Please help, oh string gurus?

[ThuzzleFump]

I am playing a recently acquired bass with wonderfully smooth flats that have cobalt blue silks. Can anyone give a guess as to what they might be? I don't have a pic at the moment. I'm sure they are in a thread here somewhere but I've not found it. Guesses?

Thanks all.

 

[ThuzzleFump]

If it helps, they have a really slick feel and very mellow tone. Even slapped and popped with the treble wide open they don't get harsh. Sorry, I'm completely unable to identify strings and I'd like the get these again.

 

[Roy Royerson]

I'm guessing they are D'addario chromes based on that description but it's hard to say. I think labella has/had a set of flats with blue silk as well.

 

[BioWeapon]

@SLaPiNFuNK is a pro at this game.

 

[ThuzzleFump]

I'm guessing they are D'addario chromes based on that description but it's hard to say. I think labella has/had a set of flats with blue silk as well.

Thank you. From what I have heard, and read, D'Addario seems like a good guess to me. I know they are popular, and if this is any indication, I can see why. I really love these strings.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Coloured ball-ends?

 

[michael_t]

If they're in fact the D'A Chromes, they would have blue silk at BOTH ends with color-coded ball ends, brass-red-black-green (from E-G).

 

[michael_t]

I think labella has/had a set of flats with blue silk as well.

The La Bella 1954 Originals and the 760FM (49-109) would have blue silk, but only at the tuner end with all brass-colored ball ends.

 

[Root 5]

I am playing a recently acquired bass with wonderfully smooth flats that have cobalt blue silks. Can anyone give a guess as to what they might be?

D'Addario Chromes have blue silk at tuner and bridge end. Newish ones have coloured ball ends, older ones are gold.
Ernie Ball "Group" flats are also blue on both ends and have gold ball ends. The blue for both brands is similar.

 

[Root 5]

If it helps, they have a really slick feel and very mellow tone. Even slapped and popped with the treble wide open they don't get harsh. Sorry, I'm completely unable to identify strings and I'd like the get these again.

Your description says more La Bella to me ( no blue silk at bridge end ) , then Ernie Ball Group, and then D'Addario.

 

[Pier_]

Your description says more La Bella to me ( no blue silk at bridge end )

actually he doesn't say that there isn't silk at the bridge...

however, the chances are few:

Labella: light blue silk at the headstock, no silk at the bridge, brass balls

D'Addario: blue silk on both ends, coloured balls

Ernie Ball: blue silk on both ends, brass balls

 

[HaphAsSard]

actually he doesn't say that there isn't silk at the bridge...

He was referring to the "very mellow tone" part of the OP he quoted; the "no silk at bridge" was an aside.
Then again, I suppose they could also be broken-in Chromes.

 

[Pier_]

He was referring to the "very mellow tone" part of the OP he quoted

in my humble opinion, worn Chromes are mellower than worn Labellas I have a set of Jamerson since December, and it still has the "bite" on the highs.

in the past I switched from Labella Jamerson to D'Addario Chromes because of this. Chromes are brighter when new, but they worn out early and lose the highs. Labella are just a bit scooped when new, but then keep the highs and brightess.

however, they are smoother than D'Addario, in terms of texture

 

[RedJag]

I am playing a recently acquired bass with wonderfully smooth flats that have cobalt blue silks. Can anyone give a guess as to what they might be? I don't have a pic at the moment. I'm sure they are in a thread here somewhere but I've not found it. Guesses?

Thanks all.

Probably D’Addario Chromes

 

[somegeezer]

Ernie Ball: blue silk on both ends, brass balls

My Ernie Ball Custom Flats are dark blue at the tuners, no silk at the bridge. Also pretty mellow.

 

[DaveAceofBass]

GHS P Flats are a light purple

 

[Pier_]

My Ernie Ball Custom Flats are dark blue at the tuners, no silk at the bridge. Also pretty mellow.

mmm, probably they changed ad a certain point. I remember them from years ago and they had both sideswith silk, and everyone thought that they were Chromes re-brandend

 

[ThuzzleFump]

I got a couple of pics. Now I am sure that one of you can do a positive ID. Would have posted yesterday but my camera (OK, actually my brain) wasn't working properly. Based on descriptions, I am now guessing nicely broken-in D'Addario Chrome flats.

Thanks again for your help and for allowing me to be a string noob. Bass BTW is a Marco Cortes MV4. Lovely instrument.

 

[ThuzzleFump]

Coloured ball-ends?

Yes.

 

[physics]

I agree with you on that, broken-in D'Addario Chrome flats.
These strings will respond very nicely to periodic cleanings with a good string cleaner/lubricant, like GHS FastFret or Dunlop's Ultraglide. What you get is a pretty nicely balanced spectrum of tones, from the fundamental through the harmonics with good sustain.