Fender 9050 After 6mos(sort of)

[Danbow]

Howdy,

Thought I'd share my experience. with these Fender 9050's (55-105).

I'm not much of a gear-head and have been playing the taperwounds (8250s) that came on US Jazz for years(no idea how many actual sets I've been through, a ton), just b/c that's what it came with and the setup was great and the rounds fit what I was doing so I figured I'd just stick with them.

On a whim I thought I'd try flats. I hated them when I put them on my US Jazz at first so much that I took them off after a few practice sessions and put them on an old MIM Jazz that rarely gets played.

Well, after about 6 months, I moved them back to the US just to give it another go around... These things aged very well. They bring out the character of the Bass perfectly! I'm getting much more variety between soloing the bridge/neck pickups than with the rounds. Very smooth on the neck PU and still able to get that jazz tone with the solo bridge PU and tone all the way open.

I can't believe how different they sound now.

Just a bit of info in case you are thinking of going to flats!

For Background Info:
Bass I'm using is a 2010 US Jazz, maple neck, w/ Lindy Fralin Split coils-stock wound.
to set up for these Flats, I made about 1/4 turn truss rod adjustment and then just lowered the saddles a little. I like pretty low action and it was already pretty low.
Gigging musician for around 20yrs(off and on), large variety of styles.

 

[michael_t]

Fender 9050L (45-100) were my go-to flats for my Jazz. And I do agree they sound much better after a few months than when brand new.

 

[dagrev]

The Fender's seem to have caught the attention of more players in recent years, but sadly overlooked by too many. They are a really nice flat. Not truly old school in some ways, but they can cover a lot of sonic territory. I've found they sound good on several bases ('76 Thunderbird, Stingray I no longer own and an Epi Vintage Pro Thunderbird). Thinking of trying them on one of my Js.

 

[Danbow]

I was concerned that being flats, they’d feel limiting, but I’ve been very pleasantly surprised by the variety I’m getting on my jazz with them.

The Fender's seem to have caught the attention of more players in recent years, but sadly overlooked by too many. They are a really nice flat. Not truly old school in some ways, but they can cover a lot of sonic territory. I've found they sound good on several bases ('76 Thunderbird, Stingray I no longer own and an Epi Vintage Pro Thunderbird). Thinking of trying them on one of my Js.

 

[michael_t]

Thought I'd share my experience. with these Fender 9050's (55-105).

...have been playing the taperwounds (8250s) that came on US Jazz for years...

Going from the 8250s (NPS roundwound on a round core) to the heaviest set of 9050 Flats (SS flatwound on a hex core), I would imagine there is a significant difference in terms of tension and stiffness. How are you adjusting? Don't you find those 9050s a bit too heavy? Just curious...

 

[Danbow]

Going from the 8250s (NPS roundwound on a round core) to the heaviest set of 9050 Flats (SS flatwound on a hex core), I would imagine there is a significant difference in terms of tension and stiffness. How are you adjusting? Don't you find those 9050s a bit too heavy? Just curious...

Definitely a bit of an adjustment. I didn’t like the feel at all and that’s why I took them off for a few months before recently giving them a 2nd chance. After about 4 days of playing them steadily, I’m getting used to them pretty well. I think the sound I’m getting is worth the adjustment.

 

[dagrev]

I was concerned that being flats, they’d feel limiting, but I’ve been very pleasantly surprised by the variety I’m getting on my jazz with them.

People who don't get out much tend to think flats are a one trick pony and only sound like rubber bands. Not meaning you, but there is a misconception about flats in this respect. Similar only to the oft repeated fallacy that you can make rounds sound like like flats. It can't be done or flats wouldn't be much of a thing. There are some flats that are only intended for thud, most are not.

 

[michael_t]

People who don't get out much tend to think flats are a one trick pony and only sound like rubber bands...

...There are some flats that are only intended for thud, most are not.

Fender 9050s seem to have a tonal character that can fit into just about any style of music, especially when matched up with a Jazz bass. They're greatly underrated in that regard in my opinion.

 

[Danbow]

Ok, so had my first long rehearsal (about 4hrs) with the 55-105s playing some country and some rock, definitely digging the tone and versatility, not a huge fan of the tension, especially G. Considering trying the 45-100s, hoping they sound about the same.

 

[dagrev]

Ok, so had my first long rehearsal (about 4hrs) with the 55-105s playing some country and some rock, definitely digging the tone and versatility, not a huge fan of the tension, especially G. Considering trying the 45-100s, hoping they sound about the same.

