D'Addario Chromes User Group- Chromeys Speak Out!

[Bufalo]

Chrome user here! Have them on my Precision and both my 4 and 5 string Jazzes. Couldn't tell you which gauges, but I tend away from light, so whatever is heavier than that. Love the feel, the lifespan and the bit of zing that they retain in their tone.

 

[Christcr]

I find Chromes to be very slick and smooth, unless my hands start sweating. Then they become draggy, sticky, gummy (whatever you want to call it). But this happens to a certain extent with my roundwound-strung basses as well. The cure is to wash my hands between sets and wipe the strings down between sets.

If I have sweaty hands at at a gig, even with the wiping, my rounds will likely "die" and I will need to removed them and soak them in alcohol or replace them. Nice thing with the Chromes is that they don't need much more than just wiping (or wiping with alcohol). They don't "die" like rounds do. They're sort of... immortal.

The Chromes don't work for everything I play, but I find they work for more than I would have thought before putting them on a bass that really seems to be a good match. In the past, I haven't had that, so I've always disliked flats, in general. Actually, I still don't like flats, in general. But Chromes seem to not be your typical flatwound string. They actually have some upper mid brilliance in them that makes them sound more alive, defined, and biting than other flats. Definitely brighter. They sort of make up for their lack of treble "sparkle" with that pronounced upper mid thing they have going. It can sort of give the impression in the band mix of a roundwound string (kind of), even though the rest of their EQ curve is certainly in flatwound territory.

I was practicing with the Chromes (on a bass, of course! ) last night through a SansAmp and headphones (along with MP3s of songs we do in the band). Good lord! Talking about a mind-bending tone. I don't play with a pick very often because it has always sounded way too harsh for my taste. I just tried it on a whim because my right hand fingers were getting tired. Wow. I've never heard a pick sound so good on bass to my ears (meaning when I'm playing it). It was still sort of "in your face," but in a really, really good, crunchy way. Gotta talk my band into doing a song that calls for a pick tone. And to top that off, I was getting a perfect slap sound out of the Chromes as well for the song "Brickhouse." Old school flat-ish sound, but with enough bite on the slaps/pops to make it sound good. Sounded a lot like the tone in the original. Kinda makes me wonder what the bass and strings were on the original track by the Commodores.

The only other flatwound string that I'm really digging right now is the EB Slinky (cobalt) Flats. Those sound great in a different way than the Chromes. Both really good strings.

 

[Pier_]

what is the life expectancy of them?

it depends on what you consider life: for example, here's a bunch of sample made with my now-gone Peavey Zodiac (Precision style) and 5 years old Chromes: Dropbox - Peavey Zodiac - D'Addario Chromes 45-100.zip

this particular set of strings has been used a lot, because for a couple of years was mounted on my only bass, played every day for practice, many gigs and reharsals (then I started buying basses for fun, and having at least two at home), and then switched between many basses.

even after 5 years they still sounded bright and even (in the samples the E seems a bit lower in volume, but it's because of the non correct pickup height at the moment I made the samples), with the "bite" no other flat set has.

 

[delta7fred]

it depends on what you consider life: for example, here's a bunch of sample made with my now-gone Peavey Zodiac (Precision style) and 5 years old Chromes: Dropbox - Peavey Zodiac - D'Addario Chromes 45-100.zip

this particular set of strings has been used a lot, because for a couple of years was mounted on my only bass, played every day for practice, many gigs and reharsals (then I started buying basses for fun, and having at least two at home), and then switched between many basses.

even after 5 years they still sounded bright and even (in the samples the E seems a bit lower in volume, but it's because of the non correct pickup height at the moment I made the samples), with the "bite" no other flat set has.

Thanks for the reply, I was just wondering if I needed to order another set, I guess the answer is not for a while yet. (I take a backup bass to gigs so am not worried if I break one.)

 

[Jamvan]

Thanks for the reply, I was just wondering if I needed to order another set, I guess the answer is not for a while yet. (I take a backup bass to gigs so am not worried if I break one.)

I bought an extra set of Chromes that I carry around with me to gigs/practice/etc knowing full well that I'll likely NEVER need to use them. That way, in 10 years I can list them on eBay as VINTAGE, SUPER RARE, HARD TO FIND, UNOPENED, set of bass strings...

 

[Rip Topaz]

I always keep a spare set of strings in my case when I gig. Very rarely have I ever needed to use them since I hardly ever bring strings, but that's still a good habit. Always be prepared. I think in my 35 years of playing I've broken a string on stage maybe twice. And both times it was rounds.

@Christcr: "Brick House" isn't slapped. Lots of people play it as a slapped tune, but just some flats and low action to get that snap. (Not 100% certain it's flats, but certain that it's not slapped on the recording.) That said, play it however you like. It's definitely easier to play without slapping.

 

[delta7fred]

I think I've only ever broken one bass string in 47 years, when I was young and daft and played a lot harder than I do now.

I always carry a spare "almost everything" when gigging but don't have chromes yet, only the old dead rounds that came off but I would probably just switch to my backup bass if I broke a string.

 

[Rip Topaz]

When I buy strings, I try to get an extra set for the case. Each bass has an extra set in its case, and I replenish the supply as needed. Depends on how much cash I have in hand when I go to the store. I also order from Amazon as often as possible, because my wife and I have a Prime membership which eliminates the shipping charges most times.

Most of the time I wear out the strings before I break one, but with Chromes I've yet to wear out a set to the point that they needed changed.

 

[tallboybass]

Kinda makes me wonder what the bass and strings were on the original track by the Commodores.

P Bass and Flats...no slapping and only very occasional popping.

