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Flats like GHS Precision Flats but with stronger midrange?
- Thread starter e-flat
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- flats labella precision bass
Eventually I will pony up and buy a set of Ti Jazz Flats
They seem to a "reference point" within the world of Flats, and I'd like to experience them for myself. Thanks for the input, guys!
Hmm... I have tried all of these. Both Sadowsky and LaBella have string low mids. Are you looking for more mid and high mid? Maybe more sustain? Light chromes with the tone rolled back a touch fit that bill nicely. And as others have said (surprised it wasn't sooner), the TI's really are hard to beat.
GHS Brite flats do have more sustain and mids like rounds or chromes, but I found the feel to be very rough. The grinding down of the outer wrap makes a flat plateau on the surface of each wrap, and the edges are sharp, I found. Finger noise was low, but they felt very tacky. Juse IME.
I got great results from the GHS pressure wound. They seem to do what the Brite flats are supposed to do.
GHS Brite flats do have more sustain and mids like rounds or chromes, but I found the feel to be very rough. The grinding down of the outer wrap makes a flat plateau on the surface of each wrap, and the edges are sharp, I found. Finger noise was low, but they felt very tacky. Juse IME.
I got great results from the GHS pressure wound. They seem to do what the Brite flats are supposed to do.
for me flats gut too much of that agression that makes a jazz bass a jazz bass
try fender flats
try fender flats
I understand that you don't like "clanky" Chromes. I personally love my Chromes. ... after a month or so. The initial clank is, however, a price I am willing to pay for the sound that emerges after a while. I usually dial the tone down a bit (or the treble on active EQ) while my Chromes are new. I'm not saying that Chromes are what the OP seeks (they do come in a selection of gauges and are smooth to the touch, though), but I just wanted to point out that they need to be broken in before they are at their best. (IMHO and all that jazz).
I had a 45-100 set of Chromes and while I enjoyed the sound once they settled in a bit, they were a bit too high in the tension department and had something going on in the high midrange that I wasn't digging. I may revisit a set in the future ... I'm curious about the 40-95 set as I imagine the tension would be more to my liking. Thanks for the input guys!
I actually customize my gauges. I play Chromes in a .045 .060 .080 .105 set, but tune those to DGCF, so it may be too heavy for medium-light tension on a standard tuning. I'd suggest. 040 .055 .075 .100 for standard tuning.
PS. I am picky about my tension. I try to get balanced tension sets whenever I can.
PS. I am picky about my tension. I try to get balanced tension sets whenever I can.
Liking mine. I haven't put them on a jazz, but I have on a 50's style single coil P. Perhaps adjust pickup height or something of that nature? Jazzes are scooped because of the pickup config, that might account for some of it.
Try TI flats. Great midrange, works wonderfully on a Jazz. It does lack the hi-end growl of rounds, but it keeps the aggressive mid range that makes a Jazz a Jazz.
Yes, I agree! I don't really understand why I got quoted though, as I didn't mention feel or where the strings are made to Sadowskys specs.
The sound is quite similiar to LaBellas I agree too but I wouldn't say that they are a brighter version of LaBellas flatwounds, as they sound so different from each other.
Freekmagnet
Commercial User
I've been on the Jazz Bass w/ flats quest for a while now.
Chromes are bright, clanky and thin sounding. Hated 'em.
TI's sound pretty cool, but feel like wet noodles. Very expensive. Really hated 'em.
Labellas I liked, but the tension was killing me. The thump was cool, but the scoopy midrange of the strings kinda killed what makes the Jazz sound like a Jazz.
Sadowskys (made by Labella) have a good thump but are a little brighter without being harsh. Mids are present and nicely defined. Medium tension. So far, I like these best on my J. I won't be changing them for a while.
+1 on Sadowskys.
Chromes are bright, clanky and thin sounding. Hated 'em.
TI's sound pretty cool, but feel like wet noodles. Very expensive. Really hated 'em.
Labellas I liked, but the tension was killing me. The thump was cool, but the scoopy midrange of the strings kinda killed what makes the Jazz sound like a Jazz.
Sadowskys (made by Labella) have a good thump but are a little brighter without being harsh. Mids are present and nicely defined. Medium tension. So far, I like these best on my J. I won't be changing them for a while.
+1 on Sadowskys.
This is good to hear!
40-100 Sadowsky set is what I have on the way to try next on this Jazz.
The most underrated string for what the OP is describing is the Ernie Ball conventional stainless steel flats. They have a little bit of mids, or growl, but not as much as the Fenders, and a tad more grit than La Bellas.
Freekmagnet
Commercial User
Cool! I'm pretty happy with them - hopefully they'll work for you as well.
On another note, I have Sadowskys on my Stingray as well. They sound pretty good, but they're just a little too modern sounding for me. I'm getting some GHS Precision Flats in the mail today to put on the 'Ray.
I have to respectfully respond to this.
I've played low tension rounds all my career and found the TI flats to be in the same tension ballpark as any decent round wound string. I think what throws folks off TI's is that they expect the higher tension of standard flats and are thus put off from the low tension. And yes, they aren't for everyone, but i love them and recommend them to anyone wanting to try flats after having played rounds for expressly their low tension and ease of use in transitioning. Just IMO
Freekmagnet
Commercial User
In response to your response, that's an absolutely fair assessment. If the TIs had a medium gauge (which I don't believe they do), they might have worked for me, but part of what I want from flats is a nice, firm tension.
And, they're twice the price of Sads and Labellas. If you can get a used set here on TB, I'd try them out first before shelling $70-$80 for them.
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Yes, if T-I would make the A string the same tension as the rest of the set, which I agree overall is very similar to a 40's conventional rounds set, and if the pure nickel wrap didn't make my fingertips black, I would consider using them.
I hear ya, but I really think that tension alone is not the entire reason that these strings feel loose. With flatwounds, there is more surface area in contact with your fingers, than with rounds. Because of this, many, if not most people, get more of a grip with a typical plucking stroke on a flatwound surface. The added grip can make it harder for many to release the string in a controlled way, leading to a bit more string excursion than they would normally have with a roundwound. Yeah, it may be totally a technique issue to be overcome, but IMO, when you couple added grip of the flatwound surface, with the less than typical tension offered by the TI set, you can get offput by the added difficulty in controlling the string, and attribute it solely to the string tension.
I hear you, and in response, it must be known that I'm on a lot of cold medication and have been cooped up in my apartment for the last couple days. I'm probably just crotchety and looking to defend TI flats, because I love them. There's practically no change in tension between them and the TI SuperAlloy's, so I can (and do) switch back and forth effortlessly on my Pbass depending upon my mood. It's wonderful.
