Flats with roundwound sound?

[P-BASSLOVER]

Chromes are one of the brighter flats actually! TI's also.
You might want to try GHS Bright Flats? They don't sound like a flat or a round.
Fender 7150's although they are rounds, have a lot of flatwound qualities.
They do start off very bright, but then mellow into a nice thumpy, warm string.
They are the most percussive rounds out there!

 

[fetfet]

I put 7150's on my T-bird, and they sounded really good new, but mellowed out, and can't get a decent(IMO) tone out of them.

Going to get the Roto's for now, maybe if they're no good, the spring the Extra cash for Thomastiks.

Do they really stay bright for years?

 

[david fitch]

Give the Chromes a try. I like them because they are bright and stay that way for a good while. I don't think they sound like Rounwounds, but I don't think your ever going to find a Flat that does. The Rotosounds are bright but very stiff playing strings,the Chromes are more flexable like a Roundwound. I remember Bass Player Magazine did a Flatwound string review back in Feb.2001 and called the Rotos sound "Unique", sounds like some people here read that.

 

[Soulfinger]

I think Chromes are definitly what you're after. They make my jazz bass sound like a "bass", not a big clanky mess (rounds), or a dull thud (TI's). They've really salvaged that bass for me. I love TI's, but (once broken in) they're very dark and thuddy (in a good way).

 

[RS]

Chromes.

 

[Linas]

I just put some Roto 77s on my P bass and yes they are very bright. Almost round-like. I am not sure if i really like the high tension though.

 

[fetfet]

Got the Roto's and it sounds like roundwound strings, even with the tone rolled off

Let's see how it lasts.

 

[envika]

Chromes, GHS Brite Flats (DON'T get the precision flats, i love them but they're certainly not bright!), Thomastiks. Rotos are less bright than those three but still on the bright side.

 

[Ely Lyonblum]

try ken smith slick rounds, i have had good experiences with them

 

[Captain_Arrrg]

You're lucky.
My local Guitar Center carries ZERO flat wound strings.
I get a dumbfounded look when I ask where the flatwound bass strings are kept.
I have to get them online.

I got the same dumbfounded look, but then looked really hard at the (tiny) bass section of the string wall, and pointed out a set of Chromes (the only ones).

...And I think they're great. Still have them in case I want a change from the RS 88's I have on one of my ABGs (RS 88's while cool, are not what you're looking for).

 

[nbw]

What about for 6string basses? I looked at chromes and roto77's and neither seem to come in 6string set.

 

[fetfet]

Thomatiks come in 6 string sets.

 

[dave_bass5]

'Ill have to look the deaf idiot then and say wheel i love TI's i found them not as bright as Chromes.
I too was looking for a roundwound, nickel tone from flats and after three attempts with TI's over the past 4 years i much prefer the tone that i get with Chromes.
love the flexibility of TI's though.

 

[kasbrey]

I have TI's on 2 basses , Chromes on one and LaBella 360fl's on another.

I find the TI's (once broken in) the mellowest and the Chromes easily the brightest. The LaBellas are also quite bright but don't have as much high mids as the Chromes.

The Chromes are most like roundwounds and took months to mellow even a little.

I like the TI's best and I overcome the low tension by slackening the truss rod.

 

[Kevin Guin]

I played GHS Bright Flats for years on my Moonstone. Really dig'em...

Lately, I have been using Thomastik Flats on my Veillette Mark IV and they give me a really inspiring sound.

 

[kirkm24]

Don't know what Roger used, but TI Jazz Flats are by far the brightest flats I've ever heard.

Really? I thought Thomastiks were very dull. The brightest flats, I've heard are the D' Addario Chromes or the Sadowskys. I'm going to try the DR to see how they are.

 

[babaseen]

Which flats get the better harmonics? I've only tried Labella and TI, but the LaBella seemed better, maybe it has to do with the higher tension.

POINT TO BE MADE THOUGH: Not looking for flats that have a roundwound sound just looking for the traditional flats tone that gives good harmonics with a wonderful thud when fingerstyle is applied

 

[Diogenes]

Here's an excerpt from a review of flats that I've used and posted on my site:

* GHS Brite Flats - dull grey in appearance which is no big deal but they were a pretty high tension string with a sticky feel. What I mean with "sticky" is that the edges of the ribbons felt sharp so my fingers wouldn't glide smoothly along the surface. This did improve after several weeks of playing as the strings got gunked up with dirt and finger grease. Right out of the package the E strings always felt like an oddball... they felt and sounded lifeless in comparison to the A, D & G strings. Despite their name I never found these strings to be very bright at all... just run of the mill flat average.

* Fender 9050 flats - decent strings at a relatively inexpensive price. All four strings felt smooth and consistant but sounded rather typical for flats. I guess they're great strings for that old MoTown sound because they lose what little brightness they have pretty quickly.

* RotoSound RS88 TruBass tapewound - super smooth low tension (yet thick gauged) strings. These are probably the dullest strings I have ever played but not in a bad way. RS88s are stellar sounding for that old school R&B and MoTown sound. Strike the string and they boom with authority and then quickly die. Don't expect sustain or harmonics from these babies... instead rejoice in the fact that these are probably the closest you can come to emulating the James Jamerson sound without having to play them for a few years first.

* RotoSound RS77 Jazz Flats - a fairly high tension string, not super smooth but smoother than the GHS Brite Flats. These strings sound a little livlier than the Fender 9050s with good sustain for flatwound strings. They also do a good job of ringing out harmonics. They are my second favorite string to use on my fretted and fretless basses.

* D'Addario Chromes (ECB84) - light gauge and medium tension strings with a high shine and super slick feel. These strings are my absolute favorite to play. They are consistent, don't have the clanky harshness of steel or even nickel roundwounds yet they have a welcome level of brightness and livliness not present in any other flatwound I've played. On a fretted bass these strings are convincing for slapping and on fretless they can growl and sing harmonics to satisfy most any Jacophile. Truly amazing strings!!

 

[tylerwylie]

I have 45 gauge Ernie Ball flats that I've been loving.

 

[shank235]

You're lucky.
My local Guitar Center carries ZERO flat wound strings.
I get a dumbfounded look when I ask where the flatwound bass strings are kept.
I have to get them online.

I actually had Guitar Center tell me I didn't want flats and that when I gained more experience I would come to appreciate that.
I seriously think TIs are worth the extra money you spend for them, low tension and they sound great. I even roll the treble off a little with them.