Advice for first Flats

[Peter - Oregon]

I have been playing bass for about a year. I have an Ultra Jazz and a 2004 Stingray, both are strung with D'Addario Nickel Wound EXL170 regular light guage 45/100 long scale round wounds (those are what my brother, who sold me the Stingray, always uses). The only other strings I have played are the Fenders that have come on my guitars. I just received an American Professional II P for my 60th. As you can tell, I have limited knowledge about strings, but I would like to try flats on the new bass. Would love your opinions or links to threads on this topic. I am pretty much solely a classic rock player. Thanks ahead for your thoughts. Specifics on brands, gauges, lengths, etc would be great.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

but I would like to try flats on the new bass

What are you hoping you might find in flats? Were I just wanting to dip my toes in the water out of curiosity, I'd probably start off with Fenders own flats, safe in the knowledge that they're going to go together well. But if there's something you're specifically after....

 

[Peter - Oregon]

I don't know. I know there are many choices, which to me at least, makes it hard to pick one. I just thought some people might have some opinions on favorites or insights regarding using them with a P bass.

 

[C Stone]

Suggest Fender flats as well.
Whatever gauge you prefer, they are hard to beat, warm and rich, my go to string. I also use ghs precision flats, both are great for different reasons I prefer Fenders

 

[WillyW]

7ender and Ernie Ball cobalt flats are somewhat inexpensive for flats so I’d start there. ($35ish) I prefer the cobalts.

I’m probably the biggest loudmouth advocating Pyramid Golds. ($50ish)

Thomastik-Infield are another favorite, around here (can be as high as $95 a set, but sometimes can be had for less) I’m not a big fan of them

Dunlop is an honorable mention.

I’m not a fan of rotosounds and labella flats, but many here like them.

 

[Peter - Oregon]

I appreciate it. Do people pretty much play the same weight strings in flats as they would in rounds?

 

[johnh89]

Rotosound 77s for me . I just love the sound

 

[Ricky Rioli]

I appreciate it. Do people pretty much play the same weight strings in flats as they would in rounds?

My 50-65-85-110 set of Daddario Pro Steel rounds feels remarkably similar in weight and tension and so on to the set of 45-60-80-105 set of Daddario Chromes flats I had. That's my sole data point to offer

 

[brocco]

Cobalt flats for me.

 

[Bobbadfinger]

First flats ? I'd try something not too floppy, not too stiff, not too modern, not too old school.
And definitely not too expensive. GHS Precision flats, 95 gauge.

 

[pingvuiini]

Tapewounds.

 

[mrperkolator]

as long as you're not trying to slap, LaBella Low tension flats are great. Tension wise they feel like rounds under the finger to me, but have that nice smooth exterior. These are what I've currently got on mine. Really woke up that bass when I put them on. low tensions sound a hair more modern than the traditional 760fs that most people buy from LaBella.

Tone is an interesting question. If you find yourself rolling off your highs with the tone knob, You will love LaBella flats. They do have high end, but the players that tend to love high end brightness do not seem to like LaBella. I'm on the other end. I dont like bright, so I dislike EB Cobalt flats. They sound like rounds. To me there is no point in getting flats for a different tone and then buying EB Cobalts.

For classic rock, your two top flats will be LaBella and TI. These two are two flavors of that old signature sound that other brands emulate. P bass with Labella 760fs is pretty much a gold standard.

I do like Labella Tapewounds too. They are in-between flats and rounds. But that's not what you're asking for.

 

[GwenOnBass]

Ernie Ball Group Flats, and EB Cobalt Flats, are a both great matches for a StingRay, as one might expect from EB.

 

[michael_t]

Fender 9050L (45-60-80-100) = a good middle-of-the-road all-purpose flat for a first timer. Full-bodied punch with midrange clarity.

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GHS Precision Flats Lights (45-60-76-95) = woody warmth with focused low-mid punch for something a little more old-school than the Fender.

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[BobDeRosa]

I agree with those who recommend GHS Precision Flats. They're just a really nice string in every way. I think I've always used the medium gauge, but I hear good things about the lighter gauge as well, and might try those next time I need flats.

 

[jallenbass]

I appreciate it. Do people pretty much play the same weight strings in flats as they would in rounds?

For your first set of flats go with a lighter gauge. Any set with a .040 G string. I've seen too many people turned away from flats due to the unexpected higher tension of the standard gauges.

 

[SteveC]

Buy once, cry once. Get some TI Flats. Done. You'll probably never have to put strings on it again. I wasn't a fan the first time, but the 2nd try I was sold. They are expensive, but you only have to buy them once.

 

[Bob E]

I'd try to keep the string diameters close to what you have, so you won't have to worry about the nut slots.

 

[Killing Floor]

I’d start with something that is pretty common and reasonably priced so it won’t hurt you if you don’t like it. Chromes or Roto 77 or Fender. My favorite is TI but don’t drop that much on a first set because they may not be for you because they feel a lot different and will take a commitment to get used to. Good luck.

 

[Glennbassmann]

THE most important thing to remember when installing flatwounds is be sure to bend a 90 degree angle before you cut the string...otherwise the outer winding can unravel especially on a round core string....