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Flatwound Recommendations for a Roundwound Guy
- Thread starter red_rhino
- Start date
I use D'Addarrio light gauge chromes ECB 81 45-100. Nice and smooth on the fingers and with proper technique, you can get vintage to modern tones out of them. 
Hi red_rhino 
Too bad! TI Jazz flats would fit the bill. The tension (feel) is great for folks who also play rounds.
My second favorite flatwounds are the Roto 77 Jazz bass (which actually have a great rock sound on a P bass)
they don't break the bank, break in rather fast and the tension is fine = not too stiff compared to rounds.
Only negative point is, they are a bit sticky out of the pack. (need to be wiped down).
greetings
Wise(b)ass
Too bad! TI Jazz flats would fit the bill. The tension (feel) is great for folks who also play rounds.
My second favorite flatwounds are the Roto 77 Jazz bass (which actually have a great rock sound on a P bass)
they don't break the bank, break in rather fast and the tension is fine = not too stiff compared to rounds.
Only negative point is, they are a bit sticky out of the pack. (need to be wiped down).
greetings
Wise(b)ass
Turn up your amp a bit more than you would with rounds.
GHS Precision flats & Fender 9050’s are both pretty perfect on a P.
Get some foam or sponge & scissors ready to prep it for zero sustain full Thump Machine.
Obviously it’ll work perfect for late 50s to early 70s R&B. Surprisingly, it’ll also work as one of the many voices in a lot of 90s-now edm if/when you find the right node/antinode to pluck at for any given song.
GHS Precision flats & Fender 9050’s are both pretty perfect on a P.
Get some foam or sponge & scissors ready to prep it for zero sustain full Thump Machine.
Obviously it’ll work perfect for late 50s to early 70s R&B. Surprisingly, it’ll also work as one of the many voices in a lot of 90s-now edm if/when you find the right node/antinode to pluck at for any given song.
GHS Precision Flats are a good choice for a relatively inexpensive and classic sounding flatwound that is easy on the fingers and sounds good right out of the package.
If you are currently using GHS Pressurewounds and they are well broken in, you probably won't be too far removed from actual flats.....I'd leave them on there
I'm going to deviate a bit here. I'm not a big P-Bass guy. Recently I found my P-Bass tone and feel with DR pure Blues. Yes they are rounds. Yes my P-Bass sounds perfect (to me) with them. So that's my answer and I'm sticking to it.
Long-time flats user here. My current favorite I would not recommend as they are bigger strings than you are looking for (LaBella Olinto), but I am also a big fan of the Labella Low Tension Flats. I am not a fan of TI’s, tension is way too low for me (and they are expensive).
Another vote for EB Cobalt Flats. However, depend on what time you’re going after, I’d recommend trying some GHS Pressurewound. They are an interesting middle ground and feel great on the fingers right out of the box.
I was in your exact position about 10 years ago; had only played rounds (nickel) and wanted to put flats on a P-bass that was not my main player.
I’ll give you the same recommendation a friend gave to me at the time: Ernie Ball Series IV flats.
The light EB flats are about equal in tension to most medium rounds, the finish is very smooth, the break-in is fast (weeks, not months) and the sound is right in between classic flatwound thump and more modern flatwound mids - maybe leaning a little more towards thump.
In the time since I’ve tried out a number of other flats, and I like TIs as well, but I keep returning to the Ernie Ball series IV as a good, solid, comfortable, inexpensive choice. I’ve been very happy with them.
I’ll give you the same recommendation a friend gave to me at the time: Ernie Ball Series IV flats.
The light EB flats are about equal in tension to most medium rounds, the finish is very smooth, the break-in is fast (weeks, not months) and the sound is right in between classic flatwound thump and more modern flatwound mids - maybe leaning a little more towards thump.
In the time since I’ve tried out a number of other flats, and I like TIs as well, but I keep returning to the Ernie Ball series IV as a good, solid, comfortable, inexpensive choice. I’ve been very happy with them.
IMO and perhaps might work for you.........D'Addario Chrome Flats, their lightest gauge 40-95. Affordable, quick break in, long lasting.
40-95 Super Light, Long Scale, XL Chromes Flat Wound Bass Guitar Strings | ECB80 | D'Addario
40-95 Super Light, Long Scale, XL Chromes Flat Wound Bass Guitar Strings | ECB80 | D'Addario
I have a 65P that doesn’t get a lot of playing time. It’s currently strung with rounds (GHS Pressurewounds) and they’re due for a change. This time, I thought I would try a set of flats on it. (It already has a tort pick guard, so this will bring the bass into compliance with Talkbass CC&Rs.)
I’m looking for recommendations of which strings to try. I want something not too expensive (which probably rules out TI’s), low to medium tension, with a smooth feel (not sticky), and a very short break-in period. (I don’t want to spend months breaking in a set.) I’ll be playing mostly with fingers, but occasionally using a pick.
So, whatcha got?
Given your priorities I'd recommend Dunlop flats 45-105 or perhaps a lighter gauge, if you want really low tension. They have low to medium tension, smooth feel (not sticky), and a short break-in period. Their tone can be anything between modern and vintage-y, depending on tone knob setting. Don't know how much they cost nowadays.
