretty rare since the '70s. And AFAIK, this is the only company currently making any. Needless to say I'm pretty chuffed despite the waiting time and the $60 price tag.)
 
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#53
As for tapes.

Favorite was the GHS 3060 that have been recently discontinued. Used them since 68', first on a 67 Starfire I. Have to think there are still some out there but they dried up fast.

Current: Since all I have are short scales it limits the Tapes available.

La Bella White Tapes
La Bella Black Tapes
La Bella White Copper Tapes

For flats I should have added the DR High Beam flats. Put them on a bass a while ago and really like them.
 
#58
TI Jazz
La Bella
Fenders

If tapes are included I loved Rotos,when I got my first set back in 82 nobody local was using either tapes or flats so I stood out.Recently it's been Status Hot Wire but they're discontinued,got the last 2 sets from Status.Have La Bella black
nylon and the white copper tapes but still to try them.
 
#60
1) Thomastik-Infeld Jazz flats.
2) D'Addario Chromes (may be #1 soon)
3) ancient set of flats that came on a vintage bass I got as a gift. I *think* they were pyramids.
Honorable mention: Fender stainless flats. (Ridiculously high tension, but what a sound!)
 

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