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Flats Help Please

jessicabass

jessicabass

Dec 22, 2009
575
291
38
ohio
#1
Im looking for something that is thuddy yet punchy, does this exist?
Also: Can you get a thicker tone with lighter guage or is it needed to go heavier? Example ghs 55-70-90-105 will you get the same sound through amp settings as if you had 45-60-75-95?
Also: Are there flats that wear in faster than others?
 
#2
I like using DR flats to get the sound you’re talking about. They have a real upright sound in that they have a quick attack (punch) but then thud right out. They have that sound right out of the box so I haven’t noticed a need to work them in and I’ve had a handful of their sets on my 4 strings and 5 strings.

Regarding guage, I’m not sure about thicker tone with lighter gauges. I do lean toward the heavier gauges though to ensure maximum thickness!
 
#8
Muckaluck said:
I like using DR flats to get the sound you’re talking about. They have a real upright sound in that they have a quick attack (punch) but then thud right out. They have that sound right out of the box so I haven’t noticed a need to work them in and I’ve had a handful of their sets on my 4 strings and 5 strings.

Regarding guage, I’m not sure about thicker tone with lighter gauges. I do lean toward the heavier gauges though to ensure maximum thickness!
Click to expand...

I just got a set of these a couple of weeks ago and really like them for the above reasons also.
 
#15
jessicabass said:
Im looking for something that is thuddy yet punchy, does this exist?
Also: Can you get a thicker tone with lighter guage or is it needed to go heavier? Example ghs 55-70-90-105 will you get the same sound through amp settings as if you had 45-60-75-95?
Also: Are there flats that wear in faster than others?
Click to expand...

Hi jessicabass! Please read my somewhat recent thoughts on flats- which I've been using for about 45 years on many of my basses. I'm also a bass repair tech, see and hear and play on a LOT of different strings!

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f16/flatwounds-history-question-939417/
 
#16
Another vote for the Sadowsky Black Labels. I have them on roughly half of my basses.

A bit more thump and brighter than Ernie Balls, and better tension than the TI's, which are the other two sets of flats I have had the most experience with. So they are a good match for me. They could very well be manufactured by one of the other manufacturers (for all I know) they just work for me.
 
#17
Holdsg said:
Another vote for the Sadowsky Black Labels. I have them on roughly half of my basses.

A bit more thump and brighter than Ernie Balls, and better tension than the TI's, which are the other two sets of flats I have had the most experience with. So they are a good match for me. They could very well be manufactured by one of the other manufacturers (for all I know) they just work for me.
Click to expand...

The Sadowsky strings are made to their spec's by LaBella

I was shocked when I learned that. They are as far away from regular LaBella's as you can get.
 
#18
I use fender 9050L 045, 060, 080 and .100 on my jazz and p bass. They are great strings and u can't beat the $20 price. Since that's the only gauge I use, can't comment on others. For $40 bucks you can try 2 different gauge sets and see what u think.
 
#20
Try some foam under the strings near the bridge. Will pretty much make any strings thumpy. Vary the width, thickness to get different tones. Also vary the amount of foam thickness under each string for more variety.
 

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