Since there wasn't much on the topic, and seeing as they are towards the cheap end as regards flats in the EU (more expensive than Fender flats, but cheaper than most other brands) I decided to provide my experience to the forum.
Originally, my plan was to install LaBella DTFs in their .043-.104 gauge, but I realised right before opening the plastic bag they come in that I had bought short scale flats. Oh well, back to Thomann they go. So I had these Galli flats I wanted to try, and on the bass they went.
They come in one gauge only, .045-.105. They are stiff and high in tension, very smooth to the touch and have clearly been polished a lot (they are *shiny*). I'm using them on my Guild Starfire I bass (short scale, but really wants long scale strings¹) and they are really tough to play due to the high tension (like, maybe even harder than Rotosound flats). Accounting for the usual "new flat brightness" (I've had them on for a week, and I've been playing them at least an hour a day, so they're already starting to sound "as expected"), they sound somewhat old school, at least when it comes to their dynamic characteristics (kinda thumpy E string, not much bloom to the notes in general - of course, they're stiff flats). They are kinda hollow sounding, with not much "mid" mids (for example, if I adjust 1kHz on my amp there is little difference), and sound probably deeper than LaBellas. Really fat note attack, but again, due to the subdued mids, the tone doesn't really cut through the mix much with a pick (I've turned up the low mids, 250Hz, on my 800RB a notch, but the tone still lacks a bit of "roundness" and warmth). Fingerstyle you might need to back off the bass a bit actually.
But, for all the thumpiness of the E string, I must say the set is quite balanced, the strings intonate well and the E string doesn't sound out of place, or just bad, like with many other flats (for example, on the same bass, I've had this issue with GHS, Pyramid and Optima Chromes - even when well trimmed, strings mounted straight, etc.). The E string would need to be slightly thicker still to balance perfectly with the other strings (tuning it one halftone sharp makes it sound basically the same as the other strings) but it's workable as it is. Compared to Fender flats, they have more character (while the Fenders are better balanced) but not as much character as Pyramids, for instance - a pity that Pyramid Golds' E string is so dead on this bass, because otherwise the tone is really nice, if not versatile. I feel they would work very well for a '60s beat/art pop vibe (think Beach Boys, Beatles with a Rick, etc.) or for early Motown stuff. Or old school dub/reggae. Again, compared to LaBella DTFs, same gauge, on this bass they have quite a bit more "heft" (LaBellas are more "musical" instead, with warmer mids).
In conclusion, not my favourite flats but I'm not hating them, contrarily to what I initially thought when I just put them on. I will probably take them off for LaBellas on this particular bass but they're ok and they have their place.
¹ : in my experience, just go with long scale strings. Medium scale strings either just fit or are actually a bit too short! And there is basically no choice with medium scale strings.
Originally, my plan was to install LaBella DTFs in their .043-.104 gauge, but I realised right before opening the plastic bag they come in that I had bought short scale flats. Oh well, back to Thomann they go. So I had these Galli flats I wanted to try, and on the bass they went.
They come in one gauge only, .045-.105. They are stiff and high in tension, very smooth to the touch and have clearly been polished a lot (they are *shiny*). I'm using them on my Guild Starfire I bass (short scale, but really wants long scale strings¹) and they are really tough to play due to the high tension (like, maybe even harder than Rotosound flats). Accounting for the usual "new flat brightness" (I've had them on for a week, and I've been playing them at least an hour a day, so they're already starting to sound "as expected"), they sound somewhat old school, at least when it comes to their dynamic characteristics (kinda thumpy E string, not much bloom to the notes in general - of course, they're stiff flats). They are kinda hollow sounding, with not much "mid" mids (for example, if I adjust 1kHz on my amp there is little difference), and sound probably deeper than LaBellas. Really fat note attack, but again, due to the subdued mids, the tone doesn't really cut through the mix much with a pick (I've turned up the low mids, 250Hz, on my 800RB a notch, but the tone still lacks a bit of "roundness" and warmth). Fingerstyle you might need to back off the bass a bit actually.
But, for all the thumpiness of the E string, I must say the set is quite balanced, the strings intonate well and the E string doesn't sound out of place, or just bad, like with many other flats (for example, on the same bass, I've had this issue with GHS, Pyramid and Optima Chromes - even when well trimmed, strings mounted straight, etc.). The E string would need to be slightly thicker still to balance perfectly with the other strings (tuning it one halftone sharp makes it sound basically the same as the other strings) but it's workable as it is. Compared to Fender flats, they have more character (while the Fenders are better balanced) but not as much character as Pyramids, for instance - a pity that Pyramid Golds' E string is so dead on this bass, because otherwise the tone is really nice, if not versatile. I feel they would work very well for a '60s beat/art pop vibe (think Beach Boys, Beatles with a Rick, etc.) or for early Motown stuff. Or old school dub/reggae. Again, compared to LaBella DTFs, same gauge, on this bass they have quite a bit more "heft" (LaBellas are more "musical" instead, with warmer mids).
In conclusion, not my favourite flats but I'm not hating them, contrarily to what I initially thought when I just put them on. I will probably take them off for LaBellas on this particular bass but they're ok and they have their place.
¹ : in my experience, just go with long scale strings. Medium scale strings either just fit or are actually a bit too short! And there is basically no choice with medium scale strings.
