Flatwounds on Semi-Hollow?

[jasper383]

That bass can handle anything string-wise.

I suggest the 45-100 Chromes, the La Bella 760FL, or Pyramid 40-105 flats.

I have the Pyramid set on my Casady bass, and there are times I can't believe how good it sound.

 

[MaccaMan1964]

No doubt on this topic, you will get a zillion opinions. But note one consistent point - TI Flats are King of the Flat Strings World! Sure, they can be a bit loose at times on some basses, but on a whole, they epitomize why people use flats. Smooth, low-noise, flexible, deep, full and LAST forever....can't ask for more....well, you CAN ask....

 

[sdgrfan]

Thanks, all. I just got this thing and I want to treat her right. She has a crack in the back of her headstock and I need to remove the E-tuning-machine and have a luthier look at her to see if this crack can be stopped or if it will continue. So I, naturally, wondered if high tension strings may have led to this crack. I've ordered the low tension La Bella 760FLs for now.

 

[sdgrfan]

You are probably correct, MaccaMan. Folks do seem to love the TI Flats. But, according to reviews, many people complain that the E goes dead in about 3-4 months. $75 on strings to have the strings go dead on you is, well, disconcerting. Granted, there could be a number of factors leading to this. But it makes me wonder about quality control at TI. So I'll string her up with the LaBellas for now, see how she sounds, and see if I can get her headstock repaired or stabilized economically.

 

[mellowgerman]

I am one of the few who actually dislikes TI flats. This is completely based on my experience, but I've had two sets that I bought new, gave them plenty of time to break in, and they never sounded or felt great to me.
Granted I do prefer high tension flats, but regardless, both of my TI sets lacked punch and had lower overall output compared to LaBellas or Chromes on the same basses. Uneven string-to-string response and tone. I was pretty bummed after the second set had more or less the same issues... especially because the two sets cost a total of $130. And each set went on a different bass, so it was not a case of a particular instrument just not gelling with the TI formula.
But again, not trying to get a rise out of anyone, just my honest opinion and experience.

 

[Ric5]

I'm looking for a nice, old-school "thump" out of my semi-hollow bass.

From what I can find at a few various string manufacturers, it seems that flatwound strings have the most tension. For example, D'Addario's Chromes are 200 pounds tension versus their roundwound at 173 pounds tension for the same length and gauge.

I think the Chromes would give me that "thump" but I don't want to put too much tension on this semi-hollow body and neck.

Am I paranoid to be concerned?

Half-wounds might be an option, but they don't get very good reviews.

TI's might also be an option but they are so stinky expensive.

Anyone have any thoughts/recommendations on this?

Thanks.

Just use rounds, roll off the treble a little and palm mute, and to get the McCartney tone use a pick. Also let the rounds age a little.

 

[markjazzbassist]

i have played flats primarily for 10 years now and have owned a number of semi-hollow (jack casady, gretsch g6072, 67 fender coronado, gibson eb2, univox lectra fretless). so i have experience with both for the record.

i find semi hollow's tonally to have a lot of loose low end and midrange without much on top. by playing a "thumpy" old school style flat i fear you just accenuate that sound (unless a muddy double bass like sound is what you're going for). i would try TI Jazz flats and Fender Chromes first to see if their increased clarity and focus tonally will help you to have a tighter tone more likely to sit in the mix. with labellas and the like i often found my bass was just subwoofer like low end and midrange woofing notes without a clarity to them (read differentiation between the notes was difficult).

but by all means if you're going for more of a washtub bass means double bass type tone then labella, pyramid, GHS, will all have little attack and lots of thump.

just my .02

 

[sonojono]

+1 for la Bella Tapewounds. They really produce that Motown thump!

Going on a month for me and they're the cats meow!

 

[Tom Howland]

I have TI-flats on my Fritz Bro. They are not going anywhere. Sound & feel amazing.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

So far I've been most impressed with GHS flats, though I haven't tried Labella's yet. GHS seemed to feel more broken-in from the get go, they were seriously thumpy if you use a foam mute on them as well.

