Yeah, I'm sorta in love with Chromes, too. However... they are
not D'Addario Chromes. My '88 Tokai TB48 T-Bird, and my '06 Carvin LB-20 wear Chromes; but they're
Optima's 4099RL Chromes. While not quite as smooth as the D'addarios, they're... very close. And, they started life on those basses sounding pretty much like broken-in D'Addarios; then got just a little darker than Fender's 9050Ls (which I also love, and have on a few basses). I do have to say, though, that my problem with D'Addaio strings in general, is that they're finish-polished with something that irritates my fingers - a
LOT. It takes a lot of time and effort - with chemicals that I'd rather not be around - to clean them sufficiently. So, I don't use them - and any bass that comes to me with D'Addario strings on it? It loses them, quick as a bunny, after the initial function check. However...
I do have to say that;
yes, I have used D'Addario Chromes. My first encounter with them was on an '88 Kramer Forum lll bass that I bought as a project. They were as grungy as the rest of the bass, but other than that? I didn't need to make them safe to use. So I saved them. And, about 10 years later, I put them on a new-to-me '15 G&L ASAT Bass. I have to admit; they were a little brighter than I like flats to be, but they did sound good. Good enough that they stayed on that bass for almost 3 years, until they just... died. But, rather than go through the decontamination procedure with a new set of ECB81's? I put a set of Fender 9050Ls on it, instead. Since then? My '24 Birdsong Fusion fretless bass came with a set of ECB82's on it; they're Birdsong's standard strings, and the bass' pickup is supposedly wound for them specifically... Evidently, that's true with mine; it sounds so good with them, that I gritted my teeth; got out my gloves and chemicals; and made them safe for my fingers. On
that bass? Yes, I do sorta love them; and yes, I will put another set on it when these die...
Can't say the same for my fretted '25 Birdsong Fusion ll, though. Don't know why, exactly, but... on that bass? The ECB82's sounded pretty bad. All low end, and just a thumpy mess. So, they got replaced with a salvaged set of first generation Sadowsky Blue Label Flats. That bass sounds
much better, now...
So... bottom line? I'm glad you like D'Addario Chromes; lots of people share your feelings about them. For me, though? Aside from the cleaning thing, ECB81's are nice flats, but... just a little too bright for what I like to play.
OTOH, the heavier ECB82s on my Birdsong fretless bass are very nice, indeed. I've tried, but I just can't think of any other flats I've ever used, that would sound better - on
that bass...
