Just sharing my experiences. Seven years ago, I was advised to try Ernie Ball, Chromes, or Rotosound Jazz 77 on a new AGB205.
I tried the Chromes....one trick pony on this instrument. Only woody and warm, lacking in articulation, especially poor was the B string. Could really sound like an upright. Which was cool but not very useful.
I tried TI Jazz flats....beautiful tone but also a one trick pony on this instrument. Really only good for soft rock, pop, and jazz. However, much more articulate than the Chromes overall, especially the B string.
I recently tried Rotosound Jazz 77 flats....Bingo!!!!!! Full and clear punchy tone, even the B string, and anywhere on the fretboard. Not so for the other two. Of course, the Rotos are not as traditional sounding as the aforementioned flats. But, soloing the neck pickup, I can get as woody and upright sounding as I am interested in. And, it is a useful bass guitar when using other adjustments, including a nice modern sound when soloing the bridge pickup with tone rolled on full.
An interesting aside is that fingerstyle sounds better than pick style on the Rotos - which actually wasn't true for the other strings, especially the Chromes. The Chromes needed help with focus and articulation. The TIs sounded too mellow without a pick - and almost like an electric bass harp when played with a soft touch.
Thus, the high tension and brightness of these strings serve the AGB205 extremely well.
I didn't try Ernie Ball. But, the Rotos are a great fit. As for comments about them feeling rough, that was only true for a day or two in my case.
I tried the Chromes....one trick pony on this instrument. Only woody and warm, lacking in articulation, especially poor was the B string. Could really sound like an upright. Which was cool but not very useful.
I tried TI Jazz flats....beautiful tone but also a one trick pony on this instrument. Really only good for soft rock, pop, and jazz. However, much more articulate than the Chromes overall, especially the B string.
I recently tried Rotosound Jazz 77 flats....Bingo!!!!!! Full and clear punchy tone, even the B string, and anywhere on the fretboard. Not so for the other two. Of course, the Rotos are not as traditional sounding as the aforementioned flats. But, soloing the neck pickup, I can get as woody and upright sounding as I am interested in. And, it is a useful bass guitar when using other adjustments, including a nice modern sound when soloing the bridge pickup with tone rolled on full.
An interesting aside is that fingerstyle sounds better than pick style on the Rotos - which actually wasn't true for the other strings, especially the Chromes. The Chromes needed help with focus and articulation. The TIs sounded too mellow without a pick - and almost like an electric bass harp when played with a soft touch.
Thus, the high tension and brightness of these strings serve the AGB205 extremely well.
I didn't try Ernie Ball. But, the Rotos are a great fit. As for comments about them feeling rough, that was only true for a day or two in my case.
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