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Dunlop Flatwounds premiering at NAMM
- Thread starter JimmyM
- Start date
Nice. Would love singles but that's a great start.
Thank you Jason.
Well, after a year and a half of experimenting w/ flats I find Dunlop Flats to be the best: tone by itself, the way they sound while slapping and their sonic characteristic after a few months of intense playing are above all expectations. Chromes get dull way too fast, EB Cobalt Flats lack something in bottom - while Dunlops seem to fit all my needs) Looking forward on buying Thomastiks one day (when I become crazy rich, I suppose) just to add them to my comparison list)
Have to agree, Val. The Dunlops are by far my favorite flats, and I've tried the Thomastiks already 
I just put a set of these on my bass. Loving the feel of the strings.
A couple questions. With the nickel-wound strings, I always made a 90 degree bend at the end of the sting and then cut the string off just past the bend and then inserted the end in the tuning key. I tried it with the flatwound and the black thread unraveled because of the 90 degree bend. I then tried it without the 90 degree bend, and the black thread still unraveled. Are you all able to cut the string without unraveling the thread?
Also, any idea on the tension of these compared to the D'Addario EXL170 strings (35 - 48 lbs tension from the D'Addario site)? I could not find a tension chart for these flatwounds.
A couple questions. With the nickel-wound strings, I always made a 90 degree bend at the end of the sting and then cut the string off just past the bend and then inserted the end in the tuning key. I tried it with the flatwound and the black thread unraveled because of the 90 degree bend. I then tried it without the 90 degree bend, and the black thread still unraveled. Are you all able to cut the string without unraveling the thread?
Also, any idea on the tension of these compared to the D'Addario EXL170 strings (35 - 48 lbs tension from the D'Addario site)? I could not find a tension chart for these flatwounds.
No. At least not in my limited experience with the strings.
I ordered 1 set for my Sterling 5 and the G broke in the tuner. No biggie. They sent me 2 replacement sets and I shelved them. Fast forward to yesterday when I attempted to install one of the new sets on my Sterling Classic and broke the G string in the tuner. Hmm. Ok. I have one Dunlop G string left, I'll use it. While bringing it up to tune and the G breaks in the tuner.
Sorry Dunlop. I can't use or reccommend your flats.
That's quite odd. I would think the post on the Sterling is high up enough to where it wouldn't break.
Have to agree, Val. The Dunlops are by far my favorite flats, and I've tried the Thomastiks already
I did the opposite - had Dunlops on my 5er Precision, and found them to be too boomy, covering the mids too much. Back to TIs now, these magic mids are there again.
Could be the specific bass though, which just didn't pair up well with the Dunlops.
I've been using these strings for 4 months on my P Bass and its the first time I've been truly happy with my tone, I just plug in and it sounds good, I don't have to think about it or tweak. All the strings are really well balanced both tonally and feelwise. Also when new they sound like the best roundwounds you ever heard but 4 months in they have settled into a really nice place, a nice amount of thump but still clear with it, with a clear E and a warm G. I'm interested to put them on my Jazz as well as its a bass I've always struggled with tonally.
I highly recommend them.
I highly recommend them.
(These are now available in Short and Medium scale in both 4-String and 5-string sets)
Lots of comments about how they sound but not really much about how they are in a dense mix. Can anyone elaborate on the Dunlop flats' ability to provide solid support but at the same time be clearly heard in a loud busy mix? Also, any more info on how they sound slapped? And can anyone compare their overall experience between these and Sadowsky black label flats? I know thats asking a lot, just thought someone might have been through this.
Theres a good review of these on here and the OP says they have a good slap tone. I saw someone else saying they had a fairly similar tone to Sad Blacks, although these will be a bit less tension. I think they sit pretty well in a busy mix, not too low and not too out front. They are a middle ground flat somewhere inbetween Labella's and Chromes. They are also very EQ'able and fairly versatile, especially when new.
Does being in an eight-piece band with horns count as a dense mix? If so, then I can vouch for these strings. And of course when they go dead, they get more of a dead slap sound, but I loved it. The only reason I don't use the more often is because everybody in my band with an opinion favors rounds.
Look at that...a bass player that listens to his band mates opinions and is accepting of their input without starting a thread to cry about it. Take note, folks.
I'm not a slapper but I just did a quick bit on them and while the strings are fairly mellow with fingerstyle theres still a fair bit of brightness when slapped and popped, in a very pleasing warm way. A bit brighter but in the same zone as Larry Grahams tone on the Sly and the Family Stones "Thank You..."
Nearly forever. I have a few sets, but have over time broken g strings on 2 sets from restringing on other basses too often. I can never leave well enough alone I guess. So I'm on a quest to find something similar, for when my stash is used up, as well as always on a quest for tone improvement.
