Need help choosing flat wounds

[Bobbadfinger]

Oh Chromes are definitely scooped in the mids, it's just a matter of liking or disliking that scoop.

And I need to say I always scoop a bit of mids with a P, it's a matter of what frequencies, dependind on the string. With Fenders, mid selector (SVT Classic) is on 4 position (1.6KHz).
Now I'm curious about what range of mid lacks on the Chromes...

 

[GIBrat51]

So after reading through many posts, I'm trying to decide between two flat wounds:

-Fender 9050ML Stainless Steel Flatwound Long Scale Electric Bass Guitar Strings - Medium Light

-Rotosound SM77 Monel Flatwound Hybrid Bass Guitar Strings (40 60 80 100)

I have a Nate Mendel Fender P Bass with round wounds, so these I will be putting on my Fender American Standard P Bass. Are the strings extremely similar? Worth the price difference for the Rotosounds?

Okay; based on my experience with these, and flats in general....
- No. Other than being flatwounds, they aren't very similar at all. I'd say that the Fender 9050L's are dead in the middle of the "modern, mid-focused flats, and will work, at minimum, pretty well for anything you want to play. The tension (pounds of pull needed to bring them to pitch) is about average for flats of their gauge. Their stiffness is also about average for flats; they work quite well with a pick, but are decent for finger playing as well. They're what I call "goldilocks flats"; not too anything, really; they're "just right"... I've had them on 4 basses, and currently have them on 2. I like them a lot... As for the Rotos? I've always used the heavier RM77LDs, but don't have them on anything at the moment. Had a BEAD set on a Carvin LB-20 for years, but took them off last year. Not because of the strings, though; I just couldn't justify the BEAD tuning. I also had them on an '18 Gibson Thunderbird for a couple of years. I really likes the strings, but the bass annoyed me - so I sold it a few months ago. The RM77s are just about the highest tension flats around (214.4 lbs.), and they are very stiff. The SM77's, OTOH, have a more reasonable tension (176.8 lbs.). They will still feel stiff, though; that seems to be a Rotosound trademark. As for the tone? I'd put their tone at the transition point between Old School, thumpy flats and the modern, mid-range flats. Either the thumpiest of the middy flats, or the most middy of the Old School flats. So, kind of useful for several genres, but not nearly as useful as the Fenders...
- Worth the price? That's really up to you. If you want fairly high tension, stiff flats with a serious bottom end, along with some low-mids and a touch of mids? Then, yeah, the SM77s will be worth the price. If you want some fairly flexible flats, with decent lows; lots of low-mids and mids, and some useful highs, then save your $$'s and get the Fenders...

 

[Phaidrus]

that P pickup puts the note out there, no questions no mercy

Word!

 

[HeyBartenderman]

Okay; based on my experience with these, and flats in general....
- No. Other than being flatwounds, they aren't very similar at all. I'd say that the Fender 9050L's are dead in the middle of the "modern, mid-focused flats, and will work, at minimum, pretty well for anything you want to play. The tension (pounds of pull needed to bring them to pitch) is about average for flats of their gauge. Their stiffness is also about average for flats; they work quite well with a pick, but are decent for finger playing as well. They're what I call "goldilocks flats"; not too anything, really; they're "just right"... I've had them on 4 basses, and currently have them on 2. I like them a lot... As for the Rotos? I've always used the heavier RM77LDs, but don't have them on anything at the moment. Had a BEAD set on a Carvin LB-20 for years, but took them off last year. Not because of the strings, though; I just couldn't justify the BEAD tuning. I also had them on an '18 Gibson Thunderbird for a couple of years. I really likes the strings, but the bass annoyed me - so I sold it a few months ago. The RM77s are just about the highest tension flats around (214.4 lbs.), and they are very stiff. The SM77's, OTOH, have a more reasonable tension (176.8 lbs.). They will still feel stiff, though; that seems to be a Rotosound trademark. As for the tone? I'd put their tone at the transition point between Old School, thumpy flats and the modern, mid-range flats. Either the thumpiest of the middy flats, or the most middy of the Old School flats. So, kind of useful for several genres, but not nearly as useful as the Fenders...
- Worth the price? That's really up to you. If you want fairly high tension, stiff flats with a serious bottom end, along with some low-mids and a touch of mids? Then, yeah, the SM77s will be worth the price. If you want some fairly flexible flats, with decent lows; lots of low-mids and mids, and some useful highs, then save your $$'s and get the Fenders...

After much reading and research, I’ve decided to order the LaBella 760FLs. Looking forward to trying out flat wounds!

 

[WillyW]

Have you ever read much about Dunlop flats? After spending hundreds of dollars trying a variety of flats, I became an exclusive TI guy… til I tried the Dunlops. I don’t hear guys talk about them a lot, but they changed the game for me.

I’m a Pyramid Gold devotee, but I put a set of dunlops on a bass and don’t have the heart to take them off…. They are quite nice. EB cobalts are another honorable mention.

 

[b21960]

I have used both the Fender and the Rotosound sets, but it has been 20 years since I had either set on a bass.

If I had to choose one, it would be the Rotos. They were a little brighter.

If I may suggest another set: Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats.

Flatwound feel, almost Roundwound sustain. Less thump than most flats, but I think they are just wonderful.

I have them on my Stingray and my Ibanez fretless.

Try them.

Mike

I just strung my Pbass with them and think they sound great. Not diggin the feel yet, but imagine they need a little getting used to as I'm coming from DaDario Nickel rounds. seem a tad sticky at first.

 

[LennyJ]

La Bella Low Tension Flats - the only ones on my basses.

 

[Phaidrus]

I’m a Pyramid Gold devotee, but I put a set of dunlops on a bass and don’t have the heart to take them off…. They are quite nice. EB cobalts are another honorable mention.

What do you think are the differences / similarities between the Dunlops and the Pyramids? One of my Pbasses is strung with Dunlops - and I do like them - but have a set of Pyramids in my drawer.

 

[WillyW]

What do you think are the differences / similarities between the Dunlops and the Pyramids? One of my Pbasses is strung with Dunlops - and I do like them - but have a set of Pyramids in my drawer.

I do like pyramids enough that if I had a set in a drawer they would replace the Dunlops, AND/OR the EB Cobalts that I kinda like.

I do have an unloved set of TI flats sitting in a drawer....

 

[Phaidrus]

I do like pyramids enough that if I had a set in a drawer they would replace the Dunlops, AND/OR the EB Cobalts that I kinda like.

I do have an unloved set of TI flats sitting in a drawer....

Had a set of Pyramids once and have the impression they have an even sweeter, thicker fundamental than the Dunlops. Could be wrong though. By the way, both sets are 50-70-85-105. Well, yes, although I don't like high tension strings, TIs are way too skinny for me.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Have you ever read much about Dunlop flats? After spending hundreds of dollars trying a variety of flats, I became an exclusive TI guy… til I tried the Dunlops. I don’t hear guys talk about them a lot, but they changed the game for me.

WORST kind of flats ever tried .. enormous waste of my hard-earned money