Flats on a 5

[TheArchitect]

thundercat uses flats on 6 and sounds amazing

Certainly no reason you couldn't or shouldn't. I struggled with the low B on the LB76 I had back in the day also... Maybe I do just like my action too low for it

 

[Mr_BK]

I have Chromes on a Moollon P5. Nice. But very high tension. And I don't find a lighter gauge B-String or a single string. Which is annoying. The B string is nice though.

I recently put black nylons on a Jazz 5. I really like those. They feel silky and produce an earthy tone unlike flats or rounds. Not bad at all.

 

[BGroovy]

I've experienced this as well. Maybe counterintuitive, what's worked for me, at least, was going with a lighter (.120) flat B string. Set up and pickup height are really important.

Same experience. I’m running the 40-120 Dunlop flats.

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

Are flats on a 5 string common? I suspect it must be but I cannot recall seeing an instrument in that configuration.

I am starting to feel it with flats and think that flats might also solve the floppy B string I struggle with on my 5er. The other thought is E-C but that might require a new nut

I got a nearly new set of D'Addario Chromes from a fellow TB'er at a price I couldn't refuse. It never had occurred to me to use flats on a 5 string. I really am glad I did! YMMV.

BBB

 

[Monkey]

I've used TI flats on my fretless and fretted five-strings for many years (although I rarely play the fretted one). The TI B-string sounds enormous! I'm preparing to start a medium-scale 5-string build and will use TIs. A few years ago, I had a TI B-string that sounded dead and chorus-y (if that makes sense), but it must have been defective. I have not had that problem since.

 

[klyph]

I bought my first 5 string bass in 1987. I wanted flats, but I had to wait almost ten years before finding them for sale in a store. Love flats on a 5. Still play rounds too...

 

[pbass2]

DR Legends on my G&L Kiloton V - sounds....KILLER! Very clear and articulate all the waaaaay down. Punchy AF.
I used to run Chromes on an L2500 with great results too.

 

[jholling]

I have flats on a few 5s. Love them but I find they can have funky overtones as you get higher up the board on the B string. Some sets can be tough to intonate the B.

I’m using Dunlop flats on my 5s at the moment.

Related to this post, I tried LaBella tapes on my 5 string and really struggled to intonate the B string. It was so bad I thought there was something wrong with bridge placement. Nope. Just couldn’t get it to intonate at all. I debated on tapes or flats and picked the wrong one, I guess. NYXL’s work fine for what I need my fiver to do and I’m too cheap to experiment any further after blowing the money on the tapes.

 

[Low Main]

I tried a lot of flatwound B strings. The only one I liked was the DR. YMMV.

I tried a lot of flatwound high C strings. The only ones I liked were the Chrome and the Thomastik. YMMV.

I will need to check out the Magma flats which I haven't tried.

 

[pbass2]

I tried a lot of flatwound B strings. The only one I liked was the DR. YMMV.

I tried a lot of flatwound high C strings. The only ones I liked were the Chrome and the Thomastik. YMMV.

I will need to check out the Magma flats which I haven't tried.

I'm very satisfied with the Legend B string, at least on my Kiloton. I was actually a little concerned that the 125 B would be too light, but it speaks out very clearly, and is very even with the whole set. Sounds quite good up the neck too. Intonation is spot on. More so than some 130 Bs I've tried in the past.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Flats actually do solve the floppy B string problem. That problem happens because the tiny spaces along the windings of roundwound strings accumulate dirt, skin, and oil. Sometimes chicken grease or Eucerin lotion.

That stuff affects the string’s ability to vibrate and we say the string sounds dead.

The gauge of the B string is quite a bit larger than the others. It accumulates gak a lot more quickly and in higher concentration than the others. That’s why people say the B string sounds different on their basses.

Flats have less of the little nook and cranny space on them, so the Eucerin has no place to accumulate, and they don’t really “go dead.” They don’t sound as bright to begin with obviously, but if you like the sound they are very low maintenance.

That makes me wonder if a hybrid coated B & E string set with a normal A, D and G would be more balanced as they wear in. I always notice the B and E strings losing their brightness first on rounds. I love them when they are bright, especially on the lower strings; there's an added richness to the tone.

 

[Bastijnv]

I use 3 Schecter 5 string basses in my metal band, all strung with flats ( PJ with GHS Precision Flats, Jazz with Tomastik Infelds and Apocalyps with Chromes). They all sound magnificent in their own way. No floppy B strings, but they being 35 inch basses may contribute to that. My pedalboard gets me enough clank when needed. Have u considered going with half rounds?

 

[keyofnight]

I use 5s exclusively, and I've tried flats on all of my 5s: a Schecter with soapbars, a Yamaha with P/Js, and a Godin fretless. I loved flats on all of them, but I like to keep different basses with strings that match their vibe and setup requirements. Only the fretless has flats now, for that upright tone.

But yeah, it's good! What bass are you thinking about this for?

 

[funkinbottom]

All four of my 5 string basses have flats. (and are short & med scale)

 

[Altitude]

That makes me wonder if a hybrid coated B & E string set with a normal A, D and G would be more balanced as they wear in. I always notice the B and E strings losing their brightness first on rounds. I love them when they are bright, especially on the lower strings; there's an added richness to the tone.

It’s a solid theory!

 

[TheArchitect]

I use 3 Schecter 5 string basses in my metal band, all strung with flats ( PJ with GHS Precision Flats, Jazz with Tomastik Infelds and Apocalyps with Chromes). They all sound magnificent in their own way. No floppy B strings, but they being 35 inch basses may contribute to that. My pedalboard gets me enough clank when needed. Have u considered going with half rounds?

I have not considered half rounds

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Recording is my primary gig on bass so that tracks.... pun intended...

Well played!

 

[burgerdj]

Gosh, I hope so or I’ve been doing it wrong for a while now! Yes, it’s all good. I’m particularly fond of EB Cobalt Flats on mine.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

I have used TI Jazz flats, Chromes, and EB Cobalt flats on my fretless 5 (Carvin BB75). The EBs are on it now and will brobably stay until replaced…with EBs. I have used TI Jazz flats and EB Cobalt flats on a fretted 5 (Carvin LB75). I prefer the EBs on fretted also.

 

[Methaneman]

Are flats on a 5 string common? I suspect it must be but I cannot recall seeing an instrument in that configuration.

I am starting to feel it with flats and think that flats might also solve the floppy B string I struggle with on my 5er. The other thought is E-C but that might require a new nut

I replaced the rounds on my Yamaha BB735A with DR legends. I just use the P pickup in passive. I have a couple of gigs next weekend, first time with this bass. I'll see how it sounds. Eventually I'm going to buy 4 string precision or another Yamaha.