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Fender flats

Eikari

Eikari

Jun 21, 2015
198
201
44
Iceland
#1
I order a set of fender 9150L, 45 -100 from juststrings.com. The last time i had flats was around 15 years ago, and that was the first time . They were Labella, very thumpy but with little articulation. I took them off after about a month. I have Jb am std, with string through body

Whats your experience , who have used them. How do you rate them in comparison to other flats?

Thanks in advance
 
#2
Well, when I bought my Jazz, they installed the Fender CL flats (the much sought-after 45s to 105s) on it, and I played with them for about 3 months. I knew flats need time to break in, and I was trying to break them in. They did sound like flatwounds, but they had a bit of zing to them I didn't like, and which the tone control didn't really take care of. Foam muting them helped a little with the zing, but I felt it never really gave me a lot of bottom end. I will say that the tone seemed more consistent on all four strings off the bat (or out of the package) than most other flats I've tried, including my favourites (which I won't repeat here because, well, half of my posts are about singing their praises) but the tone really wasn't doing much for me on my particular Jazz bass (which is a VM 70s lefty).

They were also doing a number on my neck, turning it into a sling. I guess they had a lot of tension or something, and they did feel stiff on my particular bass. The lovely setup job they had done for me was slowing going to poop thanks to these strings.

I ended up giving these strings to a fellow lefty bassist, who was contemplating selling his MiM Jazz. He decided to give it another go with these strings, and promptly fell in love with the sound. I checked back with him recently, and asked how he liked the sound, and he said they ended up sounding a lot better after some more break-in time.

TBH, I'm beginning to wonder how they would have sounded on one of my P-basses I have no acquired or built since. How I rate them? Well, depends on which bass I will try them on. The flats I currently have on both my VM Jazz and newest bass are not making me want anything else for the time being, but I suppose somewhere down the line, I might give them another shot.
 
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#3
I've had the 9050L (45-60-80-100) on my Highway One Jazz for the last five months and so far I love them. Smooth and mellow with a hint of growl.

I can only compare them to the D'Addario Chromes (40-60-80-100), which were on the same bass for four years.
One thing I didn't like about the Chromes is the way the 40G stayed bright and "twangy" even after four years, while the 100E went all thuddy. In comparison, the Fenders are much better balanced tonally; the 45G has mellowed nicely while the 100E still retains clarity and definition.

I also like the overall feel of the Fenders in terms of tension/stiffness. I personally don't like anything too noodley under my plucking fingers. These seem to provide just enough resistance without being too hard on my fretting hand.

The audio techs at my church keep telling me how good my bass has been sounding since I put these Fenders on back in March. One of them described it as being "meaty and full-bodied with good definition". They all like my bass because it's easy for mixing.
 
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#6
michael_t said:
I would say yes. That's one of the reasons why I like them on my J.

If I wanted a more vintage tone, I would go with a set of La Bella DTF on a P bass.

By the way, it's "9050", not 9150. ;)
Click to expand...
Sorry for the typo.

Do they have silk? My current (rotos 66) have red silk. Thats a plus for me to have silk on the strings. I just like to have coloured silk at the tuning posts.
 
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#9
On my 6 string fretless, I have Fender 9050 on my EADG strings. (.105 - .45) GHS prec. flat on the B string, and a TI flat on the C string.

I really like the tone of the Fenders after they were broken in and dead.
Good fundamentals and harmonics produced. And the right amount of thump.
They are good for slapping too. Tension is balanced pretty good... and the pickup output on them is nice and even balanced. Very good output level.
It took a lot of playing time to kill them.... and over a year old... the E string isn't fully dead and stable yet.
Tension = high

for anyone wondering.... the TI flat C string added to the top end blends in beautifully from the Fender G string in tone and tension.
 
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#11
I have the same 9050L gauges on my SX P and I'm perfectly happy with both feel and sound. A bit zingy to start, but that's typical. They've settled in to a great tone. I don't have the complaint that the .100" low E string is too floppy which I have seen in some reviews.

Otto
 
#16
KILLER flats that sound great in any genre - pick or fingers. I've tried almost every flat out there over the last 6 - 7 years and always come back to these. Far more balanced and meaty than Chromes, and more responsive and clear than Labellas. Truly great strings.

I use the 9050ML set - awesome heft on higher notes on the D and G strings.
 
#17
michael_t said:
... One thing I didn't like about the Chromes is the way the 40G stayed bright and "twangy" even after four years, while the 100E went all thuddy.....
Click to expand...

.. as Chromes are 'settling in' for me, I will often use a thin, soft foam mute on the D and G to tame that 'twang' a bit ... once the D comes in, I slide it down or cut and just use a single mute on the G string ... usually they eventually all come in with time and I don't need it any longer ... ;)

Just to keep on topic, I also have a bass strung with the current 9050L's, and although slightly prefer my Chromes, could very well be happy with the Fenders ...
 
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#19
They are decent strings. My experience with any flats, they need at least 3 -4 weeks of break in playing to see what they are really all about. So give them a few weeks if you can.
 
#20
Ive tried the Fender flats and Chromes, both are fairly stiff, the Fenders sounded fine just lacked "character". I keep Chromes on my Stingray and they fit well for that bass. However for a P bass, its well broken in La Bella 760FL DTF's, they sound great on my P bass I have a recorded example if interested.
 
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