 

[Charley Umbria]

I was very happy with the black tapewounds on my Gretsch 5123B. Great thump, but still plenty of tone.

 

[Eilif]

Thanks, all. I just got this thing and I want to treat her right. She has a crack in the back of her headstock and I need to remove the E-tuning-machine and have a luthier look at her to see if this crack can be stopped or if it will continue. So I, naturally, wondered if high tension strings may have led to this crack. I've ordered the low tension La Bella 760FLs for now.

Sounds like you made a good chance, but I'd have taken it to a luther before doing anything else. Have you unstrung the E?

I realize this is the string forum, but really, strings are kind of a bandaid on an otherwise great instrument that is hemorrhaging due to a crap pickup. I'd recommend dropping the stock pup and replacing with something better ASAP. I lucked out and scored a Casady pickup and electronic package for mine, but there are other options. I would double check, but IIRC, the pickup is 1.5x3.5 inches. This matches EMG 35 and Bartolini M3 size, which is pretty much the most common soapbar pickup shape. In addition Seymour Duncan 4 string Soapbars, Some Nordstrand pickups and others make pickups in this size.

Additionally, some folks have had good luck swapping out the pots and caps. IBANEZ ARTCORE TONE PROBLEM SOLVED !!! | TalkBass.com

Good luck with the Luthier!

 

[sdgrfan]

Eilif, the crack does seem to only be in the finish. Nevertheless, I'll have a luthier take a look her. I don't see the crack going down into the E-string hole at all. Yes, I'm aware of the Tone control problem and the fix for it. I'd love to drop a Darkstar in this, but it would probably cost more than the bass is worth.

 

[eldoryder]

I am about to take delivery on a used Alpine White Jack Casady. My question is for those of you who have used flats on their JCs. Do the silk windings on the bridge end of these strings overlay the saddles on the OEM 3-point bridge? What have you done to counter this? Mod Bar? Hipshot Supertone replacement? Cut down the silk?

Next up.... I use Fender 9050 SS flats on nearly all of my solid-body basses. I love the tone and feel of these strings. I do wonder if the tension on these might be a little much for the Jack Casady? Does anyone have any experience using this combination? On the subject of string tension alone is there a compelling reason to try TI Jazz Flats?

 

[HaphAsSard]

Do the silk windings on the bridge end of these strings overlay the saddles on the OEM 3-point bridge? What have you done to counter this? Mod Bar? Hipshot Supertone replacement? Cut down the silk?

Alas, they do, at least the E and A. 9050CLs on my Epiphone EB-3. I've cut down the silk on those two strings but the E sits on the saddle at a now revealed, slightly overwound section before the taper, and the tone is not right; I'm going to add something like a Mod Bar one day or another, but for the moment the bass sits unused for this and other reasons. I think the Supertone bridge has a longer afterlength so it should be fine in this respect.

 

[eldoryder]

Thanks for your observations, Haph. I was thinking of going to the Hipshot Supertone bridge anyway. If it helps avoid snagging the silk or hitting that overwound section, I will probably end up with it. The Supertone bridge is not an ideal fit for the Jack Casady because of the curved section of the face of the body. The Hipshot bridge is fairly flat. The Hipshot company does carry some felt spacers that help offset the edges of their bridges for this application, though. I've got a set already coming to me from Hipshot. Great customer service!

 

[1stnamebassist]

I've tried Chromes and Fender flats on my Casady with no issues other than the sound which I didn't like. Right now I have Ernie Ball Cobalt flats on it and they sound amazing! I still have the 3 point bridge on mine and have used the mod bar in the past on another Casady and Tbird and it worked fine. If you had a drill press and drill press vice you could make one easily enough as long as you can get the round stock and cut it to length. You could try using washers or something else as a spacer to pull the string back a bit but it probably wouldn't look very nice! I trimmed the silks back a bit and that worked fine.

 

[Pilgrim]

Disregard all the paranoia.

Labella 760FL Deep Talkin' Flats. They've never bothered any bass I've installed them on, solid body or hollow.