Ernie Ball Stainless Flats

[jam.majors]

Saw that they came out with some stainless flatwounds. Are these different than their flats that were sold in "Group 1", etc.? Or is it just repackaging?
I do like the packaging, though.
Stainless Steel Flatwound Electric Bass Strings | Ernie Ball

 

[ColdEye]

I believe it’s the same with just a new packaging and a couple different gauge options.

 

[michael_t]

Saw that they came out with some stainless flatwounds. Are these different than their flats that were sold in "Group 1", etc.? Or is it just repackaging?
I do like the packaging, though.
Stainless Steel Flatwound Electric Bass Strings | Ernie Ball

What @ColdEye said above.

Group I, II, III, IV are now Group 1, 2, 3, 4. Now available in 45-65-85-105 (Group 2.5) and a couple of "short scale" options!

 

[CElton]

I like these a little better than the Cobalts.

 

[GIBrat51]

Saw that they came out with some stainless flatwounds. Are these different than their flats that were sold in "Group 1", etc.? Or is it just repackaging?
I do like the packaging, though.
Stainless Steel Flatwound Electric Bass Strings | Ernie Ball

What @ColdEye said above.

Group I, II, III, IV are now Group 1, 2, 3, 4. Now available in 45-65-85-105 (Group 2.5) and a couple of "short scale" options!

Yeah, ^This^... My new lefty Schecter Stiletto Sudio lined fretless came factory equipped with the Group I flats. Not sure how much the EMG pickups and pre-amp have to do with it, but... I am loving those strings. Not quite broken in yet, but they seem to be flats that break in quickly. They're sounding better, every time I pick the thing up. One bad thing, though...
I find myself wondering - a lot - which of my 23 other flats-wearing basses I should put these things on...

 

[TomB]

Any short scale 5 sets?

 

[michael_t]

Any short scale 5 sets?

Unfortunately no... You would have to go with Dunlop Flats for that.

 

[TomB]

Unfortunately no... You would have to go with Dunlop Flats for that.

I do, and am happy with them (price aside). Always scanning the horizon though . I do like the EB flats in long scale.

 

[HaphAsSard]

I do, and am happy with them (price aside). Always scanning the horizon though .

Short-scale 5-string flatwound options I'm aware about:

- Dunlop flatwounds (DBFS40120S and DBFS45125S), as said above

- La Bella Deep Talkin' Bass flats (760FS-B-S)

- short-scale is a normal ordering option for a number of Galli sets including the Jazz Flat JF45130, on the company website.
(Reviews I've seen appear to place the Gallis in the same 'in-between vintage and modern' category as EB and Dunlop flats.)

- the Pyramid Gold flatwound 640/5
may, or may not, be custom-ordered in short scale version, by using the ad-hoc online form on their website, or contacting them (auf Englisch is fine) via email.

 

[TomB]

Short-scale 5-string flatwound options I'm aware about:

- Dunlop flatwounds (DBFS40120S and DBFS45125S), as said above

- La Bella Deep Talkin' Bass flats (760FS-B-S)

- short-scale is a normal ordering option for a number of Galli sets including the Jazz Flat JF45130, on the company website.
(Reviews I've seen appear to place the Gallis in the same 'in-between vintage and modern' category as EB and Dunlop flats.)

- the Pyramid Gold flatwound 640/5
may, or may not, be custom-ordered in short scale version, by using the ad-hoc online form on their website, or contacting them (auf Englisch is fine) via email.

Thanks for the additional info. I'm a long-time LaBella DTF fan, but was discouraged by the performance of the short-scale .128 tapered B-string. It just didn't fit the remainder of the FS set sound wise in short scale as well as it does in long scale. I find the Dunlop (non-tapered) to be much better matched to the rest of the set, whether .120 or .125 (both guages sound and feel very similar). Back on topic, I find the EB 5-string sets (long scale) to be very consistent across the set.

 

[Root 5]

What @ColdEye said above.

Group I, II, III, IV are now Group 1, 2, 3, 4. Now available in 45-65-85-105 (Group 2.5) and a couple of "short scale" options!

Medium scale too?

 

[HaphAsSard]

Medium scale too?

No medium-scale Ernie Ball stainless steel ("Group") flat sets - at least for the moment.
Ditto for the Slinky (cobalt) flatwounds, by the way.

AFAIK, EB short-scale sets are 32.5" ball to silk/taper, which may improve fittage on some instruments (at the expense of others).

 

[Root 5]

No medium-scale Ernie Ball stainless steel ("Group") flat sets - at least for the moment.
Ditto for the Slinky (cobalt) flatwounds, by the way.

AFAIK, EB short-scale sets are 32.5" ball to silk/taper, which may improve fittage on some instruments (at the expense of others).

Thank you. They’re a little short for my Mustangs which need 33-1/8”

 

[HaphAsSard]

Thank you. They’re a little short for my Mustangs which need 33-1/8”

I know! Every time the subject of traditional, thru-body Mustangs and their length requirements comes up...I refer to your posts on the matter:
https://www.talkbass.com/search/37875564/?q=mustang+max&o=date&c[user][0]=253901

 

[basslust]

Does anyone know if these have the same texture as the EB Cobalts? I really dislike the Cobalts because they always snag my arm hair. The LaBella flats, for comparison, are much smoother and don't do that.

 

[michael_t]

Does anyone know if these have the same texture as the EB Cobalts?

The EB Stainless Flats are more traditional in their construction. They don't have the tiny little gaps between windings like the Cobalt Flats, so do feel smoother like most other traditional flats.

 

[Yahboy]

Does anyone know if these have the same texture as the EB Cobalts? I really dislike the Cobalts because they always snag my arm hair. The LaBella flats, for comparison, are much smoother and don't do that.

Compare to LTF4A, Group III 45-100 has slightly notable winding gap-thing but still less compare to both Cobalt flat and Ti flat.

 

[basslust]

Compare to LTF4A, Group III 45-100 has slightly notable winding gap-thing but still less compare to both Cobalt flat and Ti flat.

View attachment 5474956

Thanks, I will give them a try and report back on how my arm hair fares.

 

[Grapevine921]

Thanks, I will give them a try and report back on how my arm hair fares.

A bit of a zombie thread, but do you have any updates here? I've been curious about group flats too but the cobalts left such a bad impression on me I'm hesitant to try another ernie ball string. You're the only other person I've found that brought up the arm hair snagging feature I hated in the cobalts!

 

[michael_t]

I've been curious about group flats too but the cobalts left such a bad impression on me I'm hesitant to try another ernie ball string. You're the only other person I've found that brought up the arm hair snagging feature I hated in the cobalts!

I use the Group 4 (40-95) on one of my P basses. Very nice string! The windings are nice and tight more like traditional flats without gaps like the Cobalt flats. I also like their "semi-modern" tonal flavor with a smooth but clear midrange.