D'Addario Chromes ECB81-5 -- B string issues or is this normal?

[arepa_funk]

Hey everyone, how goes? Just got my first five string (Reverend Mercalli, amazing, 34 inch scale, toploading), and the first owner had it strung with rounds. I'm using Chromes on my four string J bass and LaBella LTFs on my Lakland Decade, and went with Chromes for the fiver based on some TB recs.

All strings except the B are great. The B came with the ballend silk coming apart and it took great effort to get it into its slot. Then there appear to be small gaps (dot inlay fret in pic below) along the B string. I can feel the ridges of the gaps as I'm playing, and you can feel them even more when sliding up or down into a note. Definitely not smooth. The ballend isn't looking particularly sturdy anymore either.

I've been playing flats for a long time and never had this issue, but this is my first time stringing a fiver. Is this normal B flatwound string behavior? Should I expect the B to be as smooth and clean as the E-G strings when strung with flats?

Thank you in advance for your help, much appreciated!

Pics here:

 

[iiipopes]

Typical. Fortunately, silk is mostly for show on electric basses. You could cut it all off and it wouldn't matter. The B string is so thick (.132) by comparison to the other strings that in order for it to not just be a thumpy mess that sometimes the way the string is wound needs to be adjusted to try to keep flexibility to try to keep the same general tonal flavor of the other four. I have played both the Chrome .132 B string and the Ernie Ball Stainless Flats .130 B string. To my ears, flats on a 5-string pushes the usable envelope of flats. I stick with flats on a 4-string bass due to the issues with construction, tension, silks - because usually the B saddle has to be so far back for proper intonation that it gets into the silk anyway, loss of balance of tone towards the fundamental side, etc.

 

[arepa_funk]

Typical. Fortunately, silk is mostly for show on electric basses. You could cut it all off and it wouldn't matter. The B string is so thick (.132) by comparison to the other strings that in order for it to not just be a thumpy mess that sometimes the way the string is wound needs to be adjusted to try to keep flexibility to try to keep the same general tonal flavor of the other four. I have played both the Chrome .132 B string and the Ernie Ball Stainless Flats .130 B string. To my ears, flats on a 5-string pushes the usable envelope of flats. I stick with flats on a 4-string bass due to the issues with construction, tension, silks - because usually the B saddle has to be so far back for proper intonation that it gets into the silk anyway, loss of balance of tone towards the fundamental side, etc.

Thank you, appreciate your reply! Funny enough, I'm not digging the Chromes sound on this as much as the LTF sound on my J bass. Part of me thinks it's how the B string feels under my fingers and not necessarily sounds. It's also strange feeling those small gaps as I'm playing. But as I understand your description, that is normal with a flatwound B string.

Do you have suggestions/preferences for strings for a fiver since you don't dig how flats sound on them? I prefer the warm, thicker tone of flats than the bright clanginess of rounds. I've thought about the Ken Smith slick rounds too.

Thanks again!

 

[iiipopes]

Do you have suggestions/preferences for strings for a fiver since you don't dig how flats sound on them? I prefer the warm, thicker tone of flats than the bright clanginess of rounds. I've thought about the Ken Smith slick rounds too.

Thanks again!

To get the warm thicker tone, for a couple of years I gigged the La Bella White Tapewound strings in the standard gauge, 60-135. That set has about the same tension as a conventional round wound 45 - 100 set, plus the B string. No, nylon tape strings are not the same as flats, but they do have a big, round tone and the nylon gets rid of the clang you refer to. Yes, you will need a nut job and a set up for intonation of a standard gauge set. To my ears and fingers, the light set is too light. Also, unless you have something like EMG pickups, which I used for their clean tone and >-100dB noise floor that are internally grounded and don't need a bridge ground, you may run into hum and noise issues due to the lack of ground from the nylon tape effectively separating the strings from any grounding or shielding.

 

[michael_t]

Do you have suggestions/preferences for strings for a fiver since you don't dig how flats sound on them? I prefer the warm, thicker tone of flats than the bright clanginess of rounds. I've thought about the Ken Smith slick rounds too.

For a flatwound with a traditional tone, La Bella 760FL-B (43-60-82-104-128T). They don't have silk at the ball end and the 128B is tapered at the ball end.

Invalid Link Removed

Ken Smith Slick Rounds (Alloy 52 half-rounds/groundwound) are a viable alternative to flats for the "warm and thicker" tone you seek. The 130B is available either tapered or non-tapered, and can be combined with any of the 4-string sets.

Specialty Strings - Ken Smith Basses

 

[arepa_funk]

To get the warm thicker tone, for a couple of years I gigged the La Bella White Tapewound strings in the standard gauge, 60-135. That set has about the same tension as a conventional round wound 45 - 100 set, plus the B string. No, nylon tape strings are not the same as flats, but they do have a big, round tone and the nylon gets rid of the clang you refer to. Yes, you will need a nut job and a set up for intonation of a standard gauge set. To my ears and fingers, the light set is too light. Also, unless you have something like EMG pickups, which I used for their clean tone and >-100dB noise floor that are internally grounded and don't need a bridge ground, you may run into hum and noise issues due to the lack of ground from the nylon tape effectively separating the strings from any grounding or shielding.

