TIs are wonderful on my Stingray 5. Takes away the brittleness of the 3-band EQ. The low B is a .136 and matches up nicely with the .100 E. I do substitute the stock .070 A for their extra long scale .072 though. A subtle difference, but well worth it to me. I had retired this bass from "main 5-string" status, but with the flats it has once again become one of my most used instruments. Hope this is of some help.
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FLATS ON A 5? (Flats on a string ray?)
- Thread starter Bill Murray
- Start date
I play flats on a Ray. Like them. Ran a BEAD set for a while. Like those too. It’s hard to not get a ray to growl no matter what is on it.
I have 2 Stingray5s and after 2 decades of only roundwounds I recently strung one of them with Magma Ultra Flats (Argentinean brand, 35€ and they're totally comparable to some 50€ LaBella LTFs I use on my fretless, justa a tiny little stiffer, but still real soft playing). Also, I've forever known and loved the Bernard thing (and many others'), knew the Ray with flats staple status (not as iconic as the P with flats thing -which I also love- but still very common). Feel so stupid for not having done this before. Flats complement the natural "in-your-face-ness" of a Stingray while reinforcing its low/lo-mid authority. I'm definitely keeping it this way, feels like the right choice for most of my fingerstyle needs (too bad I'm mostly a punk pick player, yeah, I know 
).
Sorry, no low B in this song (only I've recorded with it so far), but you can get the overall thickness and articulation. Still, low B is as solid as ever on a Stingray5. But even on weaker basses I've consistently found the low B to be less of an issue when using flats than roundwounds. I've had several 5 string flat sets (both put in fretless and fretted basses) and IME they're better at "sounding like the same set of strings"/"sounding like the same bass" (timbre going to hell when playing notes on the low B string is a common complaint). I've indeed experienced roundwounds to have more variability in that aspect.
).Sorry, no low B in this song (only I've recorded with it so far), but you can get the overall thickness and articulation. Still, low B is as solid as ever on a Stingray5. But even on weaker basses I've consistently found the low B to be less of an issue when using flats than roundwounds. I've had several 5 string flat sets (both put in fretless and fretted basses) and IME they're better at "sounding like the same set of strings"/"sounding like the same bass" (timbre going to hell when playing notes on the low B string is a common complaint). I've indeed experienced roundwounds to have more variability in that aspect.
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IvanBassist
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I had flats on my SR5 and wasn’t a fan. However I do like it with half rounds.
For about a year I owned a fretless 5 string with a 34" strung with .45-.132 D'addario Chromes. One of the things that stood out to me about that bass was how tight the low B felt and how punchy it was compared to my 34" scale 5 strings with roundwounds where I typically use .45 to .130 or .135.
That being said.. out of the three 5 strings I've owned, and the two I still own which does not include the fretless bass anymore with the tight punchy B, there's nothing going on with the Low B string that I haven't been able to solve with bass setup, EQ, or muting techniques, which lately I've been using fretwraps to handle.
That being said.. out of the three 5 strings I've owned, and the two I still own which does not include the fretless bass anymore with the tight punchy B, there's nothing going on with the Low B string that I haven't been able to solve with bass setup, EQ, or muting techniques, which lately I've been using fretwraps to handle.
I currently use Ernie Ball Slinky flats on my 5-string P bass. As soon as we will be out of lockdown I will bring my Stingray to my trusted luthier for a PU & preamp replacement and I'm thinking of restringing it with the same strings.
Had LTFs on a basic Wick Streamer 5, no issues with the B, did have the mids pushed up at the amp but that ax was pretty mid scoopy. Somewhere I have a short vid with decent audio of that very setup.....
I’ve used D’Addario Chromes on all 5 strings I’ve owned, in recent years on Lakland 55- series.
The B string is fine. No flabby flapping. Perfectly useful. Just one more string. I love Chromes.
Starting at about 2:03, here’s a few measures featuring only the B and E. These are chromes on a 55-14 Lakland. Caveat: I’m not the songwriter or producer and this is not a “band”, though I’m pleased to get the call. All players on the sessions were hired.
The B string is fine. No flabby flapping. Perfectly useful. Just one more string. I love Chromes.
Starting at about 2:03, here’s a few measures featuring only the B and E. These are chromes on a 55-14 Lakland. Caveat: I’m not the songwriter or producer and this is not a “band”, though I’m pleased to get the call. All players on the sessions were hired.
