Black Flatwounds

[JGrooveguy]

I don't think colored flats exist.

Not even looking for "colored" per se, even a more darker grey alloy of wrap or something would be cool... Just not digging the shiny metal look. I'm doubtful it exists though...

 

[Rabidhamster]

Just rub them with steel blackener. Select a room temperature formula and then I guess wipe it off real well after you’re done.

not sure what it will do to the tone but they should take a little longer to rust after lol.

I came across an ad in an old copy of Bass Player from April 1992. The strings I was thinking of were by Rotosound called Spacer not Sonar. Ad copy says:

" SPACER black anodised bass strings

The most elegant bass strings you will ever use. Our special black surface finish is intergrated into deluxe steel, making them ultra resistant to perspiration whilst also enhancing feel. This, together with the unique nomamonic manufacturing formula, produces a much longer lasting string with extraordinary brilliance."

Not sure of the guage sizes and string tension and can't be certain they were flatwounds or if they are still being made.

Those sound strange, you can’t really anodize steel so they must be misusing that word. Maybe alloying with aluminum which doesn’t seem like a good idea.

 

[Gorn]

Black flats would be cool looking.

 

[JGrooveguy]

Just rub them with steel blackener. Select a room temperature formula and then I guess wipe it off real well after you’re done.

I've though about this but don't know much about it. Is the blackener anything that could come off on the neck? Playing fretless so definitely don't want anything that could rub off on my nice wood...

 

[Rabidhamster]

I've though about this but don't know much about it. Is the blackener anything that could come off on the neck? Playing fretless so definitely don't want anything that could rub off on my nice wood...

Yeah cold blackener probably Would rub off. Looks like only the hot blackener is relatively good about no smut, I expect you’d ruin the string heating it enough but don’t know for sure.

 

[iiipopes]

Not even looking for "colored" per se, even a more darker grey alloy of wrap or something would be cool... Just not digging the shiny metal look. I'm doubtful it exists though...

Fender 9050L's have a dark grey appearance. EB Cobalts have a grey appearance.

 

[JGrooveguy]

Fender 9050L's have a dark grey appearance. EB Cobalts have a grey appearance.

Yes I think I tried the 9050L's a while ago. Maybe not "dark" grey, but definitely more grey and less shiny than regular strings, probably due to the lustre of SS being a bit duller than other alloys.

 

[iiipopes]

Yes I think I tried the 9050L's a while ago. Maybe not "dark" grey, but definitely more grey and less shiny than regular strings, probably due to the lustre of SS being a bit duller than other alloys.

Yes. Remember there are many different kinds of steel, even stainless steel. Generally, (and concededly over-simplified) steel by definition is grey. Nickel, either pure or plate, is shinier, the more the nickel, the shinier the metal. Chromium in the mix makes them the shiniest. Compare a nickel-plated round with a SS round and the difference is, at least to my bifocal eyes, readily apparent.