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Flats on a modern active bass

Rip Topaz

Rip Topaz

Aug 12, 2005
8,664
918
Willow Street, PA
#1
I'm debating new strings for a 5-string, active pickup/pre, 35" scale bass.

I've got Chromes (flats) on my other basses, but they are passive P's. Totally different animals from the active Ibanez BTB that I'm debating flats on.

I love everything about Chromes but I'm wondering if anyone uses them on a 35" scale bass. I've used them on Jazz basses before, so it's not too much of a stretch, but that longer scale length has me wondering.

Anyone have any experience with flats on a longer scale length active bass? (FYI, asked in the BTB club but got no response before my post because buried.)
 
#3
Scale length would be the only thing I'm worried about...it might start tapering off before the string hits the nut securely (had that problem with my USA Peavey Cirrus 5'er)

If it fits, it ships. I personally like the sound of Chromes on a nice, full response range active bass. Sounded fantastic on my Ibanez CTB5 with the EMGs.
 
#4
I don't have any 35" scale basses, but here's my experience. I bought a Music Man CA 34 two years ago. It sounded great with the original strings. When they started to die I replaced them with Slinky Cobalts and the bass sounded like CRAP. I tried every EQ knob on the amp and the bass and it just sounded lousy. I put the bass away for several months and only played by passive P-Bass with D'Addario Chromes. I was seriously thinking of selling the Music Man because I felt bad that it was just sitting in its case. I decided to give it one more chance and I put Chromes on it. It's like a whole new bass! Very 'punchy' (I hate overworn expressions but I think we all know what punchy means) and lots of low end. What a tremendous difference!
 
#6
Hey, Rip. I thought I answered your question in the Ibanez club, but just now noticed I didn't. Sorry about that.

The TIs sound incredible through my active fiver. They are the most musical strings I have ever played; period. Tight lows, growly mids, and smooth highs. Honestly, if they somehow could have just a bit of inherent upper-mid grind to them, they would be absolutely perfect.

Rob
 
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#9
I've had chromes on both my Fender MIM jazz 5 deluxe and my Warwick thumb 5 BO. The strings sounded good with both with all the chocolaty tone you could want but I missed the shimmer you get with rounds on an active bass especially on the Thumb. So I switched them back to rounds. Still I wouldn't hesitate to suggest them if you want to try it for yourself.
 
#10
Wookieonbass said:
I've had chromes on both my Fender MIM jazz 5 deluxe and my Warwick thumb 5 BO. The strings sounded good with both with all the chocolaty tone you could want but I missed the shimmer you get with rounds on an active bass especially on the Thumb. So I switched them back to rounds. Still I wouldn't hesitate to suggest them if you want to try it for yourself.
Click to expand...
See that's the thing. I'm really hoping I retain enough of that "shimmer" in the upper mids that I'm currently getting with rounds.

Guess I gotta give it a shot. I'll post clips when I make the change.
 
#15
2 things, Rip:
1) I play fretless, so take that into consideration w/ my above analysis

b- Everybody and their mother it seems complains about the wet noodle, limp **** feeling of TI's, and I gotta question it. Personally, I have a very hard time playing a standard set of 45-105 rounds for more than about 20 minutes without cramping and hand/wrist fatigue setting in. Give me a set of 40-95 and I'm fine. Make 'em round core DR's or Foderas, and I can play all night! The TI's are the same way- just a *touch* higher in tension, but the flexibility they have is to die for- at least for me. And BTW, I DO NOT play with a light right hand. I can dig in fairly well and still have my G set to 1.5mm. ;)

Rob
:bassist:10001110101:thumbsup:
 
#18
Owen Biddle has been using LaBella flats on his crazy high end active 6string, and he gets a GREAT tone. It's worth trying! Flats are more versatile than most people give them credit for. And hey, you can ALWAYS go back to rounds!
 
#19
I've liked Chromes on 4 string basses, but haven't found the B to sound good on anything, diff woods, saddles, p/ups, etc, (all 34", tho)- haven't tried them on 35"s.
Webstrings Detroit Flats B string has a far better bottom end on the basses I've tried them on, and the other strings all are even in tonality across them. They're s/s flats. Just be sure to bend/crimp, before cutting flats when installing (I know some say they don't, but they may have put them on 20 yrs ago, and forgot, or just got lucky).
Just measured them, and they should fit 35", depending on the distance from the saddle to the ball end on those individual bridges:
1 5/8" or less, you should be ok- 36 3/4" from ball to ends of shortest outer wrap (measure your ball end-to-nut length).
 

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