Flat-wounds: How long is too long?

[mobeme23]

Hey everybody, i'm pretty new to the TB crowd, and i've been playing now for only a few years. I'm wondering about various opinions regarding the typical life of of flat-wound strings.

Currently, my G&L L1505 has D'addario Nickle flats (not sure of the specific gauges).
To me, when this particular set was freshly broken-in, there was a distinct brightness and attack that i liked, but as i continue to play the strings, they have gotten warmer and a bit more punchy. while it's still suitable to me, my untrained ears might be mistaking that as dull or dead to a more well-experienced player.

i'm sure there are numerous factors contributing to a given set's "shelf life", but i'm curious about what indicators to look/listen for as the strings age.

What are some indicators that it is time to switch out?
thanks for helping out a noob!!

 

[michael_t]

Flatwound: Well-aged vs. Dead...

Trust your own ears as to how they should sound. The most important thing to keep in mind, though, is how they sound IN A MIX, not all on their own.

By the way, there is no such thing as "D'Addario Nickel Flatwound". D'Addario Chromes (as they're commonly known as) are actually stainless steel.

 

[mobeme23]

Flatwound: Well-aged vs. Dead...

Trust your own ears as to how they should sound. The most important thing to keep in mind, though, is how they sound IN A MIX, not all on their own.

By the way, there is no such thing as "D'Addario Nickel Flatwound". D'Addario Chromes (as they're commonly know as) are actually stainless steel.

thanks!
i should have looked into the actual type of strings (going from poor memory).
great point about judging by how they sound in the mix.
so far, at least on recordings, they still sit nicely in the mix.

 

[oldrocker]

I just changed out my Labella DTF 760FL set. I've been using this same set of strings for over 6 years across 2 different P basses.

For the most part the strings still sounded OK but the G string was pretty dead. Probably would have left them on longer but they starting having trouble staying in tune.

 

[mobeme23]

I've been using this same set of strings for over 6 years across 2 different P basses.

Ok, so you can string them up more than once...
i also play drums, and for drum heads, they are typically a one-and-done use. so, i'm glad to hear that bass strings are good for more than one use.

 

[petrus61]

The whole “flats only get better” thing is bunk. Trust your ears and if you can afford to, change them when they aren’t doing the job anymore. There’s nothing magical about a crusty old set of flats.

 

[David Jayne]

I like to use them until they break. Which, when it finally happens is tragic.

 

[ak56]

I only went 37 years with the original flats on my Fender Musicmaster. Only changed them because I was doing other work on the bass.

 

[Aidil]

I had had my first set of D'Addario Chromes for about 2 years before I sold the bass with it.

Now that I have another set of Chromes on another bass I bought 6 months ago, I think I'm gonna use it until one of the strings break or cannot hold the pitch... or... simply I'm bored with it.

 

[superheavyfunk]

I had a set of Fender flats on a P bass for 10 years before the E snapped on me.

Some ppl like the thud and some don't. If your strings aren't sounding the way you want them to, switch them out... Nobody can tell you how long to keep them on.

 

[Holdsg]

best unkept secret in bass ownership. If you don't like something about your bass, or are bored with it, try a different type of string on it. easily reversible mod, that you might just strike gold with.

 

[Ross W. Lovell]

Hey everybody, i'm pretty new to the TB crowd, and i've been playing now for only a few years. I'm wondering about various opinions regarding the typical life of of flat-wound strings.

Currently, my G&L L1505 has D'addario Nickle flats (not sure of the specific gauges).
To me, when this particular set was freshly broken-in, there was a distinct brightness and attack that i liked, but as i continue to play the strings, they have gotten warmer and a bit more punchy. while it's still suitable to me, my untrained ears might be mistaking that as dull or dead to a more well-experienced player.

i'm sure there are numerous factors contributing to a given set's "shelf life", but i'm curious about what indicators to look/listen for as the strings age.

What are some indicators that it is time to switch out?
thanks for helping out a noob!!

For me.......2 hours was waaaaaaaaaaay toooooooooo long.

Went back to round wounds on my fretless.

Probably doesn't help you?

 

[mobeme23]

If you don't like something about your bass, or are bored with it, try a different type of string on it.

that has been my method thus far. i'm glad to hear from most folks that it is mostly about trusting your ears and a lot of trial and error. thanks to everyone for the input!

 

[shughey]

The whole “flats only get better” thing is bunk. Trust your ears and if you can afford to, change them when they aren’t doing the job anymore. There’s nothing magical about a crusty old set of flats.

+1
I like well broken in flats, but there certainly is a point with certain flats where one or more of the strings can become subby w no articulation. I had this happen to a 4+ yr old set of La Bella 760FLs. At some point the tone went from warm to reggae sub tone. Unless I was to play reggae, this tone would be totally useless, even for Motown tones. I've avoided this issue with my current set of flats by wiping down after playing, and a once-in-a-blue-moon alcohol wipe rubdown. They still sound very warm, but retain some level of attack and articulation.

 

[Dabndug]

For me, with heavy use, rounds last months at best. Flats last years. Frequency of use, body chemistry, playing style, and cleaning regime will all affect the useful life of your strings.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Hey everybody, i'm pretty new to the TB crowd, and i've been playing now for only a few years. I'm wondering about various opinions regarding the typical life of of flat-wound strings.

Currently, my G&L L1505 has D'addario Nickle flats (not sure of the specific gauges).
To me, when this particular set was freshly broken-in, there was a distinct brightness and attack that i liked, but as i continue to play the strings, they have gotten warmer and a bit more punchy. while it's still suitable to me, my untrained ears might be mistaking that as dull or dead to a more well-experienced player.

i'm sure there are numerous factors contributing to a given set's "shelf life", but i'm curious about what indicators to look/listen for as the strings age.

What are some indicators that it is time to switch out?
thanks for helping out a noob!!

20 years?

 

[Dr. Love]

If they no longer stay in tune or you aren't happy with the sound anymore then change them. If you're happy and they hold pitch, rock on.

Also lots of things like playing style, environment and body chemistry can affect strings life. There is no set expiration date.

 

[SAlcott]

I change strings when they don't sound good any more.

 

[bassbully]

For me if and when they break.

 

[bassbully]

The whole “flats only get better” thing is bunk. Trust your ears and if you can afford to, change them when they aren’t doing the job anymore. There’s nothing magical about a crusty old set of flats.