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Flatwound Club
- Thread starter Surprise Panda!
- Start date
Currently have my 50's Classic Precision strung with heavy Fender flats (the newer ones). I spent a good three months abusing them and breaking them in on a Geddy, so they are approaching what I'd call usable. To be honest, I swear by flats, but still have yet to find the perfect set. The closest I ever came was TIJF, but I've grown a bit ham-fisted over the last couple years and have gravitated toward higher tension and thicker gauges.
I'm not a frustrated guitarist, so I've been playing flats exclusively for almost fifteen years. 
Flats have changed my life! But the tension is killing my old- man hands.
Searching for less tension Under $50 Light guages.
Can anyone tell me about Rotosound 77s?
Love chromes but for the tension!
LaBella (39-G string) have been suggested but are expensive!
Currently using Tapewounds which are yummy, but the D string IMO doesn't cut through in all situations.
Searching for less tension Under $50 Light guages.
Can anyone tell me about Rotosound 77s?
Love chromes but for the tension!
LaBella (39-G string) have been suggested but are expensive!
Currently using Tapewounds which are yummy, but the D string IMO doesn't cut through in all situations.
Roto 77s are also high tension.
Labellas are in your price range still, no? Under $40 at bassstrings online.
Have you tried the extra light chromes?
TI's sound like your solution, but they make Rotos and LaBella's look really cheap.
I LOVE the LaBella's, but I love them because they don't sound anything like Chromes, so I don't know if they'll be your thing.
I Heard the Flatwound string its not for me. Half rounds... O yes it gives me the best of two worlds Bright sound and a string that will not rip the skin off my fighers.
Have you played the fx gauge la bellas? I just started playing the fl's and love them. Curious about the lighter gauge for a different bass.
Nope, only the FL's myself. They seem plenty thin compared to the tapes on my Fury.
Doner Designs
Steve Doner
- Jun 2, 2012
- 5,784
- 6,819
- Disclosures
- Doner Designs is an alias for Steve Doner
I'm in my 50's and have hand problems but use the thickest highest tension strings my basses can handle. Why? In addition to the tone, to me they are EASIER to play.
The key is that you have to lower the saddles, reduce the neck relief (tighten truss), play with a lighter touch and turn up the amp.
My two basses with LaBella 1954 bridge cables are easiest to play.
The key is that you have to lower the saddles, reduce the neck relief (tighten truss), play with a lighter touch and turn up the amp.
My two basses with LaBella 1954 bridge cables are easiest to play.
I have been a TI Jazz Flats user for the past 10 years, but thinking about which it up a bit.
Can someone describe how Chromes sound on a Pbass compared to TI's?
Can someone describe how Chromes sound on a Pbass compared to TI's?
Compared to TI's, they will sound slightly scooped in the hi mids, which are what give TI's their ability to cut through so well. They are pretty much the opposite, feel and tone wise. Decent bottom and crisp top, but not a heck of a lot going on in the middle until they break in. Be prepared to adjust your neck as well, because they are fairly higher tension then the TI's. Some people love them and many use them as an introductory flat, but I don't personally think they're a good starting point moving from TI's. I was a die hard TI fan and experimented with a ton of other flats last year and I just could not get with the Chromes tension after TI's. I could sacrifice feel if the tone I liked was there, but it wasn't. A much more gradual change to flats from TI's would be GHS Precision flats. They are lower tension than most flats of the same construction and have a more broken in feel, with all the mids the Chromes seem to lack.
All the above is IMO, of course. You may try Chromes and love them, but they are a different animal from TI's, which are in a class by themselves in every regard when it comes to flats. Another option for someone who likes the tension of TI's but in a thicker gauge would be the Rotosound Tru-Bass nylon. Again, another beast entirely. I eventually settled back on TI's after trying everything else.
Another thing to consider is that some basses favor certain strings. My 58RI did NOT like TI's and it actually sounded better with Chromes, but YMMV and all that.
Doner Designs
Steve Doner
- Jun 2, 2012
- 5,784
- 6,819
- Disclosures
- Doner Designs is an alias for Steve Doner
After trying them all, I've settled into using LaBellas on everything. Basses with big tuners get 1954's. Those with the smaller Gotoh type get FM's because the smaller posts don't handle the 1954's very well.
To me, strings like Chromes and Rotos are brighter and strings like GHS and Pyramids are a little warmer. The LaBellas are in between and have the smoothest feel I have found.
To me, strings like Chromes and Rotos are brighter and strings like GHS and Pyramids are a little warmer. The LaBellas are in between and have the smoothest feel I have found.
Been a flats guy now for a few years.
Tried GHS, Chromes, Fender old and new, TI's, EB's, and Labellas.
Problem is that i hate breaking them in and buying them used is harder these days.
Have a set of chrome 45-100 that i wish i could swap as i this is the 2nd time ive tried them but just cant get into them.
IMO Fender flats after breaking them in are just fantastic.
But being every bass has its own voice for flats i have found a set of EB'S from a fellow tber to be incredible on my parts p bass.
GHS after break in are buttery smooth and thumpy
Labellas i just didnt care for much, too high tension.
TI's sound incredible but the rubber band feel was a turn off.
Old Fenders were great but high tension as well.
Chromes just dont do it for me.
EB's are underated strings that if you wait a few months settle in great.
Tried GHS, Chromes, Fender old and new, TI's, EB's, and Labellas.
Problem is that i hate breaking them in and buying them used is harder these days.
Have a set of chrome 45-100 that i wish i could swap as i this is the 2nd time ive tried them but just cant get into them.
IMO Fender flats after breaking them in are just fantastic.
But being every bass has its own voice for flats i have found a set of EB'S from a fellow tber to be incredible on my parts p bass.
GHS after break in are buttery smooth and thumpy
Labellas i just didnt care for much, too high tension.
TI's sound incredible but the rubber band feel was a turn off.
Old Fenders were great but high tension as well.
Chromes just dont do it for me.
EB's are underated strings that if you wait a few months settle in great.
How do you like the Rotosound 77s? I'm thinking about getting a set for my Pbass.
