Medium scale middle of the road flats?

[Sir Toby]

Hi there

I have a medium scale semi hollow Ibanez ABG200. Two humbuckers.
I recently got it and it is screaming for flats.
So I must have read 40 hours of posts on TB and this is what I understand so far:

The character of the bass is pretty dark, especially with neck pickup soloed. So I am worried that Pyramids or La Bellas might make the bass too boomy, dull or dead sounding. I don't mind a little thump but I don't dig the mid scoop thing. So I want to try some mid prominent strings. I play through Ampeg BA-115 with tweeter on/off.

1) Am I thinking right in trying to balance out the darkness of the bass with middy strings? Or should I just put some Pyramids on and give it a Höfner vibe?
2) If I hunt for mid prominent strings what do I go with that fit a medium scale?

So far the candidates are:
- Pyramids. Love sound clips but they mostly do thump and the E is a little too dead for my taste sometimes. I hear some people getting a lighter gauge E string to get more definition. The rubbery sound is really cool but may be a bit limiting tonally?
-Thomastik jf234 or 324h. I have the long scale ones on another bass and they sound great but a little too polite and hifi sometimes. But maybe that is just what the semi hollow needs since it has lows already. Would be nice to be able to dig in a bit more when playing with a pick or slapping.
GHS Precision flats: some say they are very balanced with a lo mid character, some say they are super dark. But they are interesting.
- La Bellas fhbb and fhb2 are a little too metallic and dark at the same time.
- Fender 9050: they sound like a good combo of thump with a little growl in the mids.
- Chromes: Some say they are super scooped and others claim that they are almost too middy. What is up with that? Cool that they have a good slap tone but I would hate if they sound metallic.

I need a woody organic sound that is warm but not boomy or dull.

Any recommendations or input as to wether I am way off in my thinking are welcome.

Thank you!

 

[Sir Toby]

Just to be clear: I love dark and old school but the E string has to have definition. But I would rather sacrifice treble than bass

 

[michael_t]

"Middle of the road" flats in "medium scale"?? Try the Dunlop Flats, which come in "medium scale" with 34" winding length (ball end to silk).

 

[Sir Toby]

Oooh!! Dunlops. I hadn't thought of them. Hear good things but didn't know the are made in medium scale.

 

[iiipopes]

First, I'm sure you have measured from the ball anchor to the tuner side of the nut and to the middle of the E string tuner post to make sure about the required winding length for the strings.

Having confirmed that, unfortunately, La Bella did discontinue their medium scale in the light 43-104 gauge. So Pyramids may be what is left if you don't care for the La Bella Beatle Bass sets.

Another option for a big round tone is the GHS Balance Pure Nickel rounds, which have a big, round tone, but only if the minimum measurement from the ball to the tuner side of the nut is less than 32.75 inches.

 

[gln1955]

That bass has a 30" scale. Why are we talking medium scale strings?

 

[Sir Toby]

Ball anchor - tuner side of nut: 33,07 inches and 35.4 inches to middle of E tuner post.
Yes, it's a shame that I don't like the La Bella beatle flats.
I have the stock d'addario rounds on now and I kind of like the sound but they are a little too loose and I din't care for the string noise when sliding. So, flats are my preferense.
Maybe a set of Pyramids and a backup E string down the line if needed.
Maybe need to check the exact lengths of the Fenders, GHS and Chromes ECB81M. The TI's jf324h should also fit since they are a beatle bass model. And now the Dunlops are also in the race!

 

[Sir Toby]

GHS 3120 medium scale strings have a 35.5 winding

 

[Sir Toby]

The ECB81M Chromes fit too, up ton33 inch scale length is fine.

 

[michael_t]

Ball anchor - tuner side of nut: 33,07 inches and 35.4 inches to middle of E tuner post.

Maybe need to check the exact lengths of the Fenders, GHS and Chromes ECB81M. The TI's jf324h should also fit since they are a beatle bass model. And now the Dunlops are also in the race!

Fender 9050 Flats = available only in "long scale" with 37.1" winding length (ball to silk).
GHS "medium scale" = 35.5" ball to silk.
D'Addario "medium scale' = 34" ball to silk.
TI "short scale" = 35.5" ball to silk.
Dunlop "medium scale" = 34" ball to silk.

 

[michael_t]

By the way, DR Legend Flats also come in "short scale" with 33.5" winding length.

 

[Sir Toby]

Great!! Than you fot the very precise and clear figures. So all of those would fit except for the Fender. Don't know where I got the idea that they came i medium scale.
Will try to search for sound samples and comparisons of those but not too many medium scale clips available. Maybe the long scale and medium scale are close enough to get a good estimation anyway

 

[GIBrat51]

I'd say Fender 9050Ls, but they don't come in medium scale. But, the D'Addario Chromes do. The "short scale" TIJF's are definitely in that tonal range, as well.. I have their short scale Jazz Rounds on my Gretsch Broadkaster; which, quite frankly, sounded like a hippo fart in deep mud with every flat wound set I ever put on it. All the other rounds I tried, made the thing sound like - at best - a baritone guitar with light strings. The TIJR's make it sound like an actual bass guitar; are almost flat wound in feel and smoothness; and work very well with a pick. I have a suspicion that the short scale TIJF's would work just as well... As for the Dunlops? Haven't ever used those, but michael_t and I are usually in agreement about these things, so I won't say no to them. As for the GHS Precision Flats? Well, they aren't the darkest flats I've ever played, but... IMO, they're well on their way. I have the long and short scale sets on my '78 Fender P-Bass and my Warmoth Mini Precision, mainly because they're near clones of the original Squier-made Fender Flats, and that's the Old School tone I want. I'd have to say... probably not what you're looking for.
As for the "dead E" thing? In my 50+ years of playing basses with flats, I'd have to say... that's pretty common. Unless the string is twisted; broken; or just a dud? That's the major sign that the strings aren't broken in yet. When the E string eventually brightens up (how long it takes, depends on the brand) and the others dull down until they all match; then they're broken in.
So... bottom line? I'm afraid that, if you want medium scale flats at all? Then, you're fishing in a pretty small pond. And if you want a particular kind of fish? Not a lot to choose from, I'm afraid...

