Aren't Chromes as dark as any other flat once they break in? I think many don't keep them on long enough to see. Can't say I blame them though, it can take a WHILE.
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The Chromes on my P started to lose their brightness about 20-30 hours in. Still nice sounding (and feeling) strings but probably geared more toward blues or Motown sound. I have Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats on my PJ ad they have sounded great for months. The feel/tension is great too. I think I will be sticking with those.
I like chromes.. They are not my favourite flats but i had a few set over the years and i like the feel/tension the light set has ( 45-100 ) They stay bright a long time Which could be your thing.. or not but they develop a nice warmth over time that i like... Kinda like the fenders but with more high mids to them. One of my favourite bass player use them ( Laura Lee from Khruangbin ) exclusively and i really like her tone so to me they are good.
I currently have a set on a Yamaha BB424x. THe yamaha has a scooped sounding pickup so it might not be the best combo ever but i still like it and every now and then a song calls for that tone so...
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Had a set of TI JF344 relaxed on a P-bass of mines after many months of lying in a case unused.
Instead of tuning them back i decided to correct the neck, now, convex shape by installing a set of higher tension strings which I had in a drawer .. the infamous, for me, Dunlop DBFS 45/105.
After their installation the neck went back to straight to very concave in 10 hours or so and it required the bass’ truss rod to be adjusted twice.
Then, I have to say, I found some abnormal features:
1. There was no way to get the E and A strings assuming the correct angle before the tuning peg without cutting off an extra amount of string with respect to what one may normally do.
2. The D string slipped out of the peg three times during the tuning process, and even after it tends to lose grip and slips during the re-tensioning process.
3. The strings surface is not very fast; it tends to attract all sorts of things and grime and tends to either hinder your right hand fingering or the quick displacement of your left hand.
4. There’s something different between the E, A, D and the G string; the first three strings produce a uniformly shaped sound but the G string is quite twangy and metallic and, also, tends to rattle over some of the frets …
The tension in these strings is significantly higher than that characterising TI JF344; the sound is all but a vintage one (they seem smoother roundwound strings at times) although they are very loud compared to TI or LaBella, for example.
They are absolutely not for me and will go back to their drawer.
Today a pack of Rotosound SM77 is coming.
These are meant to be high-tension flats as well; we’ll see how the neck will react to them.
I’ll go for a one-by-one string replacement process in order for the stress state change in the neck to be small at each stage.
I’ll let you know my impressions.
By the way, the bass is an AO ‘60s P with quite a substantial neck on it.
Instead of tuning them back i decided to correct the neck, now, convex shape by installing a set of higher tension strings which I had in a drawer .. the infamous, for me, Dunlop DBFS 45/105.
After their installation the neck went back to straight to very concave in 10 hours or so and it required the bass’ truss rod to be adjusted twice.
Then, I have to say, I found some abnormal features:
1. There was no way to get the E and A strings assuming the correct angle before the tuning peg without cutting off an extra amount of string with respect to what one may normally do.
2. The D string slipped out of the peg three times during the tuning process, and even after it tends to lose grip and slips during the re-tensioning process.
3. The strings surface is not very fast; it tends to attract all sorts of things and grime and tends to either hinder your right hand fingering or the quick displacement of your left hand.
4. There’s something different between the E, A, D and the G string; the first three strings produce a uniformly shaped sound but the G string is quite twangy and metallic and, also, tends to rattle over some of the frets …
The tension in these strings is significantly higher than that characterising TI JF344; the sound is all but a vintage one (they seem smoother roundwound strings at times) although they are very loud compared to TI or LaBella, for example.
They are absolutely not for me and will go back to their drawer.
Today a pack of Rotosound SM77 is coming.
These are meant to be high-tension flats as well; we’ll see how the neck will react to them.
I’ll go for a one-by-one string replacement process in order for the stress state change in the neck to be small at each stage.
I’ll let you know my impressions.
By the way, the bass is an AO ‘60s P with quite a substantial neck on it.
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As stated, Chromes are good to me and relatively inexpensive as well.
