GHS Precision Flats are the way to go for that old school thump, baby.
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Daddario flats....ugh..way too bright!
- Thread starter bass71
- Start date
I had Chromes on a Precision bass, too bright and too much clank (even after months). Took them off and replaced with La Bella flats, immediate improvement. I put the Chromes on a Squier P, sounds a little better on it. I'm gonna stick with TI Jazz Flats and La Bella flats.
I know, parents really need to sit down and give their kids a serious talk about Chromes. A few months after I got my hands on a set, I started experimenting with LaBellas... at that point it was virtually impossible to stop
. My life hasn't been the same since. Survivors tell me withdrawal symptoms include overwhelming, irritating sensations of zing and clank, and sudden cravings for thump and midrange presence. Patients often mumble incoherent rants about "that Jamerson tone" and "Motown thump".
Don't wait until it's too late. Educate them about the consequences of using Chromes today.
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I mean, what's next? Tape wound ?
Smooth_bass88
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- Oct 31, 2006
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I love the Chromes. Got 'em on my AVRI '62 P Bass. Been on there for about 2 years. No complaints!
Chromes sound weird alone, but in a band mix it sound good (to me). Only an opinion.
I believe you must find the right strings for each bass you own, according to what you like. And it's important to play the new strings in a band setting to make your mind, or at least to record them with a drum track.
IMO...
I believe you must find the right strings for each bass you own, according to what you like. And it's important to play the new strings in a band setting to make your mind, or at least to record them with a drum track.
IMO...
M P bass is fairly bright sounding on it's own, and the 2 year old Chromes on there help dial that down.
My J bass is... um.., a J bass, and the 7 year old chromes I had on there really made it sound more like a P bass.
My active 5 string fretless really comes alive with the 5 year old Chromes on there.
Maybe the need an age rating, like wines-
"Sir, this set has been aged 1 year on a gently used instrument, and are therefore quite spicy and lively, with a sense of persistence and a haughty attitude. Perhaps the 15 year, well played set would be more to your liking, redolent as they are with a sense of maturity while still possessing an earthy joie de vivre..."
My J bass is... um.., a J bass, and the 7 year old chromes I had on there really made it sound more like a P bass.
My active 5 string fretless really comes alive with the 5 year old Chromes on there.
Maybe the need an age rating, like wines-
"Sir, this set has been aged 1 year on a gently used instrument, and are therefore quite spicy and lively, with a sense of persistence and a haughty attitude. Perhaps the 15 year, well played set would be more to your liking, redolent as they are with a sense of maturity while still possessing an earthy joie de vivre..."
No, that is La Bella who has the "low tension flats" set, to compete with Thomastik-Infeld.
To me, they feel very cold and stiff right out of the pack, but soon break in like a comfortable pair of sneakers. I have no idea what my AM DLX Jazz V sounds like with rounds, because it's had Chromes on it since day one. After a full year, they still have some upper-end clank left in them, but time continues to mellow them out little by little.
Edit to add - I seem to use a pick more often, since I started utilizing Chromes a few years ago.
Fender P or J + Chromes + pick + SVT = a beautiful combination for most any situation.
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I don't like the 105 sets of Chromes, but very much like the 100s. I have them on two basses.
The set of Pyramid Gold flats on my P are finally breaking in & sounding really good. They were fairly bright & stiff when new, but now they are supple feeling, with warm lows, a nice punchy midrange & a very good string-to-string balance.
Kind of pricy, but they really brought my American Standard Precision to life.
I may have to grab a 2nd one down the road, as it also sounds great when strung with D'Addario nickle rounds.
Kind of pricy, but they really brought my American Standard Precision to life.
I may have to grab a 2nd one down the road, as it also sounds great when strung with D'Addario nickle rounds.
I've been thinking about putting some chromes on my jazz, they start out oddly bright, but with an interesting roll-off before the zing, and then get thumpy. I think I kept my first set on for nearly two years.
The Chromes on my P are 2 1/2 years old and sound nice and warm. I have a set of D'Addario tapes on another bass that are the same age. Those are super mellow now, but even those had some snap when they were new. Just get those Chromes nice 'n dirty and they'll thump right up.
My Chromes have mellowed with age (around 2 years old...and I only throw them on every now and again). I love the tone of Chromes, but dont really like the high tension.
You know what,i may be thinking of Labella....senior moment!
Yep, La Bella low tension flats.
