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Praise Report: GHS Precision Flats

#1,181
My favorite strings right now are the Precision Flats in the light gauge (45-95). Tried liking the medium gauge on a few basses in the past, but the low E went dead really fast and was just a thud/plunk, not a nice thump, while the A, D & G strings sounded great and balanced. This happened to me on two sets of the mediums one after the other. Replaced them with TI Jazz Flats and enjoyed the feel, but they always lacked the low end thump I was wanting.

Fast forward a few months and I found a set of light gauge GHS Precision flats new in the package that I bought a while ago and forgot about. I put them on my Classic 50's Lacquer Precision that has an SD SPB-1 pickup and man, even though they are light gauge they absolutely sound incredible. The .095 low E still sounds thunderous and I actually like the sound of the light gauge low E over the .105 low E. The walls still shake with the .095 low E and it has plenty of thump, but without the dull thunk/thud the .105 low E had. I've had the light gauge set of Precision Flats on the bass for a couple months now and it seems like they are just made for that bass. They're balanced in tone and feel great string to string, and the tension is perfect.

It took a while, but after going through sets of medium gauge Precision Flats, TI Jazz Flats, Chromes, Dunlop Flats, and La Bella 760FS and 760FL sets I can confidently say that the GHS light gauge Precision Flats are my favorites.
 
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#1,182
Linnin said:
The E string has been re-engineered something like two or three years ago, and is a better match with the rest of the set straight out of the package. This goes to show you what a contrarian I truly am. I Loved the old E just as it was and it was the rest of the strings I thought were lacking. The set balanced out, but it took time. It will soon be five years since I put these strings on, and I am looking forward to writing my 5 year review! :hyper:
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Honestly, i think i like the old E-String better than the new version, i seem to have both here, the new one lacking some of the 'Pressure' and Thump the other Strings and the old E-String have, and feeling a little too loose for me, talking 'bout the 105 Gauge in the 3050 Set, enough so that i took it of my bass to put the old one back on again.. given that my 'new' E-String isn't defective in any way, which it didn't seem to be.. but thats just my personal impression and experience..
 
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#1,183
Happy May Day! :woot: :bassist: :hyper:
In May of 2013 this very same set of GHS Precision Flats was installed on my 1976 Fender Precision. I have the receipt pasted into my journal as I had the frets dressed; crowned & polished too. This thread was my very first string review.

So what, if anything, has changed during the past five years? They seem to be even more percussive and most definitely more woody & acoustic like in tone. Which is something I find pleasing. The strings have less sustain and don't require as much muting. So that makes them easier to play. Other than that they are very much the same solid focused stringset. Still holds tune marvelously well. More importantly the intonation holds true year after year. I could stroll into any recording studio right now and cut a record with pure professional squeaky clean Fender Precision tone. No fret buzz. No string noise. No finger noise. Just music and only music. Have a GHS day. :)
 
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#1,186
For the people (including myself) who have had problems with the .105 low E, I really think you guys and gals should just give the light gauge set a try. I know, I know, light gauge strings are for wimps, and they usually have a thin, wimpy tone, etc, right? Not at all!

I mentioned this a couples replies ago on this thread, but the .095 E sounds killer, with thump and growl, and is very full sounding. I can dig in and it's not flop city like some low tension flats, and they're not so high tension that they are like bridge cables to play. It actually has a better, growly tone and is better matched to the rest of the set compared to the low E on the medium gauge set.

If you think TI's are too floppy, and most medium gauge flats are a bit too stiff, but don't want to sacrifice a fat low end thump, the light gauge gauge Precision Flats might be just that you're looking for. Don't let the light gauge scare you away!
 
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#1,187
I really don't like playing flats, but will admit that there is a time and a place where that really just is the right sound. I picked up a heavily used/abused MIM P bass a couple months ago for a great price just so that I could have a separate P with flats on it, and get rounds back on my main P bass. I put my used .105 Precision Flats set on the new beater and they sound great, but if I ever find the need to try another set, I'll be looking at the .095 set.
 
#1,188
Im willing to try the lighter gauge as well...I had a set on for nearly a year and really liked the way they sounded, not nearly as scooped as Labellas....although the E string did improve, it never fully balanced out with the other strings and was noticeably duller.
 
#1,190
trothwell said:
Would you? After 60 pages of this review, I would love to actually hear what these strings, on your bass, played by your hands, sounds like! :)
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Actually I have friends with quality recording facilities that I can ask a favor. No way can I afford $100+ an hour. Also I've seen and heard waaaaay too much Krapola posted here and on utube of so called reviews and sound samples that are nothing more than cellphone vids. People have no sense of shame or they truly do not know what horrendous no quality garbage they are releasing.
 
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#1,199
Sandwell said:
trying to decide between the 3025 and the CM3050, anyone used both?
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I have both. The lighter set feels nice in that there's little work in the Left hand--kind of like TIs. I like them when I want that more flexible feel. The CM3050s are not work by any means, but a little finer string height might be necessary, but just as nice to play. Tone-wise I can't tell a lot of difference and they are on different basses. When I bought another set recently, I bought the Mediums.
 
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