I go light. I don't like stiff anyway. Lower the action a little and that will make playing a little better.

 

[Danbow]

I go light. I don't like stiff anyway. Lower the action a little and that will make playing a little better.

Im thinking I probably will go with the lighter set, or at least try it out. I’ve got the action already set low. I’m hoping the lighter set might have a little more even tension.

 

[michael_t]

I’m hoping the lighter set might have a little more even tension.

They definitely do, except for one thing... Keep the 105E and see how it would match with the 45-60-80 from the light set.

Fender used to offer a set, 9050CL (45-60-80-105), which was by far the best balanced set tension-wise. Sadly, that set is no longer available as a factory set.

 

[Danbow]

They definitely do, except for one thing... Keep the 105E and see how it would match with the 45-60-80 from the light set.

Fender used to offer a set, 9050CL (45-60-80-105), which was by far the best balanced set tension-wise. Sadly, that set is no longer available as a factory set.

Thanks, might try that!

 

[iiipopes]

They definitely do, except for one thing... Keep the 105E and see how it would match with the 45-60-80 from the light set.

Fender used to offer a set, 9050CL (45-60-80-105), which was by far the best balanced set tension-wise. Sadly, that set is no longer available as a factory set.

Yes, if you research the threads, I was a great proponent of the CL set. And as Fender doesn't sell single strings, you can't even assemble a set unless you already have the 105, which you do. But if you get the 9050L set, and the 100 turns out to feel a tad light, and after awhile (as in years) the 105 goes thump before the other strings do, then you can use an Ernie Ball regular flat (not the cobalt) in a 105, as it has a similar, but more subdued growl and coordinates well with the Fender GAD strings. This is what I would use when my low E string would finally go thump, but the other strings still had plenty of life left in them.

 

[Danbow]

Yes, if you research the threads, I was a great proponent of the CL set. And as Fender doesn't sell single strings, you can't even assemble a set unless you already have the 105, which you do. But if you get the 9050L set, and the 100 turns out to feel a tad light, and after awhile (as in years) the 105 goes thump before the other strings do, then you can use an Ernie Ball regular flat (not the cobalt) in a 105, as it has a similar, but more subdued growl and coordinates well with the Fender GAD strings. This is what I would use when my low E string would finally go thump, but the other strings still had plenty of life left in them.

Thanks for the advice on that substitute for that low E. I'm hoping that will be a non-issue at least for the near future. Not sure what lifespan to expect out of the 9050s. I've been assuming that like other flats, they'll last years.

 

[iiipopes]

Thanks for the advice on that substitute for that low E. I'm hoping that will be a non-issue at least for the near future. Not sure what lifespan to expect out of the 9050s. I've been assuming that like other flats, they'll last years.

The last set I had I gigged heavily for two years, changed the E string, and gigged them another year. Then I changed bands and with the different repertoire went back to rounds.

 

[michael_t]

I'm hoping that will be a non-issue at least for the near future. Not sure what lifespan to expect out of the 9050s. I've been assuming that like other flats, they'll last years.

Fender 9050s are probably not in the same league as TI, La Bella or GHS for "lasting for years". That said, it's usually the E that goes thuddy before the other three, so replacing it with the Ernie Ball SS Flat 105E every couple of years, as suggested by @iiipopes, is a good idea.

 

[Linnin]

definitely digging the tone and versatility, not a huge fan of the tension, especially G.

Yes, they do sound good. That .055 G is really solid, but is in the neighborhood of 68-70 pounds of tension all by itself. I also love .090 A. It's got to be the most solid sounding A I've ever heard. Just massive tone.
Fender 9050M Stainless Steel Flatwound

 

[iiipopes]

Fender 9050s are probably not in the same league as TI, La Bella or GHS for "lasting for years". That said, it's usually the E that goes thuddy before the other three, so replacing it with the Ernie Ball SS Flat 105E every couple of years, as suggested by @iiipopes, is a good idea.

Thanks. The reason the 105 E string goes thump is because it is not as flexible as the 100. Had I preferred the L instead of the CL, I would not have had to change the E string. And I only took the strings off to change repertoire, not because they were dead. They still had many years of life left in them. So in that regard, yes, they are on par with longetivity as the other major brands of flats, including LaBella, TI, Chromes (If you like terminal thud) or ghs.

 

[michael_t]

That .055 G is really solid, but is in the neighborhood of 68-70 pounds of tension all by itself. I also love .090 A. It's got to be the most solid sounding A I've ever heard. Just massive tone.

My poor fingers are hurting just reading this. 55G and 90A = a little too tight for my taste.