Always curious how everybody's experience with their flatwounds went. I've always been a flats player so I've tried a few sets. All of these are IME and IMO, and while some sets were quality, they just didn't speak to me.
Here it goes! In no particular order
D'Addario Chromes
1st Set - 50-105
2nd Set - 45-132
I'd give both sets a solid C+
A great starter flat and my first set. IMO, they sound a bit too modern to me, are medium-high tension, and take a while to break in; when they do it's thump city! A good set but not my tea. Blue silk with a slightly rough feel
Fender 9050L - 45-100
I'd give this set a D
Admittedly, this was a rush order for a pack of backup strings, but these were the worst flats I've tried yet. Floppy and bright, I had them on for a few months but they just weren't tight enough for me. Low-medium tension and growly, with light green silk and felt a little rough like the chromes.
Curt Mangan FusionMatched Flatwounds - 45-105
I'd give this set an A
I've loved this set on every bass I've owned. Great tone with a little higher tension than the Chromes. No silk (which was interesting) with a very smooth feel. Very slick!. I loved the tone because after a few months, they broke in to a beautiful thump with a defined tone. Highly recommended!
Rotosound Jazz Bass 77 - 45-105
This set gets a B
Bright and growly with a high tension. Rough feel with red silks. If you're looking for a bright, high-tension flat, these are the ones. I also bought a set for my five string, which will go on after I'm done modding it
GHS Precision Flatwounds 45-105
This set is a solid B+
Vintage sounding and thumpy. A medium tension, smooth feel with royal purple silks. I did like them on the jazz bass that I had but took them off after a while because when they settle in, they become slightly less tense than my preference. Before they break in, they seem a bit unbalanced and take about two to three months. Sound great and vintage afterwards!
LaBella Original 1954 aka Jamerson's - 52-110
Oooohhhh ooohhhh ooohhh this set is an A+
Very high tension with an incredibly smooth feel and deep blue silks. These are my favorite flats yet, dunno why it took me so long to try them out but these are right up my alley. Very mid-present and I'll report back when they break in but for now they are still new.
I know there are a thousand topics on flats, but all seem really inconsistent with each other and I'd like to give one thread where we can all lay down our opinion on flatwounds so if anybody was searching (like I was), here's one mega topic for opinions.
Here it goes! In no particular order
D'Addario Chromes
1st Set - 50-105
2nd Set - 45-132
I'd give both sets a solid C+
A great starter flat and my first set. IMO, they sound a bit too modern to me, are medium-high tension, and take a while to break in; when they do it's thump city! A good set but not my tea. Blue silk with a slightly rough feel
Fender 9050L - 45-100
I'd give this set a D
Admittedly, this was a rush order for a pack of backup strings, but these were the worst flats I've tried yet. Floppy and bright, I had them on for a few months but they just weren't tight enough for me. Low-medium tension and growly, with light green silk and felt a little rough like the chromes.
Curt Mangan FusionMatched Flatwounds - 45-105
I'd give this set an A
I've loved this set on every bass I've owned. Great tone with a little higher tension than the Chromes. No silk (which was interesting) with a very smooth feel. Very slick!. I loved the tone because after a few months, they broke in to a beautiful thump with a defined tone. Highly recommended!
Rotosound Jazz Bass 77 - 45-105
This set gets a B
Bright and growly with a high tension. Rough feel with red silks. If you're looking for a bright, high-tension flat, these are the ones. I also bought a set for my five string, which will go on after I'm done modding it
GHS Precision Flatwounds 45-105
This set is a solid B+
Vintage sounding and thumpy. A medium tension, smooth feel with royal purple silks. I did like them on the jazz bass that I had but took them off after a while because when they settle in, they become slightly less tense than my preference. Before they break in, they seem a bit unbalanced and take about two to three months. Sound great and vintage afterwards!
LaBella Original 1954 aka Jamerson's - 52-110
Oooohhhh ooohhhh ooohhh this set is an A+
Very high tension with an incredibly smooth feel and deep blue silks. These are my favorite flats yet, dunno why it took me so long to try them out but these are right up my alley. Very mid-present and I'll report back when they break in but for now they are still new.
I know there are a thousand topics on flats, but all seem really inconsistent with each other and I'd like to give one thread where we can all lay down our opinion on flatwounds so if anybody was searching (like I was), here's one mega topic for opinions.
