Optima RB Flats: Why so overlooked?

[dagrev]

Dog gone you! I thought I was all set on my flat selections, and then you throw these in. Something I've never considered....until now that is.

I love TIs on somethings, GHS Precision flats on some things, Pyramid Gold on a '64 Pbass--and now I'm wondering what I could put these on. Can you please say these crappy after 2 weeks?

Actually keep talking, I just might have to try them.

 

[e-flat]

Dog gone you! I thought I was all set on my flat selections, and then you throw these in. Something I've never considered....until now that is.

I love TIs on somethings, GHS Precision flats on some things, Pyramid Gold on a '64 Pbass--and now I'm wondering what I could put these on. Can you please say these crappy after 2 weeks?

Actually keep talking, I just might have to try them.

I feel your pain! I will never rest until I've tried ALL Flats
These Optima RBs are still sounding great -> A really focused midrange that sits a little lower than the mids of new TI Flats. I can run the tone wide open and still enjoy the sound.... Roll the tone back to 5 or 6 and you get a warm vowelly midrange presence. Roll the tone back to 1 and its fuller and tighter in the lows than TIs. Tension-wise the RBs are very nice.... taut enough to give good resistance but still bendable.

 

[dagrev]

I feel your pain! I will never rest until I've tried ALL Flats
These Optima RBs are still sounding great -> A really focused midrange that sits a little lower than the mids of new TI Flats. I can run the tone wide open and still enjoy the sound.... Roll the tone back to 5 or 6 and you get a warm vowelly midrange presence. Roll the tone back to 1 and its fuller and tighter in the lows than TIs. Tension-wise the RBs are very nice.... taut enough to give good resistance but still bendable.

I have the same problem. I call it an "illness" so no one can blame me.

They sound a little like GHS Precision Flats with the lower mid thing. The Pyrimid Golds are darker it seems than the GHS PFs.

 

[e-flat]

I have the same problem. I call it an "illness" so no one can blame me.

They sound a little like GHS Precision Flats with the lower mid thing. The Pyrimid Golds are darker it seems than the GHS PFs.

I've had pretty extensive experience with the GHS P Flats in different gauges, so maybe I can help with a comparison.
Compared to new GHS P Flats in similar gauges, I'd say the P Flats are louder (steel vs Nickel magnetism) and have a little more low end. The RBs are clearer in the high mids (but without being too much) and have a little bit of growl going on if you dig in.

 

[Dan_reeves]

How would they compare with DR Legends? When you described them, I thought of the Legends except I think DR are stainless, which is obviously different.

 

[JimmyM]

I feel your pain! I will never rest until I've tried ALL Flats

Man, I sure as heck will! But the important thing is to have fun, and if that's fun for you, flat on!

 

[e-flat]

How would they compare with DR Legends? When you described them, I thought of the Legends except I think DR are stainless, which is obviously different.

My experience with DR Legends (which I still own, just don't have installed right now) is with a set that I got used which were mostly broken in.
The Legends I have are CRAZY smooth, first of all. One of the smoothest flats I've ever felt, along with Dogal Traditional Vintage. They have LOTS of low end, so that's a little different... The RBs aren't so bass heavy.
The Legends are also a little mid-scooped IMO, with a little high-mid sheen once they settle in. The RBs have a prominent center midrange, but not excessive like a new set of TIs. (IMO) Very different in that regard from the Legends.
Keep in mind, though, that my RBs are still new(ish) and it remains to be seen how they will age & settle.

 

[dagrev]

I've had pretty extensive experience with the GHS P Flats in different gauges, so maybe I can help with a comparison.
Compared to new GHS P Flats in similar gauges, I'd say the P Flats are louder (steel vs Nickel magnetism) and have a little more low end. The RBs are clearer in the high mids (but without being too much) and have a little bit of growl going on if you dig in.

They are sounding more interesting all the time. I've got several sets of used (not worn out) TIs I might sell here and give them a go.

Thanks for the great info. Darn you!

 

[e-flat]

Ive been playing these Optima RBs a lot and they are past their initial “newness”- the high mids have lost the little bit of brassiness that they had and the low mids are nice & full but tight.

I think I’ve become a round core nickel Flat kind of guy, as I’m running TI , Pyramid (x2) and Optima RB right now. (Though I’ve found conflicting info on whether the Pyramids are indeed round core...?)

 

[HaphAsSard]

Ive been playing these Optima RBs a lot and they are past their initial “newness”- the high mids have lost the little bit of brassiness that they had and the low mids are nice & full but tight.

I think I’ve become a round core nickel Flat kind of guy, as I’m running TI , Pyramid (x2) and Optima RB right now. (Though I’ve found conflicting info on whether the Pyramids are indeed round core...?)

