Praise Report: GHS Precision Flats

[markjazzbassist]

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.

talkbass has conflicting info. threads where GHS are thumpy and labella a little brighter. another thread and it's the opposite. honestly, just buy a set of each (good thing both aren't super expensive, cough cough TI cough cough) and try em out for a good 3-4 months.

 

[fermata]

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.

Here's a good back-to-back comparison of the two:
Flatwound Roundtable

In my experience, having compared La Bella 760FX and GHS 3020 sets on the same bass, La Bellas have more presence in the upper mids, while GHS flats have a bump in the low mids. As a result, La Bella flats sound a bit scooped compared to GHS flats.

La Bellas are stiffer than GHS flats of a similar gauge, which flex more easily; however, I'd say the GHS flats have a bit more tension. Both brands are very smooth to the touch but differently so; the La Bellas have a glassy/glossy smoothness, while the GHS have a dry smoothness.

I have two basses (one short scale, one medium scale), which are now both strung with GHS .045-.095 sets; I'm sold on the feel and the rich mids.

 

[michael_t]

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.

I have no audio clips comparing GHS and LB.

Here's my take on the tonal difference between them based on LB 760FL (43-60-82-104) and GHS 3025 (45-60-75-95) on my Am Std P.

LB = Bottom-heavy along with something going on in hi-mids to keep it from being lost in the mix. The 104E tended to get a little muddy when dug in.

GHS = The lows are not quite as "thick and thunderous" as the LB but plenty of low-mid punch to hold a strong presence in the mix. No worry about being lost. Woody and percussive, the 95E is clear with good definition. No mud or thud.

By the way, this "cross winding" thing GHS talks about is more of a marketing thing than a true innovation.

 

[michael_t]

La Bellas are stiffer than GHS flats of a similar gauge, which flex more easily (but the tension feels pretty similar with the light gauge sets). Both brands are very smooth to the touch but differently so; the La Bellas have a glassy/glossy smoothness, while the GHS have a dry smoothness.

LB = Glassy/glossy smooth.
GHS = Silky/satiny smooth.

Between the two, I prefer GHS. It's almost like comparing gloss finish and satin finish on the neck.
And I do agree about GHS being slightly more supple/pliable than LB.

 

[shoulderpet]

La Bellas are stiffer than GHS flats of a similar gauge, which flex more easily (but the tension feels pretty similar with the light gauge sets).

Would you say this is true of the 95-40 GHS vs the 96-39 760fx Labella set? My hands tell me they are fairly similar but been a while since I used the 760fx Labella set

 

[michael_t]

Would you say this is true of the 95-40 GHS vs the 96-39 760fx Labella set? My hands tell me they are fairly similar but been a while since I used the 760fx Labella set

I only have experience with 760FL, but I would guess the 760FX and the GHS 3025 are similar in terms of overall stiffness and playing feel.

What I like about the GHS is the tonal balance achieved by having a 45 for G to tame the twang. I've always found a flatwound 40G tends to get a little too thin compared to the rest.

 

[HankHillWaluigi]

What I like about the GHS is the tonal balance achieved by having a 45 for G to tame the twang. I've always found a flatwound 40G tends to get a little too thin compared to the rest.

I second this observation. I found that the 3025 set is pretty balanced in tone with a thumpy E string and balanced G, it doesn't really sound like any of the strings in the set are out of place like I've found with other flatwound sets.

 

[fermata]

Would you say this is true of the 95-40 GHS vs the 96-39 760fx Labella set? My hands tell me they are fairly similar but been a while since I used the 760fx Labella set

Yes. But the .045 GHS G feels more substantial than the .039 La Bella G. And at that gauge, the La Bellas are pretty supple, even if they are comparatively stiffer than the GHS set.

 

[dagrev]

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.

I think you like them because these are what flats are supposed to sound like!

 

[nerkoids]

Finally bought that T-bass. Ordered some GHS Ps to go with it. Delivery probably in about 2 weeks. Stoked.

 

[dagrev]

Finally bought that T-bass. Ordered some GHS Ps to go with it. Delivery probably in about 2 weeks. Stoked.

I hope it's a good match for you. I tried them on my '55 P and it just didn't work. Kind of bland and nondescript--and I thought they would be perfect. But this bass has some weird electronics that was in there when I bought it around 1982 (a Lawrence Q Filter instead of a tone cap).

 

[J-Mags]

My impression is that GHS have fuller mids than the LaBellas, so they sound darker to some people and brighter to others. I play mostly with a pick, so forgive my myopic distinctions, but to me LaBella is the classic flat sound where you hear the click of the pick with a deep, fat fundamental, while GHS are slightly less clicky and have more upper mids.

