Flats for a Gibson SG Bass/EB 3

[Tubehed]

I'm looking for recommendations for short scale or medium scale flats for my SG Bass with Hipshot Supertone bridge. I have Chromes on them right now and like the tone, tension and feel of these strings. But I'm looking to try a set that has more of a traditional flatwound tone. I definitely want something that won't give me that dead E string tone. One thing I like about Chromes is they sound even across all 4 strings.

Also, I'm aware that short scale sets can vary in length. I actually use a set of medium scale Chromes on my SG because the silks won't clear the nut with a SS set.

What works for you on your SG or EB 3?
Also, let's spread some Gibson love in TB land!

 

[michael_t]

I'm looking for recommendations for short scale or medium scale flats for my SG Bass with Hipshot Supertone bridge. I have Chromes on them right now and like the tone, tension and feel of these strings. But I'm looking to try a set that has more of a traditional flatwound tone. I definitely want something that won't give me that dead E string tone.

I don't play a Gibson SG myself, but a very good bassist friend of mine was once raving about the GHS Precision Flats 45-95 on his SG. They're a lot more old-school than the Chromes. I did try the same gauges on my 34" scale P bass once and liked the way all four strings were nicely balanced in tone, including the E with good clarity and definition.

One thing to note... GHS "short scale" is 32.75" in winding length (ball end to silk), which is 0.75" longer than the D'A short scale (32").

 

[michael_t]

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[Tubehed]

Thank Michael!

 

[Tubehed]

The Precision Flats look promising. Any other suggestions?

 

[iiipopes]

I have a friend who has a bass similar to an EB3 (mahogany body, two pickups in similar positions, 2+2 tuners, etc.). He is having the time of his life playing La Bella 760L S flats, 43-104, with consistent tone, good intonation and sustain, and easy feel on the fingers due to the short scale.

The La Bella shorts are also 32 inches of speaking length, but they also make a Medium set that has 34 inches of speaking length, which it looks like will fit on your bass with the extended tail bridge.

Also, not flats per se, but similar, I have had great experience with the GHS Balanced Pure Nickel rounds in short scale. Tonally, they are between conventional rounds and flats, and are exactly as their name: very balanced, very round tone, and a much needed alternative for the short scale bass world, also in 32 3/4 speaking length, which should fit your bass also.

Measure from the ball anchor to the tuner side of the nut, and again from the ball anchorto the center of the E string tuner post. Then find a set of strings that measure between those two numbers and you will be alright.

There is a sticky on top of the strings forum that is a list of manufacturers and their string speaking lengths.

 

[michael_t]

I have had great experience with the GHS Balanced Pure Nickel rounds in short scale. Tonally, they are between conventional rounds and flats, and are exactly as their name: very balanced, very round tone, and a much needed alternative for the short scale bass world, also in 32 3/4 speaking length, which should fit your bass also.

An excellent suggestion!

If I were ever to own a short-scale bass, I wouldn't hesitate to put these on it.

SETS - SHORT SCALE BALANCED NICKELS

 

[RCH]

My main bass is an SG bass with TI flats. I play mostly with a pick, but some fingered as well. I love them and my SG. I have the stock bridge and have to trim back the silk on the end a little bit, but that's no big deal. When people bash Gibson basses I don't pay any attention. I have the SG and an EB2DC and love them both. Both purchased new and neither came with a flaw of any kind. Both sport TI flats.

 

[carrythatweight]

An old friend of mine had an EB-0 that he strung with those Precision Flats as well. I got a lot of opportunity to play it, and it was among my very favorite tones that I've ever had. I used them on my P Bass for a number of years as well. I'd highly recommend them.

 

[iiipopes]

An old friend of mine had an EB-0 that he strung with those Precision Flats as well. I got a lot of opportunity to play it, and it was among my very favorite tones that I've ever had. I used them on my P Bass for a number of years as well. I'd highly recommend them.

Yes, they have good tone.

The issue with short-scale basses is tension v. tone. You can make an E-string to have the same or similar tension, or feel, as the rest of the set, but it may go thumpy because the E-string will be so thick in relation to the scale length and the rest of the set that it loses flexibility and goes thumpy.

Concededly, La Bella solves the issue by risking thump on their 104 short scale flatwound E string to retain consistent feel. GHS chooses the other solution, which is what V. C. Squier did for Fender in the early days, (the standard flats set once they became Fender's primary string supplier was @ 50-100) by making the E-string lesser diameter, compared to what the math might indicate, to retain flexibility, which translates to more consistency of tone.

