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I Need some suggestions: P bass Strings

#83
bertthebassist said:
how long do EB Cobalts last before the sound changes and they need to be changed?
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They actually last quite a while for flats, about a month or so before I noticed the zing fading. Though my experiences with them were mixed. They sounded terrible on my stingray but fairly decent on my jazz. Scooped mids for sure so if you like contoured flats these are for you. Word of warning though, EB's quality control has been questionable since I received some rusted strings and I tried contacting them about it and they never got back to me.
 
#84
FirewalZ said:
I was just looking at the Chromes....I think the Super Light gauge (95-40) maybe to thin a gauge for me feel wise....The lights (45-100) look better, but according to the tension chart, they have an even higher tension than the Medium Boomers, which feel really stiff to me. Ive played Med Chromes before, they were very much bridge cables....how are the 45-100's?
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The 45-100 are what I use, I like them, my band plays a variety of different music including country, classic rock..
 
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#86
First time I got a lot of good comments about my sound is the day I put on a set of La Bella Low Tension Flats - woody tone, very pleasant. Second vote could be Thomastiks, but I got one string unwinded before the gig and they were VERY bright for first month.

Chromes were good on active Sandberg PJ - but don't feel that nice when playing alone if your bass is not on boomy side of sound by itself, they are pretty bright.
 
#87
LaBella low tension flexible flat wounds. I have only used roundwounds for years and have tried flats a time or two but never though they cut through the mix in a live setting on the P Bass (not for me anyway). Tried the LaBellas and really like them. They are the smoothest flatwount I’ve ever play and the tension is more comfortable than other flats I’ve tried. I have no trouble hearing myself with these, they sound great...and you don’t need to change them every month or two.
 
#89
FirewalZ said:
Im getting involved in a new project supporting a female singer, its a mix of old school Country (think Patsy Cline), new Country and some classic rock thrown in the mix. Of course Flats are the first thing that come to mine, however, we will be in larger room/festival type gigs and IME flats dont always cut well. Im looking for "tamer" rounds, maybe something i haven't tried yet...something that 1) Works well on a P bass/classic sound. 2) Warm and full yet can still cut through. 3) Flexible/responsive to tone knob...(Patsy to Bad Company).
I have Medium Boomers on it now, they sound fine good, but the tension is a tad high and they go from good to dull fairly quickly. Ive also tried Pressurewound, but IMO those work better on a Jazz.
I was thinking about trying: GHS Balanced Nickel, DR Pure Blues, Sunbeams?
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Try some Tapewound, you won't regret at least this is what I've experienced so far with that on my P-Bass.
 
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#90
FirewalZ said:
...we will be in larger room/festival type gigs and IME flats dont always cut well.
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IME, you really don't need to "cut" through the mix in a old timey country band. You need to support it. Flats do that, especially dead flats. Or using some foam near the bass bridge.

Adding an HPF would allow you to tighten up the low end, especially in large venues, so you're always present in the mix but not overbearing.

I like La Bella FS 45-105s. 45g tension. You may have adjust truss rod for tension.
 
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#91
As a mainly round wound player, I find EB Cobalt flats to be comfortable and familiar feeling every time I pick up my flatwound bass. Some flats are much stiffer and deader. I wouldn’t call Cobalts bright, but they have enough snarl to where I don’t feel like I have to overplay to hear myself in a mix. Their stiffness isn’t much more than rounds either. And the price doesn’t hurt. The set I had before was thomastik, they’re great strings (and had a better, more even G string), but I honestly feel more comfortable in the mix with the Ernie Balls at 1/3 the price.
 
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#93
40Hz said:
I’ve been very happy with LaBella Copper White Nylons. Got a lot of that flatwound fundamental thing but with plenty of warm and complex mids and a pleasant tiny hint of brightness on the top. And they respond well to changes in your EQ settings if you’re into doing fine tonal shadings.

If you’re thinking of that traditional duller thumpa-thumpa you get with regular tapewounds, put it out of your head. These sound nothing like the old black nylons at all. And this is coming from a guy who tried every nylon string out there and had decided to give up on nylons completely until these came along. These now are in my Top 5...
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Another nod for LaBella Copper White Nylons... MAGICAL :thumbsup:

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#94
FirewalZ said:
Im getting involved in a new project supporting a female singer, its a mix of old school Country (think Patsy Cline), new Country and some classic rock thrown in the mix. Of course Flats are the first thing that come to mine, however, we will be in larger room/festival type gigs and IME flats dont always cut well. Im looking for "tamer" rounds, maybe something i haven't tried yet...something that 1) Works well on a P bass/classic sound. 2) Warm and full yet can still cut through. 3) Flexible/responsive to tone knob...(Patsy to Bad Company).
I have Medium Boomers on it now, they sound fine good, but the tension is a tad high and they go from good to dull fairly quickly. Ive also tried Pressurewound, but IMO those work better on a Jazz.
I was thinking about trying: GHS Balanced Nickel, DR Pure Blues, Sunbeams?
Click to expand...

How about Labella White Nylon Tapewounds?

They're not as dull as normal tapewounds, and have a lot more 'bite' than standard flats, but they are not overly bright and their tone is there from day one and barely change. Very strong low mids... they can thump or you can slap, use your tone knob, great presence. On a Precision they are glorious.
They're pretty low tension and of course smooth to the touch. I love them,
 
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#96
I am also going to recommend chromes. I like my flats to fight back a little, so I would put 45-105. For you, I'd suggest 40-100. The E and A are a little more beefy, and the D and G are right in the middle. They have a nice upper midrange grind available, that can be easily tamed with the tone knob.
 
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#98
ValeriusCrow said:
Oh, have to make a notice - every set of EB Cobalt Flats I bought got rusty in less then a month. Haven't affected the playability tho :)
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My experience as well, even though I like them. Maybe I should take an extra minute or two after gigging to throw the alcohol to them. My acidic sweat wreaks havoc on metals. Started using TI Jazz flats a while back as well and these seem to hold up better, for me at least
 
#100
bertthebassist said:
how long do EB Cobalts last before the sound changes and they need to be changed?
Click to expand...

I don’t play mine more than a couple times a month, and have had my first set on since I bought them over a year ago. They did take several playing hours to settle in, but since, I’ve noticed very little tonal or stiffness change. These are flats you can leave on for a long time in my experience.
 

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