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Fender Flats...pretty hard to beat!

#23
Vinnie Boombatz said:
I'm liking these strings even more. Even though it's only been a couple days, they have actually started to "calm down" and with the tone rolled back a bit on my Precision they're really nice and thumpy. More thump and a little more dynamic but still have this classic or old school flavor to them, and not as thuddy as GHS Precision flats.

I still like GHS Precision Flats, but I'm feeling that these Fenders may take over as my flat of choice. I'll give them a few months and see how they end up breaking in. Like I mentioned before, I also put a set of TI Jazz Flats on another Precision last night. Two totally different P Basses with different pickups, bridges, fretboard material, nut widths, etc (TI's are on an '08 American Standard with rosewood board and Nordstrand NP4, and 9050L's are on a '17 Classic 50's Lacquer P with an SD SPB-1 pickup) The Fenders definitely have more of that old school thump, while still having a tight, punchy low end. The TI's are a great string (this is my third time around with a set of TI's) and even though I like how they feel, they've never really wowed me sonically. Regardless of the bass they're on they seem to lack low end. As everyone knows, they are a bit mid heavy, but that's what they do. I'm going to force myself to just keep them on the bass for several months and see how they evolve. The TI's are a very polite string, while the Fenders are more authoritative, if that makes any sense. And just because it may help others, I only play with my fingers, never use a pick, have a pretty light touch, and always pick between the pickup and end of the fretboard. I never pick anywhere close to the bridge.
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Thanks for the report. I am returning some GHS P Flats (via mail.. ugh!) to Strings By Mail soon. I ordered a gauge that I decided wouldn't be right for me (55-105). Now I am considering the Fender 9050Ls. May end up in a coin flip between the GHS P Flats (45-95) or the 9050Ls. Decisions, decisions!
 
#24
Kipp Harrington said:
Thanks for the report. I am returning some GHS P Flats (via mail.. ugh!) to Strings By Mail soon. I ordered a gauge that I decided wouldn't be right for me (55-105). Now I am considering the Fender 9050Ls. May end up in a coin flip between the GHS P Flats (45-95) or the 9050Ls. Decisions, decisions!
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I like GHS Precision Flats, too. The light gauge (45-95) are killer. Less bright than the Fenders, with more of a "traditional" Flatwounds sound, and they feel really nice to play and aren't like bridge cables. I'm going to put them on a '51 Precision Reissue I just picked up.
 
#25
Vinnie Boombatz said:
I like GHS Precision Flats, too. The light gauge (45-95) are killer. Less bright than the Fenders, with more of a "traditional" Flatwounds sound, and they feel really nice to play and aren't like bridge cables. I'm going to put them on a '51 Precision Reissue I just picked up.
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If I end up going with the GHS PFs (or the 9050Ls), they'll be going on my Squier Affinity PJ (with SD QPs). Still sitting on the fence, here! LOL.
 
#26
Kipp Harrington said:
If I end up going with the GHS PFs (or the 9050Ls), they'll be going on my Squier Affinity PJ (with SD QPs). Still sitting on the fence, here! LOL.
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The 51 Reissue I just picked up has a SD pickup with the same large magnets that are in the quarter pounders and I can't stand the pickup! It's just waaaaaay to hot for my tastes (I measured it at 11.75k, not saying it's bad, just not for me) and ended up ordering a SD Antiquity II that I'm hoping will be a better fit for what I'm looking for combined with the GHS Precision Flats.
 
#27
Yeah... I just read your NBD post on the '51; man, what a find! Congratulations! I'm sure the Antiquity II pup will "tame" it down nicely. I have SD QPs in my PJ and I like them but I am playing mainly classic rock stuff along with some more "up to date" tunes, so they work for me. I think I am just going to go with the GHS P Flats in the light gauge.
 
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#29
How they compare to Rotosound 77's sound? I really like Rotosound flats as they're not dead as D'Addario Chromes, to my ears they sound between EXLs and Chromes, and the two or three sets I've used so far seems to be "inmune" to sound changes after they break. At least I've noticed no changes after using the for a full year on my main bass.

I tried them (Rotosound 77s) on my Epi Thunderbird Vintage Pro but I felt them too much dark so I re-strung it with EXLs. If those Fender 9050s (the CL is the gauge for me) are as good as you say I'd try them with the Thunderbird.

Thanks.
 
#30
I too like the Fender Flats. But several of my light sets, once broken in, the E and A strings get the nice thud and the D and G remained bright. Another of these sets balanced nicely once broken in. I'm wondering if this happens with the medium set versus the light set. Anyone have experience with the medium set? Personally I don't mind the higher tension if the tone balance was better.
 
#32
I just put a set of 9050L's on my 22-year-old Squier P-bass and I'm VERY pleased so far. I had tried the EB Cobalt flats as my first venture into flatwounds. I could not stand the lifeless low E string compared to the brightness of the other strings. 3 sets of them and they were all the same. The Fenders are all balanced with great tension and sound great. Looking forward to seeing how they settle in, but for now I'm very happy that I gave them a shot.
 
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#33
Hope they work out well for you. I have heard many good things from TBers regarding the Fender Flats. I went the route of GHS Precision Flats. AWESOME flats!!! I am sold on them. They are on both my Fender 60s Jazz and Squier PJ. The feel is silky smooth and the tone... THE TONE! Creamy smooth with midrange thump. People who use them use the word "chocolate" to describe them. So, if you don't care for the sound/tone/feel, I guess you can eat them. I highly recommend them!
 
#34
'78 P-Bass-2.JPG
I have the 9050L's on my "78 P-Bass, and... yeah, they're kind of hard to beat. But, the tone I'm after means I'm going to have to. The Fenders - nice as they are - are just too... polite, I guess. I have a mute in the bridge cover; I don't need - or want - "Polite" with this bass. I want Old School, get down, funkiness and thump. So, the Fender's are coming off (soon as I get off my lazy butt), and we'll see how a set of 45-105 GHS Precision Flats work...:whistle:
Eastwood Magnum.jpg But, never fear; the Fenders will find a good home on my Eastwood Magnum. I've measured it, and yes, they'll swap right over. "Polite" is just up the Magnum's alley...:cool:
 
#35
michael_t said:
Courtesy of @Linnin ...

Fender 9050M Stainless Steel Flatwound
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Mediums are all I've used for the past 25 yrs on a '97 Fender Jazz Deluxe playing mainly old R&B, Mainstream jazz, blues, and occasionally classic rock. They've been so good that I'm hesitant to try anything else. I just installed a new set. The old set lost its tuning after 7 years. The tone was sweet to the very end. Now I have to get through the initial twang phase to break in but they're worth it.
 
#36
soflbass said:
I too like the Fender Flats. But several of my light sets, once broken in, the E and A strings get the nice thud and the D and G remained bright. Another of these sets balanced nicely once broken in. I'm wondering if this happens with the medium set versus the light set. Anyone have experience with the medium set? Personally I don't mind the higher tension if the tone balance was better.
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Even after breaking in, I find the medium G string a little too bright, so I adjust the tone controls accordingly.
 
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