(5 string) P Bass: "1 with rounds, 1 with flats." So which flats?

[Aric Bjorn]

You have to wipe them off before you install them. The tackiness is from the manufacturing process. Would be nice if they did that for us but

Thank you both, as I was just about to install my first set of flats, some D'Addario Chromes on my Yamaha TRBX605, and that was very timely advice. I'm done, and they're smooooooooth

They still need some breaking in though...

 

[Jefenator]

One school of thought is to get a set of flats that are closer in response to rounds so you'll feel less out of your element.
If I had a second instrument already set up with rounds, my thought would be to diversify a little more and get my flat-strung axe to have its own distinct vibe. The opposite of the round wound experience to me is: THUMP.
It may be possible to overdo it; you would likely find the LaBella 1954 set to be muffled in sound & exceedingly difficult to play. (Unless you are really looking for maximum old-school beefiness.)
After much experimentation, my go-to for my P-bass is the "standard" gauge LaBella Deep Talkin' Flats. For 5-string that would be the 760FS-B. Not too diluted, not too hardcore; just the right balance of blunt impact and slice.
But that's just me.

 

[pbass2]

5 string flats are a challenge, but good B strings do exist. Just like any B string, care and caution must be used when installing and intonating.

I used to always think I wanted/needed at least a 130 B on any fiver (rounds or flats), but I'm really happy with the 125 B in the DR Legends set on my Kiloton V. It's clearer sounding to me than when I had Chromes on my old L2500. I still like the 130 B on my Jazz fiver with Nickel Lo-Riders, but with flats....maybe there's something to the lighter gauge B for clarity.

 

[Yahboy]

I'm pretty comfortable with rounds. They make sense to me, they work the way I expect expect. But my (admittedly limited) history with flats is that they just sound like neutered rounds. I haven't found whatever it is you all have that inspires such romance in the way we talk about flats on a p bass.

My second p style is coming in a few days, and it'll get rounds. Pretty sure I'll try flats on my current one and see if I can find the magic.

So, 5 string flatwounds. There aren't all that many to choose from, but supposing I have a limited budget so I can't just try them all, which set do you all reckon would be the "P Bass With Flats"iest flats?

1 with EB Cobalt Flat ,and I with La bella LTF4A . If you can add 3rd P, you can go wrong with Ti flat.

 

[BarfanyShart]

I am a LaBella fanatic, recently turned Chromes appreciator. My main bass has Chromes now, and I particularly appreciate how good the low B speaks - its got some extra character and responsiveness to it. If I wanted the flat-iest vibe on a fiver, I would might choose Dunlop, because the Labella B is sadly kind of bad. I have used the Dunlop B with a Labella 4-string FL set and that is a real nice vintagey set.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I have 4 varieties of Thunderbirds (plus a duplicate) with standard 105-45s tuned DGCF and a 6th tuned BEAD with the bottom 4 from a 5 string set. All are strung with EBCF (Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats). They need very little break-in time. Great lows, mids, and highs. They last and last.

 

[Yahboy]

I have 4 varieties of Thunderbirds tuned DGCF and a 6th tuned BEAD with the bottom 4 from a 5 string set. All are strung with EBCF (Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats). They need very little break-in time. Great lows, mids, and highs.

and lasting freshness tone ....

 

[Miles_ONeal]

and lasting freshness tone ....

Yes! I had just edited to add something similar!

 

[Up the dose]

I put a set of Dunlop flats on my Lakland 5 string P bass and I like it very much. The tone has a lot of warmth with a strong fundamental.

 

[MrAB4003]

I would go with either Chromes or Rotosound 77s. I have a set of Chromes on my Ric 4003 with flats and I love them! They still sound like rounds even after several months of being on my bass. Those who suggested Chromes upthread are not lying.

45-132 Regular Light 5-String, Long Scale, XL Chromes Flat Wound Bass Guitar Strings | ECB81-5 | D'Addario

These flat wound strings provide an ultra-smooth feel and a dark, yet warm tone, while allowing movement across the fretboard with no finger noise. Made for 5-string basses, 45-132 Regular Light gauge strings take our most popular bass gauge and add a low B-string. Learn more.

www.daddario.com

However, I have a set of Rotosound 77s on my P Bass because I wanted to give them a second chance. They're the best strings Rotosound offers, but they don't age as well as Chromes do. The 77s sound like roundwounds when you first put them on. Listen to any Steve Harris bass line and you will understand. When I first put the 77s on my P Bass, it sounded like I had rounds on my bass. I was able to NAIL Steve Harris' tone! It's not like that anymore after a few months unless I crank my bass' tone knob.

Jazz Bass 77 5-String Standard | 45-130

Monel Flatwound 5-String Electric Bass Guitar Strings (45 65 80 105)

www.rotosound.com

Cleaning your strings with rubbing alcohol is a good idea. I cleaned my flats before putting them on my bass and it helped get rid of any gunk. I knew I made a good decision when I saw that the paper towels turned black where they touched the strings.

 

[coyoteboy]

Im cheating by stringing my 'P' (EB Cutlass) BEAD. Ive been through a few flats with this bass by now, including Dogal Jaco (nice, like Cobalts) LaBella Gold Flat (interesting tone that might work great on a different bass, also sticky) and now Legends imported from my Omni. Liking the Legends a lot, the B is working for me and both pick and pluck are great.

 

[maturanesa]

I have a P 5 too. Ghs precision flats 45-126 do the job because you want a stiffer set in order to play a B on the p pickup spot. I hear LaBellas too