Late 70s disco sound w/ flats

Well, the old Stingrays had a dampening system near the bridge. Maybe try a little bit of foam (really, a light, slight foam, not too thick) with the Chromes before taking them off. Might do the trick.

Otherwise, maybe you can try the Ernie Ball traditional flats (not the Cobalt Flats)

 

The original strings on the StingRay were GHS Precision Flats (until ca. '79 when they started shipping with GHS Brite-Flats or GHS Boomers), and those are probably what Edwards used. I've always liked them better than LaBellas because they have all the essential thump one generally expects from a flat just like the LaBellas do, but also they have a definite note pitch which I find lacking in the LaBellas.

 

I feel you,man! Just started experimenting with flats on my Stingray,to get that. Bernard vibe...don’t know If I’ll keep ‘em all the time,because I love the tone of the roundwounds,but I love the tone! I’m using R&B flats by Optima Strings,I love them,thought they were very “Motown” but they fit well on the stingray...also Daddario Chromes,I used them in the past in my fretless bass and find them quite good

 

here is a quick test with the Optima R&B Flats on my stingray...of course I chose a Chic tune :-D recorded via Roland Go Mixer, bass eq basically flat...hope you can see it (my Facebook profile)

 

I've just started experimenting with flats on my 2 band Stingray as well (a week ago). Currently I have EB Cobalt Flatwounds 45-100 on it. The feel and tension are great, but they don't sound old school. Not sure how they'll age, but I have a set of new TI flats as well, and I'm putting those today to test them out. I expect those to be more old school.

If those end up being too floppy with their low tension, I also have a set of EB traditional flats on the way (Group IV 40-95) to test out. My P has been wearing 760FS La Bellas (45-105) for over 2 years now, tuned half a step down and those are absolutely perfect for that old school P tone. Haven't tried La Bella on the Stingray yet, and I'd have to get a lower tension La Bellas or a smaller gauge, since my ray is in standard tuning.

I tried Optima flats (have a set of those) on my P as well, they sound cool, kind of that Rickenbacker tonal vibe, but ultimately I prefer La Bellas on my P.

 

Yeah,I have the impression that the Optima Flats would fit better on a Rick or a P Bass...I would be curious to try EB Cobalts on my Ray,since I always loved the Louis Johnson/Nate Phillips tone...might be smoother than a common roundwound but just a little brighter of my current Flat set...

 

Killer tone and playing!

 

I dig EB Cobalt flats, but they're very clear sounding, I kind of miss that thud of an old school flat. I don't think they would quite age to that level of thud, and they seem to retain their brightness and modern tone very very well. Joe Dart signature bass comes with EB traditional flats, so those are definitely more on the old school side (probably similar to Chromes, but more smooth and less bright).

 

Thank you,sir! I tried to stay loyal to the fill,but added a couple of things

 

I remember the Chromes sounding good but not so smooth at the touch...I’m mostly a roundwound guys who goes flat from time to time,so probably I’ll give a try to EB Strings..

 

Cobalt flats aren’t the smoothest flats ever (not smooth like la bella), but after one use of fast fret they were smooth and I had zero issues with tackiness. They wouldn’t be as slinky and have that tone if they were traditionally smooth (they have slight gaps in winding). Great flats if you’re into roundwound tone but want it to be more smooth and have no fret sliding noises.

 

ok,gotta press that button on Amazon :-D

 

Wow you really nailed that !

 

Thank you!! I tried to get into it as much as possible!

 

Chromes will smooth out in touch/feel after a few weeks.

Bernard’s sound is rooted in old strings. He never changed them and if asked what strings he used, he’d say that he didn’t know, and mention they were what came on the bass when he first got it.

 

Do you remember what gauge you used

I have a stingray classic 5 and might switch now from cobalt rounds to flats after hearing that

 

Sure,I used Optima R&B Flats 45/100,might transfer them on my Yamaha BB414 to get a sort of P Bass sound

 

Postscript: Duran's John Taylor (a HUGE Bernard Edwards fan) wound up with BE's Stingray. One of his roadies thought the strings were toast alongside John's other axes, and cut off the old strings (which had cut all of his famous sides . . . .) as routine maintenance of his basses and replaced with JT's usual strings. Oh well . . . . . he was mortified.

 

for the record Bernard edwards used the stock roundwound strings the bass came with, he never changed them. so they are not flats but are completely dead and old and well used so they sound flat-ish if that makes sense.

if you want true flats try GHS precision, they are healthy in the mids. TI are super weak in the low end, i would not like that tone with a Stringray (i've owned one). If you need more treble i would try the dead roundwound route ala Bernard.