D'addario Chromes or Fender 9050's?

[PennyroyalWe]

I say try both and see what the bass likes. I love fender 9050l on my split p and scpb, but couldn’t stand the way they sounded on my wide range humbucker telebass. That bass likes chromes, which didn’t sound all that good IMO on the other two basses.

 

[scuzzy]

Why didn't you like the Chromes?

I've tried chromes on several basses, just not my thing. I feel the jazz flats accentuate the best parts of this hollowbody bass. Such a warm woody tone.

 

[Bruiser Stone]

Fenders every time. I’ve tried Chromes 3-4 times, and I think they sound very uninspiring and feel the same. But a lot of players like them.

Fenders have a nice midrange that matures nicely, and the string tension from the 9050L set is just about right for me. Fenders replaced my beefier La Bella 760FS on my P bass when the D string at the tuning peg began to unravel. Not the same level of thump as La Bella, but Fenders are more versatile while still sounding smooth. Just my ear and finger opinions.

 

[FishDub]

The Fenders for sure IMO..tried Chromes once and took them off.YMMV

 

[Phaidrus]

9050M sound very fat and thick after some months of use on my Pbass. Not that I would recommend this gauge for a hollowbody but just want to note that, contrary to popular belief, the 9050s can and will sound fat and warm.

 

[Snibborwocky]

I haven't experimented too much with flatwound strings but, I still have 9050's on my Gretsch hollow body and they are absolutely incredible sounding even after 5 years being on there. My only other flatwounds are Ernie Ball Slinky's on my p-bass and I haven't had any issue with them either being on that for over a year now.

 

[staurosjohn]

By the way, while you're considering those two, you might want to consider the Ernie Ball Stainless Steel (NOT Cobalt) Flats as well. I have the Group IV (40-95) on my P bass right now and I'm very happy with them. Not as "clanky" as the Chromes and not as "grindy" as the 9050s; they're smooth and mellow with a very good midrange clarity.

Thx for *this*… just picked up a Squier Sonic P… tryna figure what strings I want. I always appreciate your insight… gonna give EB SS flats a whirl Had Chromes on my Oly White P… not thrilled with them

 

[staurosjohn]

Thx for *this*… just picked up a Squier Sonic P… tryna figure what strings I want. I always appreciate your insight… gonna give EB SS flats a whirl Had Chromes on my Oly White P… not thrilled with them

View attachment 5154960

Just ordered - from Fret Nation @michael_t Hope ya steered me right!

 

[Space Pickle]

I always preferred the 9050's...I know lots of guys like Chromes but they aren't for me.

 

[shadven]

I use Rotosound 77s on all my basses including my Guild Starfire… which is a semi-hallow.

 

[Williethump]

I like the Chromes on my Godin Freeway 4, lots of top end for a flatwound, easy to play. Pretty affordable. Of course the Godin is a P/J type, nothing like your bass. Agree with scuzzy and others, if you can lay out about $80 for TI Jazz flats they knock it out of the park. And last through Deep Time.

 

[Meghans Dad]

By the bye, can you measure the distance between the E string ball-end anchoring point (at the trapeze tailpiece) and the tuning post? I'm fairly sure that the 5-string version of your bass can accommodate long-scale strings - which is an advantage: plenty more choice - but I don't know about the 4-stringer.

[Since you're at it, can you also measure between ball-end and nut? This would be the minimum string winding length. I suspect short-scale strings by most manufacturers are too short for it, and it takes at least (nominal) "medium-scale" strings to clear the nut.]

Fender 9050s have not been available in 5-string for some time now.

 

[keith1r]

The Chromes and Fender flats are very similar.
For that bass I’d either get TI jazz flats or La Bella low tension flats or try Daddario black nylon tape wounds

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

I recently bought a new bass, it's the Ibanez AFB200-tks.

It's an acoustic/semiacoustic bass with humbuckers, and i want to put flatwound strings on it. But I don't have any excperience with flatwound strings at all, so I don't know which strings to choose. While reading about different kinds of flatwounds strings, there where two strings that i really liked. The D'addario Chromes and the Fender 9050's.
Which strings do you guys think would sound best for this bass? And is there anything else i should need to know about flats before buying?

