Help identify these flats!

[timendous]

I picked up a bass from a pawn shop about a week ago and I am absolutely loving the flats that came on it. I'd like to know what they are in case I want to replace them at some point. They are a bit corroded in some spots and at some point I'll have to begin the process of breaking in a new set.

They have brass ball endings, navy blue silk on both the top and bottom.

I don't know what other info may be needed to help identify them but if there's anything else, let me know!

Pics:

 

[michael_t]

I don't know what other info may be needed to help identify them but if there's anything else, let me know!

Is this bass a standard 34" scale? Would you be able to measure the length of the A string from the ball end to the start of the silk at the tuner end? Thanks.

 

[timendous]

Is this bass a standard 34" scale? Would you be able to measure the length of the A string from the ball end to the start of the silk at the tuner end? Thanks.

Yes the bass is 34" scale. From the ball end of the A string to the very beginning of the silk is 38.5"

 

[michael_t]

Yes the bass is 34" scale. From the ball end of the A string to the very beginning of the silk is 38.5"

Based on the winding length, I would guess those could be an older version of GHS Brite Flats, which are Alloy 52 half-rounds/groundwound. I say "older version" because they used to come with dark blue silk at both ends like the ones in your pic, but the current ones only have silk at the tuner end.

Here's a pic of the Brite Flats that were on my Fender Jazz a couple of years ago...

Make note of the way part of the full winding on the E string wraps around the tuner post just like the ones on your bass. The Brite Flats come in "long scale plus", which is 38" in winding length (ball end to silk), which is longer than the standard "long scale" by most manufacturers, which are 37"-37.25".

Products - BASS BRITE FLATS™ - GHS Strings

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[timendous]

Based on the winding length, I would guess those could be an older version of GHS Brite Flats, which are Alloy 52 half-rounds/groundwound. I say "older version" because they used to come with dark blue silk at both ends like the ones in your pic, but the current ones only have silk at the tuner end.

Here's a pic of the Brite Flats that were on my Fender Jazz a couple of years ago...

Make note of the way part of the full winding on the E string wraps around the tuner post just like the ones on your bass. The Brite Flats come in "long scale plus", which is 38" in winding length (ball end to silk), which is longer than the standard "long scale" by most manufacturers, which are 37"-37.25".

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Products - BASS BRITE FLATS™ - GHS Strings

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Wow, that is absolutely incredible knowledge. Thank you so, so much!!

 

[michael_t]

By the way, here are the ball ends off of those Brite Flats I had...

 

[Stewie]

 

[Stewie]

They’ll be a little rough when you take them out of the package, run them through a fold in a tough pair of jeans a few times, or a folded scotch brite pad.

 

[michael_t]

They’ll be a little rough when you take them out of the package, run them through a fold in a tough pair of jeans a few times, or a folded scotch brite pad.

Yes, these half-rounds do start out a bit sticky with some friction when you try to slide on them as a result of being ground down. Just make sure to clean them with an alcohol wipe BEFORE INSTALLATION to make sure they're free of any gunk from the factory. The stickiness will wear off as they get played in.

 

[Rib 13]

They are a bit corroded in some spots and at some point I'll have to begin the process of breaking in a new set.

Congrats on both your new bass and forthcoming tetanus shot

 

[Lenny JG]

They’ll be a little rough when you take them out of the package, run them through a fold in a tough pair of jeans a few times, or a folded scotch brite pad.

I've actually been wondering about this and even made a post a few months back that nobody seemed to be able to chime in on.
If I may ask, is this normally something you do w/ your flats personally? And does scouring it that way make it feel/play different to you?

 

[JimmyM]

I've actually been wondering about this and even made a post a few months back that nobody seemed to be able to chime in on.
If I may ask, is this normally something you do w/ your flats personally? And does scouring it that way make it feel/play different to you?

Sometimes you can get leftovers from the manufacturing process that doing a wipe down gets off. It can make some new flat strings a little rough and sticky at first. Some clean them with alcohol and a rag to get it off. There might be something else specific to Brite Flats that I don’t know about, too, but I’m not familiar with them. Still, that’s the general idea behind it.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

One thing you should be aware of is that you might like these strings BECAUSE they're old.

If these are GHS Brite Flats they aren't really flats at all but roundwounds that are ground down to "half rounds". The name is very misleading. But many roundwounds can benefit from a break-in period too, particularly if you happen to like a warm, mellow tone.

If you install a new set of GHS Brite Flats you might find that you don't like them at all. Or at least not nearly as much as that old, rusty set. Give them some time.

