Very much so, but I wouldn't call them "grindy."
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Dunlop vs. Fender Flatwounds?
- Thread starter Brent's Groove
- Start date
This is one of the things that sort of turned me off of the Dunlops. The other thing was how fragile they were. If you play hard, they do get worn by the frets quickly and get indented. I will say this though, they feel fantastic. They are flexible, and very smooth. Tonally the Dunlops remind me of GHS Precision Flats but with a bit more mids.
I am currently using Fender flats on my main axe(modified Road Worn P with a Novak pickup), and they work for everything on that bass. They have this great sounding low mid growl and a clarity that really sit well in a mix. I still prefer Labella DTF's for recording.
The truth is you really need to try them all out to see what works on your bass/play style, tonal goals etc.
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I gigged Fender 9050's for some years. They do what the OP is looking for, growl without clank, and is why I gigged them at the time. The only two sets available are the 9050L's 45-60-80-100 and the 9050M's. But they do the job.
I tried the Dunlops, and to me they didn't have that character.
I tried the Dunlops, and to me they didn't have that character.
I always try to respect the OP's specific request...
Fender = more "grindy" than "growly" (to my ears), though it can growl if pushed hard enough on a right bass (= J-style). They can start out rather annoyingly bright and "clangy" when new, but eventually settle into a nice full-bodied low mind grind (= purrr...). Their midrange character seemed to suit my J bass better than my P. More punch than thump.
Dunlop = no personal experience with them. Based on everything I've read, they're slightly more "polite and refined" than the Fender with smoother mids. Semi-modern in their overall character with roundwound-like sustain, but they can thump once broken-in.
The biggest difference between the two is stiffness/flexibility. The Dunlop is more supple-feeling due to the thinner core wire used. Dunlop 45-105 would be closer to Fender 45-100 in overall playing feel.
(I personally prefer the black silk on the Dunlop than the green one on the Fender.)
I've got a bass each with both, and while I do prefer Dunlops currently, I have to say the Fenders are waay growlier. Also, Michael's post is spot on, even if he claims no experience with Dunlops. One thing I differ about, I would actually call Fender flats growly more than grindy. Have had this set for about 20 months now and they still sound more round-like than Dunlops at 3 months, while still being unmistakably flatwound. Being a bit stiffer, I find they handle heavier playing better, too. Probably the most versatile string set I've tried (even if I prefer Dunlops for most of my own playing).
Interesting but also confusing as regards the tension of the DR Legend. Some people say they're high tension, some say they're low tension (for flats), some say they're medium tension... I'd like to try them out but only if their tension is not high. Not higher than the Fender 9050L, for example, that are currently on my Pbass. I do like them and they're still only about a month old, but I'd like something warmer, rounder. Their tension is on the low side for flats, I think. Maybe I should just give them some more time.
5 years late to the party, so I'm sure you've found the answer to your question? If not, the Legends are higher tension/stiffer then the 9050L.
Recentry I made a video about FenderFlats. I am very positively surprised by how they sound and feel.
Thanks for replying, it's been a while... I suppose you're right, Legends are higher tension and stiffer than the 9050L. I had the heavy 9050M set on my Pbass for a couple of years but they were rather stiff and tiresome to play so I switched back to Dunlop flats, which must be the lowest tension 45-105 flats set around. Flexible too and tone is quite versatile and probably somewhat warmer than the 9050. That said, tone in your @_Obra_ video above is so good!
I'm a Dunlop 45-105 flats user myself. Those are my favourite flats period. Great warmth, tone, and flexible too. Exactly as you said. Dunlop for the win!
They are a great flat. Probably my 2nd favorite after Dunlops. If I couldn't get Dunlops I'd happily use Fender 9050L
Well...
To be Honest? Nobody I can recall, has ever really defined what "growl" means. To most people's satisfaction, anyhow. And, from what they have said? It seems like something you'd get from rounds, not flats. However...
- Fender 9050 Flats. The only ones I've ever used, are the 9050L's, but I've used them on at least 4 of my 30 basses over the last 20 years. Honestly? Never heard anything I'd call 'growly' tones... I currently have them on a '98 Dano DC59 Pro,and a '15 G&L Tom Hamilton Signature ASAT Bass (which has non-standard, "Hamiltone" pickups). Their tone? They actually sound an awful lot like the TI Jazz Flats on my '95 Alembic Epic, but without the harmonic overtones that TIJF's have. Very middle-of-the-road - but very useful - flat wound tone...
- Dunlop Flats. The only Dunlop strings I've used are the DBFS45105's that came on my '24 Serek 30" Sacramento Bass. Since it's a thru-body only bass, I'm not sure whether they're the short or medium scale ones... Physically? They're a little stiffer than my 9050L's, but whether that's the different scale or the different gauge, I can't say. Tone-wise? Definitely more on the "darker side" than the 9050L's, but definitely not into La Bella "old school thump" territory. And, again; no tones I'd call "growly"; just a short scale bass with Darkstar Bisonic pickups - and flats...
Oh... as for DR Legends? I use them, too. I've had a set of their short scale Legends on my '82 headless, aluminum-necked Kramer "The Duke" Deluxe for about 7 years, now. I don't know about the actual, pounds of pull-to-pitch tension, but... yeah, they're pretty darn stiff. Which is fine with me; been playing stiff flats for decades. The main reason I like them on the Duke? Their stiffness is very similar, and their tone is a dead ringer, to the old 50-107 GHS Bass Boomers that the bass came to me with. I would have replaced them with another set when the old ones died, but... my fingers just can't deal with round wound strings, any more. The Legends were the perfect replacement. If "growl" has anything to do with rattling your fillings loose? Then those strings definitely have it...
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