Wow, thanks for all the replies! I am not buying another set of strings looking for a sound, I HAVE to buy new strings and WANT a certain sound out of them. Thought for a long time it was dead rounds until I put the Fender flats on the P... Oh yes, now we're talking! I've had the chromes for about 6 months, and they have mellowed out, but not near to the point I would like. I traded for a Fender Precision Lyte that has TI flats on it that are pretty old, guy said he was guessing 8-9 years. They're my 2nd favorites next to the Fenders, but that bass has active pickups, so not sure which string set I would prefer if it was apples to apples. But they sound good enough that I'm leaving them. My Bronco is all original minus the refinish, so it has the 6 pole Strat pickup. Not planning on changing that, as I kind of like that it doesn't sound like my split P pickups. But I had similar results with the dead rounds on this bass as my P bass, never turned the tone knob past about half up, and usually all the way down. Now I can use the tone knob on my P with the fender flats, and I feel I have much more control over the tone with those strings on the P. Just trying to replicate that with the Bronco. The chromes didn't give me that much control and I think sound a little too bright, but only 6 months on them and I probably don't play it enough to have really broken them in, maybe. It doesn't sound bad, but doesn't ring my bell like the Fenders did. I don't really know how to describe it other than I really like the Fenders on a 34" Affinity Squier that is stock except for brass saddles and would like to replicate that sound and control of tone on my 30" Squier Bronco that is also stock. I wish I could buy a few sets and just try them all out, but not in the cards for me. So I will give a listen to the LaBellas again along with the Dunlops and Rotosounds. I appreciate all the advice folks!
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Need help on choosing short scale flats!
- Thread starter csm672
- Start date
Burwabit
Likes guitars that tune good and firm feelin women
I second this. I have TI SS flats on my Squier Musicmaster Vista and they sound amazing.
It really depends what you like.
My favorite short or medium scale flats are the 40-100 Dunlops (45 to 105 were good too). My experience is that they sound incredible right out of the box. After about 6 months the frets start to wear through the ribbon. I've received many testimonials from other folks saying that their Dunlop flats have lasted for years, but I've used several sets in succession and it happens to me every time. However if you're willing to pay $50 for six months of stringage, these are my favorites so far. They're not zingy and they're not dark, they're just right.
Second favorite are probably GHS Precision flats. They're really lightweight and have a dense, middy vintage sound and a really nice feel. How much you like them may ultimately depend on whether or not you find the feel of the E and A strings too squirelly.
I was not a fan of LaBella DTF Mustang Flats. I can relate to the folks who like them, but I wasn't in love with the feel of them (not that there was anything wrong with it), and I felt that the low end was a little too much for a Mustang bass, which already has a lot of low fundamental. There was absolutely nothing wrong with them, but I didn't vibe with them. I think it was a matter of the E string having a thicker feel and denser sound compared to the other strings.
Since learning to love Chromes on my full-scale basses, I'd definitely give them another chance on my Mustang, but my initial impression way back when was the same as yours.
My favorite short or medium scale flats are the 40-100 Dunlops (45 to 105 were good too). My experience is that they sound incredible right out of the box. After about 6 months the frets start to wear through the ribbon. I've received many testimonials from other folks saying that their Dunlop flats have lasted for years, but I've used several sets in succession and it happens to me every time. However if you're willing to pay $50 for six months of stringage, these are my favorites so far. They're not zingy and they're not dark, they're just right.
Second favorite are probably GHS Precision flats. They're really lightweight and have a dense, middy vintage sound and a really nice feel. How much you like them may ultimately depend on whether or not you find the feel of the E and A strings too squirelly.
I was not a fan of LaBella DTF Mustang Flats. I can relate to the folks who like them, but I wasn't in love with the feel of them (not that there was anything wrong with it), and I felt that the low end was a little too much for a Mustang bass, which already has a lot of low fundamental. There was absolutely nothing wrong with them, but I didn't vibe with them. I think it was a matter of the E string having a thicker feel and denser sound compared to the other strings.
Since learning to love Chromes on my full-scale basses, I'd definitely give them another chance on my Mustang, but my initial impression way back when was the same as yours.
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GHS Pressurewounds are a good compromise between flats and rounds....i like GHS Precision flats as well, both are reasonably priced.
Ive used 9050s but they need some breaking in it seems... plus i dont do long scale much so cant comment on broken in 9050s.
Ive used 9050s but they need some breaking in it seems... plus i dont do long scale much so cant comment on broken in 9050s.
I have had Chromes on my Mustang PJ for well over 2 years and I am happy with them. I would say after 6-12 months they really settled in and did not change noticeably over the next year and beyond. I am sure they did change some but it has been undetectable to my ears. I can't compare them to other flats since I haven't tried others on this bass, but I can say that they sound and feel just right to me, not lacking in any way. I play with my fingers or pick mostly classic rock and blues, in case it is helpful...
Well... if you really want to match the tone of the Fender 9050s? Of all the flats I've used and am familiar with, the TI Jazz Flats come the closest. Yes, I use both. However... the only "short scale" TI's I use at the moment, is a set of TI Jazz Rounds that I have on my '94 Gretsch Broadkaster. While they don't feel exactly like flats (close, though) they do sound a lot like flats. But, the TIJF's are your best bet, IMO. Yeah, they're expensive, but if you like them? Well, some people here have been using the same set for 20 years or so. Which greatly amortizes the initial cost... And, if you don't like them? You can't officially sell them here in the ""For Sale forum unless you're a member, but...
I use Chromes medium scale (32") on my Squier and Fender musicmaster (both with strings through body). I tried a set of Hofner last year, but the tensión was very low. The Chromes take a few months to settle down and loss their caracterisctic brigh. There not so many strings options here, so Chromes are fine.
