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Flats with the most " Growl " ?

#21
Yes, resurrecting a zombie thread. I was actually looking for something else when I stumbled across this thread. Fender 9050 flats in their current iteration and EB Cobalt flats did not exist when this thread was started, and as explained below, EB Stainless Steel Flats were overlooked. So here's an update:

Growliest flats: Fender 9050L, what most folks think of when you say growl;
Growl with clank: Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats - almost rounds in their clank to go with the growl;
Subdued growl: Ernie Ball Stainless Steel - rounder in tone than Fender, but still a good subdued growl. I use an EBSS 105 single when my Fender 9050 E string goes thump, because you can't get Fender singles. EBSS flats are probably the most underrated strings on the market.

All three of these are growlier than what is listed above by comparison. By comparison, La Bella have top end articulation but smoother overall tone; Chromes have new string zing that fades to worthless thump; and TI's don't have the presence for a lot of mixes, and worse have the floppy rubber band A string.
 
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#22
iiipopes said:
Yes, resurrecting a zombie thread. I was actually looking for something else when I stumbled across this thread. Fender 9050 flats in their current iteration and EB Cobalt flats did not exist when this thread was started, and as explained below, EB Stainless Steel Flats were overlooked. So here's an update:

Growliest flats: Fender 9050L, what most folks think of when you say growl;
Growl with clank: Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats - almost rounds in their clank to go with the growl;
Subdued growl: Ernie Ball Stainless Steel - rounder in tone than Fender, but still a good subdued growl. I use an EBSS 105 single when my Fender 9050 E string goes thump, because you can't get Fender singles. EBSS flats are probably the most underrated strings on the market.

All three of these are growlier than what is listed above by comparison. By comparison, La Bella have top end articulation but smoother overall tone; Chromes have new string zing that fades to worthless thump; and TI's don't have the presence for a lot of mixes, and worse have the floppy rubber band A string.
Click to expand...

Beside the meaty juicy growl from both EB flat , they also provide great string to string tone balance from E to G.

Even compare to my 1 month old 2814 on CV50P bass, the E string from 12 months old EB 2814 set still sound solid ,clear, tight and stay healthy on my Jazz bass.
 
#23
Like others have stated, Sadowsky's have a great growl. I'm referring to the unicorn Sadowsky flats…the Black Label ones made by Labella to Sadowsky specs that are no longer sold. One of my favorite tones is P-bass wearing Sadowsky flats, with some overdrive, and the tone knob backed off slightly to about 3/4. Similar to 760FL, but a touch more articulate, and very supportive.
 
#25
Sometimes I wonder if I have the correct understanding of what "growl" means.
In my mind is that "jaco thing", or the sound of rounds on a P instead of flats.
I try to avoid growl like the plague.

I stringed my Matt Freeman with Fender 9050L, and I can hear that "growl" (at least much more than it had with GHS Precision Flats) that annoys me. Sure I can smooth it out with a lighter touch, but I tend to dig in while playing anyway.

When I had Rotos 77 in my Dano, that's the perfect smooth flat tone to my ears, so I'm still looking for that smoothness in the Precision.
 
#26
Bobbadfinger said:
Sometimes I wonder if I have the correct understanding of what "growl" means.
In my mind is that "jaco thing", or the sound of rounds on a P instead of flats.
I try to avoid growl like the plague.

I stringed my Matt Freeman with Fender 9050L, and I can hear that "growl" (at least much more than it had with GHS Precision Flats) that annoys me. Sure I can smooth it out with a lighter touch, but I tend to dig in while playing anyway.

When I had Rotos 77 in my Dano, that's the perfect smooth flat tone to my ears, so I'm still looking for that smoothness in the Precision.
Click to expand...

I've equated the growl with a Jazz and a bark with a Precision, pretty much regardless of whether it's wrapped with flats or round-wounds. I've been patient enough to allow flats on my basses to break in. It took a lot longer than I expected for them to break in but the smoothness is worth it. 9050Ls bottom end tightened up and the highs became less clanky and sweeter (IMO). I was lucky enough to acquire a Precision that was already wrapped with OLD Chromes... now that bass has BARK!
 

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