 

[taylor16]

One thing I really like about Chromes is when my band de-tunes down to D-G-D-G or even C-G-D-G, the increased tension still allows the strings to maintain their fundamental tone but with the extra "good clankiness" that such tunings affords. Very cool...

 

[rayzak]

I'm back with Chromes on my Lakland P. I went with Black Beauties for a while, but started missing chrome flats on my P. I've pretty much settled with Chromes on my P, DR Sunbeams on my jazz, and D'Adarrio black tapes on my fretless Ray. For now, I'm content.

 

[Christcr]

"Brick House" isn't slapped. Lots of people play it as a slapped tune, but just some flats and low action to get that snap. (Not 100% certain it's flats, but certain that it's not slapped on the recording.) That said, play it however you like. It's definitely easier to play without slapping.

P Bass and Flats...no slapping and only very occasional popping.

Yeah, I got curious and sifted through some live versions of Brickhouse/Commodores on YouTube. As you said, P-bass. Of course, I can't see the strings. They do sound like they are flats, but that is deceptive at times to make a definite call. I remember having a big argument (not me, a couple of other guys on another forum) a few years back about what kind of strings Paul S. Denman used on his Stingray for the Sade tracks. One guy swore they were flats. The other insisted rounds. To tell you the truth, I always just assumed they were roundwounds. It's just the guy's style that makes him sound so smooth. And on a Stingray, no less. He's one of my favorite bassists, if not my number one favorite. I've copped SO many lines from him. Always incredibly tasteful and a perfect fit for the songs. Well, long story short, the second guy dug up webpage somewhere that Paul talked about his gear. Turns out they are rounds, as I recall. You can pretty much hear that on Keep Looking. They are not brand new Stainless Steels or anything, but the strings do sound roundwound to my ears.

On the other hand, the Brickhouse bass does sound as if they are flats on that P-bass.

I've played that song (Brickhouse) for so many years and I've "pretty much" kept the bassline sounding "pretty much" authentic. It was interesting to go back and hear it/watch it to see how far I've strayed from the way I played it when I first learned it note-for-note years ago (like back in the 80s). Somewhere along the line I added some slapping (still keeping the main line pretty close) to those occasional pops on the original. I think it all started (me using more slap) on those two breakdown parts near the end of the song that get really tight and funky. Then I just sort of carried the slapping over into the rest of the song. But, that's okay, there are only two songs in the classic rock bands that I get to slap on these days (slapping is about all I did back in the day--Brother's Johnson/Patrice Rushen/Cheryl Lynn type stuff; mainly funk/soul/disco music): now, it's only Brickhouse and Lowdown by Boz Skaggs--that's another song that has sparse pops and I evolved over the years to slapping through the two bridges (and the one "secondary bridge") and doing the main part with just those g-string pops and stacatto fingerstyle on the low E and A notes. So I don't really slap the song through the whole thing. Just the fun parts.

Ultimately, either way, Brickhouse sounds very nice with Chromes and the SansAmp Bass Driver DI. Good enough for me to have fun playing it again!

 

[Pier_]

add me to the group just mounted a set of ECB84 on my Precision, and WOW! I really missed the tone of Chromes, bright but flatwoundish.

but the thing I missed the most is related to action and setup. with Thomastik I had to keep the neck with more relief, and the action was a bit strange, with the A at .070 gauge, and always felt the G a bit too tight.

the 40-100 set of Chromes is what I would have needed years ago, when I left the Chromes behind to try different flats.

the balance is good, the overall tension led me to set an almost invisible relief with low action, without unwanted fret rattle, but with the perfect height to slam the strings against the frets and get the bark out of them.

the 45-100 set has an awful tension, with high strings too tight and low strings too floppy, but this ECB84 is the perfect set!

here's a couple of samples:





they are brand new, just mounted and recorded after the setup. in these sample the pickup height was not regulated well, but they still sounded even. now it's perfect.

 

[Icculus]

Love Chromes. ECB81 is my preferred string (got them on my PJ and jazz bass and they're great on both). Super versatile and they've sort of become my substitute for round wounds, which I no longer use at all.

 

[Rip Topaz]

Pier_: Welcome to the Chromes Gang!!

Seriously guys, I suck at the whole handing out numbers thing. Too lazy I guess.

How about we all just add "Proud Chromey" to our sigs?

 

[Panther]

Trying to love them..not there yet tho!

 

[megafiddle]

I am going to be trying the ECB81 soon on my P bass.

Funny, when I started playing, flats were common, and round wounds were the hot new thing. Now flats are an option.

What does the "chrome" in CHROMES refer to? Chrome plated? Chrome steel alloy?

-

 

[michael_t]

Funny, when I started playing, flats were common, and round wounds were the hot new thing. Now flats are an option.

Just like automobiles. Once upon a time, the manual transmission was the standard equipment; if you wanted an automatic, you had to pay extra. Nowadays if you want a manual stick-shift, you have to pay extra for the "sport package".

What does the "chrome" in CHROMES refer to? Chrome plated? Chrome steel alloy?

They're called "Chromes" due to the chromium content in the stainless steel used for the wrap ribbon. (At least that's my understanding.)

 

[megafiddle]

They're called "Chromes" due to the chromium content in the stainless steel used for the wrap ribbon. (At least that's my understanding.)

Thanks. I was never sure with D'Addario, as they call their nickel plated strings "nickel" (they call the real nickel strings "pure nickel").

-

 

[michael_t]

Thanks. I was never sure with D'Addario, as they call their nickel plated strings "nickel" (they call the real nickel strings "pure nickel").

Here's a visual comparison - Chromes (left) vs. Fender 9050.

As you can see in the photo, one is slightly lighter and shinier with a bit of blue-ish hue. That's chromium.

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