flats or near flats for thru body 5 string

[wrench45us]

here's my situation
it seems on a few different basses I've run into issues with the B string having more thud and less sustain than the other strings

now I have a new to me G&L L2500 that I want to string with flats or near flats thru body
so extra length or 35" scale strings work.

I tried extra long GHS Brite Flats last night and got the B string thud not matching the sustain of the other strings.
I checked for string twist and restrung it and that helped only slightly. Is this something that will change with break in? I never had the patience to wait in other cases.

GHS Pressure Wounds do match tone and sustain across strings and I use them on another G&L, but had to string them top side as they weren't long enough for thru body.

I have a set of D'addario half wounds that might be long enough and have given me consistent tone across strings on a Yamaha bass. I'll try those this evening.

It seems counter to my sense of things that B strings of lesser diameter have provided better sustain and consistency across strings.

So if the D'addariso's don't fit or work, what are some alternatives for long fat or flat like strings?

 

[Gorn]

Labella makes sets for through-body basses.

 

[honeyiscool]

Ken Smith Compressor

 

[wrench45us]

Ken Smith Compressor is one of the string sets that hasn't worked for me.
The B was much thuddier than the other strings on my other G&L.

pressure wounds and DR fat beams work on the other G&L, not as string through, but consistent tone/sustain and volume across strings

based on some reviews at basstringsonline, it sounds like D'addario half wounds may be what I'm looking for so I placed an order for the longer set in case the set at home isn't long enough.
The fact that these did work on the Yamaha BB425 strung through body is promising.

also ordered GHS precision flats long as a potential backup

 

[wrench45us]

Last night tried the D'Addario half-wounds as a quick trial on the B and E string. The volume output was so much less than the Brite Flats, I put the Brite Flats back on, but sustain on the B was better but not great. The D'addario may be a solution. I'm going to wait till the Precision Flats show up as the diameter of the B string is much less and it seems from about .128 and less, I don't have this issue.

I'm really going out of my head with this with 5 string B string sustain issue. It seems hit or miss from string set to string set of the same brand and probably models and brands and whatever else.

I read complaints about floppy B strings (tension issues) much more than dead (thuddy -- no sustain) B strings.
I never had any issues with my 1st basses so I always wondered what all the fuss was about.

My Steniberger Spirirt starter bass with Status Graphite double ball half-rounds has wonderful woody tone and string to string consistency and sustain forever. I'm appreciating tat bas more and more. I tried those same strings in single ball configuration on a offshore Zon and a G&L and got the thuddy dead no sustain B string.
My next step up bass a Yamaha BB425 sounds great with D'Addario half wounds. Tried the same strings now on 3 'better' basses and same and got the thuddy dead no sustain B string.

What is going on? Is it electronics? or QA issues with strings? Does sustain improve with break in on think strings or doe sit only deaden more.

The only strings that work on my 'better' basses so far : GHS Pressure Wounds ( I had to top load my other G&L to use these) and DR Fat Beams. I'd like this 'new to me' G&L L2500 to have more of a flatwound string, but there are so many control options I don't want enough mids and highs to take some advantage of all the controls.

Maybe I should just spend the $49 for the LaBella string through long set -- if they work, it would be worth it

 

[vxjoe]

I have same bass, same concerns. I ended up with Chromes over the half rounds. Chromes would not seat using the 132 B string through body. I ended up with through body for E to G. The B string, I top loaded. I raised the pickups up on the low end , bass, side, to get the thud I deserve. Awesome results. If you like the half round strings you might raise the pickups first. If you still can't get enough thud, change strings. Chromes are getting better with use too.

 

[wrench45us]

Interesting
I had considered top loading, but hadn't considered just the b string.

Or raising the pickup. It does seem to be a combination of factors and capture of the ringing of the string is likely one. If I boost bass using the pre amp it holds the note longer.

I' m less interested in thump than matching sustain and tone across strings.

If I play a g on the e string it sounds nothing like the g on the b string and that drives me nuts.

When I find a string set that works that's not the case.

I have a few more options on order

Thanks for your thoughts