Ghs: BRITE FLATS vs PRESSUREWOUNDS

[Kipp Harrington]

I just wanted to awaken this thread from its peaceful slumber so I can share what happened last night...

My Jazz bass has been wearing the PW 40-96 for the last 8 mths, but now that I have two Yamaha 5'ers all dressed nicely with GHS Pressurewounds/Ken Smith Compressors, I decided I wanted something a little different in tonal flavor for my J. It just so happened I had a brand new set of Brite Flats (45-98) in my personal stash, so I decided to give them another shot. It's worth noting this is my fourth time trying them after the last three trials (one on J and two on P) didn't work out too well.

What really surprised and even shocked me was how they FELT under my fingers. Almost as smooth as ordinary flatwound, there was only a hint of the stickiness associated with these "half-rounds/groundwound" I've complained so much about in the past, including in my earlier posts in this thread. This is not what I had expected. What happened? No idea! I'm absolutely stunned how good these feel now and how great they SOUND on this bass! A different flavor from the PW, mind you, but still just as scrumptious. I think I'll stick with them for a while now.

Wow, talk about a pleasant surprise and a complete change in perspective!

Any word on when (if ever) Progressives might be available?

 

[michael_t]

Any word on when (if ever) Progressives might be available?

Nope.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

Nope.

I don't think we'll be seeing those anytime soon.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

I just wanted to awaken this thread from its peaceful slumber so I can share what happened last night...

My Jazz bass has been wearing the PW 40-96 for the last 8 mths, but now that I have two Yamaha 5'ers all dressed nicely with GHS Pressurewounds/Ken Smith Compressors, I decided I wanted something a little different in tonal flavor for my J. It just so happened I had a brand new set of Brite Flats (45-98) in my personal stash, so I decided to give them another shot. It's worth noting this is my fourth time trying them after the last three trials (one on J and two on P) didn't work out too well.

What really surprised and even shocked me was how they FELT under my fingers. Almost as smooth as ordinary flatwound, there was only a hint of the stickiness associated with these "half-rounds/groundwound" I've complained so much about in the past, including in my earlier posts in this thread. This is not what I had expected. What happened? No idea! I'm absolutely stunned how good these feel now and how great they SOUND on this bass! A different flavor from the PW, mind you, but still just as scrumptious. I think I'll stick with them for a while now.

Wow, talk about a pleasant surprise and a complete change in perspective!

It's always nice with surprises like this! They're certainly different to most strings but definitely not everyone's cup of tea. I've only tried the 049-108 set (both long and short scale) and when new they were the most sticky strings I've ever tried. Maybe the smaller surface area of the lighter gauge set make them less sticky? Did you try a heavier gauge before?

They do feel a bit nicer under the fingers after playing them for a while, not nearly as sticky as when they're new. The kinda "dry" tone can be very hit-or-miss and they will never be my favourites but I find them interesting enough to leave the long scale set installed on one of my basses. At first they went straight to the top of my list of "worst strings ever" but they've grown a little on me since then.

 

[michael_t]

Maybe the smaller surface area of the lighter gauge set make them less sticky? Did you try a heavier gauge before?

I've always tried the light set (45-98) as they provide just the right feel for me in terms of stiffness, not to mention they're nice and even across all four strings both in tone and feel. So I'm somewhat baffled as to why this particular set feels so much better than the other three I tried before. Maybe it's just a relative thing. I've gone through a few "failed experiments" recently with roundwound strings, being rudely reminded of just how much I dislike their surface feel, and that's probably why these Brite Flats feel better in comparison. I would call it the "bass string theory of relativity".

 

[trothwell]

Anyone know of a recorded example of GHS Pressurewounds on a Rickenbacker 4003 ?...

 

[Hounddog409]

I agree that the “reports” are more opinion than anything. It is just that when many people have the same opinion, it has to be looked at being fact.

Sorry Jon, for some reason I tend to be more brutally honest about strings than most other topics. Just be glad you don’t work for Ernie Ball!!!!

Um, not how that works.

The whole world once shared the opinion that the sun rotated around the earth. And it was not a fact.

Every hear of sheep mentality?

Enough people buy the Brites to make it still profitable for GHS to sell....so there a many that do not share this OPINION.

 

[Basslie]

Anyone have a clip of these on a Sting Ray? Word is that they were the stock strings back in the day. I can hear classic songs that supposedly have that combo, but want to hear something more isolated. Thanks.