deepestend
Commercial User
- Feb 21, 2003
- 6,249
- 8,171
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- Website and Social Media at Sadowsky
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Praise Report: GHS Precision Flats
- Thread starter Linnin
- Start date
wanting to try these as my first flats. what gauge should i choose for my 60s classic vibe p bass ? i've been using the standard 45-105 rounds and like the tension and gauge .. so i was thinking the medium gauge 45-105 ghs makes sense.. but i hear people recommending lighter gauge due to tension of flats etc. and if anything my current rounds are right on the border of tight for me. however the lighter gauge of ghs is significantly smaller 95 instead of 105, yeh? could potentially cause me some more setup issues ?
Surprisingly for me the 40-95 is stiff (It's the nature of most Flatwound strings) however with a bit of playtime the strings will stretch out. I know it took me a couple of days for my Precision Flats to break in on my Sterling. Good luck!
If I were you, I would try the CM3050 set, 45-60-80-105, which is more even and balanced across all four strings.
Just for comparison purposes...
GHS P Flats 45-60-80-105 = 174.1 lbs. in total tension.
D'Addario EXL165 (45-65-85-105) = 174.29 lbs. in total tension.
GHS P Flats 45-60-75-95 = 163.2 lbs. in total tension.
D'Addario EXL170 (45-65-80-100) = 165.64 lbs. in total tension.
D
Over here in Europe I can't remember seeing the CM3050 set in stock at ANY dealer EVER. If it was I would have purchased it and I'm sure others would have too. The M3050 set is practically always in stock at most dealers so that's what we're stuck with and that's what we're buying. You may want to ask yourself if your 10:1 is caused by availabilty rather than what your customers really want.
- Sep 9, 2007
- 5,309
- 4,977
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Eventide, GHS Strings, G&L Guitars, NS Design, Tsunami Cables
Europe is tricky because we don’t deal directly with the dealers but through distributors. This adds another stop to the supply chain and also removes us a bit more from the customers.
We’ll ship the distributors whatever they want, but they’re certainly not going to listen to me when I say “Hey, some people online would really like the option of the CM3050 set instead of just the standard one.” That has to come from their dealers, which means that if the customers ask enough, they’ll take a chance on ordering them.
@steimlem, are you based in the US?
According to the above post by @Deleted member 271037, the CM3050 set is hard to find if you're in Europe apparently.
According to the above post by @Deleted member 271037, the CM3050 set is hard to find if you're in Europe apparently.
And you're still alive... that's good, too!
GHS CM3050 45 60 80 105
La Bella 760FL 43 60 82 104
GHS Precision Flats' core wire is thicker and stiffer, but they are overall a little more flexible than La Bella.
According to my understanding, this should give GHS more thump (the good kind, not "thud"), but a little more clarity, and this is what I hear (same as many other reviewers).
The first time I noticed this thump caused by a thicker core was with GHS PW. I didn't realize it was the string because it was also my first experience with an early 50s-style P bass.
I've posted a lot about the advantages of the most extremely flexible strings, but this thump is fun to play with too (as probably all of you know very well), but I still like clarity, so for *traditional flats* I'm switching from La Bella to GHS Precision.
And my first impression of GHS Precision Flats was that they sound just like Marshall Grant (with Johnny Cash). Grew up lovin' that. The End.
La Bella 760FL 43 60 82 104
GHS Precision Flats' core wire is thicker and stiffer, but they are overall a little more flexible than La Bella.
According to my understanding, this should give GHS more thump (the good kind, not "thud"), but a little more clarity, and this is what I hear (same as many other reviewers).
The first time I noticed this thump caused by a thicker core was with GHS PW. I didn't realize it was the string because it was also my first experience with an early 50s-style P bass.
I've posted a lot about the advantages of the most extremely flexible strings, but this thump is fun to play with too (as probably all of you know very well), but I still like clarity, so for *traditional flats* I'm switching from La Bella to GHS Precision.
And my first impression of GHS Precision Flats was that they sound just like Marshall Grant (with Johnny Cash). Grew up lovin' that. The End.
I don't know anything about the core wire difference but I really like the GHS Precision set I have on my '64 Precision (CM3050) which was highly recommended (and with good reason) by michael_t here on TB.
E string, yes, but it equalizes across the set, with the G string cores being about the same (measured with a micrometer).
That remains true for all 4 strings.
I admit I needed my imagination for this.
They're closer than I thought. I have installed mixed sets (760FL E,D and CM3050 A,G on one one bass with the other four strings on another bass), and I'll have to give it time.
GHS Precision Flats are my flat of choice for a "vintage" thump with clarity. I use 45-105 and just love that thick tone and solid fundamental. As with other strings, they work best on certain basses. I also use Chromes, SIT Power Flats and EB Cobalts.
Usually the GPF's really nail it.
Usually the GPF's really nail it.
I’m pleased I gave GHS a try out
My Fretless Jazz is ‘better’ strung with them.
My Fretless Jazz is ‘better’ strung with them.
This was before installing the new strings:
@trothwell, did you keep those strings on it, and do you still like this bass? Thanks.
I bought the bass intending for it to be a flat-ish string bass, having bought the GHS flats before buying the bass itself! But I ultimately tried several sets. Of everything I tried, I think either TI flats or D'Addario tape wounds sounded best on it.
Do I still like it? Yes, very much. It might be the overall highest-quality, best-playing Fender bass I have yet tried. But despite objectively liking it, I actually used my other Fenders much more. And in an increasingly rare move for me, I just recently sold this bass, in partial trade for something else. Hopefully the next owner will truly make it their own!
I have longer-term experience with La Bella but this is my first set of GHS P Flats. It's been only three weeks, and I'll give it longer, but the answer is getting clearer I think (but this hasn't been easy):
I think that La Bella DTFs have a tiny bit of "quack" (same word that many people use to describe TIJFs). And also, on some strings on some areas of the neck, when sliding up, as the string hits each fret there's a little quack too that I don't get with GHS P Flats. (This testing is on two P basses. I'm not talking about "burp".)
I think that GHS P Flats and Roto 66 (and some other stainless steel strings I've tested recently) have something in common that I like very much; as they break in their treble rolloff sounds very natural, like a tone/treble knob turned down. But I think "quack" happens in a string that somehow keeps more highs up until a point, then falls suddenly. It leaves an audible edge there. An "edge" can be a very good thing, but "quack" isn't my favorite.
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I have the P-Flats (40-95) on my Schecter bass now and they are working out great. I can string through the body with them, and not have any worries. Plus, they sound great on that bass.
