Best Flatwounds?

[kraigo]

Just a word re: price. Most people find that flats last a long, long time. So if you're used to changing out your current strings fairly often, even an expensive set of flats turns out to be a bargain in the end.

+1 I don't change flats until they break. They don't break very often. I've had the same strings on some basses for around 10 years.

And regardless of price, I like the GHS Precision Flats.

KO

 

[hip63]

It's a Squier VM Jaguar Special, I believe it is 34" from what you said, but i want to be completely sure so I dont get the wrong size strings. If you could help, that'd be great, if not, oh well

I have 34" and 35" scale basses, long scale strings are fine for both.

hip63

 

[Flabass]

D'Addario Chromes. That's all I use on all my basses.

 

[Duckwater]

I got some old Fender flats from Craigslist, they're fantastic strings. They don't have much of a "thump", but they're incredibly deep sounding with strong mids around 250-500hz and they get a big boost around 2k when I dig in. I don't have to EQ them or anything, I just adjust my pickup blend and they sound good for any situation (even Thrash Metal). They're by far the most physically demanding strings I've ever played (switched from Circle K's) but I've gotten used to the tension.

 

[flybynight]

I like Thomastik Infeld Jazz Flats because they have a supple feel, sound fantastic, and last forever, although they're a bit expensive at $50-60 for a set (but worth it imho). I live in a fairly large city and I have to order them online. My favorite 'less expensive' string is D'Addario XL Chromes, which run about $25 or so, and you can find those just about anywhere. LaBellas are good too. Never liked Fender flats, myself, because they felt like steel cables under my fingers, and the sound was... not bad.. but I just didn't like the way they felt. By the way, I encourage you to try flats - they're not for everyone, but once I tried them, I loved them, and now they're all I use.

Your right.
TI-flats are extra $$$$, but the payoff in there longevity.
I have a set on my fretless P-Bass, 6 years old and they still sound great.
TI-JF344's are my favorite strings.
GHS precision flats are #2 if you need to save $$$.

I have TI JF324s on my short-scale Alembic Series I, and I was getting nervous about their longevity. They've been on there for over a year, and I hear no degradation in the sound. Six years for yours? Holy sh*t! Yes, they are a bargain with that sort of longevity!

 

[pedro]

A few years ago on the advice of the great Bob Babbitt I switched to Labellas and have been very happy ever since.

 

[JPSBassist]

Hands down the best strings I've ever put on any of my basses... and I now have them on EVERY bass I own except my Alex Webster Signature Spector... That bass is for metal and I'm running Nickel Spector Strings on it.

The hand-wound, carbon steel with round core Dogal strings are amazing! They have enough brightness and punch but still retain their deep thumpy feel and tone as a flat should.

Use a pick and you'll think you've got rounds on it... use your fingers and get some classic low-end thumpy tone.

They also last an incredible amount of time... I have the first set I ever purchased on my vintange NS-2 fretless and they are over a year old now... and no where near being dead. That's very impressive to me.

They are the best of all worlds in my opinion... and you pay for what you get. They are around $80-$120 set depending on where you buy them. I've seen them for $80 on Ebay.

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[PSYCHOTIC]

whatever strings the bass player from D.R.I. uses on the thrash zone album.
check out the song Abduction by DRI. sounds very raw with the quarter pounder p/j set