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Feelings about Flatwound D'Addario Chromes?
- Thread starter Decoyx7
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After trying LaBellas for a month, I totally disagree with this. Labellas get thumpy, but they have this very bright treble edge to them that the Chromes don't have.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f16/flats-labella-vs-daddario-837771/
Therefore I've decided to go with Chromes for all my flatwound basses except for my Realistic violin bass, where the brightness of the Labellas comes in handy. Some folks love that trebly edge to the Labellas, though, so it's a matter of taste.
scotch
It's not rocket science!
- Nov 12, 2006
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+1 & great comparison Jimmy!
To the op: I've come to love Chromes & have them on 3 of my basses including my #1. They are surprisingly versatile flats! Just be sure to give them a couple of hours of playing time as they take a short time to properly 'break-in'. At first they will sound way too bright for flats, but after this short break-in period, they hit a great tonal equilibrium for years!
I only had time to read the original post, but I tried Chromes as my first set of flats, and though I liked them, I felt like I could have better. My main reason was that the G string sounded twangy in comparison to the others.
I read some great things and heard some clips of GHS precision flats, and they were cheap enough to try and instantly they were way better than chromes IME. The G string was more thuddy, like the others, the sound of all the strings was a bit more of the tone I was hoping for with Chromes and their tension is fantastic. I always thought Chromes felt very stiff, but the GHS flats have a perfect amount of tension, maybe a bit less than rounds, but it feels good for those strings.
I don't have any desire to try any other flats, but I did with Chromes. Check my signature if you're interested in the gauges I use.
I read some great things and heard some clips of GHS precision flats, and they were cheap enough to try and instantly they were way better than chromes IME. The G string was more thuddy, like the others, the sound of all the strings was a bit more of the tone I was hoping for with Chromes and their tension is fantastic. I always thought Chromes felt very stiff, but the GHS flats have a perfect amount of tension, maybe a bit less than rounds, but it feels good for those strings.
I don't have any desire to try any other flats, but I did with Chromes. Check my signature if you're interested in the gauges I use.
I don't care what kind of bass it is, every time I get a new one I string it with flats. I love the way they sound and feel. I have to disagree with the implied notion from some people that flats should sound like 50s motown. I play fuzzed out stoner rock and use chromes and love em. But of course everyone has different tastes. If you try them and don't like them, you can resell them in the classifieds here minus $5 what you paid for them.
And as far as tension goes, I use regular lights tuned a half step down and they feel just fine to me.
And as far as tension goes, I use regular lights tuned a half step down and they feel just fine to me.
I've had these on one or two basses in the past. Too damn bright and they take forever to mellow out. I ordered a set of original 1954 La Bella 760m yesterday and bought a firm bug scrubber sponge that I will cut to shape. Can't wait till they get here. 
I used chromes 45-100 on my jazz (you can hear it my sig) for a little over a year (I've had DR steel lo-riders on for a couple weeks now though). The chromes were my favorite flat out of the others I tried. The 45-100 set of chromes is probably a little stiffer feeling than d'addario rounds of the same gauge if you are wondering about tension. I tried rotosound 77's and they just sounded kind of lifeless to me after the brightness they had quickly wore off. The E and A string also felt much rougher than the D and G. I also tried TI's which was a big disappointment due to their cost. They sounded just fine but felt like I was playing with spaghetti for strings. Just way too loose for me, I prefer string with more tension.
Chromes are a good place to start if you are going to try flats, they are a great string and certainly have a pretty large base of users here. At the very least, they should offer you a good point of reference as most people here that have used flats have tried chromes before. If you like the feel but not the sound other members here should be able to tell you which direction to go. I say get a set, string up your bass, tweak your set up to taste, and play. They are a bit bright out of the package but that fades very quickly. Give them at least a week or two to settle in before you really make you decision.
Chromes are a good place to start if you are going to try flats, they are a great string and certainly have a pretty large base of users here. At the very least, they should offer you a good point of reference as most people here that have used flats have tried chromes before. If you like the feel but not the sound other members here should be able to tell you which direction to go. I say get a set, string up your bass, tweak your set up to taste, and play. They are a bit bright out of the package but that fades very quickly. Give them at least a week or two to settle in before you really make you decision.
I love Chromes and have used them on a number of basses. I've had a set on a Lakland DJ5 for the past 5 years which they will stay on until either they or the bass die.
As other have previously stated, I agree that they have less tension than most flats and are sonically more aggressive. I also agree that they are a good string to try if you are trying flats for the first time.
As other have previously stated, I agree that they have less tension than most flats and are sonically more aggressive. I also agree that they are a good string to try if you are trying flats for the first time.
I have Chromes on 3 of my four basses. The other has TI JF. Chromes are great strings that sit great in the mix and allow you to get a good flatwound sound and still stand out. IMO chromes get much better with age and really sound and feel better after a year or so. You have to try them, give them time and then decide. To me they are thee classic bass tone and all I will use along with TI's.
Are they good strings? Yes
Any problems with them? No. Never.
I do like them. Like many others I would also recommend La Bellas (have them on my favorite precision) and TIs (have them on my favorite jazz) but the Daddarios are a good, lower priced choice. I had them on my Ric 4003 and was very happy with them.
Chromes are pretty awesome - I love how smooth they are
And they just plain sound great
IMHO
also, I swear that I get lower action with chromes - and run about 2mm off the 12th fret
I have to run about 2.3 with other flats
(I know, these strings can't defy the laws of physics, but something is going on where I run them LOW)
And they just plain sound great
IMHO
also, I swear that I get lower action with chromes - and run about 2mm off the 12th fret
I have to run about 2.3 with other flats
(I know, these strings can't defy the laws of physics, but something is going on where I run them LOW)
I'm happy with the sound I got on that video but generally I find Chromes a little too roundwound sounding and just a tad harsh in the mids.
Strangely, I find worn in GHS Pressurewounds to be more what I'm looking for in a less zingy string nowadays.
I am thinking :scowl:, that somebody did a bass sound library that consist of a MM bass with Chromes at one time?
It seems the Chromes work very well on a Lakland JO5. I tried several flats on mine before the Chromes made it come alive. Used it in the studio two years ago with this combo and it sang.
