Looking to go to heavier strings

[tothemax]

About a year or so ago I switch my P bass over to flat wounds, after a short test with half rounds. Normally using D'Addario lights 45-100 on my P, decided to do a first set of flats with Ernie Ball extra slinky 40-95. Looking for suggestions, the G string is way to light (and bright) but decided to give it some wear time to see if it would calm down. I don't mind the sound of the strings but need to go heavier. This P has a foam damper under the bridge and has a set of Fralin standard PU's. I'm kind of between the Fender 9050 light (45-100), La Bella LT (42-100), and EB Group III (45-100) with the Fenders leading with a $33 price point.

I like nice a thumpy R&R tone, and am fully sold on flats with this bass. I realize everyone has their favorites, just looking for a bit of input before ordering... I typically put on a set of bass strings and just use them, rarely changing without a good reason.

Cheers and appreciate any input... stay warm

 

[michael_t]

Normally using D'Addario lights 45-100 on my P, decided to do a first set of flats with Ernie Ball extra slinky 40-95. Looking for suggestions, the G string is way to light (and bright) but decided to give it some wear time to see if it would calm down. I don't mind the sound of the strings but need to go heavier. This P has a foam damper under the bridge and has a set of Fralin standard PU's. I'm kind of between the Fender 9050 light (45-100), La Bella LT (42-100), and EB Group III (45-100) with the Fenders leading with a $33 price point.

Fender 9050L have been my top choice for one of my Jazz basses for the last 10 yrs.

For a P bass, I prefer the Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Flats (aka Group Flats) for their smoother midrange.

Can I assume you're talking about the Cobalt Flats when you mention "Ernie Ball Extra Slinky (40-95) flats?

 

[tothemax]

Yes, the strings on my bass are the Extra Slinky Cobalts. I am pleased with the E string sound and feel, so keeping with 100 seems like a good idea.

These are the ones I'm looking at.

• Ernie Ball Custom Gauge Flatwounds deliver solid low-end with reduced finger noise
• Flattened stainless steel wrap wire on a hex-shaped tin-plated steel core
• Super smooth feel with warm, rounded tone
• Ernie Ball bass strings are played worldwide by aspiring artists and legends alike
• Gauges: 45, 65, 80, 100

 

[MrAB4003]

I had light gauge (45-100) D'Addario Chromes on one of my Rickenbacker 4003s but there was not enough tension for my usual D Standard tuning. So I switched to medium gauge (50-105) Chromes. Great tension! Chromes are great "all around" flatwounds. They can be bright or mellow when you want them to be. They respond well to tone knobs too.

I also ordered medium gauge (49-109) La Bella DTFs for my fretless Sire P5 (which is a Precision style FSO). I wanted something darker than the stock Chromes for fretless bass. I'm waiting for them in the mail right now. La Bella DTFs have more sound samples than any other bass strings because they were used on more records than any other bass strings. Motown, Stax/Volt, and so many other R&B/Soul recordings have a lot to do with this.

 

[winston]

I agree with @michael_t - I also prefer the EB Group III to the Fender flats of the same gauge on my P basses.

 

[pbass2]

I like nice a thumpy R&R tone, and am fully sold on flats with this bass.

Have you ever gone heavier than a set with a 100 E string? Man, I can't imagine going lighter than 45-105 for a flatwound P thumper. 100 would not get me there, way too noodly IME.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

GHS Precision flats are another

My only P with flats are 9050 flats that are well broken in but I would go with GHS if what is described as chocolate sounding by some are a darker traditional flat.

 

[Igotsoul4u]

I am very happy with the Dunlop Steel Flatwound. 45-105. They have plenty of thump but also a nice high end if you want. They market them as being lower tension and I would agree. They feel like they are somehere between a light and medium guage normal round wound string. A lot of flatwounds have higher tension when compared to a round in the same guage. I usually dislike very stiff strings so the fact that I like these in a medium guage says a lot about how comfy they are to play. I normally play light guages for my rounds. There's of course variations between brands as well. THomastik are insanely flexible like a extra light round.

 

[michael_t]

GHS Precision flats are another

My only P with flats are 9050 flats that are well broken in but I would go with GHS if what is described as chocolate sounding by some are a darker traditional flat.

GHS Precision Flats, the light set (45-95) in particular, is another one I liked on my P bass. The 45G is not too thin and "twangy" and the 95E is not too thuddy and muddy. Overall a nicely balanced set tonally right out of the package.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

GHS Precision Flats, the light set (45-95) in particular, is another one I liked on my P bass. The 45G is not too thin and "twangy" and the 95E is not too thuddy and muddy. Overall a nicely balanced set tonally right out of the package.

Yes I have the short set on my Bronco w a old Lawrence L250 blade pickup...I had only tried rounds but it was stupid bright twangy with a midrange that was scooped ....right out of the pack the GHS Precision flats sounded right same as your experience.

Fender 9050s I put on a Peavey 80s Foundation were still bright even after playing a lot.

 

[michael_t]

Fender 9050s I put on a Peavey 80s Foundation were still bright even after playing a lot.

