Dunlop Flatwounds...

[Phaidrus]

Just imagine all the fun you can have mix and matching different gauges between the two sets. There are a few different combinations you can try and report back as to how they compare.

I will, for sure! If I go ahead and order the heavy set. Just edited my post above accordingly. Again, if this anything to go by, D'Addario and Ernie Ball do sell 50-70-85-105 sets that presumably work well. Do they?

 

[michael_t]

D'Addario and Ernie Ball do sell 50-70-85-105 sets that presumably work well. Do they?

I'm sure there is a reason for heavier G and D in traditional sets such as 45-65-80-100 and 50-70-85-105. My uneducated guess would be the basic design of the P bass with the split single-coil. The way the G/D half sits closer to the bridge than the E/A half, G and D would naturally be brighter and thinner in tone than E and A. One way to offset the inherent tonal imbalance is to beef up the G and D. Again, just a guess...

 

[Phaidrus]

Interesting demo of the Dunlop flats

 

[GIBrat51]

Not quite a zombie thread yet I think, but revisiting as I finally got some audio recorded of these Dunlop flats after being (well) broken in... only to find Talkbass had gone on hiatus! lol Good to see Talkbass is functional again.

After having Dunlop flats on my P bass for about 7 months now, I'm still really enjoying these flats on my Pbass. They still feel quite good, but as you'll hear in the audio samples, they're pretty broken in. Aside from a couple diversions here or there, my Precision has been my go-to bass for since I put these on. I've had a lot of personal practice time on them and a couple rehearsals as things slowly get started again.

Something about these flats on this bass is vibing with me quite a bit.

I like @Brad Easley's description of the Goldilocks Zone above... I haven't had the pleasure of trying Thomastiks (yet?), but these are definitely the nicest feeling flats I've played so far. They've mellowed quite nicely from new ("just right"), but still sound great and are pretty versatile. They don't have the zing of rounds of course, but I don't really feel like these have the "wet blanket over your sound" that I've gotten with other flats. I don't really feel like I couldn't use them in a variety of situations, and the rehearsals I've had this P bass to have been for a cover band that covers 80's to modern pop.

Dial the tone down at about half with some light drive for some really nice warmth, or add a little bit more drive with tone on full for a great pick sound. As Brad mentioned, they don't really seem to have lost the mids that help you get heard in a band situation.

Here are some samples of the broken in flats... original new string audio samples above.

Gauge: 45/125
2009 Fender MIA Precision Bass V
Recording path: Bass > Stomp (with some minor compression) > Cubase LE

Fingerstyle and palm mute samples have audio with the tone knob at 100% > 50% > 0%.
Pick sample has tone knob at 100%
(no drive in any samples, just the clean sound)

5sg.

Thanks a lot for the review - and, especially for the sound samples. I've been wondering what to replace the old set of Chromes that I transplanted to my G&L ASAT bass (out of curiosity) a year ago. I was pleasantly surprised by the Chromes, since I don't use D'Addario strings as a rule. The Chromes are... OK, but I think I just heard their replacements...

 

[Phaidrus]

Thanks a lot for the review - and, especially for the sound samples. I've been wondering what to replace the old set of Chromes that I transplanted to my G&L ASAT bass (out of curiosity) a year ago. I was pleasantly surprised by the Chromes, since I don't use D'Addario strings as a rule. The Chromes are... OK, but I think I just heard their replacements...

I'm into Dunlop flats at the moment (even ordered the 50110 set) but Chromes do sound fine in the right hands.

 

[Stan_da_man]

Bump! How do the Dunlop flats in 45-105 gauge compare to roundwounds in a similar gauge? Specifically tension and flexibility. Thanks.

 

[Brad Easley]

Bump! How do the Dunlop flats in 45-105 gauge compare to roundwounds in a similar gauge? Specifically tension and flexibility. Thanks.

They're more flexible and have less tension than most flats (e.g. Chromes), but they still have the flat-like feel. Not as loose feeling as TI flats, and definitely not like roundwounds.

 

[Stan_da_man]

They're more flexible and have less tension than most flats (e.g. Chromes), but they still have the flat-like feel. Not as loose feeling as TI flats, and definitely not like roundwounds.

That's what I thought - they wouldn't have that roundwound 'feel' with the bounce.

 

[bdplaid]

I just saw a set for $70! Wow, I used them when they were $35. I like them, but not $70 worth.

 

[michael_t]

I just saw a set for $70! Wow, I used them when they were $35. I like them, but not $70 worth.

I had the Dunlop Flats on my must-try list for a while till the price started creeping up rather drastically. I ended up with the Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Flats instead and couldn't be happier. Two sets for $60!

 

[bdplaid]

I had the Dunlop Flats on my must-try list for a while till the price started creeping up rather drastically. I ended up with the Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Flats instead and couldn't be happier. Two sets for $60!

I agree, the EB flats are great.

 

[Stan_da_man]

Anyone else have experience of coming from rounds to Dunlop flats - how was the tension difference in your experience?

 

[Brad Easley]

Anyone else have experience of coming from rounds to Dunlop flats - how was the tension difference in your experience?

