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I like Fender Flats...what else might I like?

SlappyTap

SlappyTap

Supporting Member
Apr 2, 2013
100
138
#1
Love La Bellas for the old-school thing, but that's not the sound I'm after.

Love DR Legend flats except the E string has that vintage "clunk" factor, which again isn't what I'm going for.

Wanted to love D'Addario Chromes but I found the texture to them tacky/sticky, not a pleasure to play.

So far of what I've tried, I've loved the Fenders best, even if their tension balance within sets can be a bit wonky. They have a growl and clarity that is very pleasing in my Precision Bass. I've heard Ernie Ball Group flats aren't too dissimilar... or what about Rotosound Jazz 77s? What other flats might be in a similar ballpark?
 
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#3
SlappyTap said:
So far of what I've tried, I've loved the Fenders best, even if their tension balance within sets can be a bit wonky. They have a growl and clarity that is very pleasing in my Precision Bass. I've heard Ernie Ball Group flats aren't too dissimilar... or what about Rotosound Jazz 77s? What other flats might be in a similar ballpark?
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I'm a fan of both the Fender 9050L and the EB Group IV Flats, which are similar but different in some ways. No personal experience with the Roto Jazz 77, but based on everything I've read about them, I don't think they're for me.

You might also like the Dunlop Flats for the "semi-modern" flavor.
 
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#4
Killing Floor said:
TI Jazz Flats.

And before someone replies they’re not exactly the same it’s still the best and final answer. You can get them now or you can keep looking and get them later.
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I forgot to mention I've tried TIs! Unfortunately I'm among those who consider them a bit too floppy and low tension for my heavy-handed attack.

michael_t said:
I'm a fan of both the Fender 9050L and the EB Group IV Flats, which are similar but different in some ways. No personal experience with the Roto Jazz 77, but based on everything I've read about them, I don't think they're for me.

You might also like the Dunlop Flats for the "semi-modern" flavor.
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How would you compare the Fender flats to both Ernie Ball and Dunlops, in your own words and experience? The Dunlops sure are expensive compared to the other two options :eek:
 
#6
SlappyTap said:
How would you compare the Fender flats to both Ernie Ball and Dunlops, in your own words and experience?
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The Fender and the Ernie Ball are similar in the sense they both have a nice midrange for clarity and definition; neither is overly thumpy or thuddy like some traditional flats. The difference between the two is fairly subtle but to my ears the Fender have a little more grind and growl while the Ernie Ball are smoother. I've always liked the Fender on my Jazz and the Ernie Ball on my Precision.

I haven't tried the Dunlop personally.
 
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#7
I like stiff flats. I've used Fender 9050M flats and I liked them, and I mostly use 45-105 Roto Jazz 77 flats now though.

They're both always on the brighter side of traditional thumpy flats, even after they're quite broken in. The two sound distinctly different than each other. The Fender flats sound good to me on a Jazz bass, but I choose Roto Jazz 77 flats before Fender flats for P basses without hesitation.

Dunlop flats I had a bad enough stretch of trouble with them that I gave up on them and never considered going back. I've never tried Chromes.

That's me; YMMV.
 
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#8
Grinderman said:
I like stiff flats. I've used Fender 9050M flats and I liked them, and I mostly use 45-105 Roto Jazz 77 flats now though.

They're both always on the brighter side of traditional thumpy flats, even after they're quite broken in. The two sound distinctly different than each other. The Fender flats sound good to me on a Jazz bass, but I choose Roto Jazz 77 flats before Fender flats for P basses without hesitation.

Dunlop flats I had a bad stretch of trouble with. I've never tried Chromes.

That's me; YMMV.
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What makes the Rotos most suited to a Precision to you? How would you describe the sound of the Rotos vs Fenders? I've got the 9050M set on my Precision at the moment.
 
#9
SlappyTap said:
What makes the Rotos most suited to a Precision to you? How would you describe the sound of the Rotos vs Fenders? I've got the 9050M set on my Precision at the moment.
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Something to my ears about the tone, I suppose in the mids, from Roto 77 flats pair better with the higher inductance, darker sounding P bass pickups than the Fender 9050 flats do. The Roto flats have a deeper tone.

The Fender flats sound good with the more open sound of lower inductance single coil Jazz bass pickups. I haven't tried Roto Jazz 77 flats on my Jazz bass yet but I'd be surprised if they didn't sound good together.
 
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#12
I had the Roto 77 on my jazz bass and the tension was extremely taunt for fingers, pick was not bad. I then put on some Dogal Carbon flats a couple years ago and never took them off---It was like going from a Turbo Mazda to a Porsche 911. The only experience I have had with Fenders, is the stock offerings on basses and I yanked em off immediately. I did try Dunlop flats, they were not bad, just kinda sterile compared to the Dogals. To me, the Dogals are like playing a glassy, upright string with perfect tension and sonics
 
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#16
michael_t said:
The Fender and the Ernie Ball are similar in the sense they both have a nice midrange for clarity and definition; neither is overly thumpy or thuddy like some traditional flats. The difference between the two is fairly subtle but to my ears the Fender have a little more grind and growl while the Ernie Ball are smoother. I've always liked the Fender on my Jazz and the Ernie Ball on my Precision.

I haven't tried the Dunlop personally.
Click to expand...

Which one would you guess would mesh better with a Stingray?
 
#17
Killing Floor said:
TI Jazz Flats.

And before someone replies they’re not exactly the same it’s still the best and final answer. You can get them now or you can keep looking and get them later.
Click to expand...
The mystique intensifies. I might have to bite the bullet and pick those up, although I'm tempted to try LaBella first. I have a Fender Classic Series 50s Precision (nearly identical to the Vintera II 50s Precision available today), and I'm not really loving the Roto 77s I have on it right now. I think it'll sound great when I find the right strings.

Oddly enough, I love the feel of the flats on my old Jazz, but I can't remember what brand they are. Those ones must be at least ten years old by now, and they all have a somewhat dark green fabric at the end.
 
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#19
Brandon Shea said:
The mystique intensifies. I might have to bite the bullet and pick those up, although I'm tempted to try LaBella first. I have a Fender Classic Series 50s Precision (nearly identical to the Vintera II 50s Precision available today), and I'm not really loving the Roto 77s I have on it right now. I think it'll sound great when I find the right strings.

Oddly enough, I love the feel of the flats on my old Jazz, but I can't remember what brand they are. Those ones must be at least ten years old by now, and they all have a somewhat dark green fabric at the end.
Click to expand...
There’s no best.
I use LaBella DTF flats on fretless because I want a little more tension and “fight” that works with how I play.
 
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#20
Killing Floor said:
There’s no best.
I use LaBella DTF flats on fretless because I want a little more tension and “fight” that works with how I play.
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There is no best, because everybody's nuts are cut differently, some are clankier and some just jive better with different pedals/amps/basses. I have tried so many brands...all you can really do is try.

When I started becoming a cigar aficionado, I spent thousands of dollars trying different blends, until I knew what I liked and did not like.
 
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