7 string flat wound options?

[Bjm272]

I recently got a btb747. I’d really like to change strings to flat wounds and a lighter gauge that more suits my playing style. I’d like a wound 7th string (high f tuning), since a wire would just not sound right next to a bunch of flatwounds. I have the labella deep talkin 760-fl on my six string which I very much like. Ideally, I’d be able to get something similar in a set of 7, even if the 7th string has to be a little on the chunky end to be wound.

im open to nylon wounds too, if there’s a option out there instead.

Anyone know of any options other than a (very pricey) custom made set? Even if someone knows where to get just a 7th string, I can assemble my own set from singles.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Check out the Official 7 string bass Club.
I'm sure someone has discussed this topic.
The Official 7-String Bass Club.

 

[Bjm272]

Check out the Official 7 string bass Club.
I'm sure someone has discussed this topic.
The Official 7-String Bass Club.

Thanks. I scrolled through the posts there, seems like most of the discussion was around roundwounds and gauges for a lower string below the b. Unless I missed something (which is entirely possible), it looks like I’m alone thus far in wanting flatwounds and a high 7th string.

 

[Jon Moody]

Your best bet is to find a company that offers a 6st set in flatwounds, and also guitar flatwounds. As long as the length is there, you should be able to thread a bass ball end on a guitar flatwound, have it fit at the bridge and then tune up to an F.

Otherwise, I don’t know of any (and I could be wrong) companies that offer a high F flatwound bass string.

 

[Bjm272]

Your best bet is to find a company that offers a 6st set in flatwounds, and also guitar flatwounds. As long as the length is there, you should be able to thread a bass ball end on a guitar flatwound, have it fit at the bridge and then tune up to an F.

Otherwise, I don’t know of any (and I could be wrong) companies that offer a high F flatwound bass string.

I’ve never tried changing the ball ends on a string before... how difficult is it to do? Ive only ever owned classical guitars, so I don’t really know the dimensions on guitar ball ends - is it possible that the ball end is the same for guitar vs bass?

 

[Jon Moody]

I’ve never tried changing the ball ends on a string before... how difficult is it to do?

I wasn't very clear. You're not changing the ball ends of a string. What you need to do is take a bass ball end from an old string (easy to cut the string and take the ball off), and then thread the guitar string THROUGH the hole in the bass ball end.

Ive only ever owned classical guitars, so I don’t really know the dimensions on guitar ball ends - is it possible that the ball end is the same for guitar vs bass?

Nope, they are most certainly different sizes.

 

[ixlramp]

Very thin gauge flatwound bass guitar strings, as needed for high F, are very rare.
A 6 string set plus a guitar flatwound of .020-.022, as advised above, is worth trying as it is a cheap option.
On my fretless bass guitar i have used D'Addario bass guitar Chromes alongside guitar Chromes with bass ferrules threaded on as described above.
Keep in mind the cores of such small gauges are thin and so close to breaking, this is why so many high Fs are plain steel strings.
For the same gauge i find a flatwound more flexible, less harsh and brighter than a plain steel string. However, a plain steel string does work fine alongside steelwound flatwounds.
For expensive custom strings there is octave4plus.com , they can make insanely thin bass guitar flatwounds.

 

[Aidil]

I've been using different types of strings on my BTB7, from factory stock D'Addario XL Nickels, Ken Smith Compressors, GHS Pressurewounds (2 sets), Elixir Nickel Nanoweb, and current Dunlop Super Bright Nickel. So, I've put on in total of 6 sets, all low-B to high-F tunings, and in all sets I use only plain steel string for the high-F.

Yes, I've never put flatwound on this 7 string of mine, but the Compressors and the Pressurewounds are what most people call as semi-flatwounds. They have different characteristics of sounds compared to the other strings I've put on. Still, I have no problem pairing them with a plain steel string for the high-F.