Praise Report: GHS Precision Flats

[dagrev]

Three months so far with Precision (flats) on Precision (bass)...

I haven't been able to spend as much time on my P bass as I had initially hoped but every time I pick it up, it feels very familiar and at home.

One thing I still don't understand is all the talk about flats starting out uneven in tone and taking a long time (ie months) to settle and balance out eventually. The set I have (3025, 45-60-75-95) started out sounding nicely balanced to begin with and there is no sign of the E string going all "dull and lifeless" so far. I'm perfectly okay with the idea of flats taking a long time to break in as long as all four strings do that at the same time.

I guess I'll just keep playing them to see what happens in the next 1-5 years.

Nice!

Like you, every time I pick up a bass with the PFs I feel as though I just sat down in a favorite recliner that fits just right. I've never had a set or and E "go" dull. Had a old set start out with a dull E, but the two other sets have been balanced tone-wise and sound great on an old '58 P and a modern G&L BABE L2K. The other set on on a '71 Jazz. I can't see trying other strings on those basses.

 

[michael_t]

Had a old set start out with a dull E...

Just curious...
Was it a .105 or a .095?

 

[dagrev]

Just curious...
Was it a .105 or a .095?

It was a .95. They eventually evened out, mostly. The E is still noticeably different when not in a live setting, but at home it is. To me the E on all my sets (both .95 and .105) tend to have more of different tone than any other string set I ever recall. Not as bad as the first set, but it clearly sounds much "older" that the other three. I love the sound of the Es and even wish all sounded that "old."

 

[shoulderpet]

Ok so ordered a set for my Hofner in short scale hearing that the PF in short scale are designed to fit Hofner basses and the winding comes up a few mm short , did I get an old set maybe?

 

[michael_t]

Ok so ordered a set for my Hofner in short scale hearing that the PF in short scale are designed to fit Hofner basses and the winding comes up a few mm short , did I get an old set maybe?

I don't know where you got the info that the "short scale" Precision Flats are "designed to fit Hofner basses", but here are the three current winding lengths available for the P Flats:

"Short Scale" = 32.75" (The photo shows the latest package with this info right on it.)
"Medium Scale" = 35.5"
"Long Scale Plus" = 38"​

 

[fermata]

That's according to GHS. I've used short scale GHS flats on my Hofner, and the silks just cleared the nut.

If they're a touch long, just put a dab of superglue on the silk behind the nut and use a sharp blade to trim. I had to do that on one of the strings.

 

[michael_t]

That's according to GHS. I've used short scale GHS flats on my Hofner, and the silks just cleared the nut.

Most manufacturers' "medium scale" is 34" in winding length, which is what is usually recommended for Hofners. So, I would assume the GHS "medium scale" of 35.5" is too long.

 

[Abner]

And to be fair, that string has silk in the nut, but not over the zero fret, so I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Fun Size Nick]

I'm enjoying these after a couple of months of play, but man, I'm really getting impatient for the big thumpy sound of a 5-year-old set of flats...how much longer do I have to wait???

 

[michael_t]

I'm enjoying these after a couple of months of play, but man, I'm really getting impatient for the big thumpy sound of a 5-year-old set of flats...how much longer do I have to wait???

The P Flats on my P bass are a little over 4 mths old now and they're sounding like a 4-mth-old set of flats, so I'm very hopeful they will sound like a 5-yr-old set of flats by the time they're 5 yrs old.

 

[Abner]

...how much longer do I have to wait???

I too will say about 4 years and 10 months.

 

[markjazzbassist]

I'm enjoying these after a couple of months of play, but man, I'm really getting impatient for the big thumpy sound of a 5-year-old set of flats...how much longer do I have to wait???

if you play regularly (like an hour or so a day or more) they are already there. i have old one and they have had the same sound for a year now, once they are dead they don't die anymore.

