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Praise Report: GHS Precision Flats
- Thread starter Linnin
- Start date
Read Post #1 and most of your questions will be answered.
I look forward to all described in Post #1.
In the mean time, I will enjoy playing on these strings just as they are now, while looking forward to them getting better 'n better. Thanks for the direction, Linnin!
Do these have purple silks at the tuner end, no ball end silks, and are super smooth to the touch.
They came on a late 80's Fender I got. It would be kinda awesome if they were nearly 30 years old like the bass.
They came on a late 80's Fender I got. It would be kinda awesome if they were nearly 30 years old like the bass.
- Sep 9, 2007
- 5,309
- 4,977
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Eventide, GHS Strings, G&L Guitars, NS Design, Tsunami Cables
They are purple silked only at the tuner end, and are super smooth.
Can't verify the age of the ones on the Fender you have, but I'm sure they're at least a little well seasoned.
Just a couple of quick questions. What GHS Flats size should I get for my American Fender Pbass. Will be my first set of flats and just wanna make sure they fit how they should with string through bridge. Two, can these strings cop the tone from Summer Madness by kool and the gang? Thanks
Kool Video link-->Invalid Link Removed
Kool Video link-->Invalid Link Removed
That sure sounds like stock Fender Flats, and that is exactly what Fender put on all their basses back then. Fender didn't even have roundwound bass strings in 1974. The dilemma for you is what sounds most like old school Fender Flats. LaBella's sure don't. D'Addario Chromes are the exact opposite of what you want. GHS Precision Flats do come close. I actually think I'd try a new set of Fender Flats first and see how they sound. I'm sure they'd be usable/passable. Just use standard guage 0.45-0.105 long scale.
hm. Fender's flatwound strings have their own sound, but some people compare them to Chromes. Meanwhile, La Bella's 760M set, "Original 1954 Fender Style Flat Wound", "heard on nearly every Motown album from the '60s" might sound more like old school Fender flats than you would think.
I think the current Fenders are closer the Chromes than they are different. Tension wise, they feel almost identical, IMO. The Fenders are slightly brighter and have a more burnished type finishing to them, but the differences stop there, IMO.
I don't think the GHS are anything remotely like Chromes or Fenders and I personally think that's a good thing
I don't think the GHS are anything remotely like Chromes or Fenders and I personally think that's a good thing
Since yesterday I have the GHS Precision flats on my 2012 MIA Preci. They sound so beautiful! Only the E string seems to be a little dull, will that even out later on?
Apart from that, I have strung them through the body and as the E string is quite long the thick part is wounded around the tuner post. There is still silk, so no naked string on the post. Is that OK, soundwise and technically?
Is it also OK with the end of the E string pointing a little bit to the A string?
THX
Apart from that, I have strung them through the body and as the E string is quite long the thick part is wounded around the tuner post. There is still silk, so no naked string on the post. Is that OK, soundwise and technically?
Is it also OK with the end of the E string pointing a little bit to the A string?
THX
- Sep 9, 2007
- 5,309
- 4,977
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Eventide, GHS Strings, G&L Guitars, NS Design, Tsunami Cables
They have a 38" winding, so are ideal for string-through bodies on 34" scale basses. You will be fine with how it's strung and shouldn't have any issues. And yes, if you read Linnin's original post, the E string will balance out with the other strings as they settle.
Hey Mr. GHS dude, just out of curiosity...
Since there seems to be a revival of the Fender VI/Eastwood guitars Sidejack Bass VI instruments of late, how difficult would it be for someone to get a set of these Precisions? Would there be a way to custom order a set?
Since there seems to be a revival of the Fender VI/Eastwood guitars Sidejack Bass VI instruments of late, how difficult would it be for someone to get a set of these Precisions? Would there be a way to custom order a set?
Really? I keep seeing comments that these strings are high tension, but to me, they feel very slinky, floppy, even.
I had some Fender 9050CLs on my Jazz bass before and they were doing a number on my neck. These babies are quite easy to play. In fact, if I say so myself, they make me want to play even more because they're so easy on the fingers.
As a lefty, I used to think that because Squier (in the Vintage Modified or Classic Vibe lines) had no available P-bass models, I'd have to stick to a Jazz and made do without the punch and bottom. With these strings and finger position at the neck with both pups full up, I've discovered my fears were completely unjustified.
These strings sound so good, oftentimes, I just boost the volume a little on my direct in and use that, instead of an amp or virtual amp. Couldn't do that with the Fenders or the Chromes without getting some metal grit.
If ever you were to put this set on a top-loader, the trick is to use a decent amount of super crazy glue right at the end of the silk and naked string (well, do this before putting the strings on the bass), let it dry for about 30 mins, then wind as you would usually. The way you wound your strings is perfectly fine... in fact, there's not really any other way to do it! I have these strings on my Squier VM Jazz and it looks like this:
I read a review in which the 3050's (.055-.105) were lighter in tension than the Fender 9050CL's......not true! I had to tighten my truss rod 1/4 turn. I would bet that the M3050's would be loosesr than the 9050's.
- Sep 9, 2007
- 5,309
- 4,977
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Eventide, GHS Strings, G&L Guitars, NS Design, Tsunami Cables
That would be the difference between tension and feel. I've played stiffer feeling flats that had less tension than the P Flats I've used (that have been higher tension). Tension and feel aren't completely related.
Very correct! Tension is the amount of force in pounds to bring the string to pitch. It's science. "Feel" is totally subjective, and while it is non-science, it is still very important to the bass player. We don't play or make science. We are artists and make music. Touch/Feel is every bit as important as Tone/Sound. Science is a tool to be used, not an alter of worship.
Maybe... but I didn't feel like I needed to crank and crank these babies to pitch all that much, nor did I feel like I had to work them in excessively so they could hold tune. My pegs, bushings and neck aren't having nearly as much of a hard time with them as they did with my Fenders.
And when I say slinky and floppy, I'm not just going by feel, but the fact that if I'm not careful, my E string ends up bending off the fretboard. Or whatever it is you call that when you mis-fret. I think tension, or lack thereof does factor in there somewhere...
OTOH, I know a guy who put these on his MiM P-bass, and I tried them, and they are way stiffer.
I had a set of ghs 55/70/90/105 that had less tension than the fender 50/65/85/100.
I would give them another try if they come out with 50G.
I would give them another try if they come out with 50G.
- Sep 9, 2007
- 5,309
- 4,977
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Eventide, GHS Strings, G&L Guitars, NS Design, Tsunami Cables
Very true. Tension plays A factor in the string, but is not THE factor.
Case in point: take a Fender bass and wrap the E or A string on the tuning post from bottom to the top (as in, completely backwards from what we're supposed to) and then play it. Listen to how it sounds, take note of how it feels, etc..
Now, wrap that string on the tuning post correct and note the difference in tone and feel.
The one thing that didn't change? The tension. And yet, we have two completely different experiences.
I'll reiterate my above comment. Tension plays A factor in the string, but is not THE factor. Lots more going on that all effect the final outcome that are usually not thought of.
Thanks for the suggestion. Seems Ill probably just have to play through a few different types to find what Im looking for. Guess Im in no hurry so Ill take the time to sample a few sets. Think Ill get some recordings done while Im at it for comparisons sake. IS there an estimated break in period for all flats,Ill probably be playing through them around 5hrs a week. Thanks.
