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Chromes vs. fender flats

#65
I played Chromes on my ray and a fender jazz standard for 1 year or something but they never lost a weird sound I didn't like with them, kind of a honky, metallic, sound. I switched to Fender CLs on my jazz and they have been my favourite strings since, and this must be 4-5 years ago or something now? I don't remember. To me they are the same kind of string but without the sounds I didn't like with the chromes, and a better feel as well. The Fenders sound a bit more low-mid-oriented to my ears and they fade after a couple of months to a nice thick tone, perhaps a tad thuddy on the E-string sometimes.
The remedy for that though has already been pointed out here by iiipopes! Get an ernie ball replacement E as they are similiar if you want a newer sound on your E.
I think I got my chromes left on an old homemade fretless bass just because I was out of other flats at the moment. Too bad as that makes me not want to play it.
 
#66
I will keep my Fender flats on for a couple of month before I give my final verdict.
But new, they feel and sound like chromes to me. I even switched between a set of new chromes and the fender flats and couldn't tell any difference.
I hope time will do what you've mentioned and give me some warmth, low mid and bottom.
 
#67
Levin said:
I switched to Fender CLs on my jazz and they have been my favourite strings since, and this must be 4-5 years ago or something now? I don't remember. To me they are the same kind of string but without the sounds I didn't like with the chromes, and a better feel as well. The Fenders sound a bit more low-mid-oriented to my ears and they fade after a couple of months to a nice thick tone....
Click to expand...

Agreed!
 
#68
basmicke said:
But new, they feel and sound like chromes to me. I even switched between a set of new chromes and the fender flats and couldn't tell any difference.
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My three sons, when they were still new-born babies, looked and sounded (and even smelled) the same, but it wasn't very long before they started showing their distinct personalities. Now all in their 20's, they are three completely different people, though they still do share certain family resemblance.

Hope you get the point of this analogy... ;)
 
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#69
So basically they are completely different and exactly the same depending on who you ask.:D That's a great reason to just get a set and see how You like them. I have a new set of Chromes but can't commit to which bass to install them on(Jazz or Ric 4003). I also have a new set of Pure Blues which will go on the other bass. I'm sure they will both sound great once I decide LOL.
 
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#70
I want the Fenders to sound good and they've been highly recommended by people I respect so I will hang in there and wait for the change when I'll see the light.
Regarding the Chromes I have already decided that they're not for me. Not bad strings but not what I'm looking for in a flatwound string.
 
#73
michael_t said:
My three sons, when they were still new-born babies, looked and sounded (and even smelled) the same, but it wasn't very long before they started showing their distinct personalities. Now all in their 20's, they are three completely different people, though they still do share certain family resemblance.

Hope you get the point of this analogy... ;)
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I think I got it. After 20 years did any of your kids retain any clank or did they all lose their high end?
 
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#74
iiipopes said:
All strings, including flats, have "new string zing." The test is to have patience and let them settle in for about six months of moderate rehearsals and gigging to let them develop their true character.
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6 months is a long time to suffer ;) but I will try to keep them on as long as I can. and of course all new strings generally have more brightness but the fenders and the chromes have a hard, cold brightness that together with the string stiffness is very unorganic to my ears and hands and they're nothing like other flats I've tried that has a warmer sound. But I will keep them on and hopefully see the light further on... or at least know they're not for me for sure.
 
#77
basmicke said:
the fenders and the chromes have a hard, cold brightness that together with the string stiffness is very unorganic to my ears and hands and they're nothing like other flats I've tried that has a warmer sound.
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Another important lesson I learned for myself over the years regarding flats in general, besides giving them plenty of time to settle, is to not judge them based on how they sound all on their own but based on how they fit into a live band mix. I often find what sounds good to my ears for my quiet home practice for that "warm organic" tone is not always what works best with the band.
 
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#79
michael_t said:
Another important lesson I learned for myself over the years regarding flats in general, besides giving them plenty of time to settle, is to not judge them based on how they sound all on their own but based on how they fit into a live band mix. I often find what sounds good to my ears for my quiet home practice for that "warm organic" tone is not always what works best with the band.
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You're absolutely right. I've been playing professionally for 35 years using all kinds of strings, basses and equipment (except fender flats ;) and I totally agree. I'm pretty sure that chromes also would make a good choice for playing in a band situation for some. I was mostly interested in the fact that the fenders seemed to be exactly the same string as the chromes to me, at least when new, and therefore I suspected that they were just rebranded 'd'Addarios. But the opinions seems to vary a lot and I will leave them on one of my basses and play it for a couple of months and see what happens. I was looking for a more middy but still warm flatwound, like a LaBella with growl, and wanted to try the fenders. Tomastiks are a bit to floppy and lacks a bit of bottom to me even though they have the mids. Sadowsky flats are the ones that have come closest so far and I'm curious to try the new blue label flats from Sadowsky. But the hole process of trying flats, letting them settle in and see the result is quite time consumimg :)
 
#80
basmicke said:
I was mostly interested in the fact that the fenders seemed to be exactly the same string as the chromes to me, at least when new, and therefore I suspected that they were just rebranded 'd'Addarios.
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Oh, God! How often do I have to thrash and trash this urban myth: they may be made by D'Addario, but they are NOT the same string, and this is from extensive side-by-side playing of both:

Different core-to-wrap ratios;
Different alloy wrap ribbon: grey stainless on the Fenders and, well, shiny chrome stainless on the Chromes;
Different width of the ribbon wrap, especially on the E string;
Different winding directions (if it makes any difference) of the wrap wire.;

You can feel the difference in the strings side-by-side of the same gauges before mounting them on an instrument: Chromes are stiffer than the Fenders.

Chromes start out with treble zing and fizz, and fade to thump; Fenders start out with upper mid grind and fade to mellow, not necessarily thump.
 

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