GHS flats vs bright flats-newbie question

[Photonic]

Newbie bass player here. I play an Ibanez TMB30 short scale and have to use GHS strings due to the odd length of a ball end to the first tuning peg. So the 32.75 fits nicely.

I currently use their pressure wound strings that only come in "light". 40-96

I want to try flats. The GHS options for my bass are Precision Flats and Bright Flats with both only coming in "medium" 49-108

Questions:

Can anyone comment on the sound differences between the two?

Can anyone advise what it will be like to move up to "medium" and will I have to get my neck or action adjusted?

Thanks for helping me with beginner questions.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Precision flats are the closest thing to the flats ued by Fender in the 50s-60s. Definitely not bright.

The strings will feel tighter, and you might need a neck adjustment.

 

[ardgedee]

GHS Brite Flats aren't flat. They're ground-wound, so they won't play or sound the same as flats.

 

[HaphAsSard]

The GHS options for my bass are Precision Flats and Bright Flats with both only coming in "medium" 49-108

True for the latter (set 3070), not for the former: the sole short-scale Precision flat set (3020) is "light" (45-60-75-95).

 

[J-Bass RMR]

GHS bright flats are the one string (out of dozens) I've ever had a very negative reaction to - both in sound and feel.
I thought they were very uneven sounding.

I used Pressure wounds before switching to flats.
I have GHS Precision Flats as an "old school" flat, and just can't get myself to change them.

None of those strings really have anything in common sound-wise.

Ultimately, you won't know what's right for you until you try them.

 

[Photonic]

GHS Brite Flats aren't flat. They're ground-wound, so they won't play or sound the same as flats.

Ah right you are; I did not get that at first.

 

[Photonic]

True for the latter (set 3070), not for the former: the sole short-scale Precision flat set (3020) is "light" (45-60-75-95).

Thanks for that; I misread the data. Appreciate your correction!

 

[Photonic]

GHS bright flats are the one string (out of dozens) I've ever had a very negative reaction to - both in sound and feel.
I thought they were very uneven sounding.

I used Pressure wounds before switching to flats.
I have GHS Precision Flats as an "old school" flat, and just can't get myself to change them.

None of those strings really have anything in common sound-wise.

Ultimately, you won't know what's right for you until you try them.

Very helpful comments! I am currently using the Pressurewounds. Did you find that your switch to the Precision Flats made a very large noticeable change in tone and lost a lot of brightness or was it just a more subtle incremental change to darker and rounder (so to speak) tone? I appreciate your helping me. Obviously I am going to have to try them eventually if I go this route, but I am interested in gaining some additional perspective from user's experience and yours seems perfect for me since you have used both! Also it looks like since the Precision Flats are a "light" set, I probably won't have to change my setup and neck which would be great if I want to switch back to my Pressurewounds.

 

[Photonic]

Precision flats are the closest thing to the flats ued by Fender in the 50s-60s. Definitely not bright.

The strings will feel tighter, and you might need a neck adjustment.

Even if both sets are designated as light? Thanks for your help.

 

[ajkula66]

In my experience the Bright Flats are not very bright at all. One of my least favourite strings over the past 45+ years.

My '69 EB-3 arrived with a set of Precision Flats and while I normally don't play flats I left them on for quite a while because they did have that "old school" thump which paired them well with the bass in question. It was a 45-95 set which felt fine, not too stiff and not loose.

A very decent string IMO, and this is coming from someone who has very few nice things to say about any flats...

 

[HaphAsSard]

Even if both sets are designated as light?

Total tension is actually very similar compared to the Pressurewound set (7700): no truss rod adjustment required. The flatwound D and especially G will be and feel tighter than the PW, the bottom two won't.

 

[J-Bass RMR]

Did you find that your switch to the Precision Flats made a very large noticeable change in tone and lost a lot of brightness or was it just a more subtle incremental change to darker and rounder (so to speak) tone?

It wasn't a necessarily a direct "switch" on that bass. My change to flats was, in general, incremental.
But yes, there is a LARGE difference in brightness between the 2 - GHS Precision Flats are about as far away from any round wound as you can get.

 

[Photonic]

It wasn't a necessarily a direct "switch" on that bass. My change to flats was, in general, incremental.
But yes, there is a LARGE difference in brightness between the 2 - GHS Precision Flats are about as far away from any round wound as you can get.

Super helpful! Have a great night.

 

[michael_t]

I play an Ibanez TMB30 short scale and have to use GHS strings due to the odd length of a ball end to the first tuning peg. So the 32.75 fits nicely...

How about 32.5" winding length (only 0.25" shorter than GHS)? Would that still be okay?

I ask because Ernie Ball has two different types of flats that both come in "short scale" with 32.5" winding length (ball end to taper/silk).

EB Stainless Steel Flats (aka Group Flats) are slightly more modern in their tonal character than the GHS Precision Flats with a nice midrange for clarity and definition. Almost like the GHS Brite Flats (half-rounds) in tone, except much smoother in surface feel like true flats should be.

Stainless Steel Flatwound Bass Short Scale

www.ernieball.com

EB Cobalt Flats (aka Slinky Flatwound) are probably the brightest of all flats, almost roundwound-like.

Slinky Cobalt Flatwound Short Scale Electric Bass Strings

Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalt Flatwound Short Scale Bass Strings combine the smooth feel of traditional flatwounds and the power of Cobalt. Featuring a Cobalt ribbon wrap, Cobalt underwraps and optimal hex-core to wrap ratio, the new Flatwound Short Scale bass strings are the first flat that actually...

www.ernieball.com

 

[Photonic]

How about 32.5" winding length (only 0.25" shorter than GHS)? Would that still be okay?

