D'Addario Chromes User Group- Chromeys Speak Out!

[Rip Topaz]

Glad I could help.

It only takes one time of putting them suckers on your bass without cleaning them first to get it.

 

[tallboybass]

Would WD40 work for cleaning Chromes?

 

[scotch]

I wouldn't use WD-40, it will leave behind residue.

Anything that evaporates quickly is best. Alcohol is my first choice, maybe VM&P Naptha second.

 

[bassbully]

Would WD40 work for cleaning Chromes?

I never clean them. My finger oil works to keep them smooth. In humid weather I use the fret ez spay.

 

[Rip Topaz]

Alcohol is BAD for nitro finishes.

For those finishes, naphtha evaporates faster and doesn't damage as quickly.

A moot point if you clean them before putting them on the bass.

 

[Scotographer]

While not my main string (D'A halfwounds) I have in the last year come to like chromes. I've got a set on my Ibanez Artcore, and while I liked the bass already, the chromes made me love it.

I have a Epi Viola with LaBella's on it, I had the opportunity to put chromes on my son-in-laws Epi Viola and hear them side by side. While the LaBella's really capture that McCartney sound, I think the Chromes are more versitile for modern music, they can really brighten up with the tone control.

D'A's are also my primary guitar strings.

I just got an Artcore! And hence a silly question for you...does it take standard long scale strings?

 

[michael_t]

I just got an Artcore! And hence a silly question for you...does it take standard long scale strings?

All you need to do is to measure the physical distance on the bass between where the ball end sits and where the string clears the nut. That's called "winding length".

Then refer to Invalid Link Removed to find the right size for the strings.

 

[Scotographer]

All you need to do is to measure the physical distance on the bass between where the ball end sits and where the string clears the nut. That's called "winding length".

Then refer to Invalid Link Removed to find the right size for the strings.

Thanks.

I got totally brain farted. Short neck (30 inches) had me thinking short scale but measuring string length has long (which means more options). Thinking the Chromes would sound nice.

 

[michael_t]

Short neck (30 inches) had me thinking short scale but measuring string length has long (which means more options).

One of the valuable lessons I've learned on this forum (thanks to @SLaPiNFuNK ) is to always think in terms of "winding length" instead of "scale length" when trying to determine the right size of strings for any bass.

 

[Scotographer]

One of the valuable lessons I've learned on this forum (thanks to @SLaPiNFuNK ) is to always think in terms of "winding length" instead of "scale length" when trying to determine the right size of strings for any bass.

I didn't see that chart before when I looked on that site. Thanks for the link. That is really useful and now bookmarked.

 

[Danomo]

Thanks for responding michael_t, I just woke up from celebrating the Blackhawks Stanley cup win.

Scotographer,
He's on the money, as you've discovered if you measured, (you can use standard 34" scale strings), but if you had an older Artcore with the 34" scale, a measurement would have showed you need longer strings.

 

[OOD]

I just bought a five string set but I haven't been able to put them on yet. The only other flat I tried was Fender 9050s. I hope I like the chromes better than the fenders. I've had the fenders for about two years and I liked them at first but now I dont.

 

[michael_t]

I hope I like the chromes better than the fenders. I've had the fenders for about two years and I liked them at first but now I dont.

Just curious...

What exactly is it you're hoping to get out of the Chromes that you're not getting with the Fenders?

 

[OOD]

Just curious...

What exactly is it you're hoping to get out of the Chromes that you're not getting with the Fenders?

I'm not sure the Fenders just seem a bit honky to me ( what ever that means. ) They are going on a different bass anyways so I'm hoping that will count for something. I'm also hoping it will help out with the thin sounding B string I have on it now.

I have a feeling I'll love them for about 3-6 months and then slowly start hating them just like the Fenders.

I would probably love some dead rounds but I just don't like the way they fill anymore.

 

[michael_t]

I have a feeling I'll love them for about 3-6 months and then slowly start hating them just like the Fenders.

I had a set of Chromes on my J for 4 years, at which point the E (.100) had gotten thuddy while the G (.040) was still annoyingly bright.

