Flats - Stingray Classic 5 - Any Suggestions?

[CoffeeLove]

Have landed at a fairly happy place with GHS Pressurewounds on my Classic 5, but want to experiment with some "flats or tape" strings, and hopefully for $60 or less.

The GOAL is to
1) Add more thump/roundness but not sound completely dead, or feel like I am playing a big steel cable.
2) Have good note definition/articulation with finger-style playing, I don't do much slap or use a pick.
3) Continue to avoid the overly bright and clanky vibe (GHS Pressurewounds have been awesome for this).
4) If possible, maintain some of the edge/growl of the Stingray, but I am referring to more of the low-mids edge/growl of the Ray, not higher frequency sizzle/brightness.

Every bass I have played with flats has a "depth and roundness" to it that other strings do not, so sort of curious how it would go on the Ray.

 

[AppalachianBen]

Ernie Ball Cobalt flats are regarded around here as the brightest flats you can try, and are described as growly. Other wise, maybe try Chromes? They are high tension but not too bad I think.

 

[CoffeeLove]

Ernie Ball Cobalt flats are regarded around here as the brightest flats you can try, and are described as growly. Other wise, maybe try Chromes? They are high tension but not too bad I think.

Awesome, thanks for the info.

 

[Ronnie W]

Awesome, thanks for the info.

 

[Ronnie W]

I put Ernie Ball Cobalt flatwounds on my Bongo 5. They are playable & sound fine. I'm not a flatwound player and only tried them at the suggestion of Ernie Ball designer when they first came out. I rarely change strings, so they're still on there haha

 

[michael_t]

1) Add more thump/roundness but not sound completely dead, or feel like I am playing a big steel cable.
2) Have good note definition/articulation with finger-style playing, I don't do much slap or use a pick.
3) Continue to avoid the overly bright and clanky vibe (GHS Pressurewounds have been awesome for this).
4) If possible, maintain some of the edge/growl of the Stingray, but I am referring to more of the low-mids edge/growl of the Ray, not higher frequency sizzle/brightness.

If you find Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats a bit too bright and roundwound-like, you can always try the Ernie Ball Stainless Steels Flats. They're more "flatwound" in their tonal character than the Cobalt Flats, but still with some nice midrange clarity.

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[AboutSweetSue]

Get some lighter gauge Fender Flats and slather them in Eucerin cream or Aquaphor…once. Wipe that crap off immediately and voila.

 

[michael_t]

Get some lighter gauge Fender Flats...

They don't come in a 5-string set.

 

[AboutSweetSue]

They don't come in a 5-string set.

 

[Slade N]

2nd for EBMM Cobalt flats. I love them on my EBMM SR5 …mine is 3 band eq

 

[burgerdj]

+1 on Cobalt Flats. You'll love 'em.

 

[bobdabilder]

Cobalt flats do sound good

 

[J-Bass RMR]

On my BFR Stingray Fretless, I have....

Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalt Flats.

(the EB Traditional Flats it came with worked well also)

 

[osonu]

I love the Sadowskys I have on mine

 

[jmlee]

Ernie Ball cobalt flats really suit Stingray pickups. Very punchy and articulate while retaining at least some of the character of flatwound strings. Unique product.

 

[Killing Floor]

TI Jazz are very lively flats. Great if you want lower tension.

Even though it's a stone cold fact that flats on a Ray displeases the Lord, as long as we're not in the same room when lightning strikes it's totally an option. You can even slap on TI and get a good sound.

 

[Paul New]

Does the classic come with bridge mutes?

 

[T Bassman]

I'm rocking D'addario Tapewounds on my vintage Ray with great success. Maybe they make a 5 string set to try?

 

[Bass Ameg]

Boiled EB Cobalt flats are even better, I think they're treated with some kind of grease out of the factory. Now they sound almost like steel rounds.

 

[klyph]

I used chromes for years on my G&L L-1505, which is not too different from a Ray, although certainly not "identical". I loved them (still do, on other axes) and was able to get a wide variety of tones.