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GHS Precision Flats M3050 or LaBella DTF 760FS
- Thread starter Phaidrus
- Start date
I'm currently using La Bellas, GHS Precisions, DR Legends - and D'Addario Chromes. So, if I were the Op, which ones would I use? Of the 4, I'd go with the GHS Precision Flats; specifically the M3050 set. Why? Well... My '78 P-Bass wears them, under the mute in the bridge cover. In my case, I want the "Original" P-Bass tone; the Precision Flats are about as close to the original Squire factory flats as one can get. Stiff - but not too stiff; lots of fundamental tone, but definite low-mids and mids, too. If the Wrecking Crew tone of Carol Kay's P-Bass will work for you? These are your strings...
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I'm currently using La Bellas, GHS Precisions, DR Legends - and D'Addario Chromes. So, if I were the Op, which ones would I use? Of the 4, I'd go with the GHS Precision Flats; specifically the M3050 set. Why? Well... My '78 P-Bass wears them, under the mute in the bridge cover. In my case, I want the "Original" P-Bass tone; the Precision Flats are about as close to the original Squire factory flats as one can get. Stiff - but not too stiff; lots of fundamental tone, but definite low-mids and mids, too. If the Wrecking Crew tone of Carol Kay's P-Bass will work for you? These are your strings...
Your experience is then quite valuable for my quest! Currently DR Legend on my AmStd Pbass with PV63 pup. I think they're more suited to what I tried before (Dunlops - nice but too pillowy; Pyramid - too vague and muddy) but perhaps there's room for improvement. Hence this thread. In the meanwhile I purchased a set of 760FS that arrived today and are still unopened. But I could also order a set of M3050, if this is what it takes to get the tone. Given the tone I'm looking for (full, punchy, warm, no growl but also no mud and fluffyness), I suppose the strings should, among other things, counteract as much as possible the inherent Pbass mids growl. But, again, also be punchy and full. How would you rate the La Bellas, GHS Precisions, and DR Legends in that respect?
It's kind of difficult to say, really. As far as my P-Bass goes, aside from the Roto 66's it had when I bought it, the only strings it's ever worn are Roto RS77LDs; La Bella 760FLs; Fender 9050Ls; and the M3050 GHS Precisions that it's wearing now. However...
- La Bella Flats. I've never had the 760FS's on anything. I have short and medium scale 760FL's on several basses currently; and yes, in those scales - and on those basses - they are pretty much all thump. To the extent that they're "muddy", IMO that's more the bass than the strings. Old hollow/semi-hollowbody basses aren't generally famous for being bright and clear - with any kind of flats... The long scale 760FL's that were on my P-Bass, weren't on it very long. The low-mids and mids they had, disappeared completely under the mute in the bridge; what was left was just inartculate thump. And, honestly? I don't remember what they sounded like before the mute went on. The only other La Bellas I use are long and short scale 760FXs (39-96 gauge; I doubt you'd like those) and the 760FGS Gold Flats (just for the color, really; they don't sound like anything special). The FX's do have considerable midrange - and a noticeable top end, too. On a Dano DC59 Pro and a Longhorn, they're just what I want for "that Dano sound"; on a P-Bass? I have no idea, but I doubt you'd be happy with them...
- DR Legends. Frankly, your experience with them is more relevant than mine. I have the short scale SFL-45 set on my headless, short scale, aluminum-necked Kramer Duke; which is about as different from a P-Bass as you can get. Although, I can configure the Schaller "Twin-J" pickup into a split coil PB pickup if I want (believe me; you don't want to open it's control cavity; the wiring in there is... scary). I settled on the Legends mainly because, on this bass, they sound an awful lot like the GHS Boomers that were on it for a donkey's age - and that I loved the sound of. For short scale flats, they are surprisingly bright. How much of that is the bass, rather than the strings? I really can't say...
