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Flats Users... Please tell me about each brand

jessicabass

jessicabass

Dec 22, 2009
575
291
38
ohio
#1
I want to know peoples take on the brands of flats please.
How they feel and sound for first few weeks and how so afterwards. Tension and such too.
Please be detailed as can be. I figured with all the users we can touch upon most every flat brand.
1. Rotosounds
2. GHS
3. Labella
4. Chromes
5. EB's
6. Sadowsky
7. Fender
8. TI's
9. Detroit City
10. DR
11. Pyramids
12. Black Diamonds
Might be more but thats all i know.
Please keep to new formulas and not the old for some of the brands.
Thanks
 
#2
I use GHS Precision Flatwounds on my Fender P/J. I really never noticed a break-in period (had them now for about 4 months). They sounded great out of the box and still do. Of course they feel awesome. Had to adjust the truss rod a bit as expected. I imagine they will last a very long time. As you can read - I really like them!
 
#3
jessicabass said:
I want to know peoples take on the brands of flats please.
How they feel and sound for first few weeks and how so afterwards. Tension and such too.
Please be detailed as can be. I figured with all the users we can touch upon most every flat brand.
1. Rotosounds
2. GHS
3. Labella
4. Chromes
5. EB's
6. Sadowsky
7. Fender
8. TI's
9. Detroit City
10. DR
11. Pyramids
12. Black Diamonds
Might be more but thats all i know.
Please keep to new formulas and not the old for some of the brands.
Thanks
Click to expand...

TB'rs with nothing else to do might give you details on these, but all you have to do is search each one and you'll get hundreds of personal experiences with them. To ask for folks to summarize all this for you is just simply lazy on your part. :rollno:
 
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#4


That video will give you some food for thought.

Summary - all assume settled in strings.

1. Rotosounds high tension, the video says it all
2. GHS deep, dark, hollow, woody
3. Labella present, clear, upper mid/low treble articulation
4. Chromes bright, can be hollow, eventually thud
5. EB's some midrange grind, similar to Fender, but not as pronounced, can be either neutral or nondescript depending on how you feel
6. Sadowsky reputation is for sizzle, clarity, depth and durability
7. Fender new flats: can be growly, grindy or mellow, very durable, consistent both string-to-string and up the neck, many different sets and gauge combinations; my favorite is the 9050CL 45-60-80-105 for a more balanced feel, less expensive
8. TI's are the best. very round, very versatile. Pure nickel wrap can make some players' fingers black; less tension, some say floppy
9. Detroit City no experience; reports of inconsistency
10. DR medium high tension
11. Pyramids high tension; folks either love them or hate them
12. Black Diamonds no experience, probably a contract string made by someone else.
 
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#5
I'm using a set of Rotosound RS77's on my "Sting" bass. I have a Lindy Fralin split coil pickup, and they work great on it. I have just started using them, so I not had a chance to use the them on any of my other basses. They have a little extra bright than something like the more traditional 1954 LaBella ' s. They are not quite as bright as the Chromes.

BTW, D'adderio makes the Fender flats, and they' re a lot like the Chromes, IMHO.
 
#8
I can only comment on four brands, and they reflect only my personal preferences.

1. Sadowsky Black Label Flats: warm, articulate, medium tension with standard gauge. Smoothest, best feeling, flats to my hands
2. DR Legends Flats: warm, articulate, not quite as clear as the Sadowsky flats, but to my ears, at least, they're quite similar at a lower price point
3. Chromes: midrangey, a little rough feeling, higher tension, not my preferred choice
4. TI flats: VERY low tension, unique, midrangey/boingy tone. Those that love them LOVE them, but they're an acquired taste and quite expensive

Points of reference: I've used the Sadowskys on both my fretted Hwy One Jazz and my Squier VM fretless Jazz (light guage). I still have the same set on my fretless and they're wonderful, but moved to the DRs when the E string died on my Hwy One. I tried the TIs on my fretless, and the Chromes on both my Hwy One and on my Squier '51 P. I still have the Chromes on the '51 P as they seem to suit it well enough, and I rarely play it so I haven't bothered to swap them out.

Right now my go-to flats are the DR Legends for tone and price point.
 
#9
guymanndude1 said:
BTW, D'adderio makes the Fender flats, and they' re a lot like the Chromes, IMHO.
Click to expand...
G## D#####!!! THEY DO NOT!!! FENDER BOUGHT THE V. C. SQUIER COMPANY IN 1965 AND MAKE THEIR OWN STRINGS!!!

THIS DAMN URBAN MYTH MUST DIE. NOW.

IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY, YOU WILL SEE THEY HAVE DIFFERENT WRAPS IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, DIFFERENT CORES, THE WRAP WIRE IS DIFFERENT WIDTH AND THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT SHINE TO THEM. THE FENDERS HAVE MORE MIDS WHEN NEW, AND THE CHROMES HAVE MORE TOP END WHEN NEW. THE BALLS AND ATTACHMENT ARE DIFFERENT.

NOW, EVERYTHING ELSE COULD BE DIFFERENT, BUT YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE STRING MACHINE HOW THE BALL IS ATTACHED TO THE CORE. IT IS DIFFERENT.

D'ADDARIO DOES NOT MAKE THE FENDER FLATS.
FENDER MAKES THE FENDER FLATS!!!!
 
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#10
Labella Deep Talkin Flatwounds 105,s and 104,s prefer the Depth of the 105,s GREAT strings got better and better Long lasting strings $32 per pack now Great Deal...
Thomas Infelds TI,s 100,s great sound but too light gauge for me ...
Fender 9050,s OK i guess just dont like the actually feeling on my finger tips
Personal Favourite Labella 105,s so far LOL....trying rounds on my Sterling Classic this weekend love the growl so far.,...Terry
 
#11
iiipopes said:
G## D#####!!! THEY DO NOT!!! FENDER BOUGHT THE V. C. SQUIER COMPANY IN 1965 AND MAKE THEIR OWN STRINGS!!!

THIS DAMN URBAN MYTH MUST DIE. NOW.

IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY, YOU WILL SEE THEY HAVE DIFFERENT WRAPS IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, DIFFERENT CORES, THE WRAP WIRE IS DIFFERENT WIDTH AND THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT SHINE TO THEM. THE FENDERS HAVE MORE MIDS WHEN NEW, AND THE CHROMES HAVE MORE TOP END WHEN NEW. THE BALLS AND ATTACHMENT ARE DIFFERENT.

NOW, EVERYTHING ELSE COULD BE DIFFERENT, BUT YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE STRING MACHINE HOW THE BALL IS ATTACHED TO THE CORE. IT IS DIFFERENT.

D'ADDARIO DOES NOT MAKE THE FENDER FLATS.
FENDER MAKES THE FENDER FLATS!!!!
Click to expand...

There's really no need to yell or curse.
 
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#13
Luckydog said:
TB'rs with nothing else to do might give you details on these, but all you have to do is search each one and you'll get hundreds of personal experiences with them. To ask for folks to summarize all this for you is just simply lazy on your part. :rollno:
Click to expand...
Actually, getting comments that compare each to the other is far different that most of what he would find in such a search. What you label "lazy" I find far more intelligent than wasting his time.

I kinda thought this was the purpose of questions on this site, as, apparently, do all the other responders on this string.

P.S. Nice useful article, shrimpflea.
 
#14
Try them all and sell what you don't like in the classifieds. I've probably spent a few hundred bucks on strings in the last 3 years and made about half of it back from reselling them. As a result I know exactly what strings I like and what I don't. It was a worth while investment, in my opinion.
Also, labellas are the best flats.
 
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#15
iiipopes said:


That video will give you some food for thought.

Summary - all assume settled in strings.

1. Rotosounds high tension, the video says it all
2. GHS deep, dark, hollow, woody
3. Labella present, clear, upper mid/low treble articulation
4. Chromes bright, can be hollow, eventually thud
5. EB's some midrange grind, similar to Fender, but not as pronounced, can be either neutral or nondescript depending on how you feel
6. Sadowsky reputation is for sizzle, clarity, depth and durability
7. Fender new flats: can be growly, grindy or mellow, very durable, consistent both string-to-string and up the neck, many different sets and gauge combinations; my favorite is the 9050CL 45-60-80-105 for a more balanced feel, less expensive
8. TI's are the best. very round, very versatile. Pure nickel wrap can make some players' fingers black; less tension, some say floppy
9. Detroit City no experience; reports of inconsistency
10. DR medium high tension
11. Pyramids high tension; folks either love them or hate them
12. Black Diamonds no experience, probably a contract string made by someone else.
Click to expand...

The TI's sound the best when he picks...... But i just dont like the feel of them, but damn they sound good.
 
#16
Major Softie said:
Actually, getting comments that compare each to the other is far different that most of what he would find in such a search. What you label "lazy" I find far more intelligent than wasting his time.

I kinda thought this was the purpose of questions on this site, as, apparently, do all the other responders on this string.

P.S. Nice useful article, shrimpflea.
Click to expand...
Some people....... I agree
 
#18
My brother had a set of ti's on his electra p bass once and let me play it.
The sound of the strings were never in question but we both didnt like (being pick players) the rubbery feel and the fact that it was a drastic setup on the bass to get them with no fret buzz.
 

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