• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

D'Addario...Flex Steels?

#261
SGD Lutherie said:
These don't sound like DRs. They also last a lot longer.

This is the same case with Rotos. Back int he 70s they were very rough feeling, and super bright. The new Rotos are not made the same way at all. They feel smoother and aren't all that bright like they used to be. ProSteels are brighter than the current Rotos. The FlexSteels are brighter than the ProSteels.
Click to expand...


I don't find the FlexSteels to be significantly brighter than DR's. They seem to have more mid range and more punch. However I'm pretty certain they will destroy my frets a whole lot faster.

I think D'Addario has come up with a great new core wire. The outer wraps leaves me thinking I still prefer DR overall.
 
#263
mbrancalion said:
How about these Flex strings in a fretless bass?.......
Are there chances that they will eat the ebony fingerboard fast? ...
Click to expand...
They're smoother than I thought they were going to be based on the initial descriptions.
I'm using them on my fretless - but it has a Diamondwood fingerboard...
I think they wouldn't be my first choice for ebony. But as always it may come down to touch, technique, and your expectations. Some say -any- roundwound will cause marks and wear - and they're probably right. Will it actually cause sufficient damage to require refinishing in your lifetime? Multiple times? No way to know...

I was pretty happy with TI's and D'Addario Half-Round on my ebony fretless. I like the FlexSteel punch and midrange but I'm not sure it'd be enough of a difference to tempt me into rounds. Midrange is why there are 3-band pre-amps ;-)
 
#264
ArtechnikA said:
I think they wouldn't be my first choice for ebony. But as always it may come down to touch, technique, and your expectations.
Click to expand...
I have never had an aggressive way of playing ...... And i believe i won't change...... :)

I'll give them a try....... I only hope the B string will match the other strings, as far as sound and punch ........

Thanks for your reply. :)
 
#265
red_rhino said:
I just put a set of the flex-steels (45-105) on a Suhr J bass I recently acquired. …

These obviously aren't for everyone, and probably not for every bass. I have a 5-string set I'm going to try on my PJ-5, but I'll wait until the Sunbeams I've got on there now are done. …

I probably won't use them on all my basses, but definitely will on at least one so far.
Click to expand...

As I suspected, these aren't for every bass. The Flex Steels had worked out so well on my Suhr Jazz, that I finally tried a set on my Celinder PJ-5, currently strung with Sunbeams. This didn't work out as well, i.e. at all! Absolutely the wrong set of strings for that bass. Within 5 minutes I switched back to Sunbeams.

In hindsight, I think these *could* have worked out better under different circumstances. First, the set I have on my Suhr are the hybrid EFX165, 45-65-85-105, rather than D'Addario's default gauges of 45-65-80-100. The 5-string set is 45-65-80-100-130, and to me, playing a bass with that big a difference in gauge between the E & B strings is like walking in a pair of shoes that have one heel missing.

Guage issues aside, the E-A-D-G strings felt and sounded pretty good, but the B-string sounded unfocused and hollow. This bass normally has a B that sounds truly amazing, but the Flex Steel 130 sounded like someone threw a blanket over it.

I think that perhaps a 5-string set gauged 45-65-85-105-125 might have worked out better. I don't understand or agree with D'Addario's tendency to populate their string sets with lighter E & A strings, and not everyone wants a 130 B. In the case of this bass, I don't think combining a hybrid 4-string set with a single 125 B (if they ever produce that single) will work either, since I need a super long set for this bass. (As it was, the D string was almost too short for the Celinder's 4+1 headstock configuration.)

I still like the Flex Steels on my Suhr, and I want to try a set of the lighter EFX220's on another jazz bass to see how they'll do, but I think the Sunbeams are the right string for my PJ-5, and that made the experiment worthwhile.

-Alan

-Alan
 
#266
Review from me. I have been using prosteels since the day i bought my first set and it have been on all my basses. Currently im playing most on my Carvin SB5001 bass. Oddly, i like older prosteels than the fresh zingy ones. Old = 1 week to 3 mths old strings.

Heard about the Flexsteels and changed my prosteels for it for a month. First impressions was alright, a little brighter, seems pretty balanced across the strings, a little more.. well flexible than the prosteels.
But subconsciously, i have been trying to tweak my tone more than usual. Pickup blend in the middle seems to go well with the extra brightness. However, bridge pickup soloed seems too bright for my liking. Overall, i seem to have lost some of the growly mids that i like. Initially i thought, its about time to GAS for a new bass that have more pronounced mid range (alder/rosewood kinda).

Yesterday night, i changed them back to prosteels and immediately my tone came back to me. Throwing away the set of flexsteels and buying another box of prosteels for me!
 
#268
DaveAceofBass said:
I've had these on my Sadowsky for a while and I won't be using them next time. Back to DRs. Anyone try out the LaBella RX strings yet?
Click to expand...
Yes. Very very scooped. I lost all mids on my MM Sabre. I had to tweak all EQ's to compensate. They lasted a long long time. I just did not like them. But all basses handle string different. If you had a Sabre I would say pass. Otherwise they might be your jam. They are pure zing and thump but no growl. I put on a set of hard rockin' steels right after and I liked those much better. I got a bum E string so they will be changed soon enough. I can't stand a dead E string when the rest are great. Maddening. Are there any options for dead string returns? I always just figure no options exist beyond bad luck and to get another set.
 
#276
SLaPiNFuNK said:
Singles are now available!

.032 .040 .045 .050 .065 .070 .075 .080 .085 .095 .100 .105 .125 .130 .135

Yes that is all the strings available in pre-packaged sets and new Low-B singles .125 and .135
Click to expand...

Good news Jason!.... Q: Is the .060 that exists in the 4 string EFX220 set going away? Will they pre-package a 5 string set in the EFX220?
This lighter gauge set is the one I dig the most. I just ordered a different makers 5 and 4 set to compare.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back