Flatwound Switch Up

[jdwhitak]

Right now I have two basses, both G&Ls. The first one is an LB-100 with TI flats on it. The second is an SB-2 with TI Rock Bass on it. With the SB-2 I find myself dialing in a flatwound like sound on it. I'm thinking of putting the TI flats on the SB-2 and getting a different set of flatwounds for the LB-100. Give me some recommendations. I think I'd like to go for a more traditional flatwound sound on the LB-100.

 

[Gorn]

Labella.

 

[petrus61]

Labella.

Doesn't get any better! They're the ones I keep coming back to after all.

 

[michael_t]

Give me some recommendations. I think I'd like to go for a more traditional flatwound sound on the LB-100.

Another vote for the La Bella! Nothing beats them for the traditional P bass tone.

I'm loving the 760FL (43-60-82-104) on my new P.

 

[1stnamebassist]

Yup traditional = Labella.

 

[Thuddy Waters]

 

[Yahboy]

Labella 760FL

 

[Levin]

LaBella sounds more traditional in my ears than for instance GHS or other flats most people deem dark sounding. Sadowskys sound like a bit more defined version of the LaBella sound, with a slightly more modern tone in my ears. I prefer the LaBellas over all the ones I've tried ever for an old-school sound, both in terms of sound and feel. It's good that they have so many gauges too! As they are quite stiff.

 

[FlatwoundFunk]

Might wanna try Chromes on the sb-2. It will enhance the upper registers and bring out the jazz p/u. Plus they have a pretty good slap tone (aka versatility).

I'd leave the TI's on the other. Or like posted, a set of Labella's.
FF

 

[Mattrill]

Would agree to Labella's as they are highly regarded on here. But I love me some GHS P flats

perfect tension and super smooth for me

 

[iiipopes]

With all the La Bella love here, let me round out (pun intended) the discussion. La Bellas are fantastic neutral toned strings - good articulation and not too bright or dark for flats. By comparison, here are how some of the other conventional flats offerings sound to my ears:

D'Addario Chromes: top end zing fading to thump over time
Fender flats: growl that gradually fades over the course of a long time
Ernie Ball conventional steel flats: less pronounced growl that mellows nicely
Thomastik-Infeld: a very mellow, sweet tone
Optima: successor to the '60's Maxima - think Sir Macca Sgt. Pepper
Pyramid: straightforward, higher tension
Rotosound monel: some clank, very high tension for the given gauge
GHS Precision Flats: a little rattle-y when new, locks in to a deep, almost hollow tone over time.
New Ernie Ball Cobalt: brightest for flats

I have not had the pleasure of Sadowsky's yet; others think very highly of them.

As usual, YMMV.

 

[BassGreaser]

I would agree with popes's description.
My experience with being a long time TI flats player on my Pbass and made the switch to Rotosound 77 to try something new. Well, I was shocked by how when brand new these strings almost sounded like round (or what I remember rounds sounding like), but they still have that thump and after a month.. Started sounding like traditional flats.

It would be interesting to see how they sound in a hollow body.

 

[Fondsdale]

G&L flats are nice for a vintage tone. Pretty cheap too compared to Labella or TI's. Although I will say that when I first put them on my P bass the E string sounded dead (no sustain compared to the other strings) but after swapping them onto my Yammy BB the issue resolved itself, the E string now sounds consistent with the other strings.

Fender flats are great but they have more of a modern tone (quite a bit brighter than GHS or Labella).

 

[howlin]

I like flats but there are so many that really feel like they're a fight to play when it comes to string tension. Chromes are the worst in this regard + their sound isn't too great either. LaBellas being a close second in the string tension catagory but their sound is really great, especially on a fretless. I'm currently using TI Flats on a P and they work great, so far, but we'll see.

 

[gary m]

GHS P flats for a mellower 60s tone, Fender flats for a more modern, slightly aggressive sound (when compared to other flats).

 

[40Hz]

La Bella or GHS flats if you want to get away from that TI sound. (I very slightly prefer the LaBellas to GHS for flats.) If you want something a little beyond flats but still with that flat vibe. consider GHS Pressurewounds. Great strings IMO. Unusually versatile too.

 

[BassGreaser]

Does anyone know which scale length Rotosound 77's fit the Kay Pro K162?

 

[HaphAsSard]

Does anyone know which scale length Rotosound 77's fit the Kay Pro K162?

I don't know for sure, but eyeballing it from the picture it's medium in all likelihood: there's about 2.5" of afterlength past the bridge, which, summed to 31" scale means Rotosound short scale (32, max 32.5" full winding) is definitely out, and, judging from the distance between nut and E string tuner, Roto long-scale strings (37" winding length) are probably too long, albeit by little, and the E might wrap to its tuner some.
I may be wrong on the latter point though, and I admit the matter is not trivial: medium and short scale Jazz 77s feel and sound completely different from the long scale version and the Steve Harris signature set - much smoother but also not at all brightish as the long-scalers, and in fact kind of dead out of the box.
Roto 77 flats w/ blue tapering? | TalkBass.com

 

[gary m]

The Kay Pro's tailpiece setup reminds me of a Hofner...that extra string length at tbe tailpiece will rule out short scale strings. I would bet that medium scale strings would do the trick in this case. Strings specifically made for a Hofner's scale length are what you'd be looking for.

 

[BassGreaser]

Haph and Gary thanks for the info!

Why did Rotosound change the 77's for the short/med versions from the longer scales?! I love the tone of the long scale 77.. :/