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I have Chromes on my StingRay5 now. They're my favorite strings to use with it (and my current favorite strings in general, so no surprise there).
Chromes on my StingRay 5 since the day I got it.......July, 2000. Tried Slinkies once...meh. Hate the feel, noise, and clankiness of roundwounds.
B strings on double basses were common many years ago.
I’m sure they weren’t round wounds.https://www.musiciansfriend.com/orc...MI_pKp17Gy7wIVDtvACh0kCwndEAQYAyABEgI52_D_BwE
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/orc...MI_pKp17Gy7wIVDtvACh0kCwndEAQYAyABEgI52_D_BwE
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/orc...MI_pKp17Gy7wIVDtvACh0kCwndEAQYAyABEgI52_D_BwE
I’m sure they weren’t round wounds.https://www.musiciansfriend.com/orc...MI_pKp17Gy7wIVDtvACh0kCwndEAQYAyABEgI52_D_BwE
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/orc...MI_pKp17Gy7wIVDtvACh0kCwndEAQYAyABEgI52_D_BwE
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/orc...MI_pKp17Gy7wIVDtvACh0kCwndEAQYAyABEgI52_D_BwE
I have EB Slinky Cobalt Flats on my Roscoe Beck V, and it's the best that bass has ever sounded.
(my guess is most people wouldn't know they were flats)
I had a '98 Stingray 5 - fantastic bass, that I now regret letting it go (some 15 years ago).
My string "universe" was pretty limited back then, but I am now certain Flats would have been the answer on that bass.
(my guess is most people wouldn't know they were flats)
I had a '98 Stingray 5 - fantastic bass, that I now regret letting it go (some 15 years ago).
My string "universe" was pretty limited back then, but I am now certain Flats would have been the answer on that bass.
My son has a Carvin five string that has a 35.25 inch scale. I found a used set of extra long scale TI Flats here on talkbass. We put the TIs on the Carvin...........bliss! And the B string sounds perfect!
Now keep in mind that the Carvin is 1.25 inches longer than a standard 34" 5 string and that might be a reason why the B string sounds so good.
Now keep in mind that the Carvin is 1.25 inches longer than a standard 34" 5 string and that might be a reason why the B string sounds so good.
Try it. If you like how it sounds, keep it! You can always add compression or EQ to add definition if it sounds a little muddy
I have 2 Stingray5s and after 2 decades of only roundwounds I recently strung one of them with Magma Ultra Flats (Argentinean brand, 35€ and they're totally comparable to some 50€ LaBella LTFs I use on my fretless, justa a tiny little stiffer, but still real soft playing). Also, I've forever known and loved the Bernard thing (and many others'), knew the Ray with flats staple status (not as iconic as the P with flats thing -which I also love- but still very common). Feel so stupid for not having done this before. Flats complement the natural "in-your-face-ness" of a Stingray while reinforcing its low/lo-mid authority. I'm definitely keeping it this way, feels like the right choice for most of my fingerstyle needs (too bad I'm mostly a punk pick player, yeah, I know
Sorry, no low B in this song (only I've recorded with it so far), but you can get the overall thickness and articulation. Still, low B is as solid as ever on a Stingray5. But even on weaker basses I've consistently found the low B to be less of an issue when using flats than roundwounds. I've had several 5 string flat sets (both put in fretless and fretted basses) and IME they're better at "sounding like the same set of strings"/"sounding like the same bass" (timbre going to hell when playing notes on the low B string is a common complaint). I've indeed experienced roundwounds to have more variability in that aspect.
Awesome job bro - really enjoyed that.
I have GHS Precision Flats on my 4 string Stingray copy and they sound really nice. I have had some people I respect compliment my tone. It is a cool combo.
I hate to be that guy, but I've never played a flat wound B string I've liked. I've played Chromes, Dunlops and GHS 5 string flats, and I've liked all of the sets except for the B string.
TI's are too loose (and expensive) for my blood, and I'm a little shy about spending more money on flats, so I called it quits on my flats journey (for now, of course)
The feel of TIs is personal, of course, but I've had the same sets of TIs on a couple basses (4s and 5s) for the last 10+ years. They were expensive when I bought them, but amortized over time, they are very inexpensive.
I have Fender medium flats on my 5. The B is a 128, and I think it's smaller size helps to balance it with the rest of the set. I like the mid punch they have when played hard- very articulate strings.
