Agree. If you want a lighter tensioned flatwound, also consider the Labella 760FL. They're easy to play.
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Do Chromes mellow out?
- Thread starter jmceachern36
- Start date
Agree. If you want a lighter tensioned flatwound, also consider the Labella 760FL. They're easy to play.
I use Chromes on my J-style basses and Fender 9050's on my P-Basses. Chromes do mellow out after a couple of months.
I recently put a set of 760FL strings on my SB5000, and I'm quite happy. Its got the LaBella flat sound with about the same stiffness of the rounds it replaced. Perhaps a wee bit brighter sounding than the heavier gauge sets.
Yes I think they're a little brighter than the 760FM's which is why I like them. Like you said, they have the Labella sound, not quite as bright as Chromes.
As an encouragement I would like to say that if you bite the bullet for a little while with the chromes you will be rewarded with a flat that will be worth the wait. It takes a good month of playing & then they will sound GREAT for a very long time. In the mean time just roll off the bass tone a bit. I had a set of 105-50 on my Fender P for over 4 years before I felt like a new set was justified. A bit of high mids in the flat wound world is not all that bad. In a mix you want a flat that has some definition as well as some thunk. Stay with 'em bro!
B.
Edit: Rub them down with rubbing alcohol to get rid of the manufacturing residues & they'll feel better.
Chromes are my favorite string. I've loved everything about them, EXCEPT for the first month or so of their use. After that, they mellow out and get smoother. I have Chromes on all three basses; two broken-in, one brand-new, and I can't wait until the brightness and stickiness goes away. After that, it's perfect-string Heaven!
same strings different packaging. My understanding is EB flats are made by D'Addario.
I have Chromes on one of my MM SR basses and they have enough zing but still have the mellowness when you roll off the highs a bit.
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the TI flats are (of course) low tension. the super light gauge (ECB80) chromes have similar tension to the TI's. for me, the TI's are my favorite flats, but on certain basses of mine, i actually prefer light gauge chromes. i tried the new fender 9050L's today (also light gauge .040,.060,.080,.100) and they were brighter than both the TI's and the chromes. they also had quite a bit more tension and felt a bit too stiff so i went back to the chromes.
I think this thread is making me want to play some Chromes. 
On their own they may sound a little harsh or out-of-place, but you can hear on alot of recordings, especially on Youtube, how well they sit in a mix. Not surprising that there are so many gigging bassists who rave about them.
On their own they may sound a little harsh or out-of-place, but you can hear on alot of recordings, especially on Youtube, how well they sit in a mix. Not surprising that there are so many gigging bassists who rave about them.I think this thread is making me want to play some Chromes.
As another shameless promotion of chromes, here's some of my "overdubs" posted elsewhere.
(Fender P. w/ chromes 105-50 over CD music with it's bass removed)B.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f16/flatwounds-first-time-wow-754716/index5.html#post10884174
They do lose a bit of sheen but IMO still do retain a bit of bark. I was NOT happy with them on my 70's RI P bass. Check out my recent recordings on Link Removed and you might hear what I mean.
However......I've moved them on to my 51RI and they sound superb!
However......I've moved them on to my 51RI and they sound superb!
They sound great in a full mix, but I'm not digging that 'wooden floor creaking' sound you get when it's just you. I guess that's what you were talking about?
Yeah. This is what I'm talking about...
Link Removed
You can hear it pretty clearly in the intro ... and every so often through the track.
That's about 70% Walkabout DI, 30% miked DB112.
Trying to EQ the gank out now.
Link Removed
You can hear it pretty clearly in the intro ... and every so often through the track.
That's about 70% Walkabout DI, 30% miked DB112.
Trying to EQ the gank out now.
The do lose their stickiness (which indeed is an awful feeling) en their brillance (which is not exactly what one bought them for), but it takes quite some patience. I have the impression that they don't behave all the same way, but that could be related to the amount of time elapsed between their production and my playing them. D'Addario should put dates on them, like on milk bottles or so... I love them, but that could also been because the only other flats I've ever felt where (are) the stock flats on my Fender fretless Jazz...
What I THINK you are referring to is probably not the fault of the chromes. I am hearing a bit of "clack".
You have to keep in mind that flats have a much larger "footprint" on the fret than rounds. The round wound string touches the fret only with the pin point contact of the round winding. The flat touches with the whole width of the crowned fret. This means fretting accuracy is important. As well, you may have to adjust your attack location to slightly back of where it was when the problem occurred. It is a little more difficult to play flats WELL than rounds, which are pretty forgiving.
The chromes will accentuate mis-fretting because of the edge they have when new. The more highs you roll off - the less noticeable the mis-fret.
B.
Edit: I want to stress here that the mis-fretting I refer to is NOT related to finger pressure on the strings. It's the location behind the fret that is important. No big deal. With a bit more tension of most flats you are able to lower the action a bit and still get good playing comfort. Don't let this string stiffness issue scare you. It just requires getting familiar & adjusting setup a tad if it suits you. Chromes feel very good if you get your action comfy.
Mine took about 4-6 weeks to loose some of their shine. But they will always be a little brighter than other flatwounds. Great Strings though.... I absolutely adore mine.
