Flatwound Id

[matti777]

I'm digging through my used string collection looking to see what flatwounds I can install on my P bass. I found 2 sets....one with red silk both ends and bronze ends and one set of medium dark blue silk both ends with colored ends. I'm thinking these are Chromes and TI Flats as I know I have owned both. Does that sound right? I was hoping to find some Labellas as I remember those being my favorites.

 

[michael_t]

I'm thinking these are Chromes and TI Flats as I know I have owned both. Does that sound right?

Yes, you're correct.

Blue silk + color-coded ball ends = D'A Chromes.

Red silk at both ends with brass ball ends = TIJFs.

 

[matti777]

Ok thanks. I remember not liking the TIs and the Chromes being ok. I'll see if the local shop has Labellas which is unlikely these days.

 

[matti777]

I reinstalled the Chromes....now I remember why I took them off. The other 2 sets (with red silk both ends) are of 2 different gauges. None of them matched the TI gauges. The only way I could split them into sets was to measure the ID of ball ends and try to match them to the advertised gauges. I think one is Labella DTF 760FL and one is maybe 760FX. The 760FL probably came off my jazz when I decided to put rounds back on it. They are great.

 

[michael_t]

The other 2 sets (with red silk both ends) are of 2 different gauges...

I think one is Labella DTF 760FL and one is maybe 760FX.

The only thing that doesn't make sense is La Bella flats only have silk at the tuner end with no silk at the ball end.

EDIT: How old would those strings be? Maybe older La Bella flats came with silk at both ends? I'm not sure...

 

[matti777]

Yeah I'm confused about that. As far as I remember I have only bought Chromes, Labella and TIs. I'm pretty sure I only bought one set of TIs. I thought maybe there were RS77s but the gauges didn't match up. I don't know what happened to the TIs unless they were on a bass I sold. I guess it doesn't matter too much unless I want to order another set one day.