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Flatwound String Choices...
- Thread starter Jon Herring
- Start date
I was in the same camp as you rockscott, until last night. I've tried Chromes twice on my Jazz V and hated them, however being a string hoarder I saved both sets just in case. I recently acquired a Fender P5 with a maple fretboard and could not find a decent sounding set of strings for that thing to save my life. It was getting to the point that I was honestly considering getting rid of the bass. As a last ditch idea, I put on a set of those old Chromes that I had laying around, did a quick and dirty setup, and BOOM . . . magic!
The bass sounds and plays great now! The tone is even across all five strings, something that I could not achieve with any of the other string sets that I tried. The B is impressive, articulate but with nice deep fundamental and bass. I think it just goes to show people that writing off a string set prematurely can be a bad idea. Sometimes it takes the right combination of string and bass to make the magic happen.
I have had the same experience with a set of Rotosound flats and an Ibanez RB920. Tries the strings on a number of basses, and they just did nothing for me. And of course, the Ibanez just wasn't cutting it no matter what strings I tried — and I really wanted it to work as I love the finish. One day had that epiphany (which went more like "What have I got to lose?") and tried the Roto flats on it. It was like they were made for each other.
Excellent posts from both Russell & abner! String choice is very important to each individual bass, sometimes it takes years to find the perfect match! The cobalts are the match for my artcore, DR pure blues match my birdsong, ernie ball earthwounds on my acoustic. Im using DR highbeams on my sg and they sound pretty good but I want to try a set of dunlops on it. Still searching for the strings for my vintage mustang (japan built circa 1997)
Played the P5 with the Chromes a bit more last night. I'm still digging the sound and feel. That being said, I think I'm going to install a fresh set this weekend. I had them strung through the bridge on my Jazz, and obviously had to do the same with the P5. After playing a bit more last night I noticed some funky overtones. I did a cursory inspection of the strings and noticed some separation of the wraps as the strings go over the bridge. I'm going to get a new set and top load install them this weekend. Hopefully that will sort the wonky overtones out.
I got wonky overtones on mine on a Mustang (string through). Interesting. Chromes + Mustang is supposed to be a classic combo. I didn't wait long enough for them to settle down though, because one of them was defective (D'Addario made it right, but by then I was using Dunlops).
Even if the OP isn't following the thread, others are 
I'm about to set up my SWB-1 fretless and will put flat wounds on it at the same time. I was thinking about getting some GHS Precision as they have short scale available.
I'm about to set up my SWB-1 fretless and will put flat wounds on it at the same time. I was thinking about getting some GHS Precision as they have short scale available.
JeezyMcNuggles
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- Feb 23, 2018
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I've had the La Bella gold flats on for a while now. Only flats I've ever liked. A little sticky/grippy at first though.
If it's a choice between those two strings only? I'd go with the Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalt flats. I have just a little experience with Chromes, and also just a little with the Cobalt Flats- about as much as I have played the Chromes. So, IME:
- Chromes; yes, they're pretty high tension. Yes, they're bright (for flats). The ones I played were an older set that came on a used bass; I can only imagine how bright a new set would be. Still, I imagine they'd be pretty versatile - for flats. My problem with Chromes is;
1) I don't really need versatile strings. I have 24 basses to take care of any "versatile" that comes along. And
2) Something D'Addario uses in their finishing process makes me itch like crazy, so I don't use their strings. I can use them, if I go thru a long cleaning process that requires chemicals I'd rather not deal with. And, since I can use anybody else's strings right out of the pack? They're not bad strings; just not really worth the effort...
- EB Cobalt Flats; I'd consider them another "versatile" flat wound. I tried them on one of my basses some time ago - the aluminum-necked Kramer 450B, I think. As I remember, they didn't work on that bass real well - not at all the sound I wanted. I will say that, when they're new, they are definitely bright. I left them on long enough to start to break in, but... I didn't think they'd work on the Kramer. So, they're waiting to go something else... But, simply as strings? They were pretty nice; not the smoothest flats, but not the roughest, either. And, except for the usual new E string dullness, pretty even sounding. I didn't consider the tension too bad, either - but then, I like high tension strings anyway. And, of course, I can play them right out of the pack. I actually kind of like EB strings in general; I even have them on a couple of my guitars...
