Flats with a Plectrum

[jmcdan3]

Good experience with Chromes. Labella Jamerson's were too tense. Im looking for a warm,thick,full sound similar to McCartney,Oasis?, and some rock pop. I like the pick but with rounds it sounds too twangy and punk-like. I play a Fender P-bass from the 1960's and an Ampeg B100r. Comments???? Keep in mind i want an authentic vintage sound suitable for pop and rock.

 

[cicatrice]

i used d'addario chromes for awhile when i was using flats on my jazz. after the first two weeks of breaking in, the strings sounded really great with a pick-- a solid fundamental with a definite attack without the high end zinginess / fret buzz of rounds.

i think i was using 40 - 95 gauge with the chromes, which was roughly equal in tension to a set of 45-100 gauge in rounds. the tension measurements on the d'addario website are really helpful for getting a rough idea of how much more taut a set of flats are going to be vs. the comparable gauge in rounds.

 

[Mr. BooBoo]

i used d'addario chromes for awhile when i was using flats on my jazz. after the first two weeks of breaking in, the strings sounded really great with a pick-- a solid fundamental with a definite attack without the high end zinginess / fret buzz of rounds.

i think i was using 40 - 95 gauge with the chromes, which was roughly equal in tension to a set of 45-100 gauge in rounds. the tension measurements on the d'addario website are really helpful for getting a rough idea of how much more taut a set of flats are going to be vs. the comparable gauge in rounds.

+1 I like my chromes a lot. I may never go back to rounds again, My bass is active though I get a really great/different p-ish tone when soloing the neck pickup. I use a slightly larger gauge than the above poster. I think its 50-104 not too sure.

Affordable and good quality...can't beat that.

 

[Sparkdog]

I have a Fender P that I keep strung with DAD Chromes, it's the medium guage set (50, 70, 85, 105) and a block of foam under the strings right in front of the bridge.

I find the heavier D and G strings sound much fuller.

It sounds AMAZING with a pick. Thick, punchy, with a hard edged click to it when the tone knob is full up (my preference) or huge and pillowy (ala McCartney) with the tone rolled off.

Listen to "Little Green Bag" by George Baker Selection. This song was made famous all over again by Quentin Tarantino's movie "Reservoir Dogs" and is the perfect example of the tone I'm talking about.

If I could get a five string that would give me this tone I don't think I would ever need another bass...can't though...I've tried! There's just a certain mojo the 4 string P and flats gives that I cannot recreate in any other instrument.