Lightest Flats?

[onosson]

I once tuned ADGC chrome flats to EADG. After a set up they worked great. Floppy but playable.

I have a bass set up like this due to a snapped truss rod. I took a set of "Super Light Gauge" D'Addario Chromes, 40-60-75-95, as well as a single 32. I discarded the 95, and strung up the rest in order: E=75, A=60, D=40, G=32. I also use this set up on a Modulus because the neck is super straight with barely any curvature. Works for me! (I also have the Rotosound Funkmasters which do a good job too, but I tend to dislike rounds most of the time).

 

[Gorn]

With all due respect to the above: they are all wrong. The best lowest tension flats, because they are consistent, won't turn your fingers black, even toned, and have greater longetivity:

La Bella Low Tension Flats. Period.

He's looking for the lightest, not the best.

 

[MynameisMe]

Invest in a new neck. In the long run that will solve your problems.

 

[Gorn]

I have a bass set up like this due to a snapped truss rod. I took a set of "Super Light Gauge" D'Addario Chromes, 40-60-75-95, as well as a single 32. I discarded the 95, and strung up the rest in order: E=75, A=60, D=40, G=32. I also use this set up on a Modulus because the neck is super straight with barely any curvature. Works for me! (I also have the Rotosound Funkmasters which do a good job too, but I tend to dislike rounds most of the time).

I've done it with rounds too. I like super duper low tension. Now I play TI jazz rounds which aren't quite that light, but they're close. I can't play basses with "normal" strings any more.

 

[Gorn]

Getting a new neck instead of doing this isn't the worst idea, but sometimes a new neck isn't an option, or you don't care that much and light strings make a good enough difference.

 

[LoTone]

D'Addario Chromes in 0.040-0.095 gauge could work as well.

 

[michael_t]

D'Addario Chromes in 0.040-0.095 gauge could work as well.

At 163.1 lbs., they're a little heavier than either the La Bella LTF or the TIJF.

 

[polokojo]

LaBella also makes an extra light version of the deep talking bass named 760 FX. gauges are 039, .056, .077, .096. On my bass Japanese Pbass they sound a lot better than the Low Tension Flat and have similar tension.

 

[LoTone]

At 163.1 lbs., they're a little heavier than either the La Bella LTF or the TIJF.

I was not aware of the stats. I was just recommending that option based on personal experience. I did not use the scientific method here. My Bad.

 

[Jack Butler]

In terms of the actual tension (as in pulling weight), the La Bella Low Tension Flats (42-100, 134.9 lbs.) are lighter than the TI Jazz Flats (43-100, 140.2 lbs.), although the TIJF's are the more "flexible" of the two.

The OP is more concerned about the weight on the neck than the flexibility.

That's interesting to note. At the moment I have 2 basses, one with TIJF's and one with LTFF's. The TI's feel waaayyy looser as far as playing them.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

That's interesting to note. At the moment I have 2 basses, one with TIJF's and one with LTFF's. The TI's feel waaayyy looser as far as playing them.

Correct, it is this way in fact ...

 

[negriljerry]

Of course I should consider having the truss rod replaced but I really don't want to bother with a new neck - this poor old Craigslist rescue was abused 10 ways from Sunday before I got it about 15 years ago, and looks it. Funky, with lots of mojo, but great feel and tone. It might be a situation where the truss rod was over stressed to the point it ate almost thru the neck.

I put the Roto's back on (we're talking 30 - 85 here!) and re- set up the bridge pieces. Playing it on my gig tonight...bringing a backup bass as always.

 

[negriljerry]

Not to be rude, but this is like trying to find the lightest shoe so you can walk with a broken leg. I'd limp along with the rounds temporarily and put the money you'd spend on string experiments towards a replacement neck. You'll be much better off in the long run.

Hahaha well put indeed

 

[negriljerry]

I have a bass set up like this due to a snapped truss rod. I took a set of "Super Light Gauge" D'Addario Chromes, 40-60-75-95, as well as a single 32. I discarded the 95, and strung up the rest in order: E=75, A=60, D=40, G=32. I also use this set up on a Modulus because the neck is super straight with barely any curvature. Works for me! (I also have the Rotosound Funkmasters which do a good job too, but I tend to dislike rounds most of the time).

Thanks, good call and I'll do likewise. I have three other basses but this is currently my oldest, a bit of sentimental attraction.

 

[Jack Butler]

With all due respect to the above: they are all wrong. The best lowest tension flats, because they are consistent, won't turn your fingers black, even toned, and have greater longetivity:

La Bella Low Tension Flats. Period.

Probably not a popular opinion, but these still feel stiffer than I'd like compared to TIJF's. All personal preference of course.

 

[lowendrachel]

Lowest tension will be TI jazz flats

I should try those.

