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Looking for Recommendations on Flatwounds Similar to 9050L

74hc

74hc

Nov 19, 2015
2,752
3,024
Sunny California
#1
I have purchased and installed Fender 9050L flat wounds on my EBMM Sterling, and like these very much. Now that my Pressurewounds (medium-lights with a low B) needed to be replaced, I would have preferred to use the same in 5-string. However, it appears that Fender does not offer a 5 string version.

So what is similar to the tone (more modern than vintage vibe), smoothness, and tension/flexibility to these 9050L? All ears here. So far I'm thinking Chromes EC81-5 (45-65-80-100-132).

The Fenders are 45-60-80-100, and supposedly made by D'Addario.
 
#3
Having two different brands of strings on my bass would drive me up the wall; even if it shouldn't.

How about Dunlop flatwounds, either 45-125 or 40-120? Similar, or thoughts anyone? Some seem to imply these are super brights construction with a SS ribbon wound over.
 
#4
74hc said:
Having two different brands of strings on my bass would drive me up the wall; even if it shouldn't.
Click to expand...

I know what you mean about mix-matching strings. That's the way I USED TO feel.

If you like the overall tone and feel of the Fender 9050L, the Ernie Ball SS Flatwound 130B is the closest thing to match up with them. The D'A Chromes would have a different tone and feel.
 
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#8
74hc said:
Having two different brands of strings on my bass would drive me up the wall; even if it shouldn't.

How about Dunlop flatwounds, either 45-125 or 40-120? Similar, or thoughts anyone? Some seem to imply these are super brights construction with a SS ribbon wound over.
Click to expand...

I highly recommend Dunlop flatwounds. It's a set of great feeling and sounding strings. I have tried many flats and it's my favorite. That being said, I did not like the Fender flats, and strings is a really personal thing. Alternatively the Ernie Ball Flatwound group II or group III are very good. They're brighter and stiffer but they are great. Both these strings are somewhat affordable, some flats, Thomastik, in particular can be very expensive. Some people swear by them, notably for their tone and low tension feel.
 
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#10
Are those 9050Ls the ones with the light green silks? I didn't like them. I hate to say it but the color of the silks was part of it - it sort of made me sick. Sticking with GHS Precision flats.

I too think that mixing different brands of string on an instrument might make me uneasy. But it would be worth it if it let me keep the feel I prefer.
 
#12
michael_t said:
I actually got this idea from @iiipopes, who's had a few posts in the past about using the EB SS Flat 105E to go with the Fender 9050 A-D-G.
Click to expand...
Thanks. This comes from the fact I tend to kill a low E string first, and so I replace the E string before the others, but you can't get Fender Flats as singles. The closest string that will sound similar to the Fender flats in my experiments and to my ears is the EB regular flatwound in your choice of gauge.
 
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#15
Ok, I bought strings today at the LGS because this mediocre bass player is busy tonight, tomorrow night, and twice on Sunday. First though, let me answer some questions for gratitude in the help given.

1- @tpaul, these are the new Fender 9050L with the light green silk, purchased early this year. I think the older ones were similar shade of green as well, but I have no experience with those.

2- @Laurent, yeah Dunlop flatwounds were high on my list but...

3- @Coolhandjjl, I agree but one would think it would easy to purchase ECB81-5L locally here in San Jose.

I couldn't find a local guitar store that carried any Dunlops other than Super Brights. Selection was lousy here in San Jose apparently. The new Guitar Center near me only had one choice of flatwound and it was for 4-string basses.

Guitar showcase was a little better with Chromes for 4-string only, and only EB Cobalt for 5-string. So I purchased the EB Cobalts in 45-65-80-100-130 since those were on my list, but below Dunlop and Chromes. The main reason why is the report of braking the D string.

I just got them on right before lunch. First impressions are:

1- Slightly less tension/more flexible than Fender 9050L. It becomes more apparent in the A and E strings. I cannot compare the low B because the EBMM with the 9050L is a 4-string bass. Still a bit more tension/less flexible than the GHS pressurewounds (ML version). Keep in mind though, I have no way of truly measuring tension, but am going off feel.

2- Slightly less smoothness than the 9050L, but still close. My visual inspection lead me to believe it would be slightly less so as well. Far more smoother than the pressurewounds.

3- Definitely modern sounding like the 9050L. Maybe a bit more but not really that much which surprised me. Comparing to the pressurewounds, I'd say more pronounced thump, more noticeable cut of the zings, but really not by as expected.

4- No adjustment of the truss round yet. If so, it will be not much. Intonation set for the pressurewounds is still good. I will play these tonight, and make any adjustments tomorrow.

5- I was hoping for a bump in output due to the cobalt, but none noticed. My Kiesel's output is very weak. I would have to roll of the volume significantly (more than halfway) on my EBMM Sterling to match. I even have to roll off the volume on my passive pbass to match, and not by a small amount either.

I'm definitely believing the pickups or the preamp has issues, and I need to call Kiesel to see what they say. One thing I noticed about bass pickups is that manufacturers don't state resistance unlike their guitar pickups.
 
#16
74hc said:
Ok, I bought strings today at the LGS because this mediocre bass player is busy tonight, tomorrow night, and twice on Sunday. First though, let me answer some questions for gratitude in the help given.

1- @tpaul, these are the new Fender 9050L with the light green silk, purchased early this year. I think the older ones were similar shade of green as well, but I have no experience with those.

2- @Laurent, yeah Dunlop flatwounds were high on my list but...

3- @Coolhandjjl, I agree but one would think it would easy to purchase ECB81-5L locally here in San Jose.

I couldn't find a local guitar store that carried any Dunlops other than Super Brights. Selection was lousy here in San Jose apparently. The new Guitar Center near me only had one choice of flatwound and it was for 4-string basses.

Guitar showcase was a little better with Chromes for 4-string only, and only EB Cobalt for 5-string. So I purchased the EB Cobalts in 45-65-80-100-130 since those were on my list, but below Dunlop and Chromes. The main reason why is the report of braking the D string.

I just got them on right before lunch. First impressions are:

1- Slightly less tension/more flexible than Fender 9050L. It becomes more apparent in the A and E strings. I cannot compare the low B because the EBMM with the 9050L is a 4-string bass. Still a bit more tension/less flexible than the GHS pressurewounds (ML version). Keep in mind though, I have no way of truly measuring tension, but am going off feel.

2- Slightly less smoothness than the 9050L, but still close. My visual inspection lead me to believe it would be slightly less so as well. Far more smoother than the pressurewounds.

3- Definitely modern sounding like the 9050L. Maybe a bit more but not really that much which surprised me. Comparing to the pressurewounds, I'd say more pronounced thump, more noticeable cut of the zings, but really not by as expected.

4- No adjustment of the truss round yet. If so, it will be not much. Intonation set for the pressurewounds is still good. I will play these tonight, and make any adjustments tomorrow.

5- I was hoping for a bump in output due to the cobalt, but none noticed. My Kiesel's output is very weak. I would have to roll of the volume significantly (more than halfway) on my EBMM Sterling to match. I even have to roll off the volume on my passive pbass to match, and not by a small amount either.

I'm definitely believing the pickups or the preamp has issues, and I need to call Kiesel to see what they say. One thing I noticed about bass pickups is that manufacturers don't state resistance unlike their guitar pickups.
Click to expand...

Try Guitar Showcase in San Jose. Great store.
 

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