I'm very glad this thread is around, because my problem is that I currently have the Rotosound flatwounds on my fretless j-bass, and they sound great, BUT my bass' trussrod is at maximum possible tension now and I would like the neck to be a bit straighter. This thread helped me decide to try some of the lower-tension brands mentioned, which, if I've understood string tension correctly, should give me a little more room for adjustment.
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Flatwound string tension comparisons?
- Thread starter autoglide
- Start date
As much as I dislike lighter guage strings,
I automatically drop down a guage if I'm purchasing a set of flats.
I'm actually going to set up my new 1980 pbass with some flats, and it's been a while since I've played 'em.
I'm concerned, the tension is always a little tight for me with flats.
I automatically drop down a guage if I'm purchasing a set of flats.
I'm actually going to set up my new 1980 pbass with some flats, and it's been a while since I've played 'em.
I'm concerned, the tension is always a little tight for me with flats.
+1
I've been through Roto Jazz Flats 45-105, Chromes 45-105 and Fender ML 50-100 ... personally I love the defined tone of high tension strings, but was literally getting tired of fighting my bass during tough passages.
I dropped down to what I considered a sacrilegious set of Fender L's 45-95 ... the MLs were "deeper", but the L's sat in the mix better (more mid punch) in my opinion and I'd say much deeper than any roundwound string I've ever used, and the tension pretty much on par with Fender 7250s 45-105 roundwounds (Actually the Fender L's can be heard on "Brian Wilson" on the page linked in my sig, and the Roto Jazz Flats on the Blue Rodeo tribute clips on the same page ... recorded direct into the board, same studio, same bass).
I recently switched to TI's ... definitely a unique flats playing experience ... jury is still out. I miss the lighter guageFenders.
if i do,Will I need to drop down a guage ?
I've needed to w chromes.. I love them(after that wierd grey coating wears off)only I'm weary of getting a 105-45 set,even w the
thomastics..
this thread is pretty imformative, it's hard to get a real idea of what they feel like from the stats.
I've needed to w chromes.. I love them(after that wierd grey coating wears off)only I'm weary of getting a 105-45 set,even w the
thomastics..
this thread is pretty imformative, it's hard to get a real idea of what they feel like from the stats.
TI flats only come in 43-100 I think (34" scale) ... way less tension than even any round wound I've used let alone any other flat, and WAY different tonally than Chromes.
I went from Roto Jazz 77 45-105 to Chromes 45-100 and no truss rod adjustment was needed (and I'm very picky about my measurements, they stayed the same).
Going to Fender rounds 45-105 I loosened the truss rod a little bit (a lot less than I would have expected), and then no adjustments were required when I switched to the Fender 9050L flats (45-95).
Most recently, switching to the TIs required quite a bit of loosening of the truss rod. The feel is simply amazing ... best strings I ever tried for feel by far. Still unsure about the tone though since my ears are used to the brighter Roto sound ... but I am playing better since I'm hitting notes a lot cleaner with way less effort. Only other main difference is I could "slap" with Rotos, Chromes, Fenders. I personally find slapping with TIs is like slapping a wet noodle, but thankfully I have another bass I can switch to for that.
I went from Roto Jazz 77 45-105 to Chromes 45-100 and no truss rod adjustment was needed (and I'm very picky about my measurements, they stayed the same).
Going to Fender rounds 45-105 I loosened the truss rod a little bit (a lot less than I would have expected), and then no adjustments were required when I switched to the Fender 9050L flats (45-95).
Most recently, switching to the TIs required quite a bit of loosening of the truss rod. The feel is simply amazing ... best strings I ever tried for feel by far. Still unsure about the tone though since my ears are used to the brighter Roto sound ... but I am playing better since I'm hitting notes a lot cleaner with way less effort. Only other main difference is I could "slap" with Rotos, Chromes, Fenders. I personally find slapping with TIs is like slapping a wet noodle, but thankfully I have another bass I can switch to for that.
Yes, the neck should become a bit straighter after the switch. But 've got some basses where the neck doesn't appear to move when going to lighter tension strings.
I am using Fender's ML 9050s (.050 - .100) falts on my 1972 Jazz bass, I like them very much. They work for me, I think I will use them for a long time before getting Chromes Flat Lights (.045 - .100)
I want to test how low I can go with this set. Anyone setting their strings super low? I will try it using trial and error and see for myself. Cheers! Thank you very much everyone.
I want to test how low I can go with this set. Anyone setting their strings super low? I will try it using trial and error and see for myself. Cheers! Thank you very much everyone.
i'm looking into tension for electric bass strings. Anyone have any info on DR flatwounds? Are the 45-105 gauge flatwounds the same tension as the 45-105 high beams?
No much higher tension. As a general rule, flats will always have higher tension than rounds of the same gauge.
MASS determines tension, not diameter. Generally, flats will have more tension for a given diameter because the flat ribbon wrap has no gaps, or less gaps, than a conventional typical round wound string.
Because of this, generally, a set of 45 rounds, which have all those gaps between the windings, will have a similar mass as a set of 40 flats, which have much less space between the windings, and therefore more mass for the given diameter.
And don't confuse flexibility with tension. A hard tension string that is flexible will feel better and seem to have less tension than a light tension string that is wound to be stiff.
Because of this, generally, a set of 45 rounds, which have all those gaps between the windings, will have a similar mass as a set of 40 flats, which have much less space between the windings, and therefore more mass for the given diameter.
And don't confuse flexibility with tension. A hard tension string that is flexible will feel better and seem to have less tension than a light tension string that is wound to be stiff.
I just got a set of Labella low tension flats and I really like them, but they are a little TOO low tension for me. Ive tried a bunch, Labella regular flats and GHS flats are both too stiff for me.
Any ideas about where I can go to get a little more tension than these Low tension Labellas?
Any ideas about where I can go to get a little more tension than these Low tension Labellas?
Which sets/gauges of La Bella and GHS did you try?
If the LB LTFs are a little too flexible, the next logical choices would be either the LB DTF 760FX (39-96) or the GHS P Flats 45-95.
I've tried both the GHS P Flats (45-60-75-95) and the La Bella 760FL (43-60-82-104) and found them to be quite manageable in terms of stiffness without being too flexible.
