Best flat wound B string?

[Flatwound]

I recently picked up an ESP RB-1005 with Aguilar P and J pickups. This is to replace my previous FNA Jazzman due to ergonomic issues. I put a set of LaBella 760FX-B’s on it. Nice enough strings, but the B is much thuddier and boomier than the other strings. It’s usable, but barely.

Is anyone aware of a “cleaner” sounding flatwound B? I was kind of wondering about Chromes, I see that you can get a .132. I have a set of old Chromes on an Essex Jazz, and they’re great, but it’s a 4 string.

Experimenting with flats can get expensive.

 

[michael_t]

I put a set of LaBella 760FX-B’s on it. Nice enough strings, but the B is much thuddier and boomier than the other strings. It’s usable, but barely.

When it comes to a flatwound B string that matches up well with the rest tonally, you might want to consider the mix-and-match option.

Assuming you like the 760FX set for E-G, there are a couple low B flats I can think of that you might want to try...

D'Addario Chomes Flat 132B.
Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Flat 130B. (NOT the Cobalt)

These two are not quite as thumpy and thuddy as the La Bella.

 

[Flatwound]

Thanks for that suggestion. I’m looking pretty hard at that Chrome .132.

 

[iiipopes]

Thanks for that suggestion. I’m looking pretty hard at that Chrome .132.

Um, I respectfully disagree. Chromes go zing then thump. I agree with the Ernie Ball steel flat (not cobalt) suggestion, as EB's retain definition much longer than Chromes, even if they aren't as zingy when new.

 

[callofcthulhu]

I use the Rotosound 77 B string (I think .128 or something weird like that?) cause I found the Chromes .132 too floppy.

 

[Selim]

You could use the B from the La Bella low tension set. It’s light, .118 but it has the best intonation of all the flat wound B strings I’ve tried. Second place goes to the TI B, at the other end of the gauge spectrum, .136.

 

[Yahboy]

EB cobalt flat 130B has great string to string tone balance if you looking for growl meaty bass tone.
Or, get a set of LTF5A if you prefer old school vibe.

Hopehelp.

I bought a set of EB regular flat 45-130 yesterday which prepare for next bass - Ray35.

 

[fig]

You could use the B from the La Bella low tension set. It’s light, .118 but it has the best intonation of all the flat wound B strings I’ve tried.

I agree with Selim. You want a cleaner sound, the La Bella low tension flats (LTF) B string, .118, may give you that.

It's the first B string on my 34 inch scale bass that, after intonation, gives me clean, in-tune notes pretty far past the 12th fret octave. It's as deep sounding as other size B's and without the thud. Despite the lower tension, it has a good stiffness so it doesn't flop around after striking.

Of course this depends on the bass, the playing style, etc.

 

[Selim]

I second all of the above. It seems that it’s difficult to find a flat wound B that delivers accurate pitch up to the 12th fret on a 34” scale bass.

I guess it’s not an issue for those players that approach the 5 string as a 4 string but with four extra low notes. I’m not one of those players - if I’m playing on 5 strings, I want to take advantage of all the additional possibilities.

 

[G On Bass]

As a long time flats on a 5 user, any non-tapered B sounds better IME. Sadowsky and LaBellas sounded great on the BEAD side but the B was so out off tonally that it was obvious. Chromes, Cobalts and TI's have all worked well for me and I prefer to use one complete set. As a note: I rarely, if ever play my Low B above the 7th fret and try to stay 5th or below. Therefore, I intonate to the 5th fret.

 

[iiipopes]

As a long time flats on a 5 user, any non-tapered B sounds better IME. Sadowsky and LaBellas sounded great on the BEAD side but the B was so out off tonally that it was obvious. Chromes, Cobalts and TI's have all worked well for me and I prefer to use one complete set. As a note: I rarely, if ever play my Low B above the 7th fret and try to stay 5th or below. Therefore, I intonate to the 5th fret.

This raises a bigger issue: where does a player of a 5-string use the 5th B string most? For me, it is the Eb and D notes, so even though I use rounds, and have good intonation on my 5-string basses, I intonate and tune to the notes I play most, in my case, the Eb and D, which for me are the 2nd and 3rd frets, because I also lighten up one gauge and tune the B string to C.

 

[jmlee]

I had that exact same problem with La Bella DTFs and the useless B strong. Chromes 132 is a perfect solution and there’s no noticeable timbre change with that 5th string. Mine are on a 34” scale G&L JB-5. We mix and match strings all the time on the DB side.

 

[Papuzzo]

I had Chromes on my 5 string P7 and really loved the B string, I just didn't like the G and D strings that much because of the high tension. But, the B string was very impressive, and as the zing faded and the thump arrived, it was thunderous.

 

[MaHei]

I agree that LaBella makes fantastic strings but their low B often leaves me disappointed. As a possible substitute I can also recommend the Chromes and EB Cobalt flat low Bs.

 

[Flatwound]

I have two basses that I play regularly, or at least I'll go back to playing them regularly when the public contact restrictions are lifted. My "church bass" is a Schecter Stiletto Elite 5 string, which is currently wearing Low RIders. My "non-church" bass is an ESP RB 1005 which now has Ernie Ball flats on it, based on advice received in this thread. The Schecter is 35", which limits string choice a bit, and the ESP is 34".

