• 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 for a 34" five string.

B

BK Bass

Oct 29, 2020
129
139
#1
I recently bought my first five string, which is a Fender (4+1). It's an awesome bass, and I want to put flats on it. The current B does seem a little 'floppy' which I suppose might be expected with a 34" scale. Also, based on the E, the strings seem to me to be a lighter gauge so that might be part of it too.

So! As I shop for flats, knowing that I'm working with a 34" scale, what gauge should I aim for to eliminate the 'floppiness' of the B? Flats are inherently tighter, no? And what brands are a good way to go (and conversely, avoid)? I'm interested in chrome or stainless.

Another thing--it's a through-body bridge and I want to make sure whatever I get is long enough so the silk windings at the end clear the nut (I've seen complaints about this with some brands)

Sorry to add yet another flats thread to this forum but bass strings are too expensive for blind experimentation!
 
#2
Interested in this thread as I'm also doing a 5 fretless for the first time.
Based on a lot of reading here on TB and for the sound I want - I want a piano like, round wound tone - I'm trying the Rotosound Monels.
The base is finishing the fretless conversion so I don't have a verdict on it yet.
I've also been researching roundwounds that will be kind to fretless as well, but thats a separate thread perhaps, since you're asking about flats.
 
#4
Vinny_G said:
If you want the piano-like round-wound tone, you should use round-wound strings.
Click to expand...
Yes of course, but for me this is about getting close - not expecting exact - to that kind of timbral territory while using flats.
If I want rounds, I'll use rounds. If I want flats that sound kind of close to that , then that's what I'm going to look for. I understand the difference but it's two different applications/needs/quests.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Vinny_G
#5
M Stefan Dill said:
Yes of course, but for me this is about getting close - not expecting exact - to that kind of timbral territory while using flats.
If I want rounds, I'll use rounds. If I want flats that sound kind of close to that , then that's what I'm going to look for. I understand the difference but it's two different applications/needs/quests.
Click to expand...
Ah OK, sorry, I misunderstood your post. I don't think that's possible, though.
 
#6
Vinny_G said:
Ah OK, sorry, I misunderstood your post. I don't think that's possible, though.
Click to expand...
No worries!

As to the OP, D'addario has a string tension website that lets you compare different string tensions with tuning, scale length, string composition etc... and even if you don't go with D'addario s it may give you a rough estimate of relative tensions with gauges.

I'm a big fan of putting together custom balanced tension sets on guitars. D'addario makes some balanced sets for both guitars and bass and you can tweak those with further using that site.

I think if I do go with round rounds for the bass I'm going to use an ultra light gauge set which I found Daddario made for four string but not for five.. so I used that site to actually fine-tune their set a little bit. Hadn't thought to crunch the numbers for their flats or half rounds.
 
#7
With flats you may want to focus more on the overall tone than the tension. They may end up staying on the bass for years, even decades. I tried quite a few brands before I settled on GHS Precision Flats. For me they cover more bases. Your desired sound may be different. The problem with testing flatwound strings is that they sound brighter for a few months and then settle in to a darker tone. For example DA Chromes sound really bright at first and then get pretty dark. EB Cobalt Flats sound like roundwounds at first and then mature into brighter sounding flats later on. TI Flats need quite a lot of time before they develop that coveted TI sound. What I like about the GHS flats is that they sounded a little darker at first, but really didn't change much as they aged and still have a great tone that can do just about anything from rock to jazz.

But if you want something in between a roundwound and a flat there are the GHS Pressurewound strings. These can do everything from slap to smooth jazz and sound great doing it. And they last much longer than roundwounds.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Xad
#8
EB 2816 has great , focus and solid tone B and E string on Yamaha trbx505/605, Sterling sub ray5, Sterling Ray35, Cort Action DLX V.

And 2810 also work well on Sterling sub ray5.

But..... I never found a great B string tone on Passive Fender 5 string jazz bass so far.
Deluxe and elite J5 has better B tone but the tone has " NO Jazz bass Soul."

My2cent
 
#9
Yahboy said:
EB 2816 has great , focus and solid tone B and E string on Yamaha trbx505/605, Sterling sub ray5, Sterling Ray35, Cort Action DLX V.

And 2810 also work well on Sterling sub ray5.

But..... I never found a great B string tone on Passive Fender 5 string jazz bass so far.
Deluxe and elite J5 has better B tone but the tone has " NO Jazz bass Soul."