Whip out a lens and check around the ball-ends. (As far as I've read, Pyramid Gold guitar flatwounds are round-core, but not their bass flats. One way to know.) Are you still using the two types of Dogal flats by the way?

 

[e-flat]

Whip out a lens and check around the ball-ends. (As far as I've read, Pyramid Gold guitar flatwounds are round-core, but not their bass flats. One way to know.) Are you still using the two types of Dogal flats by the way?

I’ll hunt down a magnifying lens

I still use the Dogal Vintage Traditional and Jacos, but don’t have the Jacos installed right now. The Vintage are on my Top 5 Flats list, no question. Jacos are amazing strings too, though!

 

[woodyng2]

Ive been playing these Optima RBs a lot and they are past their initial “newness”- the high mids have lost the little bit of brassiness that they had and the low mids are nice & full but tight.

I think I’ve become a round core nickel Flat kind of guy, as I’m running TI , Pyramid (x2) and Optima RB right now. (Though I’ve found conflicting info on whether the Pyramids are indeed round core...?)

I’m reasonably certain the pyramid flatwounds are hexcore,but it’s been a long time since i last had a set of them. They are fairly flexible strings,but rather high tension if memory serves me correctly. The optima RB set is really nice, and i’m also really enjoying a set of the Labella LTFF’s on my GL JB2.

 

[Jigmay]

I've just been playing a '78 MM Stingray with the Optima Chrome flats. In the past year I've tried the new Fender Flats, GHS Precision, Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalts, and Chromes. A few years back I had TI's on a fretless. I'd have to say these are my favorite of all the above. What I like is the pliability, the tension and the low-mid growl. they don't have the high-end ring of the Chromes, Fenders or Ernie Balls, nor the 'thud' of the GHS, both are tonal qualities that I didn't care for. They feel softer somehow under the fingers than all of the above, but nothing like TI's. These have probably been on for a year (not my bass). They can growl, they can be popped. Pretty darn versatile!

 

[e-flat]

I've just been playing a '78 MM Stingray with the Optima Chrome flats. In the past year I've tried the new Fender Flats, GHS Precision, Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalts, and Chromes. A few years back I had TI's on a fretless. I'd have to say these are my favorite of all the above. What I like is the pliability, the tension and the low-mid growl. they don't have the high-end ring of the Chromes, Fenders or Ernie Balls, nor the 'thud' of the GHS, both are tonal qualities that I didn't care for. They feel softer somehow under the fingers than all of the above, but nothing like TI's. These have probably been on for a year (not my bass). They can growl, they can be popped. Pretty darn versatile!

I’d like to try the Optima Chromes now that I’m sold on the Optima RB flats. Thanks for the input!

 

[Rockbobmel]

My experience with DR Legends (which I still own, just don't have installed right now) is with a set that I got used which were mostly broken in.
The Legends I have are CRAZY smooth, first of all. One of the smoothest flats I've ever felt, along with Dogal Traditional Vintage. They have LOTS of low end, so that's a little different... The RBs aren't so bass heavy.
The Legends are also a little mid-scooped IMO, with a little high-mid sheen once they settle in. The RBs have a prominent center midrange, but not excessive like a new set of TIs. (IMO) Very different in that regard from the Legends.
Keep in mind, though, that my RBs are still new(ish) and it remains to be seen how they will age & settle.

This is how I would characterize the Galli Jazz Flats. BUT, I don't have the extensive experience as you with Flats. Just a lot with DRs (which I might add- are not that smooth anymore)!! Some are, Some aren't.

 

[Root 5]

(Though I’ve found conflicting info on whether the Pyramids are indeed round core...?)

Pyramids are round core and must be crimped before winding to pitch. Or they'll go 'dead' and/or unravel.

 

[Root 5]

I’m reasonably certain the pyramid flatwounds are hexcore

They're round core.

 

[PWRL]

I've been curious about Optimas for a while, just not curious enough. I've been a TI user for years, and once I get a set on a bass, I don't get in much of a hurry to take them off. The set I have on my main P bass is at least 3 years old now, and just starting to sound really sweet. However, if I ever pick up another bass, maybe I'll try the Optimas.

 

[HaphAsSard]

They're round core.

Could you take a pic of one of them at the ball-end loop, just so that the matter is settled? I do have some old Pyramid flats laying around myself, but I'll be darned if I remember wherever I put them.

 

[woodyng2]

They're round core.

Well,it has been about 25 years since i last used a set.
Sorry if i spread (poor memory-based) misinformation.
I do remember that the pyramids were a much higher tension string than the Rick/Maximas i was used to, so i presumed they were hexcore. (They are a heavier gauge so I suppose that’s where the extra tension come from.)