Does anyone other than Thomastik-Infeld make a nickel flatwound round core for 5 string?

[carlo27]

The title pretty much says it all. I know there are a handful of manufacturers that make a nickel flatwound bass string with a round core but this is the only 5 string set I could find, wondering if anyone knows of any others. These are pretty pricey but I'm tempted. Anyone have any experience with these or know of alternatives?

 

[ardgedee]

Optima makes round-core nickle flats. Your profile doesn't say where you are -- if you're in the US, I'll add that I couldn't find a US retailer with them in stock so you might want to directly contact a strings specialist that already sells Optima products to ask if they can special order it. (I suspect the answer will be "hopefully eventually".) If you're not in the US, access should be easier.

Dogal makes stranded-core nickle flats, but if the TI Jazz Flats are difficult to afford, forget I mentioned these

The TI Jazz strings have a lot of loyal fans here. Do a quick search and you'll find plenty of threads about them. My take is that the initial purchase price is high but they'll last considerably longer than most strings, which can make them cost-effective over the long term.

 

[Motown971]

I use DR Pure Blues 40-120

 

[michael_t]

I use DR Pure Blues 40-120

Those are rounds, not flats.

 

[coreyfyfe]

Pyramid gold flats are round core as well as far as I know. I believe all their round wound strings are listed on their website as hex core, I couldn't find mention on the website here about round core for the golds, but have found references elsewhere to them being round core. Not sure I've seen them in 5 string though?

PYRAMID maximum performance strings - Bass, Beatle Bass Collection, PYRAMID Gold - Chrome Nickel Flat Wound, Short Scale, CAVERN BEATLES, Medium Scale, Long Scale, 4-Saiter Long Scale, 5-Saiter Long Scale, 6-Saiter Long

pyramid-saiten.de

 

[Mario Ed]

I use TI jazz flats on my Lakland Skyline 55-01 and really like them. The 35” scale helps with the B string sounding good. While they are expensive they do have a very long life. I had used them before on 4 string basses and like the feel and sound so getting a set for my 5 string wasn’t too hard a decision to make.

 

[carlo27]

Thanks yall. The TI Jazz Flats still seem to be the only ones I can find that fit all the criteria:
- flat wound
- round core
- nickel
- come in 5 string sets

I may spring for them eventually. Thanks for all the info!

 

[Tim Skaggs]

Thanks yall. The TI Jazz Flats still seem to be the only ones I can find that fit all the criteria:
- flat wound
- round core
- nickel
- come in 5 string sets

I may spring for them eventually. Thanks for all the info!

Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats don’t meet all your criteria, but they are magic strings as far as I’m concerned. They are hex core, but not stiff strings. They are cobalt alloy rather than nickel which probably adds to their brightness, but they are flats and they do come in 5 string sets.

They sound more like rounds than flats with the tone wide open. They sound like flats with the tone roll off. I believe they can be purchased for significantly less $$ than the TIJFs. I’ve played both TIJFs and EBCFs and I’ll pick the EBCFs 10 out of 10 times over the TIJFs.

Just an option.

 

[ardgedee]

I believe they can be purchased for significantly less $$ than the TIJFs.

Going by Sweetwater's listings this evening, almost all 5-string sets of flats are going to run $55-65, with LaBella Super Polished (technically ground wound, flat-ish rather than flat) at the low end ($45) and TI JF at the high end ($130). Specialty retailers can knock some of those prices down a bit and if you're not in a hurry it's worth getting on these stores' mailing lists and waiting until they have a sale that works for you. Assuming OP lives in the US. If they don't, they should buy from Thomann and ignore this thread, the European string brands are considerably cheaper from them.

I've never tried Cobalt Flats and want to -- but dropping $65 for an experiment when I'm already pretty happy with what I have is not going to happen for a while.

