Flatwound Epiphany

[sotua]

I got bored with flats but I keep a set in the closet for recording. I actually found flats to be much harder on my right hand than rounds too. They initially feel 'softer' but my guess is the increased surface area of flats was the main culprit. It was never a big deal but may be worth mentioning to newer players.

Same here - the increased tension + the smooth surface generate more friction. I usually go down one gauge with flats (i.e. use 40-100s flats and 45-105)

 

[J-Mags]

The tone of flat brands varies dramatically. Try Ernie Ball, Daddario or Roto for a much brighter sound. GHS are thumpers and Labella are kinda in between.

I feel like GHS are middy thumpers while Labella are scooped thumpers.

 

[fishdude101101]

I feel like GHS are middy thumpers while Labella are scooped thumpers.

I'd say this is accurate.

 

[LetItGrowTone]

To me, La Bellas seem loaded with rich mids, not scooped.

 

[fishdude101101]

To me, La Bellas seem loaded with rich mids, not scooped.

Those mids are centered lower than the ghs.

 

[Swipter]

Did you mean 9050? 7250 are the rounds.

I really dug the tone of the Fender Flats; only switched back to Chromes cause they offer a 40-95 set

I have the 9050l on my jazz and 7250 on my P bass. I love how both sound.

Edit: Looking at the tension if your chromes I may have to consider that. My right hand is giving issues and I have been playing a lot the last couple of months. Only my plucking hand.

 

[CallMeAl]

I have the 9050l on my jazz and 7250 on my P bass. I love how both sound.

Edit: Looking at the tension if your chromes I may have to consider that. My right hand is giving issues and I have been playing a lot the last couple of months. Only my plucking hand.

Gotcha. The way you worded it I wasn’t sure. I’ve had 7250 on a P bass and 9050 on a PJ. They make great strings- cheap, too.

I’d highly recommend checking out those super light chromes. That’s exactly what happened with me- my plucking hand didn’t like the 45-100 flats. IDK what other brands offer flats in 40-95… but I saw the Chromes locally, tried em on a whim and I just love em.

 

[michael_t]

IDK what other brands offer flats in 40-95… but I saw the Chromes locally, tried em on a whim and I just love em.

Ernie Ball Flats, both Cobalt and Stainless Steel, do come in 40-60-70-95. Dunlop Flats 40-60-80-100 are known for their flexibility and comfortable tension as well.

In fact, I'm thinking of trying the Dunlop 40-100 on my Fender Jazz as a more flexible alternative to the Fender 9050L.

 

[CallMeAl]

Ernie Ball Flats, both Cobalt and Stainless Steel, do come in 40-60-70-95. Dunlop Flats 40-60-80-100 are known for their flexibility and comfortable tension as well.

In fact, I'm thinking of trying the Dunlop 40-100 on my Fender Jazz as a more flexible alternative to the Fender 9050L.

Good to know! Heard great things about the Cobalt Flats.

I recently acquired a set of Roto 77 40-100. Nice strings but I still prefer my Chromes

 

[deepestend]

Flats were a revelation for me about 20 years ago and I have never looked back.

 

[fishdude101101]

The thing is, I don't necessarily like flats by themselves, but in the mix it was great. And the rounds I do like have more fundamental, like bass boomers.

 

[honeydorick]

Ive allways used flats,and now tapes,and flats.I have allways hated the fret buzz and harshness on the fingers of rounds,and wondered why they would put those strings on a bass.Its not called a lead guitar.Its a Bass.I guess for newer styles of playing AKA slap and pop they would be nessesary.But I'm very Old School & lean more toward the D Aderio black tapes,for feel.I play with a Jamerson type style.Smooth,cool clean, and no fret buzz.

 

[Swipter]

Ernie Ball Flats, both Cobalt and Stainless Steel, do come in 40-60-70-95. Dunlop Flats 40-60-80-100 are known for their flexibility and comfortable tension as well.

In fact, I'm thinking of trying the Dunlop 40-100 on my Fender Jazz as a more flexible alternative to the Fender 9050L.

Maybe I need to try the cobalt on the P and some lighter than 9050l flat rounds on the jazz. O am also playing my 5 with roto 66 strings. They seem to have a higher tension but man do they sound great on that bass.

I am going to try stretching to see how that goes. I will save this thread, though.

 

[Swipter]

Ernie Ball Flats, both Cobalt and Stainless Steel, do come in 40-60-70-95. Dunlop Flats 40-60-80-100 are known for their flexibility and comfortable tension as well.

