So I just bought a Yamaha RBX170 bass this weekend. I've played bass in the past but it's been probably 10 years or so and was never really serious before just noodled around. I'm looking to do some recording, jamming, etc. now. I want to play mainly hip-hop, soul, funk, R&B, jazz, etc. I like a mellow sound with a deep bass emphasis. I'm not a fan of string noise and slap bass. I know the strings won't fix bad technique but will hopefully get close to the tone I'm looking for. I remember preferring flats but not sure which ones. I think I had heard good things about Labella Deep Talking Flats and TI Flats (I think?) and possibly Chromes. Since it's been years, I don't know what's changed, what might be out that's new and on and on. Any suggestions?
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Flatwound String Recommendation
- Thread starter Mannas
- Start date
You'll get lots of opinions, and plenty of "Do a search... there are 500 threads about this!" responses, but I'll give you my two favorites: D'Addario Chromes and GHS Precision Flats. The GHS strings are more "dull and thumpy", and the D'Addarios are a bit stiffer and brighter. They might be for people who don't like string noise, but do like punchy high mids and clear definition on the E string. (The Precision Flats can get a bit indistinct down there.)
I had Precision Flats on one bass for 19 years, and they sounded better and better (to me), right up to the point where they died of exhaustion, and you couldn't even really tune the E string. I had Chromes on one bass for over ten years, and had the same experience.
I had Precision Flats on one bass for 19 years, and they sounded better and better (to me), right up to the point where they died of exhaustion, and you couldn't even really tune the E string. I had Chromes on one bass for over ten years, and had the same experience.
Based on this input, I'd suggest the following:
- GHS Precision Flats: the 45-95 (3025) set is awesome and quite flexible
- La Bella Low Tension Flats (or 760FL or 760FS. All sound great, progressively more tension in that order)
- Dogal Jaco Flatwounds or Pyramid Gold Flatwounds: both of these sets are deep and mellow once they age a bit. The Jacos are super deep and clear in the low end, the Pyramids are a little more Dub / old school on the E string. (These are recommended if you want to go a little more Gucci and spend more $$$, but maybe start with the GHS or La Bellas
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Another vote for the GHS Precision Lights (45-95). "Flexible" as in comfortable without being too floppy. Woody warmth with strong low-mid punch without being overly thuddy or muddy. Silky smooth.
LaBellas are a good choice, as they'll do what you want once they settle down and go dead. TI's are not IMHO, because they take forever to mellow out. People who love them love them like religion, but I thought they sounded like rounds without the string noise, didn't mellow out even a little in 4 months even after coating them in Eucerin moisturizing cream and sweating all over them, plus I hated that rolling feeling they have. Chromes are good but a more middy kind of string, and take longer than LaBellas to mellow out the G and D string, but not nearly as long as TI's. Fenders are a shade down in the mids from Chromes but made by D'addario too, and I think they have more similarities than differences. GHS are nice, but they don't make them in my preferred wuss gauges, and the lightest set they have are too thick and high tension for me.
I'd also add Dunlops to your short list, since they're my favorite and will do what you want. They're relatively new, but they have great deep bass, more mid than LaBellas but less than Chromes, low tension, and are as smooth as a baby's butt, plus they're not real expensive. The only thing about them is that they're very bright and ringy when new, but a couple coats of Eucerin cream takes care of that right quick. The original Eucerin moisturizing cream, not those fancy medicated creams. And anything else people suggest to mellow out strings right away is garbage, though the cheaper house brands of it are fine
Not to sidetrack the thread, but I'm surprised you don't love the 45-95 GHS P Flats, Jimmy! Seems like they'd be up your alley.
Maybe I would if they ever did 40-90. They're good strings...just I have no interested in using telephone cables.
Thank you all. I think I'm going to buy the GHS Precision Flats. I may try the Labellas down the line. The price looks great for the GHS and seem to get a lot of positive feedback especially for what I'm looking for.
Your Yamaha being a PJ, the GHS P Flats should be a good match. Make sure they're the light set (45-95).
GHS P Flats "long scale plus" are 38" in winding length (ball end to silk). You might want to measure the distance on your bass from where the ball end sits to the E tuner post just to make sure it's not too long.
You might also check out fretnation.com, a TB'er who used to run bass strings online has opened a new shop.
Bass and Guitar Strings, Amps and More from Fret Nation
Personally I like the low tension feel and sound of TI Jazz. Pricy but nice.
Bass and Guitar Strings, Amps and More from Fret Nation
Personally I like the low tension feel and sound of TI Jazz. Pricy but nice.
Labella LTF4A
80% broken in tone fresh from pack.
The G sound a bit bright, but become full and thick voice after few weeks.
Tension are close to round 45-100 .
Pretty even string to string tension than GHS3025.
Recently added a Squier VM P - Fralin pups to my collection and it came strung with well seasoned LaBella 45-100s. Was planning on restring once I received the bass, but omg I'm in love with these LaBellas! Sounded awesome first time jamming with the guys - I'm sure the Fralin pups have a little bit to do with the fantastic tone as well. Have mostly been a J bass, round wound guy - but finding all strings with the broken in Labellas ring through loud and clear and I can set the action super low making playability fast and easy - with zero "string zing"!
