All kinds of prior threads on this subject. Here's something I posted a while ago….
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Am now trying out a set of the Sadowsky .45-.130 flats, on a Sadowsky P/J. To calibrate, I usually favor R. Cocco nickelrounds, have kept a 4-string P/J strung with TI jazz flats for about 4 years (once my main axe, but now rarely used). and have used LaBella flats (and a lot of different rounds) in the past. The Sadowsky came with Sadowsky nickelrounds, but one of them was bad, and I frankly prefer the Coccos. I was about to buy a set of Coccos, but then decided to try the Sadowsky flats, somewhat out of laziness as the bridge was already set up for the exposed B-string core used by Sadowsky, and because the local bass bistro was out of Coccos.
I'm blown away by how good these strings are, particularly on this bass! On the Growlometer, they are real close to the TI's and leave the La Bella's far behind. On the Thumpometer, they approach the La Bellas and leave the TI's behind. The tension is somewhere between the La Bellas and the TI, which seems like a pretty good place. Surface feel is a wee bit grabby, but I'm loving the reduction in fret noise on slides. So it's like Sadowsky found a sweet spot relative to the other market leaders, and I like it. And the B-string is righteous and incredible, although I wonder if their .125 B-string might be a tad more continuous with the rest of the set.
The kicker is that these have a quickness of attack that I've never found in any flat other than the TI. AND they seem to have the pitch clarity and stability, particularly evident on chords and triple-stops, that I've only otherwise found on the R. Coccos, which is the main reason (along with great tone) that those have been my favorite strings over the last few years. AND when I favor the J-pickup and dial the tone control down by 60-70%, I get a sound with upper-mid bark, snarl and attitude that works great on Jaco-like staccato lines, which I love to have in my arsenal but can't get from all strings or all axes.
All in all, a great balance of virtues. I'm going to get a good set-up and stick with these over rehearsals/gigs in the coming month and then re-evaluate, but I can't wait to play them in familiar contexts with others. Excellent strings!
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I've not changed my opinion since then, but can refine it a bit since I now have DR flats on a four-string fretless and have been using the lighter-gauge Sadowsky flats on a five-string fretless, and have sold the P/J with the heavier Sadowsky flats.
The DR and non-light LaBellas are cut from the same cloth, but the DR's seem to have more of an upright woodiness, a bit more complexity in the mid-range, which I like. The DR's might be a bit flexier, but nowhere near the floppiness of the TI flats.
I'm still dialing in with the lighter-gauge Sadowsky flats, but they may be even better than the heaver gauge, for my purposes. I'm working to refine my touch and pull maximum tone from the G string, but the B-string is marvelous - it does seem to fit the rest of the set better than the .130 version. The lighter strings have more flex, which I'm liking. Meanwhile, as much as I dig mid-range bark of the TI flats, I've just about given up on them as I find the Sadowskys can pretty much do that, and a whole lot more - this may be a function of the higher tension intersecting with my mediocre technique, but whatever it is, it's working for me. Also, the surface grabbiness I reported back then did disappear over time.
I should add that I don't use a pick, but on my 5-string fretless (active, 1 Nordstrand MM-style pickup), I'm amazed at how pick-like a sound I can dial in - I suspect these Sadowskys would put pick-players in hog heaven.
Bottom Line - the TI's are worth exploring -especially if you can buy a used set, given the price - to see what a flat is capable of, but the Sadowskys and Drs are the real keepers, depending on where you want to be on the lively/thumpy continuum.
