Flatwounds vs Roundwounds in 2025

[Brad Maestas]

Once I found Thomastik flats, I love to keep them on at least one of my basses at all times. I always keep a set on my Precision and sometimes put them on my Jazz Bass. Right now I've got Fodera/DR roundwounds on my Jazz and if I take those two to a session or a gig, I can cover most anything.

 

[bassist4dalord]

This was my Christmas haul. The NYXL will eventually go on my Schecter Raiden Special-4, which has been under my bed in a case since I bought my Peavey Fury IV in March. The Elixirs are already on my Ibanez AEB5E acoustic bass and they are perfect. The La Bella 760FL flats are going to be saved for a P-Bass that is somewhere in the pipeline, maybe in the next year or so.

Lastly, today, I used a Sweetwater gift card that Mom gave me for Christmas to order a set of TI Jazz Flats for my Peavey. The Peavey has been my #1 since I bought it; I absolutely love that bass. I am so excited to have another set of TIJFs; it’s been a few years but when I had a set, I considered them to be some of my all-time favorite bass strings.

For 2026, it will be two basses with rounds and two basses with flats.

 

[BASS YODA]

 

[woodyng2]

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Thanks for posting this comparison chart, very useful and informative.
I’m surprised the LTFF set isn’t the lowest tension. I use them and TIJF sets on several basses, and the TI’s always feel
more stiff than the Labellas.
Comparatively speaking of course. They’re both definitely low tension.

 

[TheArchitect]

It makes sense. My jazz with rounds sounds down right thin compared to the P with LaBella DTF's. I may put Cobalts on the jazz and go to a 50-110 set of rounds on the P bass. I definitely like the higher tension of the DTF's. I am finding myself quite motivated to find a mix that works without adding another bass.

 

[John D Harris]

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I'm not sure what different models Dunlop makes that are Flatwound, but the model # of the set I bought and am currently enjoying is DBFS45125.

They replaced a set of EB Cobalt Flats which in turn replaced a set of Rotosound RS775LD (Monel).

My experience is the Rotos were definitely the highest tension, but they did not seem to be any brighter than the EB Cobalt Flats.

The set of Dunlop's I have is on the higher tension side of things, definitely more tension than the Cobalt Flats, but a bit less than the Roto's.

The Dunlop's are what I would describe as between Medium and Bright, with both punch and very decent articulation and by far my favorite strings that I've used (used to DR Lo-Rider Nickels and Sunbeams).

The Cobalt Flats didn't like my body chemistry, otherwise, they were great strings.

 

[Prodigus Filius]

Thanks for posting this comparison chart, very useful and informative.
I’m surprised the LTFF set isn’t the lowest tension. I use them and TIJF sets on several basses, and the TI’s always feel
more stiff than the Labellas.
Comparatively speaking of course. They’re both definitely low tension.

Technically, as far as actual lbs force is concerned and not feel, the LTF strings with the same gauges as the TIJF ie 56 and 100, actually have less tension

LTF
E1/.100/34.20lbf
D2/.056/34.00lbf

TIJF
E1/.100/34.39.lbf
D2/.056/37.47lbf
And you'd presume if the other gauges were the same, than the LTF's would also be lower.
As far as total tension for the 4 string sets. The TI's are a just a smidge more than than the LTF's. 140lbf vs 139.9lbf

Maybe the TI's feel more supple due to the construction materials difference ( nickel vs stainless steel) and other aspects of manufacture. Which, as we all know, can be interpreted as being less in tension, even if that is not always strictly the case. Regardless, as you say, they are both low tension for sure