 

[zombywoof5050]

E-Bass FLATWOUND STRINGS Satz, 5-string, Low B

.045 .060 .080 .100 .125 Reinnickel-Flachdraht umsponnen (Pure Nickel Flat Wound); Hexagonalkern - Die OPTIMA FLATWOUND STRINGS werden mit einem…

optima-strings.com

Edit: Sorry, I guess they are hexcore, didn't notice at first but decided to leave it here anyway.

 

[pbass2]

Well, this is TB, so while they don't tick all your boxes, I'll suggest lookin at DR Legends. Not nickel but are round core. I use the five string set and really dig 'em FWIW (and I'm otherwise a die hard Labella guy). The difference between hex and round core I find more of a factor than steel vs nickel in a flat. I also was surprised how much I like the 125 B string, having always sworn by at least 130. It's a super clear, even sounding set.

 

[winston]

I was going to say pretty much the same, out of all the flats I've tried DR Legends remind me of the best of TI Flats but are more responsive for slapping, tapping and aggressive picking. I also agree on the B being "Legendary", it's literally one of the best B strings I've used, round or flat, especially on basses that are finicky with low Bs.

Well, this is TB, so while they don't tick all your boxes, I'll suggest lookin at DR Legends. Not nickel but are round core. I use the five string set and really dig 'em FWIW (and I'm otherwise a die hard Labella guy). The difference between hex and round core I find more of a factor than steel vs nickel in a flat. I also was surprised how much I like the 125 B string, having always sworn by at least 130. It's a super clear, even sounding set.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

Optima makes round-core nickle flats. Your profile doesn't say where you are -- if you're in the US, I'll add that I couldn't find a US retailer with them in stock so you might want to directly contact a strings specialist that already sells Optima products to ask if they can special order it. (I suspect the answer will be "hopefully eventually".) If you're not in the US, access should be easier.

Dogal makes stranded-core nickle flats, but if the TI Jazz Flats are difficult to afford, forget I mentioned these

The TI Jazz strings have a lot of loyal fans here. Do a quick search and you'll find plenty of threads about them. My take is that the initial purchase price is high but they'll last considerably longer than most strings, which can make them cost-effective over the long term.

The Optima Chrome flats in your link are fantastic strings, but they are hex core.

Optima RB flats (a sort of reissue of the Maxima strings used by Rickenbacker back in the day) are round core, but no 5-string sets available.

Both of them are very different from TI flats, although the round core RBs are at least a little bit closer.

 

[TomB]

One suggestion you didn’t ask for: I’d try an inexpensive.136 B string out to make sure it will cooperate with your bass. A string that heavy can be challenging to mount through the bridge and in some cases difficult to intonate, depending on your set-up, IME. Also, I’m curious why nickel? Flats don’t demonstrate the drastic difference in tone that rounds do between nickel and stainless. Some of the warmest flats available (once broken in) are stainless wrap.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

Are Pyramid Golds pure nickel? Pyramid describe them as Chrome-Nickel. Is that basically the same as pure nickel? I've seen them described as pure nickel by dealers and they certainly have a sort of "pure nickel tone" to my ears.

Pyramid Golds are normally hex core of course, but I know they've offered GUITAR Golds as both hex core and round core. Pyramid have excellent customer service, and will make custom sets on request. Maybe you could contact them about a custom made round core set of 5-string bass Golds? They have a Custom Shop option on their website, which will bring you to a contact form where you can explain what you're looking for. If it is technically possible, they WILL do it for you, and at VERY reasonable prices for a custom set. Pyramid's customer service is outstanding!

Or you could send them an email. Maybe this would easier if you don't speak German, because their website seems to be only in German at the moment (or rather, as strange mix of English and German...). I could swear the website used to have an options for English, but I can't find it anymore.

However, I think it is VERY important to understand that no other strings will sound or feel like TI flats, and certainly not Pyramid Golds. TI Flats are all about clarity, sustain and a lovely upper mid presence. Pyramid Golds are all about thump and "that 60s tone". TI flats are very unique strings. You can't expect other flats to sound/feel even remotely like TIs just because they're pure nickel. That's not gonna happen. Like them or not, no other strings will sound or feel like TI flats. If you want the tone/feel of TI flats, you will have to get TI flats. If you for some reason simply want pure nickel flats, maybe it could be worth contacting Pyramid about a custom made, round core set of 5-strings Golds.

