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Flats for a retro stingray?
- Thread starter Just Wrong
- Start date
Doesn't it come wearing flats?
They did in the 70's (GHS Brite Flats, if I remember correctly).
I’m a big fan of the Ernie Ball Group flats, personally. I think they sit in a nice spot that’s sorta right in the middle both in terms of tension and tone.
They’re not as thumpy as LaBellas but not as middy as TIs. They’re not as stiff as LaBellas but not as floppy as TIs. I like the Group IV (to me, the tension is about equal to a set of medium rounds) but I know that the group III is a popular set, too.
I’ve also heard good things about DR Legends (formulated to be like the original Fender flats), Sadowsky and Dunlop but I haven’t tried them.
I find LaBellas, RotoSound and GHS to play like bridge cables and they’re very thuddy.
TIs are very flexible and low tension and they have very prominent mids. I love them on J-basses and Rickenbackers but I don’t care for them on P-basses or Stingrays. I can’t really quantify why, though.
They’re not as thumpy as LaBellas but not as middy as TIs. They’re not as stiff as LaBellas but not as floppy as TIs. I like the Group IV (to me, the tension is about equal to a set of medium rounds) but I know that the group III is a popular set, too.
I’ve also heard good things about DR Legends (formulated to be like the original Fender flats), Sadowsky and Dunlop but I haven’t tried them.
I find LaBellas, RotoSound and GHS to play like bridge cables and they’re very thuddy.
TIs are very flexible and low tension and they have very prominent mids. I love them on J-basses and Rickenbackers but I don’t care for them on P-basses or Stingrays. I can’t really quantify why, though.
- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,118
- 256,164
- Disclosures
- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
EB Group 4 flats are now entering their 31st month of play on my '79 StingRay.
In these 45 years with the bass, I have used stainless steel rounds, NPS rounds, coated SS and coated NPS rounds, tapewounds, and ground wounds, e.g. Brite Flats. (mostly SS rounds haha)
It's my belief that no matter the strings, a StingRay will sound like a StingRay. Settled on the Group 4 flats for a variety of reasons. I did not get along with the "stickiness" of Brite Flats, personally. They feel stiff to me YMMV and all that. They bring the canonical Bernard Edwards tone. He also played flats, and recorded through [deep rabbit hole here]
These same Group Flats will still be on my 'Ray 31 months from today, and likely well beyond.
In these 45 years with the bass, I have used stainless steel rounds, NPS rounds, coated SS and coated NPS rounds, tapewounds, and ground wounds, e.g. Brite Flats. (mostly SS rounds haha)
It's my belief that no matter the strings, a StingRay will sound like a StingRay. Settled on the Group 4 flats for a variety of reasons. I did not get along with the "stickiness" of Brite Flats, personally. They feel stiff to me YMMV and all that. They bring the canonical Bernard Edwards tone. He also played flats, and recorded through [deep rabbit hole here]
These same Group Flats will still be on my 'Ray 31 months from today, and likely well beyond.
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I initially was going to suggest the GHS Brite Flats as they were the original factory strings for the Stingray as mentioned by @Wood and Wire, but I do agree with @Morrighan about their sticky feel. I've also used Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Flats (aka "Group Flats") and found them a lot more pleasant to play on as they're smoother like flats should be.
- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,118
- 256,164
- Disclosures
- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
I worried when I first installed the EB Group 4 flats that I would come to hate the G string. That's because I liked that string so much out of the pack, I was certain it would settle in and lose all the goodness I was hearing.
This did not happen
The G is even more musical to my ears now that the set settled in. Didn't take long, really. The entire set feels balanced, save for a couple super-wonderful sweet spots up there beyond 12th fretland. Not that I mind.
This did not happen
The G is even more musical to my ears now that the set settled in. Didn't take long, really. The entire set feels balanced, save for a couple super-wonderful sweet spots up there beyond 12th fretland. Not that I mind.
I worried when I first installed the EB Group 4 flats that I would come to hate the G string. That's because I liked that string so much out of the pack, I was certain it would settle in and lose all the goodness I was hearing.
This did not happen
The G is even more musical to my ears now that the set settled in. Didn't take long, really. The entire set feels balanced, save for a couple super-wonderful sweet spots up there beyond 12th fretland. Not that I mind.
I have one slightly used set of the Group IV, one brand new set of the Group IV and one brand new 5-string set of the Brite Flats in my personal stash, but I don't have the right basses to put them on. I was looking into acquiring a Stingray 5 a couple of months ago, but sadly the deal fell through.
I had EBMM Cobalt flats on my classic (no longer own it) and still have them on my 3 band, I think they are a perfect match.
I have La Bella 760FS-TB on my ‘77 Ray.
Perhaps not historically accurate, but I like the tension and the smooth feel, plus the G holds its own.
Perhaps not historically accurate, but I like the tension and the smooth feel, plus the G holds its own.
No suggestion for flats as I don’t care for them although do have one bass with TI’s.
I will say that I was disappointed when I got my Retro until I actually played with the volume and tone knobs. The bass responds dramatically to slight changes of both. It is honestly the best sounding Ray or any bass really that I have ever owned. They really did something special with this one.
I will say that I was disappointed when I got my Retro until I actually played with the volume and tone knobs. The bass responds dramatically to slight changes of both. It is honestly the best sounding Ray or any bass really that I have ever owned. They really did something special with this one.
I would gravitate towards LaBella DTF's on a Stingray. Their thump is a little more bassy than other strings and that's a good compliment for the Stingray pickup position.
I have Fender 9050L flats on my Stingray (and a couple of my P basses). Great sounding strings.
I used TI's for a long, long time (like more than 20 years) so needless to say I like them, but I recently decided to have a bass I had not been playing for a while set up and and put new string on it. The TI's are super expensive now--everything is but I guess nickel is really high! This time I bought a set of LaBella Low Tension Flats.
I really like these! They're a bit firmer feeling than the TI's and the high's are more articulate. We'll see how they age but so far I think I've found a new favorite!
I really like these! They're a bit firmer feeling than the TI's and the high's are more articulate. We'll see how they age but so far I think I've found a new favorite!
Dunlop String Lab Flats might be the ticket.
Tension seems to be right in the middle of the suggestions here so far.
Focus is on the fundamental.
I find they have a nice balanced range without favoring lows, mids or highs.
Ymmv.
Much prefer them over TI’s and LaBellas.
But that’s just me.
Tension seems to be right in the middle of the suggestions here so far.
Focus is on the fundamental.
I find they have a nice balanced range without favoring lows, mids or highs.
Ymmv.
Much prefer them over TI’s and LaBellas.
But that’s just me.