- Chromes; yes, they're pretty high tension. Yes, they're bright (for flats). The ones I played were an older set that came on a used bass; I can only imagine how bright a new set would be. Still, I imagine they'd be pretty versatile - for flats. My problem with Chromes is;
1) I don't really need versatile strings. I have 24 basses to take care of any "versatile" that comes along. And
2) Something D'Addario uses in their finishing process makes me itch like crazy, so I don't use their strings. I can use them, if I go thru a long cleaning process that requires chemicals I'd rather not deal with. And, since I can use anybody else's strings right out of the pack? They're not bad strings; just not really worth the effort...
- EB Cobalt Flats; I'd consider them another "versatile" flat wound. I tried them on one of my basses some time ago - the aluminum-necked Kramer 450B, I think. As I remember, they didn't work on that bass real well - not at all the sound I wanted. I will say that, when they're new, they are definitely bright. I left them on long enough to start to break in, but... I didn't think they'd work on the Kramer. So, they're waiting to go something else... But, simply as strings? They were pretty nice; not the smoothest flats, but not the roughest, either. And, except for the usual new E string dullness, pretty even sounding. I didn't consider the tension too bad, either - but then, I like high tension strings anyway. And, of course, I can play them right out of the pack. I actually kind of like EB strings in general; I even have them on a couple of my guitars...
And if the choice was open? your top 3 would be: ?
I'm looking for sets that are available for SS without needing to cut them. Flat or taped. Go!
Yeah you need to choose YOUR strings, everyone here has their choice, I tried GHS Flats, and went back to D Chromes Lights Flatwounds, tried the Meds , just too much, and went back to lights , expensive learning curve, I even tried the Thomastik Infeld Jazz Strings just did not feel right, but like I said you need to find what works for you.
Short scale? Not counting Thomastik-Infeld and Pyramid, who's short scale strings are intended for Hofner-type shorties, and are what we think of as medium scale, there aren't many flat wounds I can think of. LaBellas, of course... I use them, and like them. GHS Precision Flats; I like them on a P-Bass; there'll be a SS set on my Warmoth Mini-P soon. And the only other ones I'm aware of are D'Addario Chromes. I don't get along well with D'Addario's strings; I bought a used 34" scale bass with Chromes on it some years ago. I played them a little; then pulled them off. Didn't sound or feel bad, but... they had to go. So, not much experience with those... The TI's and Pyramids would probably work - but you'd have some speaking length on the tuner posts. But, as I said; those are the only short scale flat wounds that I'm aware of...
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I see LaBella has both Deep Talkin' (45-105) & Low Tension (42-100) flatwound but only the Deep Talkin' are available for SS (32 1/4"). They also have both black & white tape wounds, now I'm even more curious. And that could get expensive
On a different but related topic... I've read that thru-body stringing is not a good idea for flatwounds. The SWB-1 can be strung either way so I'm assuming I'll string it through the back of the bridge.
I've been a TI Jazz Flats user for maybe 18 years. On a whim I took them off my Jazz bass and put on a set of Dunlop flats. Oh, these are nice. As much midrange punch as the TIs and a bit more tautness, so they're good for people who dig in and complain the TIs are too soft. Very, very smooth too. I think I'll leave them on for a few gigs and see how they go. Still got the TIs on my 5 string Bacchus, and they will be staying there.
I love the Dunlops. I've never tried the TIs because I play a Mustang, and I always figured the TIs would be floppy and expensive with the short scale. Also loved GHS, liked LaBellas a long time ago, but didn't like Chromes.
Yeah, the OP originally asked about Chromes vs. Cobalts. That was the predicament I was in when I chose strings, too. The reason I ended up with Chromes was because I wanted something that sounded like a real flat once broken in, & the Chromes so get that way (just watch JMJ's quick review on them on YT- it's pretty thumpy).
I do, however, disagree with anyone who says they break in quickly. It takes a good few months for them to get thumpy. I've had mine on since April & they still have a lot of brightness to them, though they are starting to get a little more of that classic flat wound sound to them.
I do, however, disagree with anyone who says they break in quickly. It takes a good few months for them to get thumpy. I've had mine on since April & they still have a lot of brightness to them, though they are starting to get a little more of that classic flat wound sound to them.
