Flatwound Switch Up

[HaphAsSard]

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.

Um, disagree about the last sentence: this one goes to 31", nut to bridge, so even Beatle-scale may be too short, at least as far as Pyramids are concerned*: medium scale proper should probably work better. I may be wrong though, it happens several times a day.

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.. :/

Beatles me. Perhaps the line of thought was, people who play shorties want thump, let's give them it.
If/when you get the bass, consider Thomastik-Infeld flats, short (actually 35.5" full winding length) scale version. I've got the E from that set and like it a lot, very lively (even though I managed to sweat it into a thumpier tone in less time than anticipated).

*(There were reports of people whose violin bass copies had too short a tailpiece and that was enough for the Pyramids not to fit; I got no experience with La Bellas so if they're a smidge longer I wouldn't know.)

 

[BassGreaser]

Um, disagree about the last sentence: this one goes to 31", nut to bridge, so even Beatle-scale may be too short, at least as far as Pyramids are concerned*: medium scale proper should probably work better. I may be wrong though, it happens several times a day.

Beatles me. Perhaps the line of thought was, people who play shorties want thump, let's give them it.
If/when you get the bass, consider Thomastik-Infeld flats, short (actually 35.5" full winding length) scale version. I've got the E from that set and like it a lot, very lively (even though I managed to sweat it into a thumpier tone in less time than anticipated).

*(There were reports of people whose violin bass copies had too short a tailpiece and that was enough for the Pyramids not to fit; I got no experience with La Bellas so if they're a smidge longer I wouldn't know.)

I've played TI for years on my Pbass, but when I made the switch to the 77s that bass just started to sing and the higher tension was very welcomed as I tend to play a lot of articulated ghost notes and like the quick response of 77s.

 

[gary m]

Beatle-scale may be too short, at least as far as Pyramids are concerned*: medium scale proper should probably work better.

I probably should have mentioned that the TI flat set made for Hofners actually was longer than the Pyramid set I was replacing on my Club. If Pyramids for Hofners are too short, the TI set might just be close to true 32" scale and hopefully long enough for the Kay.

 

[HaphAsSard]

I've played TI for years on my Pbass, but when I made the switch to the 77s that bass just started to sing and the higher tension was very welcomed as I tend to play a lot of articulated ghost notes and like the quick response of 77s.

Got it.
Just a thought: invent something metal and inconspicuous, like a one-inch small piece of tubing, that can work as a spacer behind the anchoring point at the tailpiece, so that the E string ball-end can sit further back and the tapering on the tuner side start at the right place; use regular 77s; profit!

 

[mpdd]

i really like the alleva coppolo La Bella flats, they are great on my sb-2 and they sound great on an old school fender p, with the sb-2 i can kinda get the focused and punchy tone i usually get, but with the deep authority that i wanted to get out of that bass

 

[FlatwoundFunk]

i really like the alleva coppolo La Bella flats, they are great on my sb-2 and they sound great on an old school fender p, with the sb-2 i can kinda get the focused and punchy tone i usually get, but with the deep authority that i wanted to get out of that bass

Never knew they existed. Are they still available?
FF

 

[mpdd]

Never knew they existed. Are they still available?
FF

They're still making them, just shoot them an email or a fb message

 

[FlatwoundFunk]

They're still making them, just shoot them an email or a fb message

Ok thanks. FF

 

[Moving Pictures]

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.

Excellent post. This really sums up my experience with various flats. I switched from TI's (great strings) to LaBella FL's or Cobalts depending on the bass. It really boils down to your tone goals. In my case I wanted a more forceful tone than what I was getting.

 

[iiipopes]

Excellent post. This really sums up my experience with various flats. I switched from TI's (great strings) to LaBella FL's or Cobalts depending on the bass. It really boils down to your tone goals. In my case I wanted a more forceful tone than what I was getting.

Thanks.

 

[FirewalZ]

Ive had a set of LaBella 760FL's on my P bass for about 8 months or so now and love the way they record and sound. However lately Ive been wanting a bit more of that P-bass grind at the edges. I threw on a set of disregarded and lightly used Fender Flats I had boughten in the past. They feel higher tensioned and more stiff by comparison, but my tone now has that edge and i'm digging them.

 

[Thuddy Waters]

Ive been a set of LaBella 760FL's on my P bass for about 8 months or so...

That's a really cool idea for a Halloween costume! But why did you start so early?

 

[1stnamebassist]

That's a really cool idea for a Halloween costume! But why did you start so early?

Had to lose a ton of weight to get down to medium scale would be my guess.

 

[Thuddy Waters]

Had to lose a ton of weight to get down to medium scale would be my guess.

Yeah. I know an anorexic girl who dressed up as a pack of guitar strings last year.

 

[Graham Douglas]

I found the tension on Chromes too high I think La Bella low tension flats are great. Even my guitarist noticed the difference!

 

[howlin]

I found the tension on Chromes too high I think La Bella low tension flats are great. Even my guitarist noticed the difference!

I agree. Since my last post in this thread I went to LaBella Low Tension Flats. They have to be the best quality strings I've ever had on an electric bass - especially on my P bass. I've actually wanted to go back to GHS Pressurewounds my old standbys just to see how they compared but couldn't do it. These things are that good IMHO. Considering that they're pretty much half the price of TI Flats they're a no brainer.

 

[MaccaMan1964]

Hmmm. Surprised no one mentioned Sadowsky Flats. I find they are somewhat in-between the LaBella sound and Chromes. But, there are SO MANY variables...I do think they're nice. The other I am starting to like are the EB Cobalt Flats. Not super-traditional, like La Bella or TI flats, but a nice change-up with some brighter upper register zing, as ill popes said....

 

[michael_t]

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.

Hmmm. Surprised no one mentioned Sadowsky Flats. I find they are somewhat in-between the LaBella sound and Chromes. But, there are SO MANY variables...I do think they're nice.

My last post in this thread was back in October, when my P bass was still wearing the La Bella 760FL, which I would still recommend for the traditional thumpy bliss.

However, I have since discovered the Sadowsky Lite (40-100), which I find more to my liking for their punch and articulation.

Meanwhile, I'm trying the La Bella on my J bass now for something of a slightly different flavor. We'll see how they do...

 

[FirewalZ]

My last post in this thread was back in October, when my P bass was still wearing the La Bella 760FL, which I would still recommend for the traditional thumpy bliss.

However, I have since discovered the Sadowsky Lite (40-100), which I find more to my liking for their punch and articulation.

Meanwhile, I'm trying the La Bella on my J bass now for something of a slightly different flavor. We'll see how they do...

I just did the same....I had La Bella 760FL's on my P for almost a year and love the feel and sound. However for some rooms I was wanting a bit more articulation and just put on a set of the Sadowski Flat lite's as well. Remembering how long the La Bella's took to sound good I am trying to withhold judgment for a few more weeks, they are a smaller gauge than I am use to, have a bit less tension and so far have the somewhat unpleasant new flat sound. The well broken in La Bellas I just took off had a more solid low end so my ears are unfairly comparing the two, Im hoping these age in a similar fashion as the La Bella's

 

[Dig Wilbur Ware]

I love the extra bit of "attitude" from Sadowsky flats - have 'em on a fretted Modulus.
The only way I'd go from there would be to LaBella flats or Pyramid flats.
On a fairly high-action fretless P, 'had fun with TI flats, but their tension is way too floppy for me, as I like to dig in. Worse, the "A" string had very little depth and the set as a whole seemed rather bright. My favorite on a fretless P are the Pyramid Tapewounds. Much more organic/earthy and a better low "E" than the black Roto's in my case.