Flatwound strings

[michael_t]

If you want something in between flats and rounds, try GHS Pressure Wound strings. Awesome sounding strings, have them on my P-Bass.

Personally I stay away from half rounds or ground wound strings. I hate how they feel and sound. Haven’t tried a set yet I liked.

^^^ This!

 

[Killing Floor]

TI Jazz Flats can last years. I replace them about annually just so I can do deep cleaning. They’re not for everyone but they’re for me.

 

[jwoiton]

I got three basses. One with RotoSound flats, one with GHS Precision flats, and one with DR flats. I like the soiund of them all. I'm not changing strings until one of them breaks.

This complaint about Rotosound Flats sounding dead quickly? I never buy flats to get a bright tone.

 

[Gizmot]

I'm another huge T-I Jazz Flats fan. I've tried several other brands (some mentioned here) and Jazz Flats simply sound better, feel better and last for years and years. They are somewhat more expensive than other brands, but after you consider how long they last, they are among the least expensive strings you can buy. Austrians build great products and this is a prime example of what they build.

 

[Dragan]

Chromes

 

[bassinflorida]

Ernie Ball cobalt flats

Regarding these strings, do you happen to still have the packaging? Having an unusually hard time determining which Ernie Ball "flats" are cobalt. I had a set of cobalt rounds a couple of years and they were pretty good. Very hot.
Can't seem to find the cobalt flats.

 

[michael_t]

Having an unusually hard time determining which Ernie Ball "flats" are cobalt.

The package would have "Slinky Flatwound" on it in big letters with a line at the bottom that says "The world's first and only Cobalt Flat".

Here's what the package for their other flats (stainless steel) looks like:

 

[blacktocomm]

Regarding these strings, do you happen to still have the packaging? Having an unusually hard time determining which Ernie Ball "flats" are cobalt. I had a set of cobalt rounds a couple of years and they were pretty good. Very hot.
Can't seem to find the cobalt flats.

These are the same strings. They just don’t call them “cobalt” flats anymore.

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[bassinflorida]

Thsebe are the same strings. They just don’t call them “cobalt” flats anymore.

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Well I very much appreciate this info. Somehow I kept missing the details.

 

[BW7785]

I use the cobalt flats and love them

 

[LoveThatBass]

I like flatwound from Rotosound but they become dead very fast! Does anyone know flat that stay alive longer ?

Had same experience in the mid 1970's. Loved the tone but they went dead within one month. I now use TI Jazz Flats. Expensive initial outlay of cash ($70) but they last 5-7 years. Factor that in and they cost 10-$14 a year. Another is Labella low tension flats. Decent. Also D'Addario Black Tapewounds also very nice!

 

[Willie5String]

I like the EB cobalt flats, best darn flats, have had mine on for a year, sound sd good as fairly fresh ones.

 

[Mili]

I love EB Cobalt flats. after one year of playing still they sound Excellent.

 

[GIBrat51]

I use these. Just bigger size than jazz77

View attachment 4620363

I had a set of those in my Big Box O' Strings for several years, but could never bring myself to put them on any of my basses. It wasn't because I don't like Roto 77s; I've had them on a couple of my basses. And, if I hadn't sold the one, and changed the other from BEAD back to "normal", I'd still be liking them. The problem with the SH 77s is that the blue/burgundy silks are Westham United FC's colors (his favorite team). My team is West Bromwich Albion FC (Blue/White). They've been my favorite team since I was a kid; there's no way I'm flying a rival team's colors on my bass...

 

[Abner]

... there's no way I'm flying a rival team's colors on my bass...

Dip them in ink.

 

[BradH]

I have just come around to liking the sound of flats, & my new favorite is Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats - 45-100's with the tone up just a little.

 

[Nicolas75]

After reading this thread, I’d suggest Chromes for you. Even when they’re broken in, they still have brightness in the upper- midrange, and my first set on my main P lasted 10 years without intonation problems.

Any brand and model to suggest?

 

[michael_t]

Any brand and model to suggest?

When people talk about "Chromes", it refers to the D'Addario Chromes Flatwound.

I would suggest the ECB84 set, 40-60-80-100, which have similar tension and feel to a typical 45-105 set of rounds.

I did try the ECB81 (45-65-80-100), which D'A calls "regular light". I found the 45G and the 65D anything but "light", though, as they felt noticeably tighter than the 80A and the 100E.

That said, I personally prefer Fender 9050L (45-60-80-100) over the Chromes both for tone and feel.

 

[Nicolas75]

When people talk about "Chromes", it refers to the D'Addario Chromes Flatwound.

I would suggest the ECB84 set, 40-60-80-100, which have similar tension and feel to a typical 45-105 set of rounds.

I did try the ECB81 (45-65-80-100), which D'A calls "regular light". I found the 45G and the 65D anything but "light", though, as they felt noticeably tighter than the 80A and the 100E.

That said, I personally prefer Fender 9050L (45-60-80-100) over the Chromes both for tone and feel.

Thanks! I like tension for low action. I'll see for bigger one 0.50 to .110

 

[michael_t]

I'll see for bigger one 0.50 to .110

0.50 = 50/100th of an inch = might be a little too thick for your bass. I would suggest a 0.050 (50/1000th of an inch) for the G.