In fact, I'm thinking of trying the Dunlop 40-100 on my Fender Jazz as a more flexible alternative to the Fender 9050L.

Can you PM me your results on this, please?

 

[michael_t]

Can you PM me your results on this, please?

Yes, I can do that, except it might be another month or two before I can proceed with my plan for the Dunlop Flats. So, keep your fingers crossed, but don't hold your breath in case you turn blue.

 

[J-Mags]

Can you PM me your results on this, please?

Yes, I can do that, except it might be another month or two before I can proceed with my plan for the Dunlop Flats. So, keep your fingers crossed, but don't hold your breath in case you turn blue.

I'm putting some 9050Ls on right now and I'll report back. I've used Dunlop Flats on both long and short- scale basses but it's been a while since I've had them on a long-scale bass. I don't anticipate that the feel will be that different, although the sound is different.

 

[Jeff Bonny]

No all rounds have the "upper-mid harshness" you speak of. Besides, I find it easier to tame down the roundwound harshness than to try to add clarity and definition missing in some flats.

Like you I've used a lot of different flats over a lot of years. And like you I've gravitated back to well broken in rounds for exactly the reason you're talking about. The one thing that flats have over rounds is their lack of string noise. Not really an issue with me on solid body electrics but on a good ABG I find string noise waaaay too up front and in yer face. There's good reason no orchestral string instruments use rounds.

TI Jazz Flats were my go to strings for years but I have had issues with them not retaining the same amount of life evenly. I've had TI sets that after a couple of years sound like the E and A are different types strings than the D and G. Some have stayed even and tunable for ten years though. It's hit and miss. I've never been thrilled about the one gauge each scale length set comes in either. A set of medium gauge Dogal Jaco flats with a couple of different heavier G strings to try are on order. Based on what people have said about them I have high hopes they'll be a good upgrade from TI's for the ABG. Dogal seems like a great company.

 

[Swipter]

I'm putting some 9050Ls on right now and I'll report back. I've used Dunlop Flats on both long and short- scale basses but it's been a while since I've had them on a long-scale bass. I don't anticipate that the feel will be that different, although the sound is different.

Interesting about feel. I have listened to dunlops online but didn't care for the sound. I do know that if I play and you play it will sound different so, until I tried, them who really knows. I would be interested to know your opinion if the sound difference.

 

[J-Mags]

Interesting about feel. I have listened to dunlops online but didn't care for the sound. I do know that if I play and you play it will sound different so, until I tried, them who really knows. I would be interested to know your opinion if the sound difference.

I put on the Fenders. I'm not detecting a huge difference between the 45-100 Fenders and 40-100 Dunlops. Neither of them has a super resistant feel to me. It's been a while since I've tried the Dunlops on a long-scale bass. The Fender may stay put a little better, so they may feel a touch tighter, or it may be that my technique has improved.

Dunlops are unique strings. They're my favorite on my Mustang, but I prefer them when they're new. They have this clicky vibe that really appeals to me. I'm not so fond of their broken in/aged sound, although I know some flatwound freaks who really go for it. If find that a set lasts me 5-6 months. The 40-100 ones feel lively for a bit longer than the heavier ones. Once fully broken in, their thud is exceptionally thuddy. A bit too much for me.

With GHS and the Fender/Chromes/Ernie Ball-type strings (they seem to sound a bit different from each other but feel pretty similar), I've never really felt the need to replace them unless I've damaged a string, but my favorite sound of all is newish Dunlops.

 

[Swipter]

I put on the Fenders. I'm not detecting a huge difference between the 45-100 Fenders and 40-100 Dunlops. Neither of them has a super resistant feel to me. It's been a while since I've tried the Dunlops on a long-scale bass. The Fender may stay put a little better, so they may feel a touch tighter, or it may be that my technique has improved.

Dunlops are unique strings. They're my favorite on my Mustang, but I prefer them when they're new. They have this clicky vibe that really appeals to me. I'm not so fond of their broken in/aged sound, although I know some flatwound freaks who really go for it. If find that a set lasts me 5-6 months. The 40-100 ones feel lively for a bit longer than the heavier ones. Once fully broken in, their thud is exceptionally thuddy. A bit too much for me.

With GHS and the Fender/Chromes/Ernie Ball-type strings (they seem to sound a bit different from each other but feel pretty similar), I've never really felt the need to replace them unless I've damaged a string, but my favorite sound of all is newish Dunlops.

Thanks for the update. I think maybe I have a technique issue I need to tackle causing my pain. Sounds like not worth changing strings.

Edit: I do like how long the Fender 9050l last.