Yes, Fender 9050s are very bright and "clangy" for the first 2-3 mths, then they settle into a nice low-mid-focused grind. The 9050L on one of my J's are a little over 2 yrs old now and they're starting to sound "mature".

 

[mdogs]

Currently, I am using EB Cobalt flats on a number of basses, 45-100, tension is perfect for me.

I have EB Group 2.5 on another couple 45-105. These came on my Joe Dart, I put another set on a P, I like the way they sound, but the tension is a little high.

I have a set of EB Pino’s on another P, do not lie them at all, too dead sounding, I believe these are 45-105.

Lastly, I have a set of Labella LTF’s on bass with a Novak gold foil pickup that I very mid-heavy. Tension wise they are great, sound wise that are just ok for me.

The basses with the Cobalts are getting 90% of the flats playing time and I don’t see that changing.

 

[Paul New]

About a year or so ago I switch my P bass over to flat wounds, after a short test with half rounds. Normally using D'Addario lights 45-100 on my P, decided to do a first set of flats with Ernie Ball extra slinky 40-95. Looking for suggestions, the G string is way to light (and bright) but decided to give it some wear time to see if it would calm down. I don't mind the sound of the strings but need to go heavier. This P has a foam damper under the bridge and has a set of Fralin standard PU's. I'm kind of between the Fender 9050 light (45-100), La Bella LT (42-100), and EB Group III (45-100) with the Fenders leading with a $33 price point.

I like nice a thumpy R&R tone, and am fully sold on flats with this bass. I realize everyone has their favorites, just looking for a bit of input before ordering... I typically put on a set of bass strings and just use them, rarely changing without a good reason.

Cheers and appreciate any input... stay warm

If you want that sound, then why not give the real thing a try? Get a set of LaBella 1954s. If you like and can use them, you’re done buying strings for that bass. If you don’t like or can’t adapt, put them in the classifieds and somebody will pick them up quickly.

I think everybody should try TI flats too. They are about the same tension as most .45-.105 roundwound sets, and the G string is damped and never too bright.

 

[Yahboy]

Yes, the strings on my bass are the Extra Slinky Cobalts. I am pleased with the E string sound and feel, so keeping with 100 seems like a good idea.

These are the ones I'm looking at.

• Ernie Ball Custom Gauge Flatwounds deliver solid low-end with reduced finger noise
• Flattened stainless steel wrap wire on a hex-shaped tin-plated steel core
• Super smooth feel with warm, rounded tone
• Ernie Ball bass strings are played worldwide by aspiring artists and legends alike
• Gauges: 45, 65, 80, 100

View attachment 7427701

Group flat sound more to dry site but smoother string surface than Cobalt flat. Slightly stiffer feel too.

 

[Yahboy]

Currently, I am using EB Cobalt flats on a number of basses, 45-100, tension is perfect for me.

I have EB Group 2.5 on another couple 45-105. These came on my Joe Dart, I put another set on a P, I like the way they sound, but the tension is a little high.

I have a set of EB Pino’s on another P, do not lie them at all, too dead sounding, I believe these are 45-105.

Lastly, I have a set of Labella LTF’s on bass with a Novak gold foil pickup that I very mid-heavy. Tension wise they are great, sound wise that are just ok for me.

The basses with the Cobalts are getting 90% of the flats playing time and I don’t see that changing.

Cobalt flat are quite lasting. the oldest set on my jazz bass which over 5 years still sounds healthy. But need monitoring and sanding work when brownish sign appear on string surface.

 

[Slade N]

I have GHS Precision Flats tuned BEAD on both a single coil P and split coil P, both are thick and beefy but with good definition

 

[pbass2]

If you want that sound, then why not give the real thing a try? Get a set of LaBella 1954s. If you like and can use them, you’re done buying strings for that bass. If you don’t like or can’t adapt, put them in the classifieds and somebody will pick them up quickly.

I agree. If you're after that classic flatwound thump, you owe it to yourself to try 'em once! To me, part of that whole sound and vibe comes from heavier strings and higher tension.
That said, I currently don't want to commit one of my two P's to that extreme set, so I get really darn close with the Labellas 45-105 and I just never change 'em. Still has the Labella thing, just less of a workout.

 

[tothemax]

Ended up ordering a set of GHS Precision Flats, Medium 45 - 105.

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[Paul New]

I agree. If you're after that classic flatwound thump, you owe it to yourself to try 'em once! To me, part of that whole sound and vibe comes from heavier strings and higher tension.
That said, I currently don't want to commit one of my two P's to that extreme set, so I get really darn close with the Labellas 45-105 and I just never change 'em. Still has the Labella thing, just less of a workout.

The P Bass I would use those on has a through-body only bridge. LaBella used to build a set of those designed for through-body bridges, but they don’t anymore and don’t intend to in the future. I had a set, bought from the TB store when there was such a thing, but stupidly sold them off. I could and probably should drill the bridge, but I’m lazy.

So I have the 45-105 TB set on that bass, and you’re right that they sound good, but the G string isn’t damped, and they just don’t quite have the depth of the Originals.

 

[jarrad]

Since you like thumpy, solid low end and something that feels less wandery under the fingers, going heavier on the flats makes a lot of sense.