Why Chromes and Fender only?
They are both characterised by a medium/high tension with a kind of rough surface texture making them not exactly flat.
For the same tension (maybe slightly less) with a decidedly flatter surface and with a true-vintage tone you can buy the excellent LaBella DTF 760FL.
They are just a little more expensive but much more rewarding tone-wise IMO.

 

[skycruiser]

9050s >> Chromes

 

[JohnnyPustular]

I've tried pretty much all the strings written about so far plus a few others. You can make a 2 x 2 table with playability (stiff and flexible) on one axis and tone (thump vs treblyish*) on the other axis. I find Chromes and Fenders fall into the same quadrant- stiffer and more treblyish. I like Labella's because they aren't nearly as stiff and are much thumpier (the thump/flexible quadrant). At the moment I am only playing Labella Black Nylons- tons of thump and quite flexible/comfortable to play. TI's are said to be in the same quadrant, but I haven't gotten past some cheapness issues on my part.

I'm not sure I can name strings in the stiff/thump category or the flexible/treblyish category. Maybe others can point some out.

That's how I would think about your decision. Hope it helps.


* Treblyish- no flats are going to be as top-end forward as rounds, but some have a little more top end and are a bit thinner. No where near rounds, though. More of a compromise between flats and rounds leaning toward flats. Thump is just thick and rich.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Fender 9050s have not been available in 5-string for some time now.

Very true, and lamentable.

My point was that, had the OP's bass been the five-string version i.e. Ibanez AGB205, a number of not-especially long-wound, 5-string sets (including, why not, those discontinued Fender 90505M) would have fit just fine, because not only does/did (also discoed!) that bass have the tailpiece - well, the stopbar, in that case - placed appropriately far back, but also a 2+3 tuner arrangement at the headstock, and specifically one with the B-string tuner positioned pretty far from the nut. See below:

View attachment 5151611

So I was wondering if that was the case for the four-string Artcores like @Daniel Nadj's.
As he kindly reported above, it turns out it is close, but not quite: not many long-scale strings out there are fully-wound to just 36.5" anymore
[I think Warwick-brand strings are; curiously enough, Pyramid Gold flats are, but their rounds are not (per their catalog, page 15)]
- most are now at least 37".

 

[andare]

Fender flats start out clanky but mellow out to a muddy midrange after a couple of months. Great for a Jazz bass, too muddy for a P bass.
I have the 9050MLs and the 100 E string is too floppy for me.

Chromes seem to retain their high end much longer. The 45-100 have better balance in gauge.
I have them on two short scale basses and they both feel great but the Mini P has too much high end, the Bronco has a dual blade humbucker that doesn't have enough high end. Much depends on the bass.

No experience with your bass but I hope my description is still useful.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

I'm not sure it will be a good idea to use long scale strings here, which means the Fenders aren't really an option. With roundwounds it wouldn't be a problem but flats can unravel if you end up with the fully wound part of the string around the tuning shaft. Some flats can handle it better than others but personally I wouldn't risk it.

I think medium scale is the way to go here, which limits the options significantly. However, different manufacturers use different winding lengths for their short/medium scale strings. You'll need to check the specs.

TI Jazz Flats short scale sets should probably fit this bass as their short scale sets are more like the medium scale sets from other manufacturers. TI short scale = short scale with tail piece. Personally don't like them though. The TIJF long scale sets are great but the short scale sets have a heavy gauge, rather stiff E-string while the rest of the strings are the same gauges as the long scale sets, making them extremely floppy on a short scale bass. The difference in tension between E-A make them almost unplayable IMO.

I'm not a fan of D'Addarion Chromes on long scale basses. I find them stiff and unarticulate. But the lower tension of short scale basses make them come alive. I actually like Chromes on short scale basses, which I didn't expect as I really detest them on long scale basses.

My personal favourite flats for short scale basses are Pyramid Golds though. But I suspect the short scale sets will be just a tiny but too short with that tailpiece. The long scale sets will unfortunately be too long.

Dunlop have a very good selection of flats for different scales but they've gotten outrageously expensive lately.

 

[HaphAsSard]

The long scale sets will unfortunately be too long.

As I said above, they should fit just right.