The Fender 9050L I have on the same bass are only 3-mths-old. So far I like the way they're better-balanced tonally - the E (.100) is less thuddy and more focused while the G (.045) is mellower. I'm really hoping they'll stay that way at least for another couple of years but only time will tell...

Since I started using the Fenders (after having used a few different sets of nickel rounds) I received more than a few compliments from my church's resident audio tech, who described my tone as being "meaty and full-bodied but still with good definition".

Meanwhile, I haven't quite given up on the Chromes; they're just waiting to be tried on a P bass.

 

[OOD]

I had a set of Chromes on my J for 4 years, at which point the E (.100) had gotten thuddy while the G (.040) was still annoyingly bright.

The Fender 9050L I have on the same bass are only 3-mths-old. So far I like the way they're better-balanced tonally - the E (.100) is less thuddy and more focused while the G (.045) is mellower. I'm really hoping they'll stay that way at least for another couple of years but only time will tell...

Since I started using the Fenders (after having used a few different sets of nickel rounds) I received more than a few compliments from my church's resident audio tech, who described my tone as being "meaty and full-bodied but still with good definition".

Meanwhile, I haven't quite given up on the Chromes; they're just waiting to be tried on a P bass.

Yeah the Fenders seem very even on my G&L L2000 trib.
It's some kind of Mid frequency that bugs me though. They are great strings with plenty of highs and lows and I would recommend them to people and I might even try them again but not on the same bass.

 

[Bassworship1]

Well I have my first set of Chromes coming for my new Ibanez Prestige bass. I guess i will finally see what all the fuss is about lol.

 

[OOD]

Just put chromes on my Squier vm jag 5 string and it totally delivers with are pretty even sounding B and E string. Time will only tell how they are in time, but I have a good feeling about them. They also sound really good with my big muff.

 

[bluesfordan]

Did a quick search and didn't find a Chromes Club, so I figured why not?

I'm a dedicated Chromes user. I've been playing bass since 1981, and for most of that time I used regular D'Addario XL rounds. A few years back I finally discovered the joy that is the Fender P, which eventually led me to give flats a try. So glad I did.

ECB81's on my MIA 60th Anniversary P-bass, had the Chromes on and off a few times. Went back to rounds a couple of times but the flats are back on it and staying this time. The current set has about three years of play on them.

My backup P, a MIM Lake Placid Blue (maple fretboard) is also wearing Chromes, but this time I went with the ECB82 set in hopes that the heavier gauge would get the tone/action closer to what I'm used to with the 60th.

It may or may not have worked, but I love the tone/feel of the heavier set. So much so that when I either wear out or break a string, I'll be swapping to the heavier gauge on that bass, too.

Being a former rounds player, switching to flats was an experiment that I'm calling a success. The Chromes are just bright enough to allow me to slap when necessary (a couple songs with my current band). And since my band plays classic/70's rock, I'm able to get the bass tones of the original recordings perfectly.

I've fallen in love with the tone I get with my Chromes, and even though I play more of a lead style of bass (think Entwistle/Butler/Sheehan) I have no problem nailing just about any tone I need. Sure the slap sound isn't the normal "Jazz bass with rounds" thing, but for the amount of slap that I play I'm totally satisfied.

So who's gonna join me and share their love of D'Addario Chromes flats? What set do you use? What is it that you like/dislike about them?

Oh, and here's a pic of my top three. The two on the right are my Chromes users. The dual pickup green bass (I call it the ThunderPea due to the pickups being in the same spots as a Thunderbird bass) is currently wearing XL rounds.

apologies for not knowing what the one in the middle is, but I covet it madly. Is that the 60th anniversary with a split p-bass pickup instead of the one piece single coil? And the non-tele style headstock too?

I think what I know my next build is going to be. Does MJT make a body like that?

Oh, and I found your thread because I'm trying to decide which way to go with my p-bass build once I get my neck situation squared away. D'addario Chromes were one of the top contenders, TI being the other. *Edit* I forgot to mention the La Bella Deep Talking were another contender as well.

 

[Shardik]

I use Chromes because they have more definition in them than any other flats I've tried (including half rounds). I use LaBellas on a short scale, and I love them, too, but Chromes have more bite, IMHO. I never tried TI, but have had Fender 9050CL and GHS Precision flats, too. I keep coming back to the Chromes...