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Praise Report: GHS Precision Flats

#1,461
Linnin said:
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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Ah Ha! I did write a five year review from the month they were first installed: May 2013.
 
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#1,467
trothwell said:
That set needs a thicker "E" string. :)
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NKBassman said:
Agreed. I don't see how a 105 E could possibly balance against the rest of that set. I'd expect to see a 110 or even 115 on a set with a 55 G string.
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Well, not necessarily...
The 95E in the light set balances surprisingly well with the 45G, although I'm talking more about tone than tension. And specifically on a P bass.

That said, I just can't imagine myself being able to handle a 55G. Thanks, but no thanks.
 
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#1,470
michael_t said:
45G = 41.5 lbs.
55G = 68.8 lbs.
Difference of 27.3 lbs.! We need a 0.050 to fill in the gap.

95E = 36.7 lbs.
105E = 41.2 lbs.
Difference of only 4.5 lbs. I don't think a .100 is needed.
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Even less sure now that the 105E would balance well with the 55G...

Not that I'm personally complaining. If I used GHS flats again, I'd probably try the light set myself, based on remarks that the 95E balances better sonically with the other strings.
 
#1,471
A few things to note regarding my past experiences with flats...
  • Two sets with a 40G - D'A Chromes 40-60-80-100 and Sadowsky Black Label 40-60-80-100: I didn't care for the 40G in either one; they sounded too thin and "twangy". That's when I discovered the Fender 9050L (45-60-80-100) and found the 45G better-balanced with the rest both in tone and tension.
  • Fender 9050L (45-60-80-100) vs. 9050CL (45-60-80-105): Tension-wise, the 105 balanced better with the rest than the 100 overall. Tone-wise, the 105 sounded better on my J by providing full-bodied yet clean notes down low, while the 100 actually sounded better on my P by providing better note definition without being muddy like the 105.
  • La Bella 760FL (43-60-82-104): A decent, non-twangy G, but slightly muddy E on my P.
  • GHS P Flats 3025 (45-60-75-95): Combines a 45G with a lighter 95E, vs. a typical "extra light" set of 40-95. This means it's not the best tension-balanced set, but probably the best tonally-balanced set of flats I've tried on my P to date, providing the benefits of both a non-twangy G and a lighter E that rings clear with good note definition.
 
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#1,472
michael_t said:
A few things to note regarding my past experiences with flats...
  • Two sets with a 40G - D'A Chromes 40-60-80-100 and Sadowsky Black Label 40-60-80-100: I didn't care for the 40G in either one; they sounded too thin and "twangy". That's when I discovered the Fender 9050L (45-60-80-100) and found the 45G better-balanced with the rest both in tone and tension.
  • Fender 9050L (45-60-80-100) vs. 9050CL (45-60-80-105): Tension-wise, the 105 balanced better with the rest than the 100 overall. Tone-wise, the 105 sounded better on my J by providing full-bodied yet clean notes down low, while the 100 actually sounded better on my P by providing better note definition without being muddy like the 105.
  • La Bella 760FL (43-60-82-104): A decent, non-twangy G, but slightly muddy E on my P.
  • GHS P Flats 3025 (45-60-75-95): Combines a 45G with a lighter 95E, vs. a typical "extra light" set of 40-95. This means it's not the best tension-balanced set, but probably the best tonally-balanced set of flats I've tried on my P to date, providing the benefits of both a non-twangy G and a lighter E that rings clear with good note definition.
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Thanks for the rundown.
 
#1,473
michael_t said:
muddy like the 105
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I've never experienced a muddy flat. Thuddy yes, but muddy, no. In fact I love the 0.105 E as being extremely well focused and well defined. It was my favorite string in the entire set, and still is.

To me, mud in a string is primarily the tonal territory of a poorly engineered roundwound that is so awash in overtones as to drown out the fundamental. Toss in a box of 'zing' (clank) and you've got nothing but noise. Not music.

Playing 'the mud bucket' with your loudifier is any entirely different thing. Activate Sludge Zone: Treble full off. Bass full on. Professional quality bass & strings not required.
 
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#1,474
Linnin said:
I've never experienced a muddy flat. Thuddy yes, but muddy, no. In fact I love the 0.105 E as being extremely well focused and well defined. It was my favorite string in the entire set, and still is.
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Just to be clear, I never said the "muddiness" was entirely the string's fault.

The only point I'm trying to make is a set of strings that work well on one bass may not work equally well on another. I used to swear by "balanced tension", only to discover the concept doesn't always work with every bass. My P bass happens to sound the best when everything is not so perfectly balanced. That's all.
 
#1,475
michael_t said:
Just to be clear, I never said the "muddiness" was entirely the string's fault.

The only point I'm trying to make is a set of strings that work well on one bass may not work equally well on another. I used to swear by "balanced tension", only to discover the concept doesn't always work with every bass. My P bass happens to sound the best when everything is not so perfectly balanced. That's all.
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Well said. I find it surprising how few people have come to this conclusion. Gotta find the right strings for the bass — what sounds great on one bass may not sound that good on another, and balanced tension does not necessarily equal balanced tone, particularly with flatwounds.
 
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#1,476
Abner said:
Well said. I find it surprising how few people have come to this conclusion. Gotta find the right strings for the bass — what sounds great on one bass may not sound that good on another, and balanced tension does not necessarily equal balanced tone, particularly with flatwounds.
Click to expand...

Usually right around the time that I find a preferred string for a certain bass is also right around the time when that band decides to call it quits.
Rinse>Repeat
 

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