 

[Pbassmanca]

I don't know where you got the info that the "short scale" Precision Flats are "designed to fit Hofner basses", but here are the three current winding lengths available for the P Flats:

"Short Scale" = 32.75" (The photo shows the latest package with this info right on it.)
"Medium Scale" = 35.5"
"Long Scale Plus" = 38"​

Ooooh, I didn't know that they made a medium scale set of PF's. I have a Squier vintage modified tele Bass that is a medium scale (32") that I'm going to put a set of LaBella medium-scale flats on. The reason I haven't done it yet is because I want to do a new wiring harness up for that bass as I do not like the stock electronics and I purchased a Seymour Duncan Antiquity II single coil as well. Do you know what the string gauges are for the medium scale GHS Precision Flats set?

 

[michael_t]

Do you know what the string gauges are for the medium scale GHS Precision Flats set?

45-60-75-95. The same set of gauges I use on my Am Std P.

Keep in mind, though, that the winding length on the GHS "medium" (= 35.5") is longer than the La Bella "medium" (= 34").

 

[Fun Size Nick]

The P Flats on my P bass are a little over 4 mths old now and they're sounding like a 4-mth-old set of flats, so I'm very hopeful they will sound like a 5-yr-old set of flats by the time they're 5 yrs old.

I too will say about 4 years and 10 months.

You lot are so helpful

if you play regularly (like an hour or so a day or more) they are already there. i have old one and they have had the same sound for a year now, once they are dead they don't die anymore.

Nah, they’re nowhere near dead. People talk about these having thump, and I’m definitely not hearing that yet. Lots of top end still as well, so it sounds ugly with the amount of drive I usually use for an old-school R&B tone. Maybe I’m just washing my hands too frequently

 

[michael_t]

The P Flats on my P bass are a little over 4 mths old now and they're sounding like a 4-mth-old set of flats, so I'm very hopeful they will sound like a 5-yr-old set of flats by the time they're 5 yrs old.

In all seriousness, this is the happiest I've ever been as far as flats on my P bass go. I'm willing to let these P Flats take me wherever they want to go tonally in the next few years. No real expectations on how they SHOULD sound. If they stay the way they are for the next 10 years, I'd be okay with that; if they mellow with age and get thumpier, that would be okay as well.

 

[NKBassman]

In all seriousness, this is the happiest I've ever been as far as flats on my P bass go. I'm willing to let these P Flats take me wherever they want to go tonally in the next few years. No real expectations on how they SHOULD sound. If they stay the way they are for the next 10 years, I'd be okay with that; if they mellow with age and get thumpier, that would be okay as well.

I've always wanted to like flats, but when it comes down to it I've hated just about every set I've ever tried... before GHS P Flats. They're the only set of flats I've ever actually enjoyed playing, let alone wanted to keep on my bass for more than one rehearsal. They just sound wonderful on a P bass.

My last set went out the door with a bass I sold, and I have a new Custom Medium set waiting in the drawer for when I get around to restringing my trusty Fender Highway 1. I've been "getting around to it" for a few months now... suppose I should get on that.

 

[Pbassmanca]

Have any of you guys ever came across comparison clips on YouTube of La Bella deep talkin Flats versus GHS Precision Flats? I've played La Bella Flats lots and i'be kept them on my basses numerous times but I'm just wondering what the fundamental differences are in the sounds produced between La Bella flats and GHS flats. I know that GHS talks about a cross wound under wrap producing a more "dynamic" response in the E and A strings, but beyond that I'm just interested to know what everyone's opinions are.

 

[Pbassmanca]

I've been "getting around to it" for a few months now... suppose I should get on that...

Story of my life when it comes to several bass mod projects!

 

[NKBassman]

Story of my life when it comes to several bass mod projects!

Shortly after I stocked up on a bunch of stuff for my P Bass mods (new wiring harness, bridge, chrome bridge and pickup covers), I got "demoted" in both my country bands due to being unavailable pretty much all summer. So now I have no bands and no prospects, and thus no real motivation to spend money/ change strings for no reason.

I have a different P Bass that I keep with rounds now though, so the flats are going on this bass for sure. I suppose I should just get off my butt and do it so they can start breaking in.