Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
FENDER 9050CL FLATS NOW AVAILABLE AT JUST STRINGS!
- Thread starter iiipopes
- Start date
Cassius987 and iiipopes are two of the most knowledgable bass players I know of when it comes to tone evaluation and a coherent way of choosing their words carefully to try to convey what they know about a particular subject. Flats happen to be one such area that they are quite good at, and I've tried at least 12 different sets of flats over the past several years.
I use the new 9050M set (new to distinguish these from the older type available a few years ago) on my P-bass because it needs the tension, but I'll certainly be getting a set or two of the CL's because their tone is excellent and I can use them elsewhere. I also like chromes, LaBella DTB's, and Fender 9020 tapes, but the 9050s sound great. The CL's are just a "custom" gauged set designed for more even tension across the neck.
I use the new 9050M set (new to distinguish these from the older type available a few years ago) on my P-bass because it needs the tension, but I'll certainly be getting a set or two of the CL's because their tone is excellent and I can use them elsewhere. I also like chromes, LaBella DTB's, and Fender 9020 tapes, but the 9050s sound great. The CL's are just a "custom" gauged set designed for more even tension across the neck.
What it comes down to is that someone needs to do a comparison of the 45-105 Fender flats and the 50-105 Chromes.
I currently have a set of 50-105 Chromes on my P. Bought them used, and have removed them numerous times. The silk is pretty badly chewed up. I may replace them someday; I will very likely buy Chromes 50-105, unless someone demonstrates that the new Fenders are indeed NOT Chromes. I want audible proof. I'm kind of stubborn, and Chromes are hands-down my favorite bass string, so I'm happy.
To each their own. But people will keep saying "Fenders = Chromes" until someone posts audible, without-a-doubt proof that they are not identical strings.
I currently have a set of 50-105 Chromes on my P. Bought them used, and have removed them numerous times. The silk is pretty badly chewed up. I may replace them someday; I will very likely buy Chromes 50-105, unless someone demonstrates that the new Fenders are indeed NOT Chromes. I want audible proof. I'm kind of stubborn, and Chromes are hands-down my favorite bass string, so I'm happy.
To each their own. But people will keep saying "Fenders = Chromes" until someone posts audible, without-a-doubt proof that they are not identical strings.
I can appreciate that. I got rid of the one set of D'Addario chromes I had without making any sound samples. All I can tell you is that in my experience is that the D'Addarios were very shiny; the Fenders are grey. The D'Addarios on my P-style custom bass were hollow sounding; the Fenders are growly. The chromes were very highly polished, the Fenders have a matt finish.
That does not absolutely preclude D'Addario from being the maker, but since they are visibly different, and (take it for what it's worth) since Fender denies it, and since Mapes makes the raw wire for almost every reputable manufactured string out there (a notable exception being TI in Austria, of course), it is unlikely.
Check out this web page, where Mapes advertises all the companies it supplies wire to, including Fender, Gibson, D'Addario, Rotosound, DR, etc., with links:
specialty wire
The international shipping rate is $40. I'm European, but apparently I don't need any strings? Too bad, my P would love to give these a go, compared these to the 105 Chromes.
+1. I know that everyone's tastes vary and something can be a quality producrt and certain people don't dig it and that's that. However, a LOT of intelligent thought and input has been put into what these guys post about and these strings in particular are really something those inclined should check out. The fact that their input, along with some others, was taken into consideration to the point that Fender decided to release a custom string set ought to tell you something.
I can personally say that both these guys have helped me understand my basses a LOT better technically and taken their personal time to answer a ton of my questions. In fact, with only emailing iiipopes a few times, he invited me down to his neck of the woods and spent a whole Sunday working on 2 of my basses and 1 of my guitars and would only accept a pizza for lunch as payment! He is easily one of the most knowledgable people about basses and guitars I have met in my 20+ years of playing and meeting lots of other players.
All this to say that if you are happy with your string situation, that's cool, carry on. But if you want to try something new, give these a try as a lot of thought and input from a number of knowledgable folks here on TB has gone into them and they really are quite excellent for all the reasons already stated.
LEL
I'll be glad to do it if I can get some in the same gauges. I have a pretty good way to record at home, and I'm 100% certain they are not (even close to being) the same strings.
To avoid any "Atkinson-esque" flame wars because I fail to correct for some minute non-existent detail in my test, it might be nice to get any feedback about how I should do the testing ahead of time. Anyone with a common (medium-gauge) set of Chromes I can use would be nice to mail them my way as well.
That makes sense. TB is a good place for anyone in the gear manufacturing business to keep their finger on the pulse of what bass players want. I was talking with Jeff Genzler at NAMM in January about his new Streamliner and he was remarking how flatwound string sales are way up. That's part of his marketing thought process I'm sure.
My Chrome E string (the 050 set with an added B) died. Lifeless. kaput. I found the Chromes to lack in response to right hand articulation. Would you consider the Fenders to be a bit tackier to the picking hand, then the Chromes?
I notice the B string is a lot lighter gauge then the Chrome B. I know this is totally subjective, but what did you think of the 125 B string as compared to the Chrome (130?) B? I'm doing mostly "real" jazz and old soul on my BB5000, and some Tower of Power - esq music, too.
B strings are funny. Too big can reduce flexibility and kill tone but too small can sound floppy and weak. You've got to find a balance--and I wouldn't rule out a .125'' string as a possibility, but any smaller than that might not sound good.
This would be an even-sounding set in most strings:
40
55
70
95
125
I have a set of Fender flats on my J bass right now, and I must say they are very disappointing. My first set of flats, and I was expecting a big, smooth sound. Very thin sounding, no boom. I've had them on for a few months now and I just do not like them. Back to Roto 66s for me.
I<: What kind of packaging did these come in? The "new" Fender 9050s have been around for a couple of years, but old stock of the "old" Fender 9050s have been available for a while after the new version was released.
The "new" version, of which the 9050CL is a very recently-released custom-gauged set, comes in a glossy cardboard pack that is black w/ green trim. The old version came in a poly envelope with a paper insert showing an angled picture of a Fender bass
The "new" version, of which the 9050CL is a very recently-released custom-gauged set, comes in a glossy cardboard pack that is black w/ green trim. The old version came in a poly envelope with a paper insert showing an angled picture of a Fender bass
Yes, indeed. One problem is that a lot of places have been clearing out old stock rather than restocking with these new formulated strings -- "riding the wave" so to speak. I didn't like the old formulation, either, although it has admittedly been years since I tried them and so I don't remember much details, just that they were hollow.