- GHS Precisions. Besides my P-Bass, I also have short scale sets on my Warmoth Mini-Precision and an Eastwood Flying V Bass. There's no mute on the Warmoth, so the strings are free to be themselves. They do have some mids, as well as a large bottom end; surprisingly clear and articulate, too, given their gauge and scale. Pretty much the same on the Flying V, but... the Eastwood's mini- humbuckers are a little to much like the ones in the old Gibson, IMO; not as clear/articulate as they could be... On my Fender P-Bass? At the moment, there's no mute in the bridge cover (needs to be replaced); so, just for you, I pulled it out and plugged it in.
The verdict? IMO, not as focused on low end fundamentals as the La Bellas, but - if the ones on the Duke are any indication - not as bright and middy as the DRs. I still think I'd be inclined to go with these...I have been playing rounds for the last 20 years but have just purchased some GHS Precision Flats (M3050) for my 2016 AmStd Jazz.
I'll be putting them on this weekend so will let you know how I get on.
I'll be putting them on this weekend so will let you know how I get on.
It's kind of difficult to say, really. As far as my P-Bass goes, aside from the Roto 66's it had when I bought it, the only strings it's ever worn are Roto RS77LDs; La Bella 760FLs; Fender 9050Ls; and the M3050 GHS Precisions that it's wearing now. However...
- La Bella Flats. I've never had the 760FS's on anything. I have short and medium scale 760FL's on several basses currently; and yes, in those scales - and on those basses - they are pretty much all thump. To the extent that they're "muddy", IMO that's more the bass than the strings. Old hollow/semi-hollowbody basses aren't generally famous for being bright and clear - with any kind of flats... The long scale 760FL's that were on my P-Bass, weren't on it very long. The low-mids and mids they had, disappeared completely under the mute in the bridge; what was left was just inartculate thump. And, honestly? I don't remember what they sounded like before the mute went on. The only other La Bellas I use are long and short scale 760FXs (39-96 gauge; I doubt you'd like those) and the 760FGS Gold Flats (just for the color, really; they don't sound like anything special). The FX's do have considerable midrange - and a noticeable top end, too. On a Dano DC59 Pro and a Longhorn, they're just what I want for "that Dano sound"; on a P-Bass? I have no idea, but I doubt you'd be happy with them...
- DR Legends. Frankly, your experience with them is more relevant than mine. I have the short scale SFL-45 set on my headless, short scale, aluminum-necked Kramer Duke; which is about as different from a P-Bass as you can get. Although, I can configure the Schaller "Twin-J" pickup into a split coil PB pickup if I want (believe me; you don't want to open it's control cavity; the wiring in there is... scary). I settled on the Legends mainly because, on this bass, they sound an awful lot like the GHS Boomers that were on it for a donkey's age - and that I loved the sound of. For short scale flats, they are surprisingly bright. How much of that is the bass, rather than the strings? I really can't say...
- GHS Precisions. Besides my P-Bass, I also have short scale sets on my Warmoth Mini-Precision and an Eastwood Flying V Bass. There's no mute on the Warmoth, so the strings are free to be themselves. They do have some mids, as well as a large bottom end; surprisingly clear and articulate, too, given their gauge and scale. Pretty much the same on the Flying V, but... the Eastwood's mini- humbuckers are a little to much like the ones in the old Gibson, IMO; not as clear/articulate as they could be... On my Fender P-Bass? At the moment, there's no mute in the bridge cover (needs to be replaced); so, just for you, I pulled it out and plugged it in.
Interesting, and thanks again! You say, the GHS Precisions are "not as focused on low end fundamentals as the La Bellas, but not as bright and middy as the DRs." So they are darker than the DRs and also not as deep, at least in a focused way, as the La Bellas. So the La Bellas are focused on low end fundamentals, which I suppose is an attribute I'm looking for.