The GHS Brite Flats seem to be almost universally disliked but I suspect a lot of people never got past the sticky "new string" phase, which is particularly bad with these strings. They're also stiffer than standard roundwounds of similar gauges, which may not be to everyone's taste. But they were also the stock strings on Stingrays back in the day. I suspect a lot of people hating these strings will actually love the TONE of these strings on countless classic recordings. Tonally they have that kinda "dry" 70s vibe to them. Depending on personal taste I guess the tone can be described as either "mellow" or "dead".

If you don't mind the rust/dirt the best thing you can do is probably to keep playing the old strings for as long as possible. Or be prepared for a frustrating break-in period.

FWIW I didn't like the GHS Brite Flats much myself. They were too dead/lifeless and stiff for my taste (and I generally like mellow sounding strings). But they're certainly unique strings and if they work for you: GREAT! I applaud anyone who use their ears and find their own personal tone/style.

 

[dangevans]

My brite flats have purpleish winding
Ddarrio has blue, so i thought maybe they were those?

 

[Stewie]

I use GHS Precision Flats on my basses. new out of the package the are a tiny bit scratchy. I only worry about it because the basses are fretless and I don’t want to scratch the fingerboards any more than I have to. Running them through folded jeans takes away most of the grit.
The Brite Flats seem a tad abrasive and sticky at first. Maybe it’s dirt, or due to the way they’re made, but a rubdown certainly helps

 

[michael_t]

My brite flats have purpleish winding
Ddarrio has blue, so i thought maybe they were those?

You're talking about GHS Precision Flats (purple) and D'Addario Chromes Flats (blue). The Brite Flats are the half-rounds by GHS and they do have dark blue silk, while D'Addario Half Rounds have no silk.

The winding length of 38" and brass ball ends rule out D'Addario Chromes.

 

[timendous]

One thing you should be aware of is that you might like these strings BECAUSE they're old.

If these are GHS Brite Flats they aren't really flats at all but roundwounds that are ground down to "half rounds". The name is very misleading. But many roundwounds can benefit from a break-in period too, particularly if you happen to like a warm, mellow tone.

If you install a new set of GHS Brite Flats you might find that you don't like them at all. Or at least not nearly as much as that old, rusty set. Give them some time.

The GHS Brite Flats seem to be almost universally disliked but I suspect a lot of people never got past the sticky "new string" phase, which is particularly bad with these strings. They're also stiffer than standard roundwounds of similar gauges, which may not be to everyone's taste. But they were also the stock strings on Stingrays back in the day. I suspect a lot of people hating these strings will actually love the TONE of these strings on countless classic recordings. Tonally they have that kinda "dry" 70s vibe to them. Depending on personal taste I guess the tone can be described as either "mellow" or "dead".

If you don't mind the rust/dirt the best thing you can do is probably to keep playing the old strings for as long as possible. Or be prepared for a frustrating break-in period.

FWIW I didn't like the GHS Brite Flats much myself. They were too dead/lifeless and stiff for my taste (and I generally like mellow sounding strings). But they're certainly unique strings and if they work for you: GREAT! I applaud anyone who use their ears and find their own personal tone/style.

Thanks for the thoughtful response! I have definitely considered that the reason I like them so much is due to their being broken in. So, I anticipate that I'd be looking at a significant break in period.

Thanks to everyone who suggested wiping them down with alcohol/jeans/scotch brite pad. All good ideas that I'll probably use.

Probably going to get a set for Christmas so I'll report back after giving them a shot!

 

[TN WOODMAN]

I think I’d try to clean the corrosion off these and rock them until if and when one broke. Nothing like old seasoned flats, IMO.

I’m also curious about the host bass. Additional pics would be cool if you’re so inclined.

 

[timendous]

I think I’d try to clean the corrosion off these and rock them until if and when one broke. Nothing like old seasoned flats, IMO.

I’m also curious about the host bass. Additional pics would be cool if you’re so inclined.

Any particular tips for cleaning corrosion off of strings? I have some Dunlop string conditioner/cleaner but that didn't do anything.

Here's the bass (the strings on it when the pictures were taken were some GHS pressure wounds that I eventually took off in favor of the original old flats that came on it)

 

[Lenny JG]

Sometimes you can get leftovers from the manufacturing process that doing a wipe down gets off. It can make some new flat strings a little rough and sticky at first. Some clean them with alcohol and a rag to get it off. There might be something else specific to Brite Flats that I don’t know about, too, but I’m not familiar with them. Still, that’s the general idea behind it.

Yes but im askng about using a scotch pad to score and scuff the string. Not about cleaning the string really although I see how you got that.