Honestly, few set LTF4A i been use on 60s/50s P bass has nice full sounding G string and never sound like it from different set.
But i suggest a try with mute foam and mild compressor engage......
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Flatwounds with a full and warm G
- Thread starter antfarm
- Start date
But i suggest a try with mute foam and mild compressor engage......
I vote for Olintos as well. They start off bright, then they go through a sticky phase, then they start to break in and develop a very smooth, creamy sound.
quote all the way. I tried this set last year, and now is the only set of flats I can use on my flat-strung basses. however, it starts a little brighter, but after a few days it's the most balanced G string I've ever experienced on bass.
the tension is also not that exaggerated: they are more flexible compared to the Fender in the same gauge.
a setup is needed.
And that whopping difference in tension between E and G is no problem?
I’ve tried a lot of G string flats now of varying gauges at long scale length, and I’ve found that going heavier and more tension has resulted in more brightness and less fullness so to speak. Only time it has worked for me is at a shorter scale. Less tension and greater amplitude. IMO, amplitude is the key to getting the warm G. Too little and things too bright. Too much and too flubby, out of control. Finding the Goldilocks zone is a bit of a quest
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actually I'm not a fan of "balanced tension" strings, I do prefer heavier G string and some decrease from G to E. I do feel that this way the dynamics are better. I also like the 45-95 set they make, and the Rotosound RS66LD set of rounds which is marketed 45-105, but its actually 48-103.
With my 5-string SIre Marcus Miller P5 (a passive P bass), I use a mix of La Bella LTF for the B, E and A strings and GHS Precision flats for the D and G strings. These last two are a better balance in many ways to the LTF B, E and A than the LTF D and G.
The LTF G string doesn’t jive with the EAD strings in the set at all in my limited experience with the LTF 4 string set . The EAD have a thread of some material around the core which the G doesn’t have, or at least doesn’t have now. I read some review on Sweetwater of the LTF’s and one review dated 2024 mentions the original G string construction was changed sometime after the LTF’s were launched. The first reviewer expresses sentiments about the G that I concur with La Bella LTF-4A Low Tension Flexible Flats Bass Guitar Strings - .042-.100 Reviews | Sweetwater
I wonder if the initial construction of the G string included the thread around the core and it was removed later. Anyhow, I like the EAD LTF but the G has to go. I either do what you are doing and use a different brand for the G on the bass I have them on. I can’t lose the G by going to BEAD on the bass because 1. I don’t wanna mess with nut and bridge on the new fretless bass I recently migrated the LTF’s to and
2. I’d then have to try and get either a regular DTF 128 for the B which might be easier than trying to get the 118 from the LTF’s as a single. Easier said than done when you live in Aussieland.
Even were I in the States, I dunno if La Bella offers the 118 as a single. This page suggests only the 056 and 042 singles . https://www.labella.com/strings/category/misc/
I did have GHS precision flat G string. Can’t recall what I did with it
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idk if theyre traditional but on rotosound jazz flats the g rings like a bell after wearing in (only takes about a week of playing)
I have Hofner 500/1 basses; 4 actually, with 2 Chinese and 2 German made. The G is fine on all instruments. I put that down to the neck being fairly thick.
D
In that case I think it's safe to assume that the problem isn't with the strings. I have six of those strings installed on basses I use regularly, and I don't find any of them to have an thin sounding G-string. At least not thinner sounding than a G-string is SUPPOSED to be.
I'm assuming your bass set up properly, especially the pickup height?
-Have you used any of these strings long enough to break them in properly? Some flats can take months, or even years of regular playing before they're at their best. The higher strings will often mellow out slower than the lower strings.
-With reggae I'm assuming you want big, fat lows. Are you boosting the lows anywhere? Be aware that by boosting the lows a lot, you're effectively boosting the lower strings relative to the higher strings. You can't boost frequencies that aren't there. If you're boosting the lows a lot, you're effectively making the G-string weaker relative to the other strings.
-The same tone played on different string will ALWAYS sound different. Maybe you will simply have to accept that you'll need to play certain notes in the higher register on lower strings to get the tone you need.
Of course, with this being Talkbass you will undoubtedly get recommendations for every type of flats out there (including the ones you've already tried...). But keep in mind that most of these recommendations won't be coming from people who play reggae, and therefore won't necessarily know how the strings respond to YOUR kind of tone. With the number of flats you've already tried, I honestly think it will be a waste of money to keep buying strings in some kind of hope that new strings will fix this. Because I'm pretty sure it won't. If anything, it might make it worse, because you'll keep installing new flats without breaking them in properly.
I've got an AO60s J-bass myself btw. It's a very nice bass. One of the better Fenders in recent years IMO. I got Optima Chromes flats installed on mine, and the G-string sounds great. I'm NOT saying you should buy Optima Chromes though. They great strings, one of my favorite flats, but they're not really that different than some of the flats you've already tried and they're also quite expensive. It would almost certainly just be a waste of money. I think your problem lies elsewhere.
Maybe plucking the strings close to the neck can help a bit, if you're not already doing this? That can certainly "fatten up" the G-string a bit.
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D
Roto flats are unique in the way the D+G-strings mellow out quite fast while the E+A-strings stay bright for a very long time. Pretty much the opposite of most other strings. They're one of my favorite strings, but they're probably the last flats I would consider for reggae. They have a VERY strong upper mid presence, and are VERY stiff. Not fat and "bouncy" at all. They're very much ROCK flats. And the G-string isn't really any warmer than other flats. It just seems that way because the E+A-strings are so bright/aggressive sounding by comparison.
Can't answer your question, but I thought I'd point you to this really informative video from Don Chandler, who's played/toured with everyone from Black Uhuru to UB40. He discusses the bass, strings, DAW plugins, and live hardware he uses. He briefly mentions that he uses Elite flats in the video. I linked to that part of the video but the whole video is really interesting and you might find it useful.
Elites Detroit Flats Stainless Steel 45-130 5-String Bass Guitar Strings
Shop quality guitar strings at Strings Direct. Easy online guitar strings order with fast UK delivery. Find top brands and keep your music sounding great.
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Vanilla guages 45 65 85 105 & 130 B. Imagine his EQing is the special sauce and not the strings or the bass, being a typical 45 gauge on a long scale bass.
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