Optima RB Flats - Whoa!!! (vs. LaBella LTF comparison)

[Mike Vee]

I wonder how they would sound like compared to the Fender 9050M currently on a Pbass of mine.
And by the way, they're quite expensive.

the share a tad of similarity in the texture of the strings, but the feel and sound is much different. for me, i like the feel of Fenders, but they sound a bit hollow in an undesirable way to me, plus when you stop or mute the string, you get this metallic TWING sound that goes beyond the desired stopping of the note, which i cant stand since i mostly play muted in some way or the other. these RBs dont even need a mute, haha. very very short decay. the RBs are also a lot more flexible. i have these and LTF on 2 P basses at the same time, and its hard for me to tell which is more flexible. very very similar, but also have their differences. neither are too loose like TIs. (I like TIs on a jazz for playing near the bridge but they get too loose playing over a neck pickup on jazz or P, IMO)

 

[Phaidrus]

the share a tad of similarity in the texture of the strings, but the feel and sound is much different. for me, i like the feel of Fenders, but they sound a bit hollow in an undesirable way to me, plus when you stop or mute the string, you get this metallic TWING sound that goes beyond the desired stopping of the note, which i cant stand since i mostly play muted in some way or the other. these RBs dont even need a mute, haha. very very short decay. the RBs are also a lot more flexible. i have these and LTF on 2 P basses at the same time, and its hard for me to tell which is more flexible. very very similar, but also have their differences. neither are too loose like TIs. (I like TIs on a jazz for playing near the bridge but they get too loose playing over a neck pickup on jazz or P, IMO)

Yes, that metallic twing is quite annoying but even worse is this hollowness, which, as you mention, is quite undesirable. Had a similar experience with Dunlop flats, which, besides this hollow sound, are great strings, as are the 9050s. So, I don't know... I've "invested" in the 9050M and have them on my Pbass for over a year now. The investment consists of not replacing them until they sound as they should. But the risk is, that this may never happen. So, that is the question - to change them or not to change them.

 

[iiipopes]

I wonder how they would sound like compared to the Fender 9050M currently on a Pbass of mine.
And by the way, they're quite expensive.

Having played both:
Fenders growl.
Optimas are big, fat, and dark/hollow.

 

[bassboysam]

I wonder how they would sound like compared to the Fender 9050M currently on a Pbass of mine.
And by the way, they're quite expensive.

fenders will ring and sustain more. the optimas will be thumpy and hollow with faster decay. the fenders are also smoother to the touch. i never tried the optimas with a P bass but my gut tells me they would not be great.

 

[Phaidrus]

Having played both:
Fenders growl.
Optimas are big, fat, and dark/hollow.

@bassboysam

To each their own, I suppose. I wish I had a third Pbass to try the Optimas out. There's something lacking with the 9050M but I still cling to them.

 

[Phaidrus]

i never tried the optimas with a P bass but my gut tells me they would not be great.

Interesting. What makes you think that?

 

[bassboysam]

they just had a very unique sound that seems very tailored for Rics. You'd have to try, but there a lot of different dips in the midrange to my ear which makes these strings pretty hit or miss.

 

[Root 5]

As far as I can tell, Optima does not make 45-105 flats. I have their RB's on my '01 Rick 4003 (naturally ), and I have their 4099RL "Chromes" on my '88 Tokai TB48 Thunderbird. Brighter tone than the RBs, since they're not nickel, but... same gauges. The gauge choice is kind of puzzling - especially for the 4440RBs. The Maxima Flats that they're "copying" were - according to John Hall, the former CEO of RIC - 40-50-77-112s. I can only speculate that modern materials, and manufacturing techniques, convinced Optima that they didn't need the original Maxima gauges. I'd have to agree; the tone I remember from the '68 4001 that I learned to play on, is pretty much the tone I get from the RB's on my '01 4003. And, what difference there is, is almost certainly the difference between the '68's Horseshoe/toaster pickups, and my 4003's Hi-gains. And, if I can get the Maxima's 112 ga. tone from an RB 100 ga. E string? I'd say a 105 is pretty unnecessary...

Optima don’t make a set # 4099RL and the 4099 sets are pure nickel

 

[tom-g]

Optima don’t make a set # 4099RL and the 4099 sets are pure nickel

There is evidence that the RLs exist. The 4099 are chrome. You can verify that by doing a search.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Optima don’t make a set # 4099RL and the 4099 sets are pure nickel

There is evidence that the RLs exist. The 4099 are chrome. You can verify that by doing a search.

