Flea flats used with The Mars Volta?

[michael_t]

If it's from early 2000s are we sure DR Legends existed then? I seem to remember when Legends were introduced and it wasn't that long ago, or was it?

Good point! I'm no expert when it comes to "history of DR bass strings". Someone did mention earlier they could possibly be Dean Markley, but again it's not something I can verify.

 

[knumbskull]

love his playing on that album. i always thought it was a Jazz for some reason.

i've got no info on the strings, sorry. carry on!

 

[Jimmy Howe]

Dean Markley (at least according to my recollections) had yellow silks on rounds in the past. When I hear Flea play, I never think "flats". His "signature" strings are stock Boomers (albeit with a label change) - nickel rounds.

A plectrum is usually used to move the string sideways. Flea is more in the Entwistle camp - launching the strings into the frets vertically. The attack comes from metal on metal collisions.

I’ve only bought Dean Markley strings two or three times and they were only flats. This was back in the late ‘90s/ early 00s. All had yellow silks. I liked them; wish they were still available.

 

[carrythatweight]

i had no idea that flea played on that album. that is neat.

nothing to contribute, crack on.

Another piece of knowledge, on their 2nd album, Francis The Mute, Flea played trumpet on The Widow and Frusciante played lead guitar on L'Via L'Vaquez.

 

[markjazzbassist]

SIT power flats - ???

Read a thread stating they had yellow/gold silk. Also the old formulation (not current) were ground wound strings not true flatwounds. So maybe it’s this?

DR legend flats (don’t think they were made then)
Rotosound tru bass

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

26709278[/URL], member: 55343"]Another piece of knowledge, on their 2nd album, Francis The Mute, Flea played trumpet on The Widow and Frusciante played lead guitar on L'Via L'Vaquez.

Fruciante played with them very often.
On Amputechture, he’s the main guitarist because Omar wanted to concentrate on production.

 

[Gyver]

Either that or the Evan Williams….

Ah, Evan Williams. Fine choice.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Flea should create his own signature strings called ‘Flea Flats’

 

[michael_t]

SIT power flats - ???

They have dark blue silk.

 

[thombo]

For anyone who hasn't seen the video that @michael_t posted...



From what I've read about Omar, in terms of having a crazy gear collection and very specific vision, I wouldn't be surprised if he had everything he wanted Flee to play set up in the studio, bass and all. Of course, that's just speculation.

I'm useless regarding the strings.

 

[markjazzbassist]

They have dark blue silk.

Is that the old ones or the new ones? They used to be groundwound and are now flat, they change in the 2010’s somewhere

 

[michael_t]

Is that the old ones or the new ones? They used to be groundwound and are now flat, they change in the 2010’s somewhere

Good question... I'm talking about the most recent flats by SIT.

 

[markjazzbassist]

Good question... I'm talking about the most recent flats by SIT.

the thread I read said the old ones were yellow silk and groundwound.

 

[4StringDave]

Yes, the very thing I would first point out as well if I was reading somebody else’s post.

Just don't want you to be disappointed, as I've seen this tone quest for another player's sound countless times before followed by the the inevitable realisation.....

However, I also realise that this is the string forum, so where else can we discuss these things? Apologies if I came across snarky.

Good luck!!

 

[HaphAsSard]

FWIW -
DR certainly weren't making flats in 2001 (1-2 years before the Comatorium sessions)
What strings do you use on your fretless?
and here's a DR fan (and neighbour) from late 2004, still wishing they were
Just Switched From Ernie Ball to DR!
This post from late August 2005 mentions DR flats as newly introduced
Alternatives to TI Flats

Dean Markley flats are described as having gray silks in this 2005 thread:
Help! Identify these Smooth Flatwounds?
but tan silks in this late 2007 thread*
Flats without slik
Here (2014) "old" Dean Markley flats are variously described as 1) champaigne/taupe/tan; 2) gray; 3) or (the new) having no silks at all:
Identify these mystery flatwounds
Said to be yellowish here
What is your favorite string that is no longer made?
Mentioned in passing as being yellow here too
Can anyone identify these flats?
Not sure if it helps, but Ben Shepherd reportedly used DM flats in (late?) Soundgarden recordings.


* ...where, by the way, old S.I.T. Power Flats (back when they were nickel groundwounds - they're stainless steel true flats now) are said to be silkless. I tried them myself, some 15 years ago, but have no memory of silk or lack thereof.

Clear as...tan mud, eh?

 

[michael_t]

the thread I read said the old ones were yellow silk and groundwound.

Ok. Good to know. Thanks for the info.

 

[alex1fly]

For anyone who hasn't seen the video that @michael_t posted...



From what I've read about Omar, in terms of having a crazy gear collection and very specific vision, I wouldn't be surprised if he had everything he wanted Flee to play set up in the studio, bass and all. Of course, that's just speculation.

I'm useless regarding the strings.

Great video. Watch Flea's different techniques. There are points where he plays with his entire right arm, not just his fingers - like he winds up in order to dig in.

 

[Stan_da_man]

I know 7150s back in the day had a gold/yellow silk.