D'Addario...Flex Steels?

[red_rhino]

perhaps some of you will find this helpful to find your fixed gauge set or custom :

Thanks for that. Very helpful to have those reference points.

I'm using Flex Steels on three basses so far; two jazz basses and a Tobias; all 4-strings. Tried a set on a PJ-5, but I didn't care for them on that particular bass. Love them on the other three. Using a light gauge (40-60-75-95) on two and medium (45-65-85-105) on one. Thinking about switching the medium out for light for the lower tension. The lighter gauge still seems pretty punchy.

-Alan

 

[KeithPoker]

I have 45-60-75-100 on my J but I'll be switching to 45-60-80-105 or 100 now that I've read the tension chart. On most sets that don't list tension I've found dropping the two middle strings one rung in gauge especially the A tends to get the whole set closer to balanced. Even for those who don't care about balance it's nice to take a look at the chart.

 

[michael_t]

I have 45-60-75-100 on my J but I'll be switching to 45-60-80-105 or 100 now that I've read the tension chart. On most sets that don't list tension I've found dropping the two middle strings one rung in gauge especially the A tends to get the whole set closer to balanced.

I'm trying out the D'Addario Nickel Rounds EXL170BT (45-60-80-107) right now and do like the way they feel nicely balanced tension-wise.

 

[catgut]

OK. FlexSteels now just piss me off. Back to Sadowsky Blue SS. All is right with humanity. I have used SS exclusively for 25 years so it isn't about getting the SS texture. Roto 66's, DR Hi-Beams, ProSteels, SuperSteels, LaBella HRS, Ken Smith Steels, etc. These are truly an acquired taste and not the 'holy grail' string I was expecting. Thankfully there are hundreds of other strings to choose from.

 

[JustForSport]

perhaps some of you will find this helpful to find your fixed gauge set or custom :

TENSION LONG-SCALE BABY

40 32.74
45 39.53
50 48.28

60 39.64
65 46.09
70 51.63

75 32.75
80 37.14
85 43.63

95 29.23
100 32.91
105 36.16

Only one missing is a .055 for the D: .040, .055, .075, .100, and need a B to match.

 

[KeithPoker]

yea definitely maybe a 110 too for a 40.00ish option

 

[Jeff O'Connor]

oh well...I had a set on for many months...sounded killer....I wanted to put a new set on as I have some heavy important shows coming up

and then

dead B & E strings..compared to the rest of the set.... DAMMIT.....

 

[Guinness20]

I put a set on my stingray after having super slinky round wounds on for a bit. They sound great for slapping, but there's a lot of string noise. Tbh thinking of changing back.

 

[panther9209]

Yes, my experience is the brighter the string, the more probable string noise. Then I find myself trying to adjust my attack ,taking feel away.

 

[Roda]

After using a 45-100 set of FlexSteels, I found that I liked the tension and feel, but lacked some punch. I bought a set of Rotosound 66 strings (45-105), figuring it's basically the same set with a slighthy thicker E string. Wrong. The Rotosounds felt like cables compared to the FlexSteels, but I liked their sound, so I sold that set and bought a 40-100 set (RS66). Under the fretting hand they feel similar to FlexSteels, but they feel too flimsy under my plucking hand (especially the D and G set). Could this flimsiness simply be the difference between a hex core and a round core string? Is there a set of strings out there that feels like FlexSteels, but has those Rotosound mids?

 

[gravesbass]

Roto Light 66's are great tuned std tension. It has a lot to do with the bass and specs. Not every set of stribgs are going to perform the same On different basses ie 34" vs 35" scale. 35" is going to be a little tighter tension.

 

[Roda]

I couldn't resist putting the FlexSteels back on. I dunno, maybe it's just that I got used to them from playing them for half a year, but the moment I put them on my fingers did all the work. Guess I'll just stick to FlexSteels for the time being; I can't afford a new set of strings every month (especially if they're not gonna be staying on the bass).