 

[Sir Toby]

Wow!! The DR Legends could be the perfect ones. This is really helpful!
It' 11 PM here now so time to call it a night but feel free to comment!
Now I have great choises but would love to hear how they feel and sound from those who hade tried the ones mentioned

 

[Sir Toby]

I'd say Fender 9050Ls, but they don't come in medium scale. But, the D'Addario Chromes do. The "short scale" TIJF's are definitely in that tonal range, as well.. I have their short scale Jazz Rounds on my Gretsch Broadkaster; which, quite frankly, sounded like a hippo fart in deep mud with every flat wound set I ever put on it. All the other rounds I tried, made the thing sound like - at best - a baritone guitar with light strings. The TIJR's make it sound like an actual bass guitar; are almost flat wound in feel and smoothness; and work very well with a pick. I have a suspicion that the short scale TIJF's would work just as well... As for the Dunlops? Haven't ever used those, but michael_t and I are usually in agreement about these things, so I won't say no to them. As for the GHS Precision Flats? Well, they aren't the darkest flats I've ever played, but... IMO, they're well on their way. I have the long and short scale sets on my '78 Fender P-Bass and my Warmoth Mini Precision, mainly because they're near clones of the original Squier-made Fender Flats, and that's the Old School tone I want. I'd have to say... probably not what you're looking for.
As for the "dead E" thing? In my 50+ years of playing basses with flats, I'd have to say... that's pretty common. Unless the string is twisted; broken; or just a dud? That's the major sign that the strings aren't broken in yet. When the E string eventually brightens up (how long it takes, depends on the brand) and the others dull down until they all match; then they're broken in.
So... bottom line? I'm afraid that, if you want medium scale flats at all? Then, you're fishing in a pretty small pond. And if you want a particular kind of fish? Not a lot to choose from, I'm afraid...

Ha ha ha! You are a poet my friend.
Yes the JF324h sound like the easy choice. But easy is no fun. The GHS Precision flats might be perfect for my Talman TMB500 to make the p pickup get more grunt but not sure if they are right for the semi hollow. Good call!
The Dunlops and DR Legends are still in the tunning though! And I can't give up on the chromes just yet. But they are among the most love/hate inducing ones for sure when reading on this forum. But the Pyramids are probably too dark too. I think I have to go buy a Hofner Club bass for those strings

 

[el murdoque]

I'll toss one in from the side line:
Optima Flats. They are as middle of the road as it gets. I have the Chromes on a bass, TI Jazz flats on another and had LaBellas on before. The Optimas are in the middle in terms of stiffness, tension and sound. A great choice IMO. They come in short, medium and long scale. The silks are orange.

 

[GIBrat51]

Oops! Completely forgot about the DR Legends. Yes, I'm using a set of those, too (all but 2 of my 24 basses wear flats). I have the short scale Legends on my '82 Aluminum-necked, headless Kramer "The Duke" Deluxe. That neck and the Walnut body - and the Schaller "Twin-J" pickup - most definitely push any strings it wears towards the Dark Side (the Legends sound almost like the old, old GHS Bass Boomers they replaced), but... yeah; they just might work for you. I'd class them as slightly to the darker side of the 9050Ls, which I consider the midpoint of the flat wound tonal scale. So, yeah; you might want to give them a try...
As for Optimas? Yeah, I'm using those, too. RBs on one of my Rickenbackers (of course), and their long scale 4099RL Chromes on my other Aluminum necked, Walnut bodied Kramer; a '78 450B. Again, this bass definitely colors the tone, and these strings are just dark enough to tame the stupid hot - and bright - Kramer-wound pickups. But, on a different bass? Again, I'd say... probably a little to the darker side of the Fender 9050's... And, again; they might work for you, as well. Optimas are very nice flats, in any case...

 

[GIBrat51]

Ha ha ha! You are a poet my friend.
Yes the JF324h sound like the easy choice. But easy is no fun. The GHS Precision flats might be perfect for my Talman TMB500 to make the p pickup get more grunt but not sure if they are right for the semi hollow. Good call!
The Dunlops and DR Legends are still in the tunning though! And I can't give up on the chromes just yet. But they are among the most love/hate inducing ones for sure when reading on this forum. But the Pyramids are probably too dark too. I think I have to go buy a Hofner Club bass for those strings

Yes, the Pyramids are on my "Must Have" list, to replace the factory flats on my Hofner Club Bass. A German one; unfortunately for my bank account, they don't make left handed Club Basses in China. The factory flats are now 5 years old; they might die before I do, so... better be prepared, I suppose...

 

[iiipopes]

That bass has a 30" scale. Why are we talking medium scale strings?

The post right below yours measuring the critical lengths of ball end to nut and tuner is the reason. Not all short scale basses are created equally. I have a travel bass that has a standard plate bridge. So even the shortest of "short" scale strings will clear the nut. The OP's bass, Hofners, etc., have a longer back length from the bridge saddles to the ball anchor and therefore need longer strings to come up and over. The most extreme example is the Harmony H30 bass that the ball anchors were on the heel of the guitar so far from the bridge that those basses used regular long-scale strings.

 

[Gully Foyle]

The labella white tapes give the flats without too much dark pretty well I think, and if I recall correctly the roto tapes do it too, and I think both feel and sound better than chromes which is the obvious move