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Myth. EB & Chrome Flats Are Not The Same.

Discussion in 'Strings [BG]' started by shawshank72, Jul 17, 2013.

  1. Jul 17, 2013 #1
    shawshank72

    shawshank72

    Mar 22, 2009
    Canada
    I recently bought a used set of chromes (50-70-85-105) off a fellow tber.
    They had a months worth of solid playing on them.
    I had bought them for another bass to try out on but decided to compare the chromes with the EB flats (50-70-85-105) on another p bass.
    The EB were just as aged as the chromes so i figured it would be a great comparison.
    I replaced strings, kept bass set up the same and amp settings the same.
    Sorry i dont have ability to download the music but i played by ear and recorded to small recorder.
    These strings are not the same.
    The EB were more unbalanced tone and volume wise and more "dull" sounding, kind of blah.
    The chromes were way more balanced in volume and tone and sounded fuller as well.
    Chromes have more tension but not too much to cause a panic, but very noticeably.
    Chromes had more hi mid with a low mid thump that the EB was missing.
    Chromes were alot smoother as well.
    They just seemed way more livelier than the EB. Little more growl as well but nothing serious like other flats do.
    Left the chromes on as the bass sounds too much better to take them off.
    Will give them another month or so to decide if ill keep or try something else.
    Want to go darker on the other bass and the chromes just wont cut it.
     
  2. Jul 17, 2013 #2
    iiipopes

    iiipopes Supporting Member

    May 4, 2009
    Your description would lead a person to believe the EB flats are more like the "old" Fender flats, for those who prefer that tone, over the "new" Fender flats of the last couple of years.
     
  3. Jul 17, 2013 #3
    shawshank72

    shawshank72

    Mar 22, 2009
    Canada
    I hope i didnt come off that way. Ive played the old fender and loved them.
    The ebs just seem dull and bland in comparison to chromes.
    Not bad sounding, just not great either.
     
  4. Jul 17, 2013 #4
    Dredmahawkus

    Dredmahawkus

    Nov 4, 2012
    Boston
    I really like that growly zing to the chromes....they are like a touch of a lively flat.

    If you think those are smooth try labella flats! I thought the chromes felt rough putting them on right after chromes! that also makes rounds feel like little knives at your fingers!
     
  5. Jul 17, 2013 #5
    liveburning274

    liveburning274 Supporting Member

    Mar 25, 2008
    Peoria, IL
    Interesting...
     
  6. Jul 17, 2013 #6
    hdracer

    hdracer

    Feb 15, 2009
    Elk River, MN.
    Myth??
    What myth?
    I have never heard anyone say they are the same or anything alike.
     
  7. Jul 17, 2013 #7
    JTE

    JTE Gold Supporting Member

    Mar 12, 2008
    Central Illinois, USA
    A long time ago D'Addario and Ernie Ball WERE the same strings. EB was D'Addario's west-coast warehouse, they used identical plastic string pouches (and different from most other strings), they had exactly the same gauges in their sets, which weren't the same as any other manufacturer, and the trade magazine MMR said they were when they announced the warehousing deal. But that was in the late '80s.

    Since then I understand EB has bough their own string machines and makes them in-house.


    John
     
  8. Jul 17, 2013 #8
    FourBanger

    FourBanger

    Sep 2, 2012
    SE Como
    I thought how the split went is that EB just bought out the older XL winders from D'Addario when D'Addario went over to the slow wound strings.

    In a sense the old XLs became EBs and the slow wounds became the standard XLs.

    I am sure this is not the only case of winding machines changing hands.
     
  9. Jul 18, 2013 #9
    shawshank72

    shawshank72

    Mar 22, 2009
    Canada
    Interesting facts.
    Just put this up because when i would read flats threads, on many occasions people would say these 2 different brands were one and the same.
     
  10. Jul 18, 2013 #10
    FourBanger

    FourBanger

    Sep 2, 2012
    SE Como
    Lately the perpetuated rumor is that Fender's new flats are just Chromes without the same plating or some variation on that. Recently (last year or so?) Fender started contracting their strings out and it seems D'Addario is the presumed winder, so now everyone assumes Fender strings are repackaged D's whereas the truth is probably they are wound to Fender's design by D'Addario.
     
  11. Jul 18, 2013 #11
    iiipopes

    iiipopes Supporting Member

    May 4, 2009
    As grey as the new Fender Flats are, they are most probably stainless steel wrapped instead of chrome steel wrapped, like D'Addario. That's not to say they are under contract or not, but the appearance, feel and tone are definitely different as compared to D'Addario Chromes.

    Because of all the presumed non-disclosure clauses in string manufacturing contracts, nobody will confess as to who actually makes their strings, unless the company actually makes their own, and unless someone accidentally blurts it out, like Ken Smith strings being made by GHS.

    Then again, everyone seems to forget that Fender bought the V. C. Squier string making factory in 1965, which was one of the old original string factories that helped invent modern wound strings. I believe Fender still makes its own strings, even though they may get the raw wire from the same place almost everyone else does: Mapes.

    http://www.fender.com/squier/about

    http://www.mapeswire.com/specialtywire.html