Chromes - do the highs stay or go?

[Phaidrus]

Only flats I'll play. I love bright, clanky strings. I play pro steels exclusively, unless I have a bass with too much treble (like a Mustang) and the Chromesleg me keep some of my preferred tone.

Pro Steels are very interesting strings but seems like they don't get much love on TB. Really like them on my 2017 AmProf Pbass.

 

[DJ Bebop]

This recording was made with 8 year old Chromes that have been swapped out a couple times on different basses.

I don't know about the strings but, the band is kickin'

 

[lermgalieu]

Your poll doesn't have the correct answer, which is that (as others have said), they lose the zing over time but they retain more high end than many other flats.

 

[lermgalieu]

These might be too much high end for you, but I've been enjoying half rounds on my P bass.

 

[stretch80]

This recording was made with 8 year old Chromes that have been swapped out a couple times on different basses.

Sounds great! Nice playing and cool band.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Nice thumpy tone!

And, there is still some high end snap to the strings. I still have those strings packed away! I had them on my Stingray for a while, which sounded amazing. Not sure what're going on, next (I'd need to buy another bass just for those strings - hmm ).

 

[Phaidrus]

And, there is still some high end snap to the strings. I still have those strings packed away! I had them on my Stingray for a while, which sounded amazing. Not sure what're going on, next (I'd need to buy another bass just for those strings - hmm ).

Strings that sound good can lead to serious GAS

 

[acleex38]

Your poll doesn't have the correct answer, which is that (as others have said), they lose the zing over time but they retain more high end than many other flats.

This has been my experience over the last 14+ years of using them across 4 different basses.

Degree of brightness-loss is also related to the bass/pickups. I have them on two fretless basses. On one, the strings work for me for about 7 months. On the other, I can go a couple of years before they aren't bright enough.

I've never had that problem on fretted basses as I only change those to shift from flats to rounds and vice versa

 

[Mastermold]

I like Chromes a lot, especially on P-basses. Got a set that's probably 10 years old on a P that still sound really good.

 

[Relayer71]

I don't know about the strings but, the band is kickin'

Listening to their "Sessions" recording on Spotify... great stuff, check it out!

 

[74hc]

My cobalts are coming up on 2 years this spring, and the highs are there for the most part. The issue I have is the evenness between the strings that was once there are going away. Thinking that changing time is definitely this year.

 

[mrcbass]

I'm at 2+ years on mine. I'm not noticing a drop off in performance.

 

[RicoTheBassMan]

I have been using Chromes for years. My drummer plays hard and we play in several different configurations (sometimes a keyboard player, or harmonica player, or rhythm guitar or all with us, etc), so I want my JB-2 to cut through the mix. These strings do it for me and the tone goes well with the sounds the lead guitarist gets out of his Strat. As others have said, they lose their initial brightness like all strings do, but they seem to hold onto the brightness I am looking for and need in this particular band.

 

[jbar]

I don't know about the strings but, the band is kickin'

i agree. All the paying is nice but that drummer is really nailing it.

 

[staurosjohn]

I have multiple basses wearing Chromes and every set has dulled considerably. You may want to give the Ernie Ball cobalt flats a spin. Ive had them on my Peavey T20 for a few years now and they have retained their highs much more than the Chromes.

I would concur w/'blacktocomm' - I'm currently using Fender, Chromes & EB cobalts...

 

[Jeff Scott]

i agree. All the paying is nice but that drummer is really nailing it.

Yeah, Ivan is a great drummer. He was the last of seven drummers (!) in that band.

 

[coy garcia]

I like Chromes, once broken in they are good for 20yrs or more.

 

[keith1r]

Rotosound Monel flats are much brighter than Chromes and have better low end and mids

 

[DrThumpenstein]

I've been using Chromes for years, mainly because they're always easy to find, and they work. They are not my favorite flatwound sound for all things, but ime they get pretty close for most things, and they retain plenty of highs, which works well in live situations especially well.
If anything, I wish there was more thump, but EQ can help with that.
They work well for recording, too.

I think my current set has been on for about 4 years.

Thanks, you beat me to those comments so I don't need to repeat them.

I usually have them on one of my basses. I like Labellas for exactly what you mentioned: I think Labellas have a tastier low end. But Chromes have a nice high end after breaking them in, and they retain it for a long time.

 

[Phaidrus]

I would concur w/'blacktocomm' - I'm currently using Fender, Chromes & EB cobalts...

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Nice collection!