Chromes vs. very old Fender flats with audio

http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/4/27/1885410/Strings-Chromes76P.mp3
http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/4/27/1885410/Strings-Fenders76P.mp3

The strings:

Fender flats from 1998 well-used gauges 45-105
D'addario Chromes 8 months old with 20-25 gigs on them gauges 40-95

I've got a set of really old Fender flats, and I haven't had them on a bass in a couple years, and I got really curious to see how Chromes stacked up. So after my gig, I took my Precision and put the Fenders on it and made a quick recording. After that I put the Chromes back on and made another quick recording.

I used my 76 Precision with a Fender 62 CS P and a DiMarzio Ultrajazz, only used the P pickup. Ran that into a Countryman Type 85 (dang it, get here already, REDDI!!!) and an ART Tube MP mic pre into an M-Audio 2496 soundcard. About the only difference was higher action with the Fenders, though I tried to keep my style and hand placement the same. I apologize for any out-of-tuneness or slightly sloppy playing, but what do you want for 3 in the morning???

My thoughts:

I swapped out each string one by one and compared it against each other with the bass unplugged. Almost made it a guessing game because they sounded so close. But once on tape, you can tell which ones have more age on them. Or maybe you could tell which strings had higher action and/or were thinner. But I am flabbergasted at how close the Chromes sound to the old Fenders.

I'd bet money that if we came back to these Chromes after a few years that they'd sound pretty much identical. I didn't record them, but I have a set of old style Fender flats I bought 3 or 4 years ago with not as much wear and tear, and I tried the E string against the other 3 old Fenders, and the newer E sounded brighter and more like the Chromes. Should have thought to try that E string against the Chromes, but really, at that point I felt like my experiment was over and just wanted the Chromes back on. Don't like the fat strings.

So it's a bold statement but I'm going to say it, even though on this apples-to-oranges comparison they don't quite sound the same...Chromes and old style Fender Flats sound the same. And though I haven't tried a newer set of Fender flats since they changed to the colored ball ends, a lot of people say they sound like Chromes, so it makes me wonder if they really changed anything at all except the ball ends. I certainly think I was listening with my eyes when I thought Chromes weren't quite the same as the old Fenders, I'll admit it. But even if you want to nitpick, you still have to admit that's awfully close, and without having tried them, I'd bet you'd come to the same conclusion about newer Fenders.

 

So just listened again after getting some sleep, and now I'm a little sorry that I didn't slap the newer set of Fender strings on it and compare that as well. Not sorry enough to restring my bass again, though.

Anyway, you guys are right...listening with rested ears, the Chromes are a little upper middier and a little ringier. That's still about it to my ears.

Anyway, glad this thread got so much great reaction...holy cow, you'd think this was a holiday or something!

 

Not debating the sound of the new Fenders because I've never heard them yet, but Chromes and old Fender flats are also stainless steel. I should try a set of them and see for myself, though. Looks like they come in a gauge that would work for me.

 

Well I'm going to stick with the Chromes because I have them already but those new Fenders do sound pretty cool from that description.