Flats - Stingray Classic 5 - Any Suggestions?

[Slade N]

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.

im not sure which lord you're serving but m' lord hears flats on a ray and saw that it was good

 

[Killing Floor]

im not sure which lord your serving but m' lord hears flats on a ray and saw that it was good

Points for a Tap tangent!

 

[kmd88]

I have DA Chromes on my Ray and have been liking them. They sound good to me with the fingers, pick or slap. I have a 3 bander but I swapped the pickup to an Aguilar (great p/u btw). Sounds like I'll be trying out the cobalts next due to the enthusiasm for them in this thread.

 

[tchristian]

DA chromes are fulfilling all 4 of your wishes for me on my Cirrus 5.

 

[jasper383]

Chromes and TI Jazz Flats are likely the most popular flats for EBMM basses. Both will suit what you're looking for nicely.

The EBMM cobalt flats are a lot like ground wound strings and don't really sound a lot like flats. I like them, but not sure that they are what you're wanting. IMO

 

[dave64o]

DA chromes are fulfilling all 4 of your wishes for me on my Cirrus 5.

They do the same on my Stingray 5, too.

FWIW, my last four string changes on my Stingray were to Pressurewounds, then Chromes, Pressurewounds again, and back to Chromes. I do like how the Pressurewounds sounded on it but I felt they were not quite as stiff feeling as I prefer. But I also liked their sound enough to give them a second chance. I had the second set of PWs on it for about a year and eventually reached the same conclusion - very happy with the tone, the relative stiffness wasn't bad, but I prefer a slightly stiffer feeling string. I prefer the Chromes (or nickel Lo Riders for roundwounds)

FWIW 2 - The Chromes also sounded fantastic on my G&L L-2500. They tamed the high end on that monster just enough to suit me so it sounded as aggressive as I wanted it to,, but without the harshness. I then put GHS Precision Flats on it but, after playing on them for about six months, I just bought another set of Chromes up put on it.

Lots of people love EB flats and EB Cobalt flats on their Stingrays, as you can tell by the posts in this thread. I haven't tried either of those yet. But I did try Slinkys and Cobalts on my Stingray (and other basses) a few times. I got no string life from them and they had a looser feel them I like, so I haven't been tempted to try the flatwound version of either. YMMV, of course.

 

[happygilmour]

I recently changed out my EB Cobalt Flats for GHS Pressurewounds. Nice to have the extra "zing", but I miss the feel of the Cobalts. I think I'll change back when these are dead but EB Cobalt Flats for 5 string prices have gone through the roof!!

 

[Kijuer]

I have EB Cobalt flats on my P and they sound glorious. I am seriously tempted to put them on my Ray too.

 

[iiipopes]

YES!!! The best, most underrated stainless flats, which are also designed for the bass: Ernie Ball Stainless Flats. They do what the OP desires.

 

[wboyd68]

I always used Rotosound Tru bass on my Stingray.

 

[CoffeeLove]

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.

Hahaha! Thank goodness my God forgives

 

[CoffeeLove]

Does the classic come with bridge mutes?

It sure does

 

[spencejm]

Like a couple of others, I have Chromes on my L2000 G&L. I just put them on a few days ago so the the jury is still out but so far I like them better than the Pressure wounds they replaced. They seem to add some of the fullness back. I still don't think they've tamed the treble as much as I'd like but I've only had the bass for a month or so. Still trying to come to terms with those wild pickups!!

I had EB Cobalt flats on my JB-2 and liked them but it turns out I'm one of those lucky ones with body chemistry that makes them corrode in a couple of weeks. It wears TI flats now.

Joe

 

[Yahboy]

EB 2816 or group flat 2810.

You will notice how great the tone from both E and B string , and string to string tone across the finger board are absolutely nice Balance.

Both flat make the cheap ray5 sound unbelievable great.

 

[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.

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

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

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

Cobalt flats do sound good

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

Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalt Flats.

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

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.

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.

They do the same on my Stingray 5, too.

FWIW, my last four string changes on my Stingray were to Pressurewounds, then Chromes, Pressurewounds again, and back to Chromes. I do like how the Pressurewounds sounded on it but I felt they were not quite as stiff feeling as I prefer. But I also liked their sound enough to give them a second chance. I had the second set of PWs on it for about a year and eventually reached the same conclusion - very happy with the tone, the relative stiffness wasn't bad, but I prefer a slightly stiffer feeling string. I prefer the Chromes (or nickel Lo Riders for roundwounds)

FWIW 2 - The Chromes also sounded fantastic on my G&L L-2500. They tamed the high end on that monster just enough to suit me so it sounded as aggressive as I wanted it to,, but without the harshness. I then put GHS Precision Flats on it but, after playing on them for about six months, I just bought another set of Chromes up put on it.

Lots of people love EB flats and EB Cobalt flats on their Stingrays, as you can tell by the posts in this thread. I haven't tried either of those yet. But I did try Slinkys and Cobalts on my Stingray (and other basses) a few times. I got no string life from them and they had a looser feel them I like, so I haven't been tempted to try the flatwound version of either. YMMV, of course.

I recently changed out my EB Cobalt Flats for GHS Pressurewounds. Nice to have the extra "zing", but I miss the feel of the Cobalts. I think I'll change back when these are dead but EB Cobalt Flats for 5 string prices have gone through the roof!!

I have EB Cobalt flats on my P and they sound glorious. I am seriously tempted to put them on my Ray too.

Like a couple of others, I have Chromes on my L2000 G&L. I just put them on a few days ago so the the jury is still out but so far I like them better than the Pressure wounds they replaced. They seem to add some of the fullness back. I still don't think they've tamed the treble as much as I'd like but I've only had the bass for a month or so. Still trying to come to terms with those wild pickups!!

I had EB Cobalt flats on my JB-2 and liked them but it turns out I'm one of those lucky ones with body chemistry that makes them corrode in a couple of weeks. It wears TI flats now.

Joe

Thanks all.
Question: For those that have tried GHS Pressurewounds, how would you compare them to either the EB Cobalt Flats or GHS Precision Flats? I went ahead and purchased a set of each. Going to try them on both my Classic Ray 5 and Fender Jazz 5 active, and just curious what to expect. I have GHS Pressurewounds on both, but curious how either of these flats will differ from the Pressurewounds in the 4 areas mentioned in my initial post, listed below.

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.

 

[dave64o]

I've never put both Pressurewounds and Precision Flats on the same bass, but I have used both sets of strings. Based on my experience, I'd say that you don't get much more old school than Precision Flats, which are currently on my L-2500. Given your goals, I don't thing they're the right string for you. (EDIT: nor do i think they're the right string for me, either, at least not for that bass ).

I've never used Cobalt Flats, but my impression from what I've read on Talkbass is that they're very bright for flats and I suspect they might work well for you. But I'll let someone who's actually used them provide a better answer.

FWIW, I suspect I'd like the sound of them on my Stingray or my L-2500. But I've also been told by other TB members that they're a relatively loose feeling string. I prefer a pretty stiff feeling stting so, based on that, I've never tried them.

 

[Slade N]

Pressure wounds will be the next strings I try on my FSO Jazz lbut haven't tried on my Stingray