Thanks @nerkoids, but my '76 Precision is going to stay as is. I had put everything up for sale on Reverb before my next heart attack takes me away, but no offers so I took everything down. Gonna make a nice bonfire...
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Praise Report: GHS Precision Flats
- Thread starter Linnin
- Start date
Please, no bonfires, Linnin! I trust you're taking good care of yourself and getting excellent medical care? I want you to stick around for at least another 50 years!
Thanks for your kind words @Arthur U. Poon. I'm getting as good a care as The United States Department of Veterans Affairs gives any veteran. I seriously doubt I'll live to 113.
latest incarnation.
first - .45 .60 .80 .105
second - .40 .55 .75 .95
last - .40 .55 .75 .100
my last incarnation is the set for me. adding that 100 e helps to give a little more girth there and they're all perfect tensions wise. I love the sound of the bigger set but the tension is too much for me (i'm a wimp, tuned down a half step too lol). got that set for sale in the classifieds (can't get them from BSO anymore, only juststrings)
first - .45 .60 .80 .105
second - .40 .55 .75 .95
last - .40 .55 .75 .100
my last incarnation is the set for me. adding that 100 e helps to give a little more girth there and they're all perfect tensions wise. I love the sound of the bigger set but the tension is too much for me (i'm a wimp, tuned down a half step too lol). got that set for sale in the classifieds (can't get them from BSO anymore, only juststrings)
Doner Designs
Steve Doner
- Jun 2, 2012
- 5,784
- 6,819
- Disclosures
- Doner Designs is an alias for Steve Doner
The only string with a similar degree of thump that I'm aware of would be Pyramid Pure Nickel Flats. The Pyramids may be a little more thumpy which could be good or bad depending on goals and they cost more.
I have pretty much given up on all of the thumpy flats because of the issue you mentioned. I now use Daddario, Roto or Ernie Ball which are brighter and have an even tone across the set even when new.
I have pretty much given up on all of the thumpy flats because of the issue you mentioned. I now use Daddario, Roto or Ernie Ball which are brighter and have an even tone across the set even when new.
I've played around with cobbling together various sets of the GHS P Flats, too, and the .100 E string is really nice! If memory serves, I've tried:
- .60 .80 .100 .120 (BEAD)
- .55 .65 .85 .100 (G string tension was just too burly for me...)
- .45 .65 .85 .100 (much better)
- .45 .60 .75 .95 (my favorite!)
i can feel it. i've played all the flats out there heavy to light, played TI jazz flats for years, so i have become very used to low tension and light touch. i used to hate chromes because they were so out of whack tension wise (D was always way tighter).
so for me balanced tension means a lot. .95 was too floppy hence the .100. i could feel it. .105 too tight for that set.
.40 .55 .75 .100 is both balanced tonally and tension wise. happy man.
Yeah, I hear ya! TI Jazz Flats too, the D string was always way out of whack - something like 65 pounds or so. Played a set for five years and loved them at first, but hated them at the end. Never again.
So Mark, is this the set you've settled on for tuning down 1/2 a step? Sounds like the balance is working out for you, congrats!
I might have to give that .55 D string a shot some time soon....
Some people simply don't care about the tension numbers; some of us are obsessed with them.
The interesting fact is in most instances "balanced tension" in numbers does translate to "balanced feel and tone".
For the GHS Precision Flats, 40-55-75-100 and 45-60-80-105 are in fact the best-balanced sets according to the tension numbers.
yes it is. i'm Eb Ab Db Gb with that set. it's the TI similar sizes (.43 .56 .70 .100). Where i feel the GHS excels is the larger A string, my biggest gripe with TI (other than lack of real low low end) was the A string was too wimpy and weak output. This set doesn't have that issue.
if I had one grip about my set, i'd wish for a .42 or .43 G string, but the .40 sounds great, so i'll just shut up.
Some people simply don't care about the tension numbers; some of us are obsessed with them.
The interesting fact is in most instances "balanced tension" in numbers does translate to "balanced feel and tone".
For the GHS Precision Flats, 40-55-75-100 and 45-60-80-105 are in fact the best-balanced sets according to the tension numbers.
agreed. I have tried 3 times now to do the 45 60 80 105 because i love the sound, a little more girth to it that my set above, but the tension regardless of truss rod and string height is just too much for me.
but i agree, very tonally and tension balanced.
Agreed. I couldn't stand the ECB81 set (45-65-80-100) for their unevenness. The ECB84 (40-60-80-100) wasn't quite as bad.
Then my problem eventually went away when I discovered the Fender 9050CL (45-60-80-105).
I tried these strings on a P bass, love the sound & feel, but I am so used to balanced tension that I cant deal with them. So I put up my 5 string set in the classified. If only they still have singles to build a 130+-105-80-60-45 set I'd be happy
I tried a set of 45 60 80 105 and they were not quite balanced.
Mr. Moody has said 45 55 75 105 will get you there, not sure which B string though goes with it.
Also I like balanced on a heavier gauge.