The main thing I don’t like much about them (but I consider it a minor drawback all in all) is their surface texture, which I find a bit too “sandy” so to speak …
Urgent update:
Just removed the Dunlops DBFS 45/105 and installed the Roto SM77 45/100.
Tension is slightly lighter than that of the Dunlops; the feel is truly similar to that of TI JF344, maybe just a tad rougher.
The stiffness is much less than that of the Dunlops, maybe, again, just a tad more than that of TI JF344 ..
The tone seems to be a little more high-mids oriented than that of the TI but the strings are new; TI sound perfect since their installation.
Other strings, including Chromes, need some time to break in; I presume this shall also be the case for the Rotos ..
These strings seems definitely to be a valid cheaper alternatives to TI JF344.
Just removed the Dunlops DBFS 45/105 and installed the Roto SM77 45/100.
Tension is slightly lighter than that of the Dunlops; the feel is truly similar to that of TI JF344, maybe just a tad rougher.
The stiffness is much less than that of the Dunlops, maybe, again, just a tad more than that of TI JF344 ..
The tone seems to be a little more high-mids oriented than that of the TI but the strings are new; TI sound perfect since their installation.
Other strings, including Chromes, need some time to break in; I presume this shall also be the case for the Rotos ..
These strings seems definitely to be a valid cheaper alternatives to TI JF344.
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D
Deleted member 165050
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I have Roto 77s 40-100 on one bass, namely my Warwick Corvette fretless 5... for some reason they don't feel that stiff on this bass but do on other basses. The Roto 77 low B (.130) I bought as a single and is the only B I've found that I like on the Corvette.
These SM77 flats will likely end to be my bass revelation for this second part of 2021
Chromes... sandy? Smoothest strings I've ever played, other than GHS Precision Flats.
Uhmmm .. no, definitely not in my experience and I’ve played a lot, but really .. a lot!
Try some LaBella LTF, Dunlop DBFS and Pyramid Gold for smoothness ..
I am P guy but not a Flats guy but when I was considering flats [based on music with new band] these were at the top of my list; Galli Flats [Italian]
2:45 IN AND 5:08 IN
They have Jazz Flats 4505 for 29.99
The new Markbass sound great in online demo's; Italians know their Strings
2:45 IN AND 5:08 IN
They have Jazz Flats 4505 for 29.99
The new Markbass sound great in online demo's; Italians know their Strings
On Galli’s site (ultra slow besides) they are sold at 46.36€/pack and this (the fact that they are expensive strings) is what I remembered about them, moreover only available in the 45/105 gauge ..
Interesting... I'm AOK with the smootness of the Chromes. I'm really happy with EB Cobalt Flats also. Thanks for the tips, though
Chromes = dusty, clanky bridge cables.
TI = overly bright floppy noodles.
Fender flats = split the (unhappy) difference.
Love me some La Bella DTFs, GHS Precision Flats and especially Sadowsky Blue Label Flats - which have doubled in price thanks to the Warwick distribution deal.
/rant off
To each his own!!
TI = overly bright floppy noodles.
Fender flats = split the (unhappy) difference.
Love me some La Bella DTFs, GHS Precision Flats and especially Sadowsky Blue Label Flats - which have doubled in price thanks to the Warwick distribution deal.
/rant off
To each his own!!
Just changed my vote to GHS
This is how i want my bass to sit in a mix. Effortless, supportive, warm.
It was a fun experience to try a few sets with different gauges ( GHS, Labella, Chromes, Fender, TI )
My hunt is over for now. Paired with a SPB-1, i could not ask for more.
This is how i want my bass to sit in a mix. Effortless, supportive, warm.
It was a fun experience to try a few sets with different gauges ( GHS, Labella, Chromes, Fender, TI )
My hunt is over for now. Paired with a SPB-1, i could not ask for more.
Now the test will be how it sits in a live band situation.
It would surely be a limited promotion .. that’s not their standard street price unfortunately ..
I'm a bedroom player so it might never get tested live. Was mostly looking for a vintage recording tone. I'm happy with what i got... well, for now lol