My2cent
Click to expand...

It's solved then, I will sell my new bass.
 
#10
Papuzzo said:
With flats you may want to focus more on the overall tone than the tension. They may end up staying on the bass for years, even decades. I tried quite a few brands before I settled on GHS Precision Flats. For me they cover more bases. Your desired sound may be different. The problem with testing flatwound strings is that they sound brighter for a few months and then settle in to a darker tone. For example DA Chromes sound really bright at first and then get pretty dark. EB Cobalt Flats sound like roundwounds at first and then mature into brighter sounding flats later on. TI Flats need quite a lot of time before they develop that coveted TI sound. What I like about the GHS flats is that they sounded a little darker at first, but really didn't change much as they aged and still have a great tone that can do just about anything from rock to jazz.

But if you want something in between a roundwound and a flat there are the GHS Pressurewound strings. These can do everything from slap to smooth jazz and sound great doing it. And they last much longer than roundwounds.
Click to expand...

Thanks, this is the kind of post I was looking for. I've used flats in the past on a 4 string and do remember the tone dulling over time, not really in a bad way but it was certainly noticeable (I think they were D'Addario, it's been a few years)...
 
#11
As for the five string B string aspect, I didn't notice any brand having a floppy B string, but certain brands have a B string that just sounds great on a 34" bass. I have a Sire P7-5 and have to admit the best sounding flatwound B string may go to D'addario. It had a deep woody, thumpy sound, the only thing I didn't like was the tension on the G and D strings. Cobalt flats have less tension than most flatwounds, but the B string was fine. GHS Precision flats have a great B string and the D and G string tensions seem a little less tight that DA's, but they have a darker tone that is pretty much the definition of old school.

If I only had one 5-string bass and it was a jazz bass, I would probably not use flatwounds and instead would use Pressurewounds, which are like half rounds. If I had to have real flats I would put on EB Cobalt flats. Both of these strings can do an acceptable old school sound when the highs are rolled off. Add the highs back and you have perfect tone for just about everything else.
 
#12
Papuzzo said:
If I only had one 5-string bass and it was a jazz bass, I would probably not use flatwounds and instead would use Pressurewounds, which are like half rounds.
Click to expand...

This is an intriguing idea, actually. I've been planning to put flatwounds on my 4 string jazz as well, and this would be a nice way to mellow out the five string while keeping some variety between the two.
 
#13
Papuzzo said:
If I only had one 5-string bass and it was a jazz bass, I would probably not use flatwounds and instead would use Pressurewounds, which are like half rounds.
Click to expand...

After doing some TB research and stumbling across a ridiculously long thread in homage to GHS PWs, I think I'm sold. Are they long enough for a through-body bridge?
 
#17
MartinB said:
The B on a GHS Pressurewound set is only .128, and they don't make a larger single string. Personally I found it a bit too floppy on a 34" five-string Precision.
Click to expand...

That's fair and I did notice that as well. My assumption is that, being flattish, the string would be a little tighter than an equally sized roundwound. Anyway, what gauge do you like for your P when it comes to the B string?
 
#18
BK Bass said:
That's fair and I did notice that as well. My assumption is that, being flattish, the string would be a little tighter than an equally sized roundwound.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't call the Pressurewounds "flattish" as such, but they're in fact slightly stiffer and higher in tension compared to typical rounds of similar sizes.

I tried the 128B with the ML7200 set (44-58-80-102), and didn't find it "floppy" as such, although I can see why it may feel looser compared to the rest that comes in the factory 5-string set (44-62-84-106-128).
 
#19
michael_t said:
I tried the 128B with the ML7200 set (44-58-80-102), and didn't find it "floppy" as such, although I can see why it may feel looser compared to the rest that comes in the factory 5-string set (44-62-84-106-128).
Click to expand...

Now there's an idea to try. I wonder why, then, the five string set has such an apparent discrepancy in relative gauges? Is it a matter of balancing tension across the fretboard for sake of the neck?
 
#20
Good point! I was using the M7200-5 set, so the relative lack of tension on the B compared to the other four strings may have made it more seem more annoying.
I've switched to roundwounds now. I'm not a fan of the way they sound - I much prefer the Pressurewounds. But the gigantic .145 B does feel nicely balanced with the rest of the strings!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Root 5

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back