ECB-80 vs. ECB 81 Chromes......

[ZenG]

ECB-80 D-addarios are a bit lighter gauge than their ECB-81's........(flatwounds).

Have you tried the ECB-80's as a replacement for the 81's?
If so..

Brighter?
Darker?
Same?
Better playability?
Buzz issues?
No Buzz issues?

Was it an improvement for you?

 

[michael_t]

Have you tried the ECB-80's as a replacement for the 81's?

I've always hated the traditional 45-65-80-100 sets as the G & D tend to be a lot tighter compared to the A & E.

Instead of going all the way down to ECB80 (40-60-75-95), I settled for ECB84 (40-60-80-100), which I found to be more playable without sacrificing the bottom end.

 

[JimmyM]

When I was using Chromes, I put together a balanced tension set out of singles looking at their tension chart. That's the way to go with Chromes.

 

[Pier_]

I'm with michael t, the D'Addario 81 and 80 sets are really unbalaced. hard D and G, floppy E and A.
never ever gonna use them again. the tension chart on D'Addario packets says it all...

go for the ECB84 (back then I would have done it, but they didn't made this set... it's from at least 3 years ago) and won't regret.

I've had both 80 and 81, and they share the same difference every brand shares from gauge to gauge: heavy strings are mid-powerful and more defined, lighter strings have more basses and highs, but less mids.
but it's a matter of nuances, and in a band setting you won't hear a difference with the same brand.

 

[ZenG]

Jimmy M....just out of curiosity......I looked on D'ads site at "singles" chromes.......there seems to be almost nothing there.......

How and where did you put together your sets?

 

[jp58]

I just put together a set of Chomes that were pretty balaced on BSO. Someone here actually gave me the gauges to use, as they had previously buiilt a set in the same ballpark of tension figures I had been looking at.

According to my research, the closest you can get in the Chromes Flats to the XL Nickels balanced set would be 40-55-75-100, which works out to be between 37 lbs. and 40 lbs. per string. I realize they're slightly lighter than the Nickel rounds in terms of tension, but due to the naturally stiffer nature of flats, they should even out in terms of overall playability.

You can put together the custom set Invalid Link Removed.

I haven't played the chromes yet, so I can't speak on the playability or sound of the set, but I'm excited for when they get here.

 

[michael_t]

jp58 beat me to it.

When in doubt, always check bassstringsonline.com first.

Invalid Link Removed

 

[JimmyM]

Yes, what Michael T and JP58 said.

 

[BASS YODA]

You should always focus on string tension first before the thickness then the design of your bass (top-load or string-through-body mount, inline, 2+2 or 3+1 tuners / tuning machine heads), it will add length and tension...

Pay attention to the scale and string-through-body mount, you might need super long scale strings !

Flatwound strings are often more fragile than roundwound strings. They are more rigid and have less capacity to bend / fold. Favor a top-load bridge mount and big tuners (1/2" string post fits) to better wrap / roll the strings around !

D'ADDARIO ECB80 40-95 (total set tension 163.09 LBs) :
40-95 Super Light, Long Scale, XL Chromes Flat Wound Bass Guitar Strings | ECB80 | D'Addario
CB040 G 0.040 in 17.16 kgs
CB060 D 0.060 in 21.09 kgs
CB075 A 0.075 in 19.32 kgs
CB095 E 0.095 in 16.42 kgs

D'ADDARIO ECB84 40-100 (total set tension 172.13 LBs) :
40-100 Custom Light, Long Scale, XL Chromes Flat Wound Bass Guitar Strings | ECB84 | D'Addario
CB040 G 0.040 in 17.16 kgs
CB060 D 0.060 in 21.09 kgs
CB080 A 0.080 in 21.56 kgs
CB100 E 0.100 in 18.28 kgs

D'ADDARIO ECB81 45-100 (total set tension 199.75 LBs) :
45-100 Regular Light, Long Scale, XL Chromes Flat Wound Bass Guitar Strings | ECB81 | D'Addario
CB045 G 0.045 in 21.32 kgs
CB065 D 0.065 in 24.47 kgs
CB080 A 0.080 in 21.56 kgs
CB100 E 0.100 in 18.28 kgs

D'ADDARIO ECB82 50-105 (total set tension 224.00 LBs) :
50-105 Medium, Long Scale, XL Chromes Flat Wound Bass Guitar Strings | ECB82 | D'Addario
CB050 G 0.050 in 29.08 kgs
CB070 D 0.070 in 29.52 kgs
CB085 A 0.085 in 23.44 kgs
CB105 E 0.105 in 19.57 kgs

+ CB132 B 0.132 in 17.56 kgs

May the Groove be with you.