Praise Report: GHS Precision Flats

[Thuddy Waters]

Thanks for the suggestion.
Yes, I have considered a similar idea but the problem is the way the Fender high mass bridge on my 2014 Am Std P is designed, it's awkward to find anything to use as a spacer that would fit properly.

View attachment 3037657

Yeah, it would definitely be easier on the older style bridge.

As an aside, I was thinking about the new tuning pegs on the American Professional Fenders and how they're more narrow than the older ones. I wonder if that could cause a potential problem with the long E string wrapping around an even tighter radius than with the older tuning pegs.

 

[Linnin]

too much of the main body of the E string would wrap around the tuning post when top-loaded, which would irritate my OCD-prone nature too much, and I'm always leery about putting any flats thru-body. So what to do???

Well @michael_t, your new blues name is 'Old Blind Mikey'. It will cure all your mental illnesses since you cannot see the tuning post, no more OCD. Always top-load/string through bridge. Never succumb to the evils of through body stringing. Original 1951-57 Precisions excepted.

 

[michael_t]

Never succumb to the evils of through body stringing. Original 1951-57 Precisions excepted.

If the early P basses came only with the thru-body option when the only strings available were flats, then it really can't be all that bad to put flats thru-body, can it? Especially considering the fact the GHS Precision Flats are probably the closest thing to the original Fender flats. Just a thought...

Or, are you saying the reason why the top-load option became available was too many flats were broken during those early years?

 

[Pbassmanca]

If the early P basses came only with the thru-body option when the only strings available were flats, then it really can't be all that bad to put flats thru-body, can it? Especially considering the fact the GHS Precision Flats are probably the closest thing to the original Fender flats. Just a thought...

Or, are you saying the reason why the top-load option became available was too many flats were broken during those early years?

I've often wondered about this as well.

 

[michael_t]

LaBella is the sound of moldy cardboard.

You know what I just found out?

La Bella flats not only sound like moldy cardboard, they also can look like moldy cardboard!

New La Bella Strings Has Blotchy Spots

 

[Linnin]

You know what I just found out?

La Bella flats not only sound like moldy cardboard, they also can look like moldy cardboard!

New La Bella Strings Has Blotchy Spots

Would I lie to you?

 

[michael_t]

Would I lie to you?

No, you're always brutally honest. (Emphasis on BRUTALLY. )

 

[Linnin]

Or, are you saying the reason why the top-load option became available was too many flats were broken during those early years?

Bingo-Zingo! Plus Leo Fender reinvented his Precision bass for 1958 with his now famous split single coil pickups and the super simple bent L plate bridge with four individually adjustable string saddles. This was a huge advance in electric bass guitar technology that has stood the test of time.

 

[Linnin]

I initially planned on re-activating my Fender 9050CL flats that have been idle since last summer, but there is a little nagging voice in my head that's been urging me to try the Precision Flats instead.

That's a good plan. They're already paid for and already broken in. I would have never taken them off.

 

[michael_t]

That's a good plan. They're already paid for and already broken in. I would have never taken them off.

The GHS Pressurewounds have been my go-to strings for my Fender Jazz. But the PWs on my new Yamaha 5-string are working out SO well I'm thinking of putting the 9050CL back on my J and trying the Precision Flats on my P. That way I can have three basses with three different tonal flavors.

 

[Linnin]

and trying the Precision Flats on my P.

OK, but remember you're an old blind bluesman.

 

[michael_t]

OK, but remember you're an old blind bluesman.

Yes, it's officially in my signature now in case you haven't noticed.

 

[dagrev]

I'm not crazy about string through the body and don't except with my '55 Pbass. Sonically there's no difference to me, and I've tried hard to hear one on that bass and a few others. Structurally, I've never had a problem in doing this with any flats or rounds (including TIs Precision Flats, PWs...). I just always go slow when doing "the bend." I think if you can't learn to get over the winding at the other end (practice is actually the only way to help this disorder!), I like your solution by going through the body with the E. But doing so won't help the OCD part and will only encourage it more! That horrible bend would actually bother more far more than the long winding.

 

[Linnin]

That horrible bend would actually bother more far more than the long winding.

^^^WORD^^^

 

[michael_t]

Sonically there's no difference to me, and I've tried hard to hear one on that bass and a few others.

This tells me I at least won't end up with a horribly unbalanced set tonally by putting only the E string thru-body. That's a plus.

Structurally, I've never had a problem in doing this with any flats or rounds (including TIs Precision Flats, PWs...). I just always go slow when doing "the bend."

La Bella is the only company I know of who explicitly advises against thru-body installation for their regular flats. Meanwhile, the majority of the people who tried it report no major issues. So, that's another plus.

I think if you can't learn to get over the winding at the other end (practice is actually the only way to help this disorder!), I like your solution by going through the body with the E. But doing so won't help the OCD part and will only encourage it more! That horrible bend would actually bother more far more than the long winding.

My OCD aside, from an objective standpoint, I would assume the wrap around the tuner post would be less harmful to the overall structural integrity of the string than the two sharp break angles behind the saddle. Am I right?

 

[Turock]

La Bella is the only company I know of who explicitly advises against thru-body installation for their regular flats. Meanwhile, the majority of the people who tried it report no major issues. So, that's another plus.

I broke an E string stringing it thru-body with Labella flats (the low tension ones).

 

[Linnin]

Am I right?

You are correct. The 1/4 turn around the post is a gentle curve vs a sharp break over angle that pulls the flat ribbon wrap apart.

 

[michael_t]

I broke an E string stringing it thru-body with Labella flats (the low tension ones).

Sorry, I should have clarified it by saying "majority of the people who tried it with flats from other manufacturers report no major issues".

 

[michael_t]

You are correct. The 1/4 turn around the post is a gentle curve vs a sharp break over angle that pulls the flat ribbon wrap apart.

Plus the fact we're talking about a 95-E, which should be even more pliable and easier to wrap around the post than a 105-E.

 

[dagrev]

This tells me I at least won't end up with a horribly unbalanced set tonally by putting only the E string thru-body. That's a plus.

La Bella is the only company I know of who explicitly advises against thru-body installation for their regular flats. Meanwhile, the majority of the people who tried it report no major issues. So, that's another plus.

My OCD aside, from an objective standpoint, I would assume the wrap around the tuner post would be less harmful to the overall structural integrity of the string than the two sharp break angles behind the saddle. Am I right?

I would certainly think tonally it should be no problem. But there are exceptions, especially when we're looking for them. True for me anyway.

Well I was on the phone with a LaBella big shot once concerning some sets I received that were faulty and felt different, string to string. I asked him if I could use them string through and he said yes. This was over 5 years ago, so things may have changed.

Indeed!