Dunlop SS Flats to TI Flats & Back

[Phaidrus]

In that post I was referring to the 45-105 Dunlop set that I have. The bottom half when referring to LaBellas was that I just can't seem to make them sound good even though I think they sound good when I hear others play them. I recently purchased the Dunlop 40-100 set again to give them another go. Like them but ended up putting the 45-105 back on. I'm not 100% convinced that Dunlop didn't change their formula a bit in some way on the flats because the 40-100 set did seem to break in a little different but it's been a while since I've played that set. May have to pick up a 45-105 set and break them in so I can A/B them. Overall for me though I don't feel like the dunlops lack anything at all. I do feel that way when I play more traditional sets like LaBellas.

When it comes to traditional sounding flats I like the GHS P Flats closely followed by an old set of DR Legends that I have. I've tried time and time again to get along with LaBella but they always end up coming off in favor of either the Dunlops or TIs. The only set of LaBellas that were kind of a revelation for me were the FX set. Still had plenty of tension on them and even worked great on a blues project that tunes a half step down. To me it's got the best sounding E string out of the LaBella sets. Oddly my next favorite set of LaBellas was the Jamerson set. Hi tension but sound great. I found the FL and FS sets to just be "Ok" and both were pretty high tension. All that said...if you want a little more girth and thump to your sound and are already a Dunlop fan... I think you'd like the the 50-110 set. They play in the same ball park tension wise of the LaBella FL/FS sets.

Learning by doing I've come to the conclusion, that finding the right flats set is, at least for me, much more tricky than finding the right rounds set. Looks like your experience consolidates mine. At the moment and after numerous trials on my Pbass as well as watching many demo videos I think I like the tone/timbre/character of the Dunlop best. The have a pillowy thing going on that surrounds the note that prevents the tone from becoming edgy or growly, which is most welcome for reggae-dub. The low tension is also very welcome. Just ordered the 50110 set and will first try a 50-70-85-105 combo as I'm happy with the 85A and 105E. I suppose I am a Dunlop fan.

 

[uwrossl]

Learning by doing I've come to the conclusion, that finding the right flats set is, at least for me, much more tricky than finding the right rounds set. Looks like your experience consolidates mine. At the moment and after numerous trials on my Pbass as well as watching many demo videos I think I like the tone/timbre/character of the Dunlop best. The have a pillowy thing going on that surrounds the note that prevents the tone from becoming edgy or growly, which is most welcome for reggae-dub. The low tension is also very welcome. Just ordered the 50110 set and will first try a 50-70-85-105 combo as I'm happy with the 85A and 105E. I suppose I am a Dunlop fan.

Let me know how you like the hybrid set up. I have both sets on hand and may give it a try. In my trials I tested somewhere between 15-20 sets between different brands and different gauges within some of those brands. It was Dunlops and TIs that did it for me over and over. Versatile and great tone. Just enough modern and just enough vintage. Wasn't really even close for any of the others.

 

[Phaidrus]

Let me know how you like the hybrid set up. I have both sets on hand and may give it a try. In my trials I tested somewhere between 15-20 sets between different brands and different gauges within some of those brands. It was Dunlops and TIs that did it for me over and over. Versatile and great tone. Just enough modern and just enough vintage. Wasn't really even close for any of the others.

Will do. Yes Dunlop flats are great strings for all the reasons mentioned above, also for the robust silks that don't fray so easy. In case you try the 50-70-85-105 set before I do (it'll take a while till the ordered set arrives), let me know what you think about it.

 

[Phaidrus]

Learning by doing I've come to the conclusion, that finding the right flats set is, at least for me, much more tricky than finding the right rounds set. Looks like your experience consolidates mine. At the moment and after numerous trials on my Pbass as well as watching many demo videos I think I like the tone/timbre/character of the Dunlop best. The have a pillowy thing going on that surrounds the note that prevents the tone from becoming edgy or growly, which is most welcome for reggae-dub. The low tension is also very welcome. Just ordered the 50110 set and will first try a 50-70-85-105 combo as I'm happy with the 85A and 105E. I suppose I am a Dunlop fan.

Revisiting my post some four years later. After the Dunlops I tried a number of other flats, including LaBella and Fender but as of yesterday I'm back with Dunlop, I put back on the exact same set (DBFS45105) I took off some years ago. Low tension, smooth tone, I like them!

 

[lastminute]

I discovered Dunlop flats recently as well as like them for the exact same reasons as OP does. My perfect blend of modern and vintage.

 

[Paul New]

Just a FYI: TI flats do indeed go dead. You just have to be patient! 20 years is not that long!

 

[GIBrat51]

So for the longest time I used (and loved) Dunlop Stainless Steel Flat-wounds.
I then got a custom D. Lakin 5734 with TI Flats.
I initially didn't like the TI's as they were so much different from what I was used to.
By that I mean lower tension, brighter sounding etc.
Over time I really grew to appreciate the TI's.
They are super easy on your fretting hand and fingers (if you play fingerstyle) and seemingly never go dark/dead.

However, that was the one thing I missed about the Dunlop's. Sure, they are brighter than I want when they are new, but once they mellow they are EXACTLY what I want a flat to sound like when I completely roll the tone off.

Anyway, I just put a new set of Dunlop's on and I don't believe I'll be going back to the TI's. Once again, its a bit of an apples to oranges thing, but I'm definitely a Dunlop SS flat-wound guy.

Hey... no shame in that. While I do use TIJFs, they're only on one of the 24 basses I own - that wear flats. On the bass they're on ('95 Alembic Epic), and for what I play with it (finger-picked Jazz), I've never found better flats. But, for most of what I like to play - and play with a pick? Sorry, but... they're not at all suitable...
Dunlop Flats? They're only on one bass, too, but - I'd never tried them before, so... gotta start somewhere. They came on my 30" scale Serek Sacramento Bass last year. Seemed like a good time to try them, so I specified them. And I'm glad I did. They suit that short scale bass - with dual Bisonic pickups - pretty darn well. I honestly can't think of any other short scale flats that would sound better enough, to warrant replacing them. So, until they simply... die? There they'll stay...