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Looking for a flat wound string suggestion
- Thread starter Lincoln518
- Start date
Nothing compares to EB Cobalt Flats.
I think of Cobalt flats as Flats that can sound like rounds.
Other bright flats are just that; flats that have some brightness.
Next in line would be Chromes -They've been working great for me lately on both fretted and fretless Precisions. You might like them with a pick, especially on a J-bass. - it just won't be the same as the cobalts.
Roto 77s when new would be next.
Next in line (that I'm currently using) in no particular order are; Dunlop, Fenders & Ti Flats.
I think Chromes would be worth a try. I had them on a Jazz and just replaced them with the Fenders to mellow that bass out a bit.
I think of Cobalt flats as Flats that can sound like rounds.
Other bright flats are just that; flats that have some brightness.
Next in line would be Chromes -They've been working great for me lately on both fretted and fretless Precisions. You might like them with a pick, especially on a J-bass. - it just won't be the same as the cobalts.
Roto 77s when new would be next.
Next in line (that I'm currently using) in no particular order are; Dunlop, Fenders & Ti Flats.
I think Chromes would be worth a try. I had them on a Jazz and just replaced them with the Fenders to mellow that bass out a bit.
Best flats EVER: Sadowsky Blue Label. Lots and lots of lovely harmonics...
I play Cobalt flat and Ti flat, they are different in voice. Cobalt has strong upper mid to treble ,meanwhile Ti has mid to upper mid thing. Cobalt flat can keep the top end lasting than others flatwound, even NYXL nickel.
That's the guy who made the bass in my profile pic.
Fender flats are bright at first (clacky is more correct) but the top end mellows out. They have strong mids. IMO they sound muddy on a P bass because it already has a ton of midrange but they fill in the scooped midrange of a Jazz bass for a balanced sound.
I don't like the gauges however. The E is too floppy and the G too tight. The former is my main issue with them.
Chromes are great on a P bass for the same reason, they add some bass and treble.
Same issue with the gauge, I need a beefier E string to suit my aggressive plucking hand.
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I tried TI flats once, found them to be all mids, with weak lows and highs. I didn't like the super low tension either.
D'addario chromes are also a bright flat. I put them on everything. But honestly as expensive as flats are I wouldn't go changing them just to try something new unless you're unhappy with the cobalts (or need to change for some other reason)
I used tapes for a while but what I don't look Ike about them is the lack of string grounding yields a slight buzz in my environment.
I used tapes for a while but what I don't look Ike about them is the lack of string grounding yields a slight buzz in my environment.
That's perfectly in line with my experience with Fender, TI, LaBella and D'Addario flats. The EB Group IIIs I have also sound similar to Chromes, but maybe with a bit more texture to the treble (they are sort of "satin" by the way, a very smooth satin polish, I think this contributes to the tone).
Rotosounds and Chromes (and Group I-II-III-IVs) are the brightest flats after Cobalts, but they have a different quality, very glassy (although Group flats, as I said, appear to have some more texture).
I have two observations:
1) If you play with your fingers, just pick one.
2) I sure hope the guy made at least $251.87 off that video
Take my advice, if you like the EB flats, stop looking. Save time and money!
I love love love my TI Jazz Flats. Best strings I ever played. They have this really sweet midrangey bite and the feel is like nothing else.
That being said, if "brightness" is what you're looking for, I don't think I'd recommend them. Out of the package they sound very bright, but that wears off fast. They're fat, growly, thumpy, creamy, all that....but no one would mistake these for rounds, or EB Cobalts.
Strings are such a huge part of your tone, and if you've found what you're looking for in EB Cobalts, stick with them. By all means try other stuff, but finding your own sound is a precious thing.
That being said, if "brightness" is what you're looking for, I don't think I'd recommend them. Out of the package they sound very bright, but that wears off fast. They're fat, growly, thumpy, creamy, all that....but no one would mistake these for rounds, or EB Cobalts.
Strings are such a huge part of your tone, and if you've found what you're looking for in EB Cobalts, stick with them. By all means try other stuff, but finding your own sound is a precious thing.
I tried a bunch and the cobalt flats filled this bill better than any, including pressurewound and half rounds.
I agree with you wholeheartedly. As much as I love TIs, I can't understand why people describe them as "bright". I don't think they are, at least not when broken in. Fat and creamy, definitely. But to get any kind of top end out of these, I have to max out the highs on my 3 band EQ (active bass). Which I don't mind, it really brings out the plunk.