 

[Toptube]

After using a 45-100 set of FlexSteels, I found that I liked the tension and feel, but lacked some punch. I bought a set of Rotosound 66 strings (45-105), figuring it's basically the same set with a slighthy thicker E string. Wrong. The Rotosounds felt like cables compared to the FlexSteels, but I liked their sound, so I sold that set and bought a 40-100 set (RS66). Under the fretting hand they feel similar to FlexSteels, but they feel too flimsy under my plucking hand (especially the D and G set). Could this flimsiness simply be the difference between a hex core and a round core string? Is there a set of strings out there that feels like FlexSteels, but has those Rotosound mids?

Dean Markley's strings use a lower core to wrap ratio, similar to Flex Steels. There are three flavors of Dean Markley steel to try:

Blue Steels (in my opinion, a bit shy on mids.But still a good sounding, deeper toned string with a bit more richness to the low end than some other strings)
SR2000 (I've never tried these. But I've seen people say they have an upper mid character which is reminiscent of rotos)
Helix SS (These are in my top two strings. I've had about 6 six sets of them. Deeper overall tone. full low mid with nice character. full mids which are pretty complex. Even highs.).

 

[organworthyplayer337]

I noticed that the D and G strings look kinda I dunno coated or something. Compared to the E and A strings. They sound good but I prefer their Nickel Wound Balanced Tension set but these are definitely doable till I get some more NWs

I know this is a dusty thread

 

[chinjazz]

I noticed that the D and G strings look kinda I dunno coated or something. Compared to the E and A strings. They sound good but I prefer their Nickel Wound Balanced Tension set but these are definitely doable till I get some more NWs

I know this is a dusty thread

Are they darker looking?

 

[organworthyplayer337]

Are they darker looking?

Yeah, they look EB Slinky Colbat colored (I don't know if you've used them before) Just grey-ish

 

[chinjazz]

Yeah, they look EB Slinky Colbat colored (I don't know if you've used them before) Just grey-ish

I was told that when this happens on any string sets its because the string itself was closer to the end of the spool. It shouldn't affect tone or feel.

 

[organworthyplayer337]

I was told that when this happens on any string sets its because the string itself was closer to the end of the spool. It shouldn't affect tone or feel.

Ok. I thought that maybe it was a characteristic of the string because they said they were made specifically with slappers in mind. But it doesn't affect tone or anything that I noticed.

 

[ArtechnikA]

Poking this slumbering thread to get the opinions of people with FlexSteel experience...
What's the "worn-out/death mode" for these strings ?

I've had FlexSteels on my Roscoe fretless 6 for about a year and a half. I've been playing a bunch for the past 6 months but not as much before that.
I liked them a lot initially, but lately I am hearing a lot of midrange 'boing' that is unpleasant to my ears now.
I've taken to cutting treble and a good bit of mid to tame this. I was under the impression strings, especially rounds, tended to lose their highs as they die but these aren't doing that.

These strings are definitely coming off and I think I'll just replace them with the "OEM" D'Addario Nickel Round EXL170-6 I still have on my shelf.
But I also have a spare set of FlexSteel, so I'm undecided.
If I put the new FlexSteels on will I recover the sound I liked originally? Or has my preference for the innate tone just waned ?

 

[Moving Pictures]

Poking this slumbering thread to get the opinions of people with FlexSteel experience...
What's the "worn-out/death mode" for these strings ?

I've had FlexSteels on my Roscoe fretless 6 for about a year and a half. I've been playing a bunch for the past 6 months but not as much before that.
I liked them a lot initially, but lately I am hearing a lot of midrange 'boing' that is unpleasant to my ears now.
I've taken to cutting treble and a good bit of mid to tame this. I was under the impression strings, especially rounds, tended to lose their highs as they die but these aren't doing that.

These strings are definitely coming off and I think I'll just replace them with the "OEM" D'Addario Nickel Round EXL170-6 I still have on my shelf.
But I also have a spare set of FlexSteel, so I'm undecided.
If I put the new FlexSteels on will I recover the sound I liked originally? Or has my preference for the innate tone just waned ?

Most likely your strings are end of life. Can't speak to your tone preference