I'll keep chiming in here. Dunlop flats are the only flats I've really liked long term. Right now, I've got Dunlops flats on my Pbass and rounds on my Jbass. The Dunlops are definitely flats in terms of feel and tension, but they have a more flexible, looser feel than most brands flats. I played Rotosound 77 flats for years before switching to the Dunlops, and they're definitely a lot more flexible than those. I think the difference is how tight the wraps are. The Dunlops seem to have a very tiny bit of space between wraps that give them more flexibility, where Chromes, 77s, etc. are tightly wrapped. Yhe Dunlops are also a bit brighter, at least for the first few months.

 

[Stan_da_man]

I'll keep chiming in here. Dunlop flats are the only flats I've really liked long term. Right now, I've got Dunlops flats on my Pbass and rounds on my Jbass. The Dunlops are definitely flats in terms of feel and tension, but they have a more flexible, looser feel than most brands flats. I played Rotosound 77 flats for years before switching to the Dunlops, and they're definitely a lot more flexible than those. I think the difference is how tight the wraps are. The Dunlops seem to have a very tiny bit of space between wraps that give them more flexibility, where Chromes, 77s, etc. are tightly wrapped. Yhe Dunlops are also a bit brighter, at least for the first few months.

Well I've taken the plunge... had lots of experience with GHS P Flats and Chromes and both of those were too stiff. Currently have 7250M strings on my Precision so tentatively waiting for the 45-105 Dunlop flats to arrive. I'm hoping they feel similar to the 7250s.

 

[HHudson]

I just saw a set for $70! Wow, I used them when they were $35. I like them, but not $70 worth.

Yupp, bought mine when they were about the same only last year. They are ca. 80€ (ca. $87 US) now on this side of the pond.

Like them, but the 2x+ price increase discouraged me from getting a backup set when I was looking this year...

Exploring different options. The EB Group Stainless are on the list to try. The EB Cobalt Flats are interesting and I like them, but not really what I'm looking for with flats..

The more reasonable Fender 9050's are in the same family as the Dunlops - Fenders = more mids & growl. I also used Roto 77LDs (45-105/130) as well for years, also not too far off after they have mellowed, but less flexible (don't mind) & higher pulling tension (214.41 lbs for the 4 string and 255.54 lbs for the 5 according to RS) which some necks do not appreciate. Have not tried the lighter RS77 Hybrids (40-100).

 

[winston]

I recently put a 40-100 set on my Momose 70s J style ash/rosewood bass. They are breaking in nicely, but like most flats I've tried besides Chromes and TI, the G string is significantly brighter and I'm not fond of the waxy lumpy silk at the ball end. I was able to intonate them but just barely (couldn't have gone a mm more in the right direction), the saddles are completely the reverse of what I usually see (the E is closest to neck, G is farthest). They have a good quick transient response like DR Legends without having the super percussive thump of LaBella Deep Talkin' Flats. They replaced some 40-100 DR Pure Blues Nickel Rounds which sounded absolutely fantastic on this bass, may go back to them eventually.

Also the price is high but not quite a deal breaker. I live about 20 minutes from the Jim Dunlop HQ, maybe I oughta go dumpster diving there someday.

 

[srosenthal13]

Also the price is high but not quite a deal breaker. I live about 20 minutes from the Jim Dunlop HQ, maybe I oughta go dumpster diving there someday.

When I saw their address, I thought the same thing.

I just put some DBFS45105M flats on my CV Jaguar. Happy to see they fit just right on a 32 inch scale. I did have to trim the ball-end silks to get metal-on-metal with the saddles. Not sure it matters, but it seemed like the right thing to do.

My only exerience with flats has been LaBella. No complaints, but just want to see what other options there are in what seems like a limited field.

 

[Stan_da_man]

Installed a couple days ago and wow... loving these flats and I normally can't stand flatwounds!

I was using 7250M strings and switched to the 45-105 Dunlops. Very minimal adjustments required. Truss rod did not need touching. Will see how I get on at rehearsal but very impressed so far.

 

[Mike Vee]

I just installed these on a new-to-me 3 band 2014 Stingray SLO Special that was sounding thin and generic with the usual suspects (Cobalt flats, TI, Chromes, Pressurewounds). I almost gave up and put it back on Reverb but for some reason I wanted to try Dunlops flats.

This bass isn't going anywhere now. Sounds phenomenal. Perfect 70s Stingray tone. MASSIVE attack, and the FATTEST E ever. Still has that stingray growl, too. Amazing! This is an excellent choice for Stingrays. Much better than Cobalt flats, if I do say so (if you want a slightly warmer tone and more flexibility).

The have that matte silver look and feel, like Fender/Chromes but are more flexible, no metallic overtones, and DEEP/warm. They remind me of Ernie Ball group flats, but slightly more flexible. I'd say slightly less flexible or about the same as Chromes super lights. Nowhere near LTF or TI IMO. They are HEX.

This bass needs a shim to get lower though. I ordered some from EBMM and they arrive next week. Then I will really be able to judge them. I am sure they will be ever sweeter when I get them down to 2 or 3/64ths.

 

[FeltTipPen]

I just installed these yesterday on a fretless Tobias Growler and I love them! This active bass has a specific Bartolini pickup and it is a bright bass. I had GHS Pressurewounds and while I like the strings (nice feel) it was not a good match. Way too bright and I couldn't really dial the treble back enough on the bass and the amp without it sounding unpleasant.

The Dunlops though? Just as Mike Vee described above. Massive. And I had read someone else's description that it was a chameleon string. Nice big reggae sound and great rock tone with the treble up. Lots of low end and balances this bass out well.

And the price was high but well worth it!