Do flatwound strings last forever?

[FretlessMainly]

Just had a conversation on this subject with my bass tech (Winchester, MA)...

You mean Jim Mouradian? If so, let me fix your post:

Just had a conversation on this subject with my bass wizard (Winchester, MA)...

 

[Ric5]

Do flatwound strings last forever?

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nope ... sometimes they break ...

 

[babaseen]

You mean Jim Mouradian? If so, let me fix your post:

Yes of course (regarding JM), and I am not referring to the OP's title for this thread because the answer is the exacto opposite if you haven't read thru the thread.

 

[Kzoo Detector]

I'm going on 5 years on my GHS chrome flats.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

Look up Phil Chen who played on Jeff Beck’ 1975 album “Blow by Blow. He played a 63 PBass with LaBella flats. In an early 2000s Bass Player magazine interview, he claimed to still have the original strings on the bass. They were over 40 years old then.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

No.
I eventually break down and switch them for something else.
I rarely ever throw away a flatwound string tho. I have a drawer full of them.

 

[michael_t]

I'm going on 5 years on my GHS chrome flats.

GHS = Precision Flats.

D'Addario = Chromes Flats.

 

[Kzoo Detector]

GHS = Precision Flats.

D'Addario = Chromes Flats.

Sorry... I meant GHS stainless flats.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

22 year old set of 760FM demoed from 5'00" —



So much to love

 

[Stan_da_man]

What's the break in period for brand new flats before they start to sound thuddy?

 

[4StringDave]

Wow . . . 37 years sounds like some kind of record. Do you clean them regularly?

I gotta say, I tried flats twice and found them very hard to play. They sounded great for sure, but the fingers on my right hand felt like they were sticking to the strings. actually impaired my playing... maybe it's just me.

I had that problem but either I got used to it, the strings wore in, or the fast fret did the trick...