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Flatwound strings - Fender P bass
- Thread starter DomTurco
- Start date
+1
did not care for Chromes, but also I admittedly tried them YEARS ago before I even liked flats at all.
currently rocking TI flats and like them a lot. They’re a little loose feeling but I’ve gotten used to it.
previous favourite set was GHS Precision Flats.
Hi all
Question is easy - I ve got a classic 4 string P-bass 20 frets long scale 34''
would like to try some flatwounds on it and I narrowed it down to
- D'addario chromes 45-100
- Ernie Ball group III 45-100
Any advice?
Thank you
I can't vote because those are the same same strings. D 'Addario makes these for Ernie Ball, and as far as I can tell they are the same strings in a different packaging. The only difference is the lack of colored ball ends
As for me, I prefer La Bella 760FL on a P-Bass, but I'm specifically looking for the classic, old-school sound when I am using flatwounds.
- Steve
I go with Chromes on my personal basses. I also play drop C tuning metal on a fretless jazz bass and I find they sound great and have perfect tension in drop tuning. I was thinking of trying out the cobalt flats, but after trying the cobalt rounds I put that idea on the back burner. They work well with a bit of grit and don't get all mwah on me like rounds.
Sorry - LaBella 760 FL mediums are the ONLY flats for a classic P. Period. I love T.I.s but not on my P. For rounds, you have a big choice.
Flatwound strings - Fender P bass
Yup
That's the joints I be using on one of my Ps
Emphasis on Let's work
Yup
That's the joints I be using on one of my Ps
Emphasis on Let's work
Last edited:
Per the choices given: Group Flats....Just tried the Group flats for the first time and A/B'd them directly with Chromes. I'll confirm that the Group Flats are highly underrated and a set everyone should try IMO. Really dig them. Similar to Fender 9050s but less growl to them. Chromes were just kind of meh to me. They were fine but I think there are better sets out there. To the claims that say Chromes and Group Flats are the same string...they are dead wrong. Just because D'Addario makes them doesn't mean it's just a repackaged Chrome.
Personal favorites on a P Bass not on the list...TIs, Dunlops, La Bella LTFs...in that order
Personal favorites on a P Bass not on the list...TIs, Dunlops, La Bella LTFs...in that order
yah can't go wrong starting with Fenders on a Fender
Flats? on a P-bass? La Bella’s. Good enough for J.J. and the Duck.
Should be good enough for you.
Should be good enough for you.
Sounds like you need to adjust your truss rod to account for the higher tension. If you’re not comfortable doing it yourself then yes have your luthier set up your action. But it won’t hurt the neck having slightly raised action.
I thought EB flats were basically the same as Chromes? There's loads of old threads here where people say the EB flats are made by D'addario and sound 95% the same if not outright identical (they certainly look the same).
Thank you very much for replying! Great post! clear and helpfulView attachment 3948541 My '78 P-Bass, just before I took the Fender 9050L flats off, and replaced them with a set of 45-105 GHS Precision Flats. Both of which I would recommend over your choices; the Fenders if you want very good, very versatile, "modern" sounding flats; the GHS Precisions if you want Old School Thump. You can probably guess what I want from my P-Bass; but with 22 other basses? I don't need versatile from this one. The Fenders are currently living on a different bass, and I'm very happy with them there, too. Of the two flats you're looking to try? I'm only familiar with the D'Addario Chromes.
View attachment 3948551 I have a well broken-in, salvaged set of them on this '15 G&L Tom Hamilton Signature ASAT Bass. While I normally never use D'Addario strings, I tried the old Chromes - just for the Hell of it. And, on this active bass with "Hamiltone" custom wound pickups? I have to say that I'm very favorably impressed. However; how long will the niceness last? I have no idea; they weren't exactly new when I salvaged them, and that was several years ago. And there are only one or two other basses I own that I would even think of trying flats that bright on - and my P-Bass ain't one of them. But, a fair number of folks around here do - and seem to like them. As for the EB Group IIIs? Those are one of a very small group of flats that I've never tried. So, I can't say yea or nay; but, again; other people seem to like them. And, I respect iiipopes opinion and recommendations; If he says they're good, I'd give them a try...
Bottom line? The only real way to know if the Chromes or the EB Group III's are right for you - is to try them. My ears are not your ears; my hands are not your hands; and I'm an Old Fart who's permanently stuck in the early '60s, anyway. So, I doubt we like to play the same things, either. Maybe one of them is just what you want...
You're right! That 's what I thought too. About D'addario being more popular. I think in the end I will have to buy few different sets and try them all to find what I like the best! Same as I've done for the round wound
I’m on similar path .. spent a lot of money first to try several flats models, then to settle on TIs and now, after reinstalling LTF-4A on a J-bass, I’m thinking of equally subdividing my stable between TIs and La Bella LTF-4A.Question: have you ever used flats on your P or any bass for that matter?
I put LaBella Deep Talkin' Flats (the ones Duck Dunn supposedly used) on my P bass and managed to mangle both my right hand and the truss rod and I'd played bass for a long time before this occurred. My point being: make sure you know what you're getting into.
I've gone thru various sets from those LaBellas to Chromes (hated them) to Half-rounds (ugh!) to Pressurewounds (great!) to TI's (also great) as well as LaBella Low Tension Flats (great as well) + a new neck.
I found the LTFs to be the easiest on my right hand and the TI's to be a bit metallic in comparison. That said, the TI's have been on my bass for the longest time so far but I may go back to LTF's for a while and if I ever pull the trigger in a SS bass I'm putting the Pressurewounds on it.
The short answer: experiment. Your mood & requirements will change over time. Have fun!
However, just for familiarising yourself with flats, you may try those made by Fender .. not expensive, solid tone, miedium-high tension but manageable!
Tried Chromes (good overall) but not EB Group III so I can’t actually participate to the poll although I’m curious to check the impressions of TBers who have used the EB strings ...Hi all
Question is easy - I ve got a classic 4 string P-bass 20 frets long scale 34''
would like to try some flatwounds on it and I narrowed it down to
- D'addario chromes 45-100
- Ernie Ball group III 45-100
Any advice?
Thank you
Where did you get this info re EB Group & D’Addario Chromes being the same? Very interesting!
