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D'Addario...Flex Steels?

#321
Moving Pictures said:
Most likely your strings are end of life.
Click to expand...
T'was what I was thinking, thanks for the response.
I expected them to die with dead highs, but not so.
When I put them on I was going for versatility, but now I seem to be settling into just blues and don't think I need the midrange. I'll keep my spare sets, but the Nickel Rounds are going on.
 
#322
ArtechnikA said:
T'was what I was thinking, thanks for the response.
I expected them to die with dead highs, but not so.
When I put them on I was going for versatility, but now I seem to be settling into just blues and don't think I need the midrange. I'll keep my spare sets, but the Nickel Rounds are going on.
Click to expand...

I loved these when I first used them however they didn't seem to last like other D'Addarrio strings. I moved away from them and now use Dunlops or DRs steels for rounds.
 
#323
I put a set of light-gauge Flex Steels on my Tobias about 18 months ago and loved what it did for the bass. Really brought out the best of the instrument. The strings have "deadened" somewhat, but I actually like where it's going. Normally, I like my strings fresh and change them out when they start to go, but I'm going to leave these on as long as possible. I'm a little worried that maybe I got a "magic" set that's just holding up really well, and that I'll be disappointed if I change them out.

I've tried the Flex Steels on all my other basses, with mixed results. I do have a set on my Suhr Jazz bass, but they're not quite "right" for that bass, and I'll probably change them out for nickel strings, probably Sunbeams in a lighter gauge. At the moment, they're still super bright and showing no signs of toning down.
 
#324
red_rhino said:
...At the moment, they're still super bright and showing no signs of toning down.
Click to expand...
That's what confused me.
Mine stayed bright but they kinda lost their balance - the mids got out of control and everything sounded sproingy-boingy.
The nickel rounds gave me back a sound I like.
I'll probably try the FlexSteels again at some point - probably on a fretted bass next time.
 
#325
ArtechnikA said:
That's what confused me.
Mine stayed bright but they kinda lost their balance - the mids got out of control and everything sounded sproingy-boingy.
The nickel rounds gave me back a sound I like.
I'll probably try the FlexSteels again at some point - probably on a fretted bass next time.
Click to expand...
That's actually a good characterization of what I think has happened to the set on my Suhr. "Out of balance". The set on my Tobias, OTOH, rock solid, just not as zingy. (I play the Tobias a lot more.) I remember that the Dean Markley SR2000's used to have the a lot of inconsistency from set to set (not sure if that's still true). One set would be amazing, and the next set... meh.

I think, though, that what works for one bass doesn't work quite the same for another. I'm pretty sure my Suhr will do better with a nickel string, as does my Roscoe. I did try a set of the Flex Steels on my Celinder PJ-5 once. Absolutely the wrong strings for that bass; I pulled them off after 10 minutes.

-Alan
 
#326
I tried them about a year ago but I never really got a feel for them. I just know when a string is "right" for my bass and there was just something not happening. I think they were a bit too sproingy for me and they were all about midrange and and not much else.
 
#333
Like I said, for me personally there was just something off with these. I've never fought so hard to wring tone out of a string. Out of the pack one string would be shiny and another dull grey. I think there is a limit to exactly how "springy" a string can be before it becomes difficult to articulate notes on it.
 
#334
sorry for bumping up this thread... as Flex Steels are still going strong on my outgoing bass and I just received this from the mail man...

IMG_20170315_1549067_zpsiav1qjx2.jpg


couldn't resist on buying it due to attractive price despite D'Addario has discontinued them and the current EFX165+FXB135T haven't died on me yet. Not to mention I also still have EFX220 unused.

I still need FXB130 or FXB130T though, cause I don't have 4 string bass anymore.
 

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