• 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.

Flats -darkest to brightest list

#2
I'll give my 2 cents with 10 being darkest and 1 being brightest...

These are all pure flats (not ground rounds)..,

Pyramid - 10 (you can order custom gauges from factory to balance the tone on the D and G vs the E and A)
GHS - 9
LaBella - 8

(Nothing I know of between 4 and 7)

Thomastik -3
Daddario Chromes - 2
Ernie Ball - 2
Roto77 - 1


EDIT - this list assumes all sets are broken in equally - after a month or two of use.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MattZilla
#3
Using Steve's number scale, I'd rate the LaBellas (like 760FL's) at a 6.

The Chromes are a 2 when freshly installed, and slide down to a 6 after a month.

I have a lot of experience with those two brands in particular and, after a few months of break-in, they both sound and feel quite similar. Not exactly the same, but close.
 
#5
Just a comment on Thomastiks mainly.

They are all about prominent yet organic mids so while they are mid-pronounced, they are still smooth and natural. In a mix, they are right there - supporting with a voice - not mud.

Also, the TI Jazz Flat low B is the best B of any style of string I have heard; rich, focused, punchy and articulate. This is all based on a 35.5" scale NYBW Concert 6-string fretless.

Tom H.
 
  • Like
Reactions: seang15 and Element Zero
#9
slombovia said:
Just a comment on Thomastiks mainly.

They are all about prominent yet organic mids so while they are mid-pronounced, they are still smooth and natural. In a mix, they are right there - supporting with a voice - not mud


Tom H.
Click to expand...

This is the best description of TI's I have ever seen..right on the money.
 
  • Like
Reactions: seang15, Element Zero and slombovia
#10
Stealth Fighter said:
If Labellas are the darkest, I hope I never play anything else. I just recently put my first set of Labella flats on my P-bass, and I can't roll the highs off enough for me.
Click to expand...
You too? I totally had the same reaction. I always use this sound as an example of what Labellas sound like to me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9Wx8BRjzoI

Good for some things, not a string I want to use for everything.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jnumme, sonicnuance and gjohnson441496
#13
Stealth Fighter said:
Actually, it works very well, as does the one on my amp. Why would you even make that statement? Did I somehow offend you?
Click to expand...
No. It's just that when I roll the tone control completely off on my basses, it turns to mud (for lack of a better way of putting it). They don't leave highs in the signal, when the tone control is rolled completely off. My passive basses all have stock .047 microfarad capacitors.

I like LaBellas, though. I think the 760FL set is the best sounding flat made.
 
#14
Stone Soup said:
No. It's just that when I roll the tone control completely off on my basses, it turns to mud (for lack of a better way of putting it). They don't leave highs in the signal, when the tone control is rolled completely off. My passive basses all have stock .047 microfarad capacitors.

I like LaBellas, though. I think the 760FL set is the best sounding flat made.
Click to expand...

Well, that makes more sense. My original comment was merely expressing my surprise that Labella strings were rated among the very darkest of flat wound strings, when my first experience with them was the very opposite. I prefer an old school R&B type tone with some highs. I hope that these strings wear in and begin to exhibit more controllable highs. I guess I'll just wait and see. FYI, I've never pulled the control plate to see what cap my bass has. I bought it used, so it could have been changed, but it seems normal to me, so I never bothered to look.

Edit: My strings are LB_760FL-TB, Light: .043 .060 .082 .104
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back