Need string advice for Lakland Hollowbody

g4string

Gold Supporting Member
Sep 19, 2002
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Melissa, TX
I picked up a US Lakland Hollowbody last week and would like to re-string it. The problem is I have been a SS-round-wound guy for quite some time.....prob. at least the last 12 years. I have NEVER EVER played flats! However, I intend to string this bass with flats -OR- a string that comes close to flats. Currently, the bass is strung with TI flats. I dont like the TI's. They are too floppy and seem real "grippy". I need a string with a silky feel and some thing a tad tighter. I use Lakland SS/RR strings for my 5594 and love em'. I really want to try Lakland's JOBO flats. However, they are out of stock http://www.lakland.com/direct/merch...ode=LD&Product_Code=JOSF4&Category_Code=4STRS. My question(s) to you is, what would you string this bass with? I need something with the feel of stainless-rounds but the grunt of a flat. Thanks!
 
Having played a lot of Laklands (I got to visit the shop just before the Skylines came out) and having fallen in love with a particular CAR Hollowbody that day, my first choice would be the Joe Osborn flats that they ship it with. Because those are out of stock, get a set of GHS Precision Flats because they're essentially the same string. GHS makes Lakland's strings (the Lakland stainless you like are GHS Super Steels). I have a set of Lakland JO's on my Precision and a set of GHS Precision Flats on my Sting. After the ones on the Sting got broken in, I can't tell them from the Laklands that have been on my Precision for at least four years, probably longer.

John
 
I bought my Skyline HB used and it came with the JO flats and I was quite happy with them. Out of curiosity I put on some DR flats about a year ago and am equally happy with them. They don't have as prominent a mid-bark as the JO's, but I think they have a better string to string tone (where the JO's E seemed a touch dead and the G a touch bright). Tension wise I would say they were about the same, a bit tighter then the 45-105 nickles I usually use.
 
You said you want silky, but also something with the feel of stainless rounds? err..what?

Yeah, sounds like you just want some bright flats. Go for the Chromes. They certainly get a nice buttery feeling after a while, and retain some mid-high bite.
 
You said you want silky, but also something with the feel of stainless rounds? err..what?

Yeah, sounds like you just want some bright flats. Go for the Chromes. They certainly get a nice buttery feeling after a while, and retain some mid-high bite.

I guess my original post might have been a tad flipidi-floppy. My remark about ss rounds, is that to me, IMO, they do feel silky.....at least a new pair. Bear in mind that I have been an exclusive ss round player for over a decade. So perception on what steels feel like is skewed for me. And yes, maybe "silky" would be the wrong word to desrcibe a new pair of steels. I guess I just to need to start experimenting....I should prob start with chromes.
 

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