Hi.
I've used several models of flatwound strings from Fender, Pyramid, La Bella, D'Addario, TI and so on ..
Recently, several threads were created talking about the qualities of Dunlop DBFS flatwound strings, especially when compared to the, seemingly, more expensive TI JF344.
I then decided to buy a set of these strings and I put in a jazz bass on mine.
The strings are smoother than Chromes and, probably, slightly smoother than TI JF344.
As somebody else pointed out already, the strings are provided with an excellent plastic wrapping at both ends of each string, which is sufficiently elastic to prevent from cracking or delaminating when used multiple times, which is substantially better than those loose silk ends which leave the bare steel exposed.
These are stainless steel flatwound strings; I don't know whether their core is hexagonal or round but they are definitely characterised by a substantially higher tension than TU JF344, which they are usually compared to in terms of overall performances .. these for me is not exactly a positive feature as I was personally looking for a, possibly, cheaper alternative to TI JF344.
For what concerns the strings' tone and playability, well, they are extremely "zingy", forget about warm vintage tones with these strings IMO.
They sound too much metallic for my taste, more than Fender flats for instance; I don't know how much time it will take to them to settle but what should I do? Asking somebody else to play the bass until this condition is achieved?
Honestly speaking, it's too early to express a final judgement on these strings (I put them on yesterday) but, so far, I wasn't totally positively impressed by them, and, in absolute, they are far away from being considered an alternative to the magnificent TI JF344.
I've used several models of flatwound strings from Fender, Pyramid, La Bella, D'Addario, TI and so on ..
Recently, several threads were created talking about the qualities of Dunlop DBFS flatwound strings, especially when compared to the, seemingly, more expensive TI JF344.
I then decided to buy a set of these strings and I put in a jazz bass on mine.
The strings are smoother than Chromes and, probably, slightly smoother than TI JF344.
As somebody else pointed out already, the strings are provided with an excellent plastic wrapping at both ends of each string, which is sufficiently elastic to prevent from cracking or delaminating when used multiple times, which is substantially better than those loose silk ends which leave the bare steel exposed.
These are stainless steel flatwound strings; I don't know whether their core is hexagonal or round but they are definitely characterised by a substantially higher tension than TU JF344, which they are usually compared to in terms of overall performances .. these for me is not exactly a positive feature as I was personally looking for a, possibly, cheaper alternative to TI JF344.
For what concerns the strings' tone and playability, well, they are extremely "zingy", forget about warm vintage tones with these strings IMO.
They sound too much metallic for my taste, more than Fender flats for instance; I don't know how much time it will take to them to settle but what should I do? Asking somebody else to play the bass until this condition is achieved?
Honestly speaking, it's too early to express a final judgement on these strings (I put them on yesterday) but, so far, I wasn't totally positively impressed by them, and, in absolute, they are far away from being considered an alternative to the magnificent TI JF344.
] and interesting, if I may so put it, and, as already said, they have more punch, which is good for dub. And, again, they are almost normal rounds tension and flexibility, which makes playing them a joy. Just keep playing them until they get there. They will! PS. I keep the tone knob ⅓ open and have a .82 cap on the Pbass. PS2. I can pretty much nail the Robbie Shakespeare tone, which he however gets with Jbass-type basses and DR Legend strings, if that says anything about the Pbass-Dunlops combination.
