• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Is there a flatwound string can comparison page here?

M

mr80htz

May 15, 2018
801
694
#1
Just like the title says...
I still have the Daddario chrome flats on my fretless...and I like them fine...but I'm tone chasing :)
I can't afford to buy something expensive only to find out it's not my thing. I know there's crazy amounts of posts on various strings but I was curious if anyone knows of anything on TalkBass that directly compares strings to one another. I know it's probably at the mercy of people's biases for what they like but I still may find it useful. The idea of ponying up to TIs for $100 only to be disappointed (which could always happen) would mean I'm sad :(
Cheers TalkBass universe
 
#3
I don't really know. Acoustically, they sound great. The overall sound is a bit clankey amplified. I don't know if it's it's the strings or the pickups. The pickups are of a unique size specifically found.only on the bass so I can't swap them out with something else without routing...strings are potentially a better thing to play with. I just changed the tone pot capacitors from 47 to 68uf orange drops and I like them so far. Just seeing what adjectives are used to compare strings so maybe I'll be interested in buying some.
Cheers
 
#4
mr80htz said:
The overall sound is a bit clankey amplified. I don't know if it's it's the strings or the pickups.
Click to expand...

Interestingly enough, "clanky" is the word I've used in the past to describe the tone of the Chromes. They do have a distinct metallic edge in the hi-mid.

A couple of suggestions for something not as "clanky" but still with a nice midrange character... Fender 9050 Flats and Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Flats (aka Group Flats), both of which are affordable at around $35.

Dunlop Flats are also quite nice but their prices have gone up quite a bit in the last couple of years.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nebadon2000, Phaidrus, JulienP. and 4 others
#5
michael_t said:
Interestingly enough, "clanky" is the word I've used in the past to describe the tone of the Chromes. They do have a distinct metallic edge in the hi-mid.

A couple of suggestions for something not as "clanky" but still with a nice midrange character... Fender 9050 Flats and Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Flats (aka Group Flats), both of which are affordable at around $35.

Dunlop Flats are also quite nice but their prices have gone up quite a bit in the last couple of years.
Click to expand...
Right on! THank you for the suggestions. Have you tried anything higher end per se? My father has used TIs forever on his P bass but I don't know that instrument intimately.
 
#9
I'm assuming you mean an audio comparison page.

You should be aware that different flats can also have a very different playing experience, or "feel". You might love the TONE of Roto 77s or TI Jazz flats but find both of them unplayable due to stiffness (Rotos) or floppiness (TIs). The difference in "feel" between different types of flats is MUCH bigger than the difference in feel between practically any roundwounds. Tone is only part of the picture with flats IMO.

D'Addario Chromes are definitely clanky though. In fact, they're the most clanky flats out there. Practically ANY flats will be less clanky (once they're broken in), it's just a matter of how far you want to move towards an old school, thumpy style of flats.

My current favourite flats for long scale basses are Optima Chrome flats. They're definitely in the "old school" category but not quite as thumpy as LaBellas or GHS. Maybe more comparable to Pyramid Golds but with a better E-string and a far more balanced tone/feel across the strings.

If you want a more "modern" tone with less clank than the D'Addarios there are lots of other options too like TIs, Dunlops, Ernie Ball, Fender... It depends on what kind of tone and "feel" you're looking for. Rotos might also be an option. I guess Roto flats can be described as "clanky" too but in a very different way than D'Addario Chromes, not nearly as harsh in the upper mids.

For short scale it will always be Pyramid Golds for me though. Nothing comes even close for MY taste on a short scale.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Iristone, MrAB4003, JulienP. and 2 others
#14
I haven't tried TIs, but I've tried many other flats. As previous posters have said, Chromes are among the clankiest flats. Here's what I've tried in addition to Chromes.

Fender 9050s are quite similar to Chromes in tone and feel, but most players, including me consider them less cranky. If there is clank, they certainly don't retain it for long. They're my favorite flats, but they may be too similar to Chromes for your taste.

La Bella DTFs A lot of players swear by these. I'm not the hugest fan. I find the low end to be a little much, and I prefer a more responsive feel, but if old-school sound and feel are your thing, you might like them best. Due to their high tension and smooth sound, they don't clank.

GHS Precision Flats these are my favorites of the old-school style. They're slightly more supple and less glossy than the La Bellas, with a focused midrange, and a slightly tighter low end. They also do not clank.

Dunlop Flats have plenty of high end when they're new, but it's more of a click than a metallic clank. I really love them out of the box. They're a great, dynamic set that doesn't sound clanky of muffled. I've noticed that the frets start to wear through the ribbon after about six months, but I play rock with a pick and play pretty hard. I've heard a lot of other players say that their Dunlops last forever and they don't know what I'm talking about. That said 9050s show essentially no wear in the same amount of time. The Dunlops aren't excessively short-lived, but I thought I'd mention it. I prefer the 40-100 gauge Dunlops, which seem to be a bit less squirrely than other light-scale sets.

Ernie Ball Slinky Flats less flatwound-sounding than the other sets mentioned, but still less clanky than Chromes. In comparison with other flats, they have a leaner, more aggressive sound.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: OrganMeat and JulienP.
#15
That Ed Friedland review is pretty good, I've had a number of those and the concise reviews are legit.

When it comes to taking the plunge on TIs, all I can say is, they hold value well. So if you don't screw them up or have an obscure tuner pattern, you're likely to be able to recoup a lot if you don't love them.
I've never owned them personally, but have installed them and played them on borrowed basses and the results are kinda shocking and unique. There's a reason they get hyped up, they are very interesting. Not necessarily meant to do everything everyone could ever want, but if you're looking for THAT, they do it so well.

I just recently put a set of DR Legends on a bass and they were certainly not TI in any way. The tension is not super low, but certainly lower than the Chromes which they replaced. The GHS Precision stainless flats I had on a bass seemed similar to these in a way.

Rotosounds tend to be similarly stiff as Chromes, IME. I forgot how they compared for sound, but the feel was similar from what I recall.

Been wanting to try the Labella Low Tension Flats and they were described as somewhat similar to TI in some ways, but with subtle differences in tension and tonality which make them different. Comparatively for price though, they are compelling. Slinky-low tension feel, stainless wrap (I'm allergic to nickel), slightly more than half the price of TIs and widely liked and recommended? I'm intrigued!
 
  • Like
Reactions: JulienP.
#17
mr80htz said:
Just like the title says...
I still have the Daddario chrome flats on my fretless...and I like them fine...but I'm tone chasing :)
I can't afford to buy something expensive only to find out it's not my thing. I know there's crazy amounts of posts on various strings but I was curious if anyone knows of anything on TalkBass that directly compares strings to one another. I know it's probably at the mercy of people's biases for what they like but I still may find it useful. The idea of ponying up to TIs for $100 only to be disappointed (which could always happen) would mean I'm sad :(
Cheers TalkBass universe
Click to expand...
Google, dawg

The best flatwound bass strings 2023: how to choose the right flatwounds for you

However it sounds to me like you don't want new strings, you want more tone shaping capability. Get a decent EQ and dial out that problem frequency.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JulienP. and HaphAsSard
#20
markjazzbassist said:
what bass are you playing currently? tonally you'd like less clank, anything more?

let us know and we can help. myself and others have already spent the $1000's of dollars on flatwounds and tried most/all of them so we can assist. we took the loss monetarily for your gain ;)
Click to expand...
a Washburn Fretless Taurus. J bass single coils...don't know much about them. I feel like they may be hum cancelling but don't know for sure. Mahogany body, ebony fretboard. lots of low end. I think mahogany is more mids happy but I could use more.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: markjazzbassist

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back