Be aware that with the Pyramid Golds there's also the matter of the "dead" E-string. This isn't a problem with the short scale sets where the E-string is .100 (the short scale Golds are one of my favorite strings in ANY category) but the .105 E-string in the long scale sets is noticeable duller/thumpier than the other strings. As much as I love the short scale Pyramid Golds, I've never really liked them on long scale basses. The tone, feel and tension is too unbalanced across the strings for my taste with the long scale sets. I have never tested Golds on a 5-string bass, but I have a feeling the "dead E-string syndrome" might be even worse on the B-string.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

Pyramid gold flats are round core as well as far as I know. I believe all their round wound strings are listed on their website as hex core, I couldn't find mention on the website here about round core for the golds, but have found references elsewhere to them being round core. Not sure I've seen them in 5 string though?

PYRAMID maximum performance strings - Bass, Beatle Bass Collection, PYRAMID Gold - Chrome Nickel Flat Wound, Short Scale, CAVERN BEATLES, Medium Scale, Long Scale, 4-Saiter Long Scale, 5-Saiter Long Scale, 6-Saiter Long

pyramid-saiten.de

5-string sets are available, but I'm pretty sure the standard sets are hex core. Round core sets might be available on request though. The guitar Golds have definitely been available as both hex and round core.

I do remember reading somewhere that the E-string in the long scale sets is round core, but I have never been able to confirm this. If true, it can certainly explain the difference in tone/feel between the E-string and the other strings with the long scale sets. But like I said, I have never been able to confirm this.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

One more thing about the 5-string TI Jazz Flats:

I'm mostly a 4-string player, and I don't use 5-strings basses unless the situation absolutely requires it. My main complaint about 5-string basses has always been the rather different timbre of the B-string. The ONLY 5-string set I've tried (so far) where I haven't found this to be a problem is actually the TI flats. They are tonally the nicest balanced 5-string set I've ever played.

But like I said, I mostly play 4-string, so take my opinions on B-strings with a grain of salt.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats don’t meet all your criteria, but they are magic strings as far as I’m concerned. They are hex core, but not stiff strings. They are cobalt alloy rather than nickel which probably adds to their brightness, but they are flats and they do come in 5 string sets.

They sound more like rounds than flats with the tone wide open. They sound like flats with the tone roll off. I believe they can be purchased for significantly less $$ than the TIJFs. I’ve played both TIJFs and EBCFs and I’ll pick the EBCFs 10 out of 10 times over the TIJFs.

Just an option.

They are great strings if you want brighter flats with a round wound-ish tone and a flatwound feel. But they are VERY different from TI flats and shouldn't be considered as an alternative to TI flats IMO.

But then again, I could say the same about ANY other flats. TI flats are unique. They are also quite expensive, but if you want the tone/feel of TI flats, there really are no other options that will get you even remotely close.

 

[pbass2]

I was going to say pretty much the same, out of all the flats I've tried DR Legends remind me of the best of TI Flats but are more responsive for slapping, tapping and aggressive picking. I also agree on the B being "Legendary", it's literally one of the best B strings I've used, round or flat, especially on basses that are finicky with low Bs.

I think there's something to the 125B vs a heavier B, for that string-to-string tonal consistency we all look for. As I say I always thought I needed a 130 at least. But the Legends for me are super clear and even, all the way down to the low low notes. The bass is a big factor too of course-I have them on a Kiloton with a MM-position pickup - but nonetheless, I think the lighter B is a factor. I was tracking with that bass recently on a tune with a bunch of low C's in it, and man, upon playback you almost wouldn't realize I was "down there" it was so seamless sounding. None of that "oh, there he goes hittin the B string!" phenomenon

 

[Tim Skaggs]

EB Cobalt Flats $45

Amazon.com

TI Jazz flats $103
Amazon.com