Advice for first Flats

[drumvsbass]

Why do we have to try everything? Why can't we just buy the ones that people recommend as the best one?

...Because people are different, It's good to try at least the top few recommendations. My own personal love for TI flats shouldn't preclude another individual from finding out that Chromes feel like terrible comparatively.

 

[7dollarbologna]

But they do have a higher tension that can be hard on your fingers until you get used to them.
I agree they sound bright for a while, but there's usually a tone knob somewhere.

My experience with flats is they’re easier on the fingers than rounds.

 

[ThudThudThud]

My experience with flats is they’re easier on the fingers than rounds.

It's not the textural part, but the tension. First time with Chromes really feels like playing solid fence wire, and it can be fatiguing on the finger tendons. You get used to it, but there's a glideslope.
Other flats may not have the same sort of tension as Chromes. I believe TI flats (never tried them myself) are a lot more giving than Chromes.

 

[HaphAsSard]

"Chromes", unqualified, means nothing: mil for mil, they are stiffer and higher-tension than rounds and other flats, but just go down in gauge and, lo and behold, their lightest set has less tension than your average roundwound set.

 

[Petethebassman]

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.

I also tend to praise Pyramid Gold flats whenever they are mentioned in a thread, haven't found anything better so far, they are a great match with my playing style and tone preferences.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

First time with Chromes really feels like playing solid fence wire, and it can be fatiguing on the finger tendons.

My first time with Chromes felt exactly the opposite: "oh this is much easier" was pretty much my reaction.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

One thing I've noticed often in discussions of flats is that people find the right flats for them, whether TI or LaB or EB or GHS, they find all other choices totally inexplicable, and other peoples preferences incomprehensible.

 

[GIBrat51]

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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I'll have to agree with this. I have flats - lots of different ones - on my large herd of basses; including both of these flats. Two of them wear these Fenders, and IMO; yes they are probably the best flats for a first time user. I've called them "goldilocks" flats a time or two here; they aren't too anything, really - they're "just right". And I'll agree that the light Precision Flats might be a good choice, as well. My experience with them is with the short scale versions, though. But, they do fit michael_t's description. I have the 45-105 set on my '78 Precision Bass; they are, indeed, more old school than the Fenders; a little less flexible, too. I'd say that the Fenders are a really good place to start exploring the world of flats. There are flats that are brighter, and flats that are darker and more... thumpy. And, there are flats that are more flexible, and flats that are much stiffer. And flats that have more - and that have less - actual pull-to-pitch tension. So, it boils down to - what do you like?

 

[ThudThudThud]

My first time with Chromes felt exactly the opposite: "oh this is much easier" was pretty much my reaction.

What were you playing before the flats?
I went from really low tension rounds to Chromes and it was painful.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

What were you playing before the flats?
I went from really low tension rounds to Chromes and it was painful.

Daddario Nickels 45-65-85-105 (total tension 174 lbs) replaced with Chromes 45-60-80-105 (total tension 184 lbs). So, a couple of the strings were a step thinner, but the overall tension was a little higher. The extra stiffness allowed the action to be dropped a little bit, I think. That bass had a very thin neck; once the flats were on it was almost too easy, like I was skating over the surface.

 

[ThudThudThud]

Daddario Nickels 45-65-85-105 (total tension 174 lbs) replaced with Chromes 45-60-80-105 (total tension 184 lbs). So, a couple of the strings were a step thinner, but the overall tension was a little higher. The extra stiffness allowed the action to be dropped a little bit, I think. That bass had a very thin neck; once the flats were on it was almost too easy, like I was skating over the surface.

I was able to take the action down lower with the flats for some reason, so I learned to play lightly.

 

[Peter - Oregon]

What were you playing before the flats?
I went from really low tension rounds to Chromes and it was painful.

I am playing D'addario nickel wound, regular light guage, .45 - .100. This conversation has scared me off from from the flats a bit, to be honest.

 

[michael_t]

I am playing D'addario nickel wound, regular light guage, .45 - .100. This conversation has scared me off from from the flats a bit, to be honest.

D'Addario EXL170 (45-65-80-100) = 165.64 lbs. in total tension.

GHS Precision Flats 3025 (45-60-75-95) = 163.2 lbs. in total tension.

I found the GHS P Flats comfortable to play on without feeling floppy.

 

[ThudThudThud]

I am playing D'addario nickel wound, regular light guage, .45 - .100. This conversation has scared me off from from the flats a bit, to be honest.

As noted, there are flats with lower tension. I just found the Chromes sonically more pleasing on one particular bass (60s CV Squier Precision). I believe TI flats are really quite loose feeling compared to Chromes.
You should give flats a try at least once.

 

[jemerpi]

I didn't find Chromes tension to be a big deal. Most people, I think, get the regular light guage. To me, the tension allowed for the strings to be set as low as possible. So, fretting felt almost too easy. I couldn't often tell if I actually had until I got used to it. But I also didn't find plucking to be a big deal. The strings felt so smooth it was a pleasure to play them. Thus, I think those who speak of high tension must've been playing unnecessarily heavy guages. The heavy guage would be very high tension. And the mediums far more than typical rounds.

Nowadays, I play medium guage Rotosound Jazz 77 flats. Tension-wise, the Chromes were nothing compared to these. In this case, I had no choice since 5 string sets only come in medium. However, I am very happy with them. And, from my perspective, they are far more versatile and round wound like in tone. They are, as many have said, the best flats for rock.

 

[VIRGOMONKEY]

EB Cobalt flats. I play hard rock and metal on a P bass with a pick and these string are just perfect. Big pluses: no string noise and easy on the fingertips. Gauge 45-105.

Hi
Just wondering what is the silk colour for these eb 2813 - 45 65 85 105. Is it on both ends. Ta

 

[michael_t]

Hi
Just wondering what is the silk colour for these eb 2813 - 45 65 85 105. Is it on both ends. Ta

Purple silk at both ends on all EB Cobalt Flats.

 

[Dan_reeves]

Here's the video that got me interested in trying flats (1:41:0). It's a good illustration of the sound/tone of flats vs rounds-- and a fun video if you have time to watch the entire episode:

Great call on this video! Been a Mutemath fan for a long time (and Earthsuit before that) and Roy is a big influence on me. I was using flats some before I discovered his playing, but he really opened my eyes on how flats can do effects. Roy is a big pedal user too, as can be seen. It really is a great video if you can spare the time to watch. Good call!

 

[VIRGOMONKEY]

Purple silk at both ends on all EB Cobalt Flats.

Cheers

 

[Ricky Rioli]

In this short fun video of 2 p-basses, which flats might be on the red one?