Noted, thank you! Not sure if tapes are the way I'll roll but they definitely appear to be a solid option.

For a flatwound with a traditional tone, La Bella 760FL-B (43-60-82-104-128T). They don't have silk at the ball end and the 128B is tapered at the ball end.

Invalid Link Removed

Ken Smith Slick Rounds (Alloy 52 half-rounds/groundwound) are a viable alternative to flats for the "warm and thicker" tone you seek. The 130B is available either tapered or non-tapered, and can be combined with any of the 4-string sets.

Specialty Strings - Ken Smith Basses

Thanks! Had no idea that the 760FL-Bs were tapered at the ball end. Would definitely make installation easier. I really enjoy the LTFs but hadn't considered LaBella for the fiver. The Ken Smiths looks interesting and the B string may not stretch like the flats do. It looks like they have medium and medium/light sets. Do you think going for medium/light makes a big difference on a fiver? I saw the LaBella set above was medium/light, so was curious how that may apply to the slick rounds.

Edit: Never mind, I think the sets I saw are taper core rounds. Would have to order directly form KS to make a combo set as you mentioned in the first message.

 

[michael_t]

Would have to order directly form KS to make a combo set as you mentioned in the first message.

Are you based in the US?

I usually deal with Matt at Strings By Mail for singles and custom sets. You can get in touch with him at [email protected] and tell him what you need and he'll be able to order them for you.

 

[arepa_funk]

Are you based in the US?

I usually deal with Matt at Strings By Mail for singles and custom sets. You can get in touch with him at [email protected] and tell him what you need and he'll be able to order them for you.

Yep, I am in the US. Got it, thanks for your help! I'll report back here once I decide and put them through their paces.

 

[pbass2]

Huh. I used to use Chromes on my L2500, and it's been a few years, but I don't remember the B feeling like you describe at all. In fact that whole set felt really "even" and sounded great on that bass (also 34" scale). It could be a bad string....

 

[arepa_funk]

Huh. I used to use Chromes on my L2500, and it's been a few years, but I don't remember the B feeling like you describe at all. In fact that whole set felt really "even" and sounded great on that bass (also 34" scale). It could be a bad string....

Most likely it's that. All the other strings are fine, and the Chromes on my four-string are fine too.

 

[pbass2]

Most likely it's that. All the other strings are fine, and the Chromes on my four-string are fine too.

Have them send you a replacement string. D'Addario and Labella have both done that for me in the past, no prob, usually in a week or less.

 

[mrcbass]

I use Chromes on a 5 string (full scale), I do find times when the B string is tough to get through the preset holes. On one of my basses, I had to drill out the hole a bit and on my Fender Ps, I have to use the top bridge mount option rather than through the body because it won't intonate properly with the severe witness point bend. The silk is often damaged, never an issue.

I've been using Chromes on everything for about 5 years now and have never noticed any irregularity with the strings.

 

[jemerpi]

Thank you, appreciate your reply! Funny enough, I'm not digging the Chromes sound on this as much as the LTF sound on my J bass. Part of me thinks it's how the B string feels under my fingers and not necessarily sounds. It's also strange feeling those small gaps as I'm playing. But as I understand your description, that is normal with a flatwound B string.

Do you have suggestions/preferences for strings for a fiver since you don't dig how flats sound on them? I prefer the warm, thicker tone of flats than the bright clanginess of rounds. I've thought about the Ken Smith slick rounds too.

Thanks again!

Rotosound Jazz 77s are warm and full, but bright and midrange focused for a flat. High tension helps make for a good B string. A lot of guys swear by EB Cobalt flats. But, TIs have the best B in the flats game.

For bridging flat warmth and round eq versatility and edge, DR Black Beauties work really well. They also sound great with a pick and when slapping. They have become my flats replacement string, however, I prefer a modern tone across the board. You might also consider DR's other coated strings as there are differences.

 

[Dana R Gregory]

I used to have a Dean 5 string with Chromes (ECB 81-5) and never had an issue at all. They sounded great and felt fantastic on my fingers.

 

[arepa_funk]

Thank you all! I reached out to D'Addario to replace the B string and will be looking into Strings by Mail if the replacement doesn't work out. More to come!

 

[arepa_funk]

Reporting back here. D'Addario sent me two replacement Bs at no cost, so that was great! It was in significantly better shape than I received in the original pack. There are no gaps nor stretched sports along the string. The tone is bright (not surprising) and hope they damp down over time as they did on my four-string J. The action is relatively higher than I'm used to, to accommodate the strings' tension and also the B string size.

Feel-wise, I still think the LaBella LTFs are in another class, though I haven't played their fiver set. I am still interested in the Ken Smith Slick Rounds so depending on how I feel about these a few months from now, I may go in that direction. May also consider the LTFs, to be honest. If they feel and sound so great on a four, why not on a five is my thinking.