I say "I suppose" because I'm not quite sure how I can get the tone I have in mind as it depends on so many variables - amp, cab, type of bass guitar, room acoustics. Also, the tone I have in mind is what I hear on certain purchased tracks (iTunes mostly) through a set of consumer level studio monitors (Tannoy Reveal 502), namely music/tone that is highly processed, compressed and who knows what else on top of that. Not to mention that room acoustics play no role in the case of small near field monitors while it makes all the difference in the world when it comes to a 800W 2x12 cab in a space that is not acoustically treated.
Given all that, flats with too low/muddy a character (i.e. Pyramid Gold) are not helpful as they make my PV63 pup equipped Pbass too muddy and washed out and eventually boomy. So not good for a pulsating, driving reggae bass sound. Bass should focus on the fundamental, have no nasal middyness, have punch, but without being muddy and indistinct. The DR are not bad in this role but I wouldn't mind a lower mids envelope as there is a certain nasal thing going on, especially with the D and G strings. Perhaps the La Bellas are the ticket, perhaps the GHS. Proof is in the pudding.
@Phaidrus
Installed the GHS P Flats this morning.
Similar tension to a standard 45-105 gauge roundwound. A little harder to bend but not that much more. Pleasantly surprised has I was expecting suspension bridge cables.
E is definitely more thuddy out the pack than the other strings. Hoping time will settle the other three strings down to equal thuddyness.
A little grabby... but that's because La Bellas are super smooth. Again, I can see the P Flats over time starting to become less grabby and have more of that glassy finish.
Very happy with the strings. The E already has a solid fundamental. Some mids going on too in this set. Will this change over time? Looking forward to the next however many years I keep the strings on.
Installed the GHS P Flats this morning.
Similar tension to a standard 45-105 gauge roundwound. A little harder to bend but not that much more. Pleasantly surprised has I was expecting suspension bridge cables.
E is definitely more thuddy out the pack than the other strings. Hoping time will settle the other three strings down to equal thuddyness.
A little grabby... but that's because La Bellas are super smooth. Again, I can see the P Flats over time starting to become less grabby and have more of that glassy finish.
Very happy with the strings. The E already has a solid fundamental. Some mids going on too in this set. Will this change over time? Looking forward to the next however many years I keep the strings on.
Thanks for reporting.
Enjoy your new strings and report anew when they have settled in!Played my Jazz bass again this morning. Very much digging these strings. They have just the right amount of tension for my plucking hand. Great, great strings.Thanks for reporting.
So admittedly contrary to the advice of a number of people who were kind enough to respond to the thread and suggest the GHS flats, I ordered a La Bella 760FS set and put it on this Pbass (with PV63 pup) ten days or so ago. Always wanted to try a string set from this traditional brand. Everything's fine, quality construction, very smooth to the touch, normal tension and flexibility (for the gauge). Although still far too new, tone is also alright. Yet they do have a rather present growl if played with the slightest of force. I always try my best to play softly to fit the style (dub reggae) but they still do growl, which unfortunately doesn't fit the style. Will this mids/high mids growl dissipate with time and use? Hope so.
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Absolutely! I always find it takes a couple months, 6-8 gigs if you’re counting. With broken-in DTF’s you can still get some “growl” if you wish, but you have to work at it, IME. I’m first to admit that FL’s are a bit “growler” than FS, but it’s a quality I appreciateSo admittedly contrary to the advice of a number of people who were kind enough to respond to the thread and suggest the GHS flats, I ordered a La Bella 760FS set and put it on this Pbass (with PV63 pup) ten days or so ago. Always wanted to try a string set from this traditional brand. Everything's fine, quality construction, very smooth to the touch, normal tension and flexibility (for the gauge). Although still far too new, tone is also alright. Yet they do have a rather present growl if played with the slightest of force. I always try my best to play softly to fit the style (dub reggae) but they still do growl, which unfortunately doesn't fit the style. Will this mids/high mids growl dissipate with time and use? Hope so.
. I can’t compare either to P-flats, it’s been too long I’m afraid.
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