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Praise Report: GHS Precision Flats

#1,321
michael_t said:
Give me a few weeks to give them a good workout before posting my first impressions. Stay tuned...
Click to expand...

I think you'll like them, but look forward to your report.
I'm probably going to end up selling the bass I have mine on right now, as a new acquisition is forcing me to shift my arsenal around. But I'm going to get another set for the new "flats" bass. They're my favorite of all the flats I've tried over the years.
 
#1,322
Now that the new strings have had a chance to settle quietly for the last 24 hrs., it's time for a setup... except not a whole lot to be done. So far no truss rod tweak needed. If anything, very minor intonation adjustment on A and G. That's about it.

It's interesting to note the total tension on the P Flats light set (45-95) is slightly less than the light set of Balanced Nickels (40-101) they replaced. 163.2 lbs. vs. 172.3 lbs.

15 mins. of casual noodling tells me I've picked the right set as these feel great to play on. And they do sound and feel comfortably balanced both for fretting and plucking - more so than the actual tension numbers might indicate. I particularly like the 95E as all the notes on it ring out clear and focused. The open E is not quite as "thick and thunderous" as the La Bella 104E (760FL), but plenty of low end goodness without getting muddy like the La Bella.

Of course, they're still too new for any meaningful assessment but I'm looking forward to finding out how these puppies will break in for the next 3-6 months.
 
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#1,323
michael_t said:
Now that the new strings have had a chance to settle quietly for the last 24 hrs., it's time for a setup... except not a whole lot to be done. So far no truss rod tweak needed. If anything, very minor intonation adjustment on A and G. That's about it.

It's interesting to note the total tension on the P Flats light set (45-95) is slightly less than the light set of Balanced Nickels (40-101) they replaced. 163.2 lbs. vs. 172.3 lbs.

15 mins. of casual noodling tells me I've picked the right set as these feel great to play on. And they do sound and feel comfortably balanced both for fretting and plucking - more so than the actual tension numbers might indicate. I particularly like the 95E as all the notes on it ring out clear and focused. The open E is not quite as "thick and thunderous" as the La Bella 104E (760FL), but plenty of low end goodness without getting muddy like the La Bella.

Of course, they're still too new for any meaningful assessment but I'm looking forward to finding out how these puppies will break in for the next 3-6 months.
Click to expand...

You're killin' me, Smalls! :D
I haven't has a set of flats on any of my basses for a few years. A set of PFs would sound awesome on my P-Bass.

I've found a few early Van Halen songs where Michael Anthony's bass lines are isolated. A few of the tracks sound to me like a P-Bass strung with flats, played with a pick, through a cranked up SVT. Killer sound, IMO. :thumbsup:

Yes, I do need to order a set of PFs, along with a set of Brite Flats for my Lull 5-string. :bassist:
 
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#1,324
Arthur U. Poon said:
I haven't has a set of flats on any of my basses for a few years. A set of PFs would sound awesome on my P-Bass.
Click to expand...

It's been almost a year and a half since I had flats on any of my basses. And I can't begin to tell you how good it feels to have flats on my P! It's like coming home after a long journey.

Arthur U. Poon said:
I've found a few early Van Halen songs where Michael Anthony's bass lines are isolated. A few of the tracks sound to me like a P-Bass strung with flats, played with a pick, through a cranked up SVT. Killer sound, IMO. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

I've been a 100% finger-style player so far, but one of the things I would like to do is to learn to play with a pick in order to replicate some of the 70's classic rock sound.

Arthur U. Poon said:
Yes, I do need to order a set of PFs, along with a set of Brite Flats for my Lull 5-string.
Click to expand...

Guess what I just ordered today... A set of Brite Flats to try on my Jazz! Now that the Pressurewounds are working out so well on my new Yamaha 5-string I was thinking of putting my old Fender 9050 Flats back on my J just for the sake of having some tonal variety. Then I thought to myself, why not try the Brite Flats as something that can fill the gap between the PWs and the PFs?
 
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#1,325
michael_t said:
I've been a 100% finger-style player so far, but one of the things I would like to do is to learn to play with a pick in order to replicate some of the 70's classic rock sound.
Click to expand...

I'm a fingerstyle player too, and I also enjoy the way a pick changes the tone and attack of the notes. Now, if I can ever get the hang of using one! :D
 
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#1,326
Arthur U. Poon said:
I'm a fingerstyle player too, and I also enjoy the way a pick changes the tone and attack of the notes. Now, if I can ever get the hang of using one! :D
Click to expand...

When I was an acoustic guitar player in my younger days (eons ago!), I did both finger-picking and flat-picking. So I'm hoping once I get into it, I'll be able to get the feel for it fairly quickly.
 
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#1,337
I bought a set of GHS Precision Flats 6 weeks ago and put them on a Squier VM Jazz. I had the majorly thuddy E string and the difference between the E and the A, D & G was driving me crazy. I read this thread and other threads where people experienced the same scenario and frustration.
Last night I moved these strings to my G&L SB2. The strings were instantly much more even and pleasant sounding string to string. I had put about 20 hours on these strings on the VM Jazz but they weren't breaking in as others have described. I know, Linnin said upwards of 100 hours but I wasn't willing to wait that long.
I now have about 5 more hours on these string on the SB2 and they are much much more even string to string.
I'm wondering if they just magically broke in at the time I moved them to the SB2 or does the difference between the satin finish fingerboard of the VM Jazz and the rosewood fingerboard of the SB2 make a difference. Also, did removing them from one bass after putting some hours on them and letting them "relax" for 15 minutes before installing them on the other make a difference.
@Jon Moody - any input?
 
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#1,338
BassPilot said:
I bought a set of GHS Precision Flats 6 weeks ago and put them on a Squier VM Jazz. I had the majorly thuddy E string and the difference between the E and the A, D & G was driving me crazy. I read this thread and other threads where people experienced the same scenario and frustration.
Last night I moved these strings to my G&L SB2. The strings were instantly much more even and pleasant sounding string to string.
Click to expand...

Thuddy E - are you talking about the .105 or .095?

G&L SB2 is a PJ-style, isn't it? I think what you're experiencing has more to do with the pickup configuration than the fretboard finish.

I put the light set (45-95) on my P bass just last week and so far I'm not experiencing any problem with the E string being thuddy.
 
#1,339
BassPilot said:
I bought a set of GHS Precision Flats 6 weeks ago and put them on a Squier VM Jazz.
Click to expand...

BassPilot said:
Last night I moved these strings to my G&L SB2. The strings were instantly much more even and pleasant sounding string to string.
Click to expand...
Well D'uh! You went from a $300 bass to a $1500 bass, and it sounds better! It's not the strings, it's the bass. Specifically the pick up(s).
 

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