I ask because Ernie Ball has two different types of flats that both come in "short scale" with 32.5" winding length (ball end to taper/silk).

EB Stainless Steel Flats (aka Group Flats) are slightly more modern in their tonal character than the GHS Precision Flats with a nice midrange for clarity and definition. Almost like the GHS Brite Flats (half-rounds) in tone, except much smoother in surface feel like true flats should be.

Stainless Steel Flatwound Bass Short Scale

www.ernieball.com

EB Cobalt Flats (aka Slinky Flatwound) are probably the brightest of all flats, almost roundwound-like.

Slinky Cobalt Flatwound Short Scale Electric Bass Strings

Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalt Flatwound Short Scale Bass Strings combine the smooth feel of traditional flatwounds and the power of Cobalt. Featuring a Cobalt ribbon wrap, Cobalt underwraps and optimal hex-core to wrap ratio, the new Flatwound Short Scale bass strings are the first flat that actually...

www.ernieball.com

Oooo. Maybe yes. I will look into that and remeasure if that is too close to the nut. I think it might be if I remember correctly.

edit: yes that will seem to work by tonight's measurement. I'll check 'em out.

 

[Stewie]

GHS Precision Flats are like a hot cup of thick cocoa with a bunch of those tiny marshmallows floating in the foam. Mmmmmmm!

 

[Pier_]

IMHO the Precision Flat are not that dark as many use to describe. they are "woody" sounding, with a LOT of mids, and very few bass and highs, but the sound is clear and perfectly defined and centered.

a couple of examples, on my Mustang JMJ:

Chromes: Dropbox

GHS: Dropbox

Chromes: Dropbox

GHS: Dropbox

Chromes with a pick: Dropbox

GHS with a pick: Dropbox

IMHO they push the mids and make the bass sit in the mix in the best possible way, without unwanted frequencies. obviously you have to like the middy sound of the 60's.


on my Stingray I'm using the GHS Brite Flat 49-108, and I'm loving them, it's the 70's Stingray sound out of the box. I don't find them unbalanced, and they are also very comfortable both in tension and flexibility.

 

[Photonic]

IMHO the Precision Flat are not that dark as many use to describe. they are "woody" sounding, with a LOT of mids, and very few bass and highs, but the sound is clear and perfectly defined and centered.

a couple of examples, on my Mustang JMJ:

Chromes: Dropbox

GHS: Dropbox

Chromes: Dropbox

GHS: Dropbox

Chromes with a pick: Dropbox

GHS with a pick: Dropbox

IMHO they push the mids and make the bass sit in the mix in the best possible way, without unwanted frequencies. obviously you have to like the middy sound of the 60's.


on my Stingray I'm using the GHS Brite Flat 49-108, and I'm loving them, it's the 70's Stingray sound out of the box. I don't find them unbalanced, and they are also very comfortable both in tension and flexibility.

What an amazing and generous reply. I listened intently to all the examples back and forth and while I could tell the difference, I found the tonal differences to be subtle especially when the bass was not soloed. More soft thump in the GHS flats and a little brighter life in the Chromes. Interesting for me in that as a bass beginner (but life long guitarist) I have realized that trying to find just the right string for me may be overkill. With the suggestion of michael_t above, I tried some Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalt flats and they are a big improvement over my GHS pressurewounds just for comfort alone. They are less sparkly on the top but still have some life. I discovered that by adjusting my tone control I can get pretty close to a regular flat sound if need be. So these might be the strings for me. I do have a set of Precision flats arriving tomorrow so probably should put them on just to finally really know and then settle on one or the other, Perhaps the cobalts will be more versatile for all genres. Thanks again for your very helpful post and generous sharing of files. Great stuff!!!

 

[Photonic]

How about 32.5" winding length (only 0.25" shorter than GHS)? Would that still be okay?

I ask because Ernie Ball has two different types of flats that both come in "short scale" with 32.5" winding length (ball end to taper/silk).

EB Stainless Steel Flats (aka Group Flats) are slightly more modern in their tonal character than the GHS Precision Flats with a nice midrange for clarity and definition. Almost like the GHS Brite Flats (half-rounds) in tone, except much smoother in surface feel like true flats should be.

Stainless Steel Flatwound Bass Short Scale

www.ernieball.com

EB Cobalt Flats (aka Slinky Flatwound) are probably the brightest of all flats, almost roundwound-like.

Slinky Cobalt Flatwound Short Scale Electric Bass Strings

Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalt Flatwound Short Scale Bass Strings combine the smooth feel of traditional flatwounds and the power of Cobalt. Featuring a Cobalt ribbon wrap, Cobalt underwraps and optimal hex-core to wrap ratio, the new Flatwound Short Scale bass strings are the first flat that actually...

www.ernieball.com

I tried the Ernie Ball cobalt slinky flats today and they are great. Not as sparkly as the GHS pressurewounds, but still plenty lively. They fit perfectly. I think just changing my tone control gets them sounding like traditional flats if needed. I have a set of Precision flats coming tomorrow so I will try them, but I think the Ernie Ball strings may be the ones for me. If you had not posted and shared that with me I would never have known about them Thanks for that contribution!!!

 

[Pier_]

I found the tonal differences to be subtle especially when the bass was not soloed.

that's the real point

we always forget that most of the time our instrument (or every instrument) must work in a mix with other instruments, so a lot of frequencies we have will not be heard, covered by the drum, the guitar, the piano eccetera.

usually we think that "more is better", but in many cases it's not, because unneeded frequencies can be a problem, a thing to work on reducing.

it all depends on our needs and taste.

feeling is also a factor: rough, soft, heavy, light, flexible, rigid... all those things alter our way of playing more than anything.