The Ernies are working pretty well on the ESP, and as the Low Riders are slowly dying on the Schecter, I'm thinking about what to do next. Within the last year, I've acquired an Orange Terror Bass 500, a Broughton Always-On HPF, and an EHX Battalion, all of which have changed my thinking a little bit about bass tone (the Orange changed it quite a bit).

Right now, I've just about settled on trying Chromes on the Schecter, but I'm still thinking about trying GHS Brite Flats. Not quite sure which way I'll go.

 

[e-flat]

I’m resurrecting this thread for the B String flat crowd

I’ve been running my two main basses (a stack-knob Jazz and a P Bass) with BEAD flatwounds for about a year now and wanted to share my insights about flatwound B strings.

The La Bella LTF (.118) B string is my favorite of the 3 strings I’ve tried. It blends seamlessly with the rest of the LTF set and I’ve had no intonation issues whatsoever. The feel is supple and “bouncy” but not floppy and the string is very easy to control. This LTF set lives on my Jazz and, with a touch of foam at the bridge, has become part of my primary bass sound for my project.

The TI Jazz Flats B string is terrific, too, but offered a much “clearer”, slightly more hollow sound. The gauge is much fatter, so don’t be surprised if you need to file the string hole on your bridge a little (I did). The definition of notes with the TI string is wonderful, but overall I’m seeking a more vintage, round tone.

The other B string that I have found to be wonderful is the GHS Precision Flat (.126) B string. It has great intonation and has that slightly “chalky”, vintage tonality that I relate with the P Flats. The fundamental is very well defined and the GHS B string provides a full and clear note with no “blur” or warble. This balanced custom set of GHS P Flats (126/100/75/55) lives on my main P Bass.

This thread was very helpful to me when I was seeking a good B string, so I figured I’d keep it alive for those on a similar quest.

 

[winston]

DR Legend has one of the best Bs I've ever heard, flat or round. I put a set on a Yamaha bass that's picky about low Bs and was truly impressed.
Not like 'good for 34" B string' but 'Wow that is clean clear and usable all up and down the neck which is rare for any B'.
I will note that I treated the whole set with Eucerin first a la Jimmy M.

TI Jazz Flats/Rounds are good, as are D'Addario Chromes.

The taperwound B from the old Sadowsky Black Label set is great, but to my ears it sounded nothing like the other 4 strings.
Not sure of the newer Sadowsky flats but they are too expensive to just experiment with.

 

[Yahboy]

I’m resurrecting this thread for the B String flat crowd

I’ve been running my two main basses (a stack-knob Jazz and a P Bass) with BEAD flatwounds for about a year now and wanted to share my insights about flatwound B strings.

The La Bella LTF (.118) B string is my favorite of the 3 strings I’ve tried. It blends seamlessly with the rest of the LTF set and I’ve had no intonation issues whatsoever. The feel is supple and “bouncy” but not floppy and the string is very easy to control. This LTF set lives on my Jazz and, with a touch of foam at the bridge, has become part of my primary bass sound for my project.

The TI Jazz Flats B string is terrific, too, but offered a much “clearer”, slightly more hollow sound. The gauge is much fatter, so don’t be surprised if you need to file the string hole on your bridge a little (I did). The definition of notes with the TI string is wonderful, but overall I’m seeking a more vintage, round tone.

The other B string that I have found to be wonderful is the GHS Precision Flat (.126) B string. It has great intonation and has that slightly “chalky”, vintage tonality that I relate with the P Flats. The fundamental is very well defined and the GHS B string provides a full and clear note with no “blur” or warble. This balanced custom set of GHS P Flats (126/100/75/55) lives on my main P Bass.

This thread was very helpful to me when I was seeking a good B string, so I figured I’d keep it alive for those on a similar quest.

GHS custom set ( from string by mail )on SRMS725 34-35.5' multiscale. 045/055/075/095/126 XL

After get the replacement B string, entire string sound firm and meaty on first month ( end of august )..... but , on this December, both B and E string sound move to dark city meanwhile those ADG just ring with lot sustain......

 

[ElectricBass72]

I know Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats have been done to death around here... but I have a .130 on my Sterling Stingray 5HH and I can't believe how good it sounds on a $450 5-string bass. Just as tight and punchy as the other strings. It's unreal.

 

[e-flat]

DR Legend has one of the best Bs I've ever heard, flat or round. I put a set on a Yamaha bass that's picky about low Bs and was truly impressed.
Not like 'good for 34" B string' but 'Wow that is clean clear and usable all up and down the neck which is rare for any B'.
I will note that I treated the whole set with Eucerin first a la Jimmy M.

TI Jazz Flats/Rounds are good, as are D'Addario Chromes.

The taperwound B from the old Sadowsky Black Label set is great, but to my ears it sounded nothing like the other 4 strings.
Not sure of the newer Sadowsky flats but they are too expensive to just experiment with.

Darn… now I have to try the DR Legend B string! I have an ancient 4 string set of legends that I’ve really liked. Maybe I’ll bite the bullet and buy a 5 string set for the BEAD experience.