 

[nerkoids]

My impression is that GHS have fuller mids than the LaBellas, so they sound darker to some people and brighter to others. I play mostly with a pick, so forgive my myopic distinctions, but to me LaBella is the classic flat sound where you hear the click of the pick with a deep, fat fundamental, while GHS are slightly less clicky and have more upper mids.

I've never strung a bass with Labellas before, so I can't really compare, but I'm quite happy with every aspect of the tone of these GHS strings.

I'm not sure if that makes me conservative in seeking bass tone or not, but I've found the tone I've wanted all these years. Took me from Rotosounds, D'Addario and Fender flats. My flats journey is shorter than others. I guess I'm too easy to please (or too cheap!)

 

[nerkoids]

I second this observation. I found that the 3025 set is pretty balanced in tone with a thumpy E string and balanced G, it doesn't really sound like any of the strings in the set are out of place like I've found with other flatwound sets.

I've found the 45 on some basses to have some twang that hangs around for months. Then I got a 55 to 105 set - no twang, and if anything, I found the tone more consistent from string to string in that set. Can get some nice tubbiness up above the 7th fret even on the G string.

 

[michael_t]

I've found the 45 on some basses to have some twang that hangs around for months. Then I got a 55 to 105 set - no twang, and if anything, I found the tone more consistent from string to string in that set. Can get some nice tubbiness up above the 7th fret even on the G string.

One of the most twangy (and annoyingly bright) flatwound G I've tried is the D'A Chrome 40G, while the Chrome 45G is one of the stiffest G I've tried.

What I like about the 45G in the GHS 3025 set is it tames the twang without being uncomfortably stiff like the Chrome. And while I do agree with your assessment about the 55G balancing better with the 105E tonally, I don't think I can ever handle the tension/stiffness.

 

[shoulderpet]

Yes. But the .045 GHS G feels more substantial than the .039 La Bella G. And at that gauge, the La Bellas are pretty supple, even if they are comparatively stiffer than the GHS set.

The GHS feel a bit stiffer to my plucking hand than the Labella's , not in the E and A but the D and G seem stiffer , strange how our perceptions differ but different setups can affect the compliance of a string, if GHS did a 95-75-55-40 set that would be awesome

 

[michael_t]

The GHS feel a bit stiffer to my plucking hand than the Labella's , not in the E and A but the D and G seem stiffer , strange how our perceptions differ but different setups can affect the compliance of a string, if GHS did a 95-75-55-40 set that would be awesome

In terms of tension and overall playing feel, yes, you're right, the 45G and 60D are slightly stiffer than the 75A and 95E. But I do like their tonal balance better than any flatwound set I've tried with a 40G.

 

[michael_t]

Just to clarify my above post...

The actual difference in stiffness (ie playing feel) between 45/60 and 75/95 in the 3025 set is not as drastic as one might suspect - certainly not something that annoys me enough to affect my playing, not like the D'A Chromes ECB81, 45-65-80-100, which I've tried once and couldn't stand for their unevenness.

 

[HankHillWaluigi]

Just to clarify my above post...

The actual difference in stiffness (ie playing feel) between 45/60 and 75/95 in the 3025 set is not as drastic as one might suspect - certainly not something that annoys me enough to affect my playing, not like the D'A Chromes ECB81, 45-65-80-100, which I've tried once and couldn't stand for their unevenness.

I second this. I felt that while they had a sort of unevenness to them, it wasn't as drastic as I expected. Same with the 55-105 set. I find that all GHS P Flats are for different tastes but are all thumpy and punchy.

 

[J-Mags]

I've never strung a bass with Labellas before, so I can't really compare, but I'm quite happy with every aspect of the tone of these GHS strings.

I'm not sure if that makes me conservative in seeking bass tone or not, but I've found the tone I've wanted all these years. Took me from Rotosounds, D'Addario and Fender flats. My flats journey is shorter than others. I guess I'm too easy to please (or too cheap!)

I've tried a bunch of strings (both roundwound and flatwound) because I was switching to bass full-time after a lifetime of guitar, and I wanted a signature sound. I've always thought that flatwounds were cool, but it was my band that roped me into flats. They heard me playing flats with a pick and it was just the sound they wanted.

I tried LaBella a long time ago because they came on a bass that I owned. At the time, I liked the sound, but ended up switching to roundwounds. Later on, I tried Chromes, GHS and Dunlops. I didn't like Chromes that much and couldn't find LaBella Mustang Bass strings, so I ordered a set of GHS and a set of Dunlops, based on various TB recommendations, figuring that if I didn't like one, I might like the other. I loved them both. They're very different. Dunlops sound leaner, with relaxed mids and a clicky high end, while the GHS are way thumpier and middier. Right now, I'm using Dunlops because the frequencies fit right in between the drums and the punk rock guitars, but if I start playing another kind of music, the GHS have a bit more magic and presence.