Dunlop Flats, Short Scale, 100 vs 105

[JKos]

Hello,
I put a set of 45-105 Dunlop Flats on my new short scale bass. I am finding the 105 E string inconsistent with the other strings. The A, D, and G string are much more lively. The E string is kinda not as lively and darker in tone.

Has anyone gone from a 105 to a 100 Dunlop Flats short scale? If so, what tone changes did you observe?

I have 40-100 Dunlop Flats on a 34” scale bass and the string to string balance in tone is excellent.

 

[jallenbass]

Same experience here with the Dunlop 45-105s on my Bronco. I don't remember why I didn't try the 40-100s but I now have LaBella 45-105s on it and they're perfect.

 

[JKos]

Thanks, @jallenbass. Bummer. They are so well matched on my 34” bass.

 

[GIBrat51]

If you just put them on the bass? Assuming nothing is twisted, and you've set the witness points - on the saddles and the nut? Then, you are experiencing the "dull/dead E, bright ADG" phenomenon. Which, in my 50+ years experience - with more kinds of flats than I care to think about - is, unfortunately, pretty common. I don't have any idea why flats do this - I don't think anybody does; and if they do, they ain't tellin'. The only thing you can do - other than yank them off, and go back to rounds - is to just play the snot out of them, and break them in. The E string will brighten up, and the other strings will get darker/duller. At the point where they equal out? They are now broken in, and there they'll stay for a good long while - if you take care of them. Some flats are awful about this; with others, it's hardly noticeable. Some take seemingly forever to break in and even out; some seem OK, 5 minutes after you install them. Which ones are going to annoy you, and which ones won't? That comes with experience, I'm afraid... If you want to play flats? Sorry, but this kind of thing is the dues you have to pay...