 

[Aidenn7]

Ti flats, and replace the truss rod.. If you love the bass both are worth it

 

[iiipopes]

You know, all of you are missing the point. First, my rant on La Bella:

A couple of years ago, La Bella raised the A string from a 70 to a 75. Upon asking about the tension on the reformulated string, the nitwit tech said it would be the same. B*******. Tension is a function of total mass, not core. The string may have slightly less flexibility, but it will have more tension. That makes the set approximately 35 pounds per string, which is very, very light. Yes, the T-I strings have about the same tension, but the G string is tight, and the A string is looser than cooked spaghetti. The La Bellas are even across the board for tension and tone.

Second, my rant on this thread:

Do you want the "lightest" "lowest tension" strings, then buy a 5-string set of E-C, dump the E string and put the A string in the E place, etc. In the double bass world on the other side of this forum, this is called "bumping." You will get an effective set that has about 20 pounds of tension per string. BUT...you will have no tone, no consistency, no stability in tuning, and everything will pull sharp on the frets.

Hell - go even lower - go to Kalium and get a 20 through whatever "piccolo" set, tune it to regular pitch, and have zero tension, zero tone, zero intonation, and zero feel.

You all are f***** up when it comes to tension and what is the "lightest" pitch. WE PLAY BASS. There will be tension. There will be intonation issues. There will be tone issues. Whatever the hell the "lightest" tension string is a f***** up question.

BEFORE DOING ANYTHING ELSE: the OP must get a complete professional setup on the bass to assure the action is consistent, the frets are consistent, the intonation is consistent, and the pickups are consistent. That will do more to relieve stress on the fretting hand than anything else. I know. At 58 years old, I have left hand issues, and my luthier on speed dial and instant text. Only then can the proper set of strings for the OP be determined.

Now: everyone who has f***** up this thread for the OP: get your own basses professionally set up, including fixing the truss rod, research strings like I have done for the last 45 years, find out what the OP is all about for his style, technique, repertoire and gigging before rendering all of these b******* opinions on the "lightest" set of flats so we can help a brother bass player keep playing for the forseeable future.

That said, bottom line on why I recommended La Bella Low Tension Flats: no matter what the genre, style, repertoire, playing style, etc., if a person wants flats, La Bella is the starting point until the player develops his own style and tone preference, and can branch out from there. The OP is wanting to do exactly that. So recommending anything else to start is a primrose path that will get him frustrated instead of on the road to better playing.

 

[Luckydog]

You know, all of you are missing the point. First, my rant on La Bella:

A couple of years ago, La Bella raised the A string from a 70 to a 75. Upon asking about the tension on the reformulated string, the nitwit tech said it would be the same. B*******. Tension is a function of total mass, not core. The string may have slightly less flexibility, but it will have more tension. That makes the set approximately 35 pounds per string, which is very, very light. Yes, the T-I strings have about the same tension, but the G string is tight, and the A string is looser than cooked spaghetti. The La Bellas are even across the board for tension and tone.

Second, my rant on this thread:

Do you want the "lightest" "lowest tension" strings, then buy a 5-string set of E-C, dump the E string and put the A string in the E place, etc. In the double bass world on the other side of this forum, this is called "bumping." You will get an effective set that has about 20 pounds of tension per string. BUT...you will have no tone, no consistency, no stability in tuning, and everything will pull sharp on the frets.

Hell - go even lower - go to Kalium and get a 20 through whatever "piccolo" set, tune it to regular pitch, and have zero tension, zero tone, zero intonation, and zero feel.

You all are f***** up when it comes to tension and what is the "lightest" pitch. WE PLAY BASS. There will be tension. There will be intonation issues. There will be tone issues. Whatever the hell the "lightest" tension string is a f***** up question.

BEFORE DOING ANYTHING ELSE: the OP must get a complete professional setup on the bass to assure the action is consistent, the frets are consistent, the intonation is consistent, and the pickups are consistent. That will do more to relieve stress on the fretting hand than anything else. I know. At 58 years old, I have left hand issues, and my luthier on speed dial and instant text. Only then can the proper set of strings for the OP be determined.

Now: everyone who has f***** up this thread for the OP: get your own basses professionally set up, including fixing the truss rod, research strings like I have done for the last 45 years, find out what the OP is all about for his style, technique, repertoire and gigging before rendering all of these b******* opinions on the "lightest" set of flats so we can help a brother bass player keep playing for the forseeable future.

That said, bottom line on why I recommended La Bella Low Tension Flats: no matter what the genre, style, repertoire, playing style, etc., if a person wants flats, La Bella is the starting point until the player develops his own style and tone preference, and can branch out from there. The OP is wanting to do exactly that. So recommending anything else to start is a primrose path that will get him frustrated instead of on the road to better playing.

Yeah, but other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?

 

[iiipopes]

Yeah, but other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?

Very well, thank you.