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I found a flat (Help me find a flat [or something].)!

#42
twinjet said:
Interestingly enough, I did more research on chromes and found a demo that did them justice. I will have to give them another shot...
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I happen to like Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats, especially on Thunderbirds. They can sound like rounds or they can sound like flats, all depending on where on the string you play and what your attack is like. I like 'em a lot. I don't know what they would sound like on a G&L.
 
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#44
my preference also are the Cobalt Flats, followed very closely by the aforementioned Sadowskys.
I've tried almost all of the flats out on the market today, and those 2 are my favorites when I want a full bodied tone, some top end, but controlled top end, and comfy tension (in between stiff - Chromes and floppy - TIs).

Some have mentioned GHS Precision Flats, I found them not for me, and I have a new, unopenned pack just sitting in my strings box that I am going to sell because I will never use them. If interested, I'd give you a very good price:
Just like these:
GHS M3050 Precision Flatwound Bass Strings Medium
 
#46
Another +1 on EB cobalt flats, have tried many different strings both round and flat and could never decide, since trying these strings I now have them on both my basses and have 5 extra packs in case they stop making them :) For the first week or so they are much brighter than most flats, but I prefer the sound after a few months of playing. These on my j-bass results in the most versatile instrument I've experienced. There is a small amount of rust on the year-old cobalts on one of my basses, but it's not enough to bother me.
 
#50
Hamish MacCleod said:
When I think of the tone you described I immediately think tapes. I use Rotosound 88's. YMMV
H
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barebones said:
I like Rotosound flats for the tone you're describing, although some people complain about the high tension. I dial them in low with very little relief in the neck, and they work for me. I do play with a heavy right hand.

I have Ernie Ball Cobalt flats on my fretless right now, and I need to try them on my fretted. I suspect they will deliver much of what I like about the Rotos.

Thomastiks feel nice and light, and they sound great. They have nice highs and mids and sound clear and balanced, but they don't have as much metallic *zing* to them, due to the nylon filament between the core and outer flat wire.

For black nylon tape wounds, I like GHS. They have decent highs and good string to string balance.
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/\/\3phist0 said:
Yet another vote for LaBella White tape wounds.
I have not tried the coppers or the golds yet (These last la loooong time without change:) )
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After my first read of your post I also went right to Tapes.
 
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#52
petrus61 said:
...I use the 45-95 GHS and it's worth noting that they are a slightly different animal than the Std gauge set, with a bit more top end articulation and are rigid without being stiff, pliable without being floppy. They're ideal for me. All that said, it doesn't sound to me like OP is looking for either Labella or GHS flats and perhaps isn't looking for flats at all.
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I used to go for heavy, stiff strings, especially when choosing flats.

I've since found that lighter gauges work better for me. Take Chromes, for instance: I normally find the regular sets too stiff, and don't like the way they sound up top.

However, I just got a light, balanced tension set of Chromes for my Precision V. I bought them as singles from Bass Strings Online, and it's changed my mind about them. Strung .040, .055, .070, .095, .132 from G to B, they've made my P-bass sing.

Better balance between lows, mids and highs, decent sustain. It's early days yet, but they seem to play in quickly, and then hold a tone. Also, they are easy on my hands and the neck, as the overall tension is only about a pound higher than regular 40-125 D'Addario nickel rounds (EXL220-5).

That's just enough of a tension increase to give you that flatwound feel, but they're not so soft that they mess up your attack. That was one of my beefs with TI Jazz Flats- as nice as they sound, I find it hard to switch between them and regular-tension strings.
 
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#53
/\/\3phist0 said:
Yet another vote for LaBella White tape wounds.
I have not tried the coppers or the golds yet (These last la loooong time without change:) )
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Jason at BSO did recommend these. Unfortunately, there isn't a demo out there that is even sort of close to what I need. Most videos have a guy pulling a nuclear slap attack or an expressive fretless guy playing rubato, using an e-bow.

What about us guys who just want to play a walking bass line with fingers? :bawl:
 
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#54
twinjet said:
I have been trying to find GHS black nylon tapewound strings. Sadly those are the only tapes that really caught my attention, and they're discontinued. However, the more videos I watch on D'Addario Chromes, the more I like them.
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Bobby Vega has ancient Chromes on some of his basses, and it's a great tone.

However, I find them kind of quirky.

Like TI Jazz Flats, you get a little extra definition up top when you first take them out of the package. Unlike the TI's, the extra harmonic content sounds almost out of tune with itself, at least until they break in, and break-in takes a looong time.

If you keep 'em on for long enough, they get a nice, burpy growl, but in the past, I've never had the patience to wait them out.

As per my last post, building a BT set of Chromes with a .40 top turned out to be the magic bullet for me. They broke in faster, and seem to sit somewhere in the middle between the old-school thumpy La Bella tone and TI's...
 
#55
I like Fender 9050 MLs on my fretless. Very slick and smooth surface, good sound.

I have GHS Brite Flats on my ABG. They windings are more open than the 9050s, and they have a somewhat brighter/more jangly tone, as well as being slightly rougher on the fingers. I forgot I had put them on that bass, looked at it at one point, and thought they were round wounds.

I just got a new bass with D'Addario Chrome Flats on it. They don't seem to have as much definition as either the 9050s or Brite Flats, but that could be the pickup configuration, too (one central pickup instead of bridge/neck duals). They're not terrible, but the least bright/jangly of the three types I currently have.

For contrast I have Dunlop Stainless Roundwounds on my Lakland. Now those are bright and jangly!
 
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#56
200ec246-a558-43d9-a6dd-aa3a44f9dbef_1.dc48495e2c9d55b1d01c6bf1a62f4aa7.jpg
 
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#59
Help me find a flat (or something)?
Well, it's at fourth fret on the low e-string, among other things. Say first fret on the G-string too. Surely some more places along the fretboard too. Sorry, couldn't help myself. ;)
 
#60
michael_t said:
The only set I've tried is the 40-100, which I find to be very manageable. While they're not considered "low tension" like the TIJF's, they're quite comfortable to play on for being flats.
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I've got TI's on my MIA P and they're a great string, but I wouldn't be objected to a bit more tension.

The EB's on my SX J are stupid stiff at EADG, but feel ok at BEAD.... and while that sounds effed up to tune them down that far, it works for me.

The Fender flats on my SX P are just about right, but I'm always willing to try something new in a flatwound.

If you've tried the Fenders, could you tell me your opinion of tension between them and the Sadowsky flats?
 
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