- There is ample trace of a 4099RL having existed, which I believe is an old designation from when Optima offered different gauges for their normal-series, hex-core flats - a time which I remember even if I ended up not trying them back then nor since, but OTOH I may be misremembering: either way, the long-scale 45-60-80-100 set is (now) only called 4099.L
- "chrome" only means "an alloy, with chromium added to something"
- the 4099 sets are described as being "Pure Nickel Flat Wound", spelt loud and clear, in English amidst the German blurb, right in their product page
E-Bass FLATWOUND STRINGS Satz, Long Scale
- the word "Chrome", which (unlike with their non gold-plated roundwounds) is not part of the name nor the product description of the flats, is nonetheless prominently displayed on the packet sleeve
- the latter two facts combined would seem to indicate the nickel of the flatwound wrap is not so pure as to not have some chromium added to it (not at all surprising in and of itself - the expression "pure nickel" for musical-instrument strings is usually indended as in opposition to "nickel-plated").

 

[tom-g]

Yes, their web site is not really clear on what those strings are really made of. On the page for singles flatwound they advertise Chromnickel.

 

[Root 5]

- There is ample trace of a 4099RL having existed, which I believe is an old designation from when Optima offered different gauges for their normal-series, hex-core flats - a time which I remember even if I ended up not trying them back then nor since, but OTOH I may be misremembering: either way, the long-scale 45-60-80-100 set is (now) only called 4099.L
- "chrome" only means "an alloy, with chromium added to something"
- the 4099 sets are described as being "Pure Nickel Flat Wound", spelt loud and clear, in English amidst the German blurb, right in their product page
E-Bass FLATWOUND STRINGS Satz, Long Scale
- the word "Chrome", which (unlike with their non gold-plated roundwounds) is not part of the name nor the product description of the flats, is nonetheless prominently displayed on the packet sleeve
- the latter two facts combined would seem to indicate the nickel of the flatwound wrap is not so pure as to not have some chromium added to it (not at all surprising in and of itself - the expression "pure nickel" for musical-instrument strings is usually indended as in opposition to "nickel-plated").

There is evidence that the RLs exist. The 4099 are chrome. You can verify that by doing a search.

They might have existed, but not currently.

The confusion with Optima is, and I believe they should change it, is that at least two types of strings have “Chrome Strings”
written on the package.

The roundwounds are listed as “chrome nickel.” And the winding material is listed as “chrome nickel”

The 4099 flatwound sets also say “Chrome Strings” on the packaging, yet in the description it says “pure nickel flat wound”

 

[HaphAsSard]

They might have existed, but not currently.

The confusion with Optima is, and I believe they should change it, is that at least two types of strings have “Chrome Strings”
written on the package.

The roundwounds are listed as “chrome nickel.” And the winding material is listed as “chrome nickel”

The 4099 flatwound sets also say “Chrome Strings” on the packaging, yet in the description it says “pure nickel flat wound”

Yes. That's literally what I wrote above.

 

[tom-g]

And the singles they are referencing say Chromnickel.

 

[Root 5]

Yes. That's literally what I wrote above.

I liked it so much it deserved another replay!

 

[Root 5]

And the singles they are referencing say Chromnickel.

The round wound sets, yes.

 

[tom-g]

The round wound sets, yes.

No, it‘s not that hard to go to their page and look for yourself.

Edit: Go the following link (I randomly picked a flatwound set) and scroll to the bottom where the singles are listed.

E-Bass FLATWOUND STRINGS Satz, Superlong

 

[Root 5]

No, it‘s not that hard to go to their page and look for yourself.

Edit: Go the following link (I randomly picked a flatwound set) and scroll to the bottom where the singles are listed.

E-Bass FLATWOUND STRINGS Satz, Superlong

When I go to their site, it says the flatwounds are “pure nickel”
Not chrome-nickel

 

[Root 5]

No, it‘s not that hard to go to their page and look for yourself.

Edit: Go the following link (I randomly picked a flatwound set) and scroll to the bottom where the singles are listed.

E-Bass FLATWOUND STRINGS Satz, Superlong

 

[HaphAsSard]

No, it‘s not that hard to go to their page and look for yourself.

Edit: Go the following link (I randomly picked a flatwound set) and scroll to the bottom where the singles are listed.

E-Bass FLATWOUND STRINGS Satz, Superlong

When I go to their site, it says the flatwounds are “pure nickel”
Not chrome-nickel

View attachment 5472007 View attachment 5472007

It's right below where your screen capture ends - under "single strings from this set": in the description for each of them, it does say "Chromnickel" (sic), as @tom-g pointed out.
...And yes, it also says "Reinnickel" / "Pure Nickel" (and therein lies the problem, as you pointed out).