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Low Tension Flats for Reggae!

TortCult

TortCult

Jul 17, 2018
86
78
Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
#1
Hey there, I'm looking for new flats for my P and need some suggestions.
To be exact I want a thick, mid-heavy flatwound sound without the high tension
that typically comes along with flats. I allready played Pyramid's on my J (which I sold)
and loved them. Anyone tried them on a P? I also hear a lot about TI's but they're
supposed to be a bit bright and need a long time to break in.

Just to give you a tone example:


Appreciate any suggestions! :)
 
#3
I'm trying out the GHS Precision Flats Lights (45-95) on my P bass right now and they're becoming my favorite flats of all time. Plenty of low end goodness but in a lighter package. Nicely balanced both in tone and overall playing feel. Not quite "low tension" as either the La Bella Low Tension Flats or the TI Jazz Flats, but still very comfortable to play on.
 
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#5
michael_t said:
I'm trying out the GHS Precision Flats Lights (45-95) on my P bass right now and they're becoming my favorite flats of all time. Plenty of low end goodness but in a lighter package. Nicely balanced both in tone and overall playing feel. Not quite "low tension" as either the La Bella Low Tension Flats or the TI Jazz Flats, but still very comfortable to play on.
Click to expand...
This exactly. I discovered this strings on a G&L L2000 and promptly bought them and put them on my own L2000.
 
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#10
jcerio said:
La Bella Low Tension Flexible Flats may be worth a look.
Click to expand...
Didn't even know these exist, thanks!

michael_t said:
I'm trying out the GHS Precision Flats Lights (45-95) on my P bass right now and they're becoming my favorite flats of all time. Plenty of low end goodness but in a lighter package. Nicely balanced both in tone and overall playing feel. Not quite "low tension" as either the La Bella Low Tension Flats or the TI Jazz Flats, but still very comfortable to play on.
Click to expand...
Are they lower tension then the 105 GHS flats? I played the 105's for half a year or so and while they weren't
as stiff as La Bella's it was still too much tension for my liking.

Linnin said:
Just live with the high tension and thrive on it.
Click to expand...
I really, really tried but it's just not my thing. :roflmao:
 
#12
TortCult said:
Are they lower tension then the 105 GHS flats? I played the 105's for half a year or so and while they weren't
as stiff as La Bella's it was still too much tension for my liking.
Click to expand...

I purposely chose the light set with the 75A and the 95E because I wanted something comfortable without being too loose or floppy. These are just about perfect for my taste. I do like the way they sound and feel compared to any flatwound 105E's I tried in the past, including the Fender 9050CL (45-60-80-105) and the La Bella 760FL (43-60-82-104).
 
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#13
Here's an interesting interview with Aston 'Family Man' Barrett.
Legend: An Interview with Aston “Family Man” Barrett
"My favorite kind of bass is the Fender Jazz. Fender always makes a set of special flatwound strings for me that I picked out from a 5-string set, but I use a 4-string. I said, “build these four for me,” and every year they send me a six-pack of them."
 
Last edited:
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#14
Linnin said:
Here's an interesting interview with Ashton 'Family Man' Barrett.
Legend: An Interview with Aston “Family Man” Barrett
"My favorite kind of bass is the Fender Jazz. Fender always makes a set of special flatwound strings for me that I picked out from a 5-string set, but I use a 4-string. I said, “build these four for me,” and every year they send me a six-pack of them."
Click to expand...

One of the now-discontinued Fender 9050 flatwound 5-string sets was 45-65-85-105-125tw. Meanwhile, Fender has never offered a 4-string set with gauges 45-65-85-105. Is that what he's talking about?

Six-pack every year? That's a lot to go through for flats!
 
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#15
michael_t said:
One of the now-discontinued Fender 9050 flatwound 5-string sets was 45-65-85-105-125tw. Meanwhile, Fender has never offered a 4-string set with gauges 45-65-85-105. Is that what he's talking about?
Click to expand...
More than likely, but as you can see, he doesn't specify.
michael_t said:
Six-pack every year? That's a lot to go through for flats!
Click to expand...
He didn't say he used them all. I wonder if he'd let me have a set? drool Hmmm :cool:
 
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#17
Linnin said:
You're never going to get the thick deep reggae tone and strong sharp attack playing cheese cutters.
Click to expand...
Well, Pyramid's are low tension and very thumpy. I just don't know if they suit a P well.
They're also kind of expensive compared with GHS or LaBella flats.

Linnin said:
every year they send me a six-pack of them."
Click to expand...
No wonder his live sound is kind of trebly (for reggae). He loves his high-mids. I guess he changes them,
as soon as they start to loose their presence!
 

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