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High Tension Flatwounds
- Thread starter HangryBassMan
- Start date
DR Legends I would not waste time with...not low tension, but not that high either...did not like the sound of them on my bass at all..
Is this something Jason (BSO, FN) (slapnfunk?) might be able to help with? Why can't I find his username?
Pbassmanca
In the pocket n' thumpy. So woody, so greasy...
Frankly this is the best reply to a question that requires this exact answer....
Been use Dr Legend on my previous ibbanez SRFF805 , medium stiffness, lower than GHS PW .
They’re not bad at all but they’re a bit clacky. The treble is also sort of harsh on them. Most flats sound better over time but these sound dead now. I wasn’t really considering them again. I came across the price and was surprised to see they’re £66!
The TI flats were great in general. However the open A totally lacked any low mids and body. It was hollow and underwhelming. Also that string would actually hit the fretboard if I dug in. I already had to make big changes with the truss rod and it still wasn’t enough. It did sound better when I raised the saddle height and the problem went but the adjustment was so extreme that it wasn’t playable so it wasn’t an option.
I put the chromes back on and the higher tension gave me a much fuller sound on the A string so on they stayed.
D
Hm... lots of suggestions for the Roto77s. The heavier gauges are high tension for sure but you will need strings that sound nice acoustically with piezos. As much as I personally love the Roto77s I'm not convinced they are a good choice for you unless you are prepared for a rather long and frustrating break-in period. When new they actually have a somewhat similar clank to the GHS Pressurewounds that you described as "vile". With the Rotos the D+G mellow out fast, the A takes a while longer and the E takes FOREVER. It can be frustrating even with magnetic pickups and probably a nightmare with piezos until they've balanced out. Once the Rotos are broken in they're amazing but it will take weeks or even months, depending on how much you play. If you have the time and patience for this they will probably be really nice though.
I should add that I've never actually tried the Rotos with piezos so all of the above is based on my experience with Roto flats and magnetic pickups. I also tend to prefer lower tension flats with piezos, specifically the TIs.
I should add that I've never actually tried the Rotos with piezos so all of the above is based on my experience with Roto flats and magnetic pickups. I also tend to prefer lower tension flats with piezos, specifically the TIs.
Steve Harris Rotosounds ( this is same as 77`s I think ) are stiff and very high tension. Don`t know about low B strings though.
You might want to consider the Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Flats (NOT the Cobalt), which come in 45-65-80-100-130. Not the stiffest or highest in tension, but their midrange character is a bit more pleasing than the Chromes without being "clacky". Not as "old-school" as either GHS or La Bella, either.
Tension is primarily determined by gauge, not brand, so you can stay with the same brand and just increase the gauges.
So, 'highest tension' would be 'highest gauges', but of course if you go above .135 .110 .090 .070 .050 the tension could harm the instrument.
So, 'highest tension' would be 'highest gauges', but of course if you go above .135 .110 .090 .070 .050 the tension could harm the instrument.
Most of the advice in this thread doesn't understand the basic physics you're talking about, confusing tension with flexibility, possibly including the original question.
I did, when I took it in to Elderly, but I thought I remember them putting new rounds on it when they did the setup on it.
It had Precision Flats on it for At lest 10 years prior to my selling it.
They may have left them on, but I thought I remember them saying they changed them out.
It had Precision Flats on it for At lest 10 years prior to my selling it.
They may have left them on, but I thought I remember them saying they changed them out.
Yeah they did unfortunately. I took off the rounds and put LaBellas on and they’ve been on ever since but I’ve been wondering what GHS flats would sound like. What did you do think about them?
I haven’t tried a lot of flats. I had Fender Flats on a P-Bass more than 40 years ago and like them OK, but made the switch to rounds and played for the next 25 years w/o having a bass with flats. I tried Roto 77’s, Didn’t like them much at all; too stiff, too rough and too bright. I have D’Addario Chromes on a Jazz Bass, and like them OK (still a little bright). I bought another set of Precision Flats that I put on my 73 P-Bass after I put yours up for sale. They have been on it ever since, but I don’t play that one very often.
I have a set of LaBella Flats that I got at NAMM a few years ago that I intend to put on those on the Jazz to replace the Chromes. I mainly play Jazzes. My fretless has D’Addiaro XLs, my main fretted has Optima Golds and my Squier surf bass has the flats.
Precision Flats are very smooth, I think medium tension, and didn’t seem to need much of a break-in period.
I have a set of LaBella Flats that I got at NAMM a few years ago that I intend to put on those on the Jazz to replace the Chromes. I mainly play Jazzes. My fretless has D’Addiaro XLs, my main fretted has Optima Golds and my Squier surf bass has the flats.
Precision Flats are very smooth, I think medium tension, and didn’t seem to need much of a break-in period.
