• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

brighter flatwounds?

Richard Walters

Richard Walters

Guest
Jul 10, 2013
45
10
Roanoke VA
#1
I've always used roundwounds, but recently I tried a set of Rotosound flatwounds to calm down one of my 5-string basses that was overly bright but lacked a solid bottom. The result was a very different sound for me and they did give me a really nice & full bottom. But the G string and to some extent the D string are too "plinky" to my ears. Have not been able to fix this with EQ. I've heard that chrome flats or stainless flats are brighter. Any advice?
 
#3
Chromes are quite bright out of the box, but once they go dead they get pretty dark. The very brightest flats I've ever tried are TI Jazz Flats, and they stay that way for what seems like forever. Unfortunately, that was so not what I was looking for in flats, but you might like them.
 
#4
My opinions.
Chromes are bright and stay bright for a long time but are clangy and twangy also.
Sadowskys are bright without being overly so.
Fenders are what i would suggest.
Bright but a controllable bright.
A little harsh at first but settle quickly.
Very punchy also.
 
#10
I was a loooong time Chromes user.. And swapped over to fender a few years ago. The Fenders stay bright longer than the Chromes but dull to a nice roundness over time.
Ive been helping Jimmy at Alleva Coppolo who is coming out with new flats next week at the Alleva coppolo Show in LA, CA earthquake capital of the US....
They are now made in the USA by Labella but are proprietary to Alleva . All the prototypes remind me of the strings fender put out on all their old basses but they ARE super even in feel and tone.. A sound we are used to from all the old records that were recorded on tape and listened to on vinyl.. They are NOT an off the shelf rebranding. But with Labellas 100 year string making experience and Jimmy's quest for vintage it is something that no one is putting out.. So far folks are digging the feel and tone of the pre release.. . More to come after the show next week.
 
#12
Where does tension fit into this discussion? I'm in the exact same boat - "plinky" is exactly the way to describe the problematic tone I've found my roto flats to have developed on the high strings - however I LOVE how stiff they are. If my neck could handle it I'd even go heavier gauge.

Between TIs and Chromes which has the higher tension? (I have not found Fender flats to be at all to my liking though I haven't tried them on my current bass...)
 
#16
callofcthulhu said:
Where does tension fit into this discussion? I'm in the exact same boat - "plinky" is exactly the way to describe the problematic tone I've found my roto flats to have developed on the high strings - however I LOVE how stiff they are. If my neck could handle it I'd even go heavier gauge.

Between TIs and Chromes which has the higher tension? (I have not found Fender flats to be at all to my liking though I haven't tried them on my current bass...)
Click to expand...

I agree about tension. I like strings to fight back a little bit. That's just another reason why I like 35" necks. I'll try the TIs but I'm wary of the low tension thing. I've been told to try DR Sunbeams. Anybody have any opinions?
 
#18
callofcthulhu said:
Where does tension fit into this discussion? I'm in the exact same boat - "plinky" is exactly the way to describe the problematic tone I've found my roto flats to have developed on the high strings - however I LOVE how stiff they are. If my neck could handle it I'd even go heavier gauge.

Between TIs and Chromes which has the higher tension? (I have not found Fender flats to be at all to my liking though I haven't tried them on my current bass...)
Click to expand...

If higher tension is not an issue you might like the Chromes in 50-105 gauge. (They are a little too stiff for me so I use the 45-100 set on one of my basses) Chromes are bright but mellow with age to a point where they are very present and punchy, but not zingy. They are super even in string-to-string tone right out of the pack and stay that way. I have NEVER gotten a bad string from D'Addario, unlike most other makers.

La Bella 760FL's have more tension than Chromes in the same gauges, but also more thump and midrange character to my ears. They are bright out of the pack, with a very pronounced high mid tone, but will mellow after a LOT of playing (many hours IME). More problematic is that I have found them to be very erratic in terms of tonal balance. Over several sets I have found it's not uncommon for the E and G strings to be very dark and the A and D strings to sound so bright they could be from a different maker. That will even out over time but it's really annoying to me. I have them on a couple of basses and will leave them because I cherry picked the individual strings for balance and they have aged to perfection.

I am picking up a set of Sadowsky flats tomorrow. I hear great things about those and I'm hoping they will be the balance of tension/tone/balance I have been looking for.
 
#20
Labella Quarter rounds sound bright when you first put them on but start developing a flatwound thump as they bed in.

Using a passive tone control you can get a flatwound tone or a brighter roundish tone. My favourite string now.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back