I prefer the feel consistency, and always keep an extra E string handy in case it goes thump. (Just ask Jason @ Fretnation!)

So it depends on the player's preference for solution to the feel v. tone issue that is inherent on all short-scale basses, especially the E-string. If a player chooses the tonal option, as the GHS Precision Flats and others which have @ 95 E-string, then my recommendation is to raise the E string a little bit to give it more room to vibrate to avoid fret slap due to the lesser tension on that string (string excursion), and the little bit more downforce required to fret it at that point also brings the feel back a little bit compared to the ADG strings.

That's another thing I like about the relatively new GHS Balanced Pure Nickels. Jon and crew have researched core/wrap ratios and get really close to solving the issue on these strings.

This is nothing new. Italian harpsichord makers dealt with this issue 400 years ago as they were figuring out how to extend the range of harpsichords in the bass and keep everything consistent in tone without making the broadside of the harpsichord so long it wouldn't fit anywhere.

 

[lermgalieu]

My main bass is an SG bass with TI flats. I play mostly with a pick, but some fingered as well. I love them and my SG. I have the stock bridge and have to trim back the silk on the end a little bit, but that's no big deal. When people bash Gibson basses I don't pay any attention. I have the SG and an EB2DC and love them both. Both purchased new and neither came with a flaw of any kind. Both sport TI flats.

I don’t have a Gibson, but love the TI flats on my Gretsch junior jet SS.

 

[Koog]

I'd stick with the D'Adarrio Chromes. My ears tell me mine are very traditional sounding. You might find they will mellow out a bit with a few months play on them.

Technique can get you more traditional too. I'm 99% a finger player so, as an example, depending what tones I'm looking for, I change my plucking hand technique between attacking strings with my finger nails, finger tips, the pads of my fingers, the side of my index and middle finger and the side of the knuckle of my index finger. For me, all those areas produce slightly different tones.

The same is true about finding tones relative to the position on the string where the string is plucked. Depending on the song and what I want to achieve, I'll pluck strings anywhere from just in front of the bridge....more string tension, with treble and high mids more present.....all the way to the 12th to 15th fret on the fingerboard....less string tension, with bass tones and low mids more present. And, you'll find spots of variation in between.

There are also fretting hand techniques to create variety, but that's probably a discussion for a different post.

Hope this makes sense and is helpful.

Koog

EDIT for this footnote: I have used Chromes successfully on Gibson SG basses.

 

[MartialDylan]

OP:

La Bella deep talking bass 39-98 for regular tone.

La Bella low tension flexible flats 42-100 for deep tone.

I went through 6 different sets of strings on my SG bass to come up with this conclusion. I know what you’re going through.

 

[WillyW]

Pyramid Gold

the low e started out thumpy, and I thought I made a mistake buying them.

after a couple days pure bliss

 

[TN WOODMAN]

I have an Epiphone EBO I bought used a few years ago. Already had the Supertone bridge and Di Marzio Model 1. It had roundwounds on it and a couple other sets in the gig bag. One were flats. I put these on and absolutely love the sound and feel. Still on and will stay on. I’ve brought this up before with no reply so maybe here is a good time to do so again and help the OP in the process.

Multi color silks on tuner ends . No silk on ball ends. I can mic size if necessary. Definitely not cut down long scale flats. Go.

 

[bigshiny]

I have a 1964 Epiphone Newport and I use Labella Deep Talkin Flats. I think they sound like they were made for the bass.
Just my.02

 

[Jeff Hughes]

Seems like choosing flatwound strings is such a commitment given people seem to never change them.

 

[uwrossl]

Dunlop short scale flats feel and sound phenomenal on my Serek Midwestern. Thumps nicely and still comes out warm and clear in the mix. Phenomenal balance in both tone and tension right out of the package.

 

[el jeffe bass]

I have GHS precision flats on a SS Jaguar, they sound great. I know it’s a different bass but still a shorty. BTW, great looking bass.

 

[GIBrat51]

Seems like choosing flatwound strings is such a commitment given people seem to never change them.

Yes, it is that. Which is one of the reasons there's so much discussion about which ones sound best on what. When a set of strings can cost upwards of $80, experimenting with them is more risk than a lot of people can afford, if they don't give them what they want to hear. I can sort of afford it, but I still do a lot of research and sound-clip listening - with high $$ headphones - before I buy. My wallet whining and crying is not something I like to listen to...