Really High-Tension Flats

[EliasA]

Hey fellow string obsessives, do you guys know of some flats that feel like double bass strings under the fingers? Obviously not gut strings...anyway normally I would research using The Internet™ but since this is a feel thing...it's up to you guys. I can get tone out of the amp and such so I'm just concerned with feel.

 

[Deleted member 407575]

Rotosound Steve Harris Flats are supposed to be very high tension.

 

[WG Plum]

La Bella Jamerson flats? I believe they've been described as bridge cables?

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...-h7nYta_NSMXJ7zOVLBoCX-UQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[EliasA]

La Bella Jamerson flats? I believe they've been described as bridge cables?

That was my first thought. I might have a set of those on a Squier P pretty soon...have you ever played them?

 

[Lo-E]

LaBella Jamersons, Rotos, heavy gauge D’Addario Chromes and GHS Precision Flats are all pretty high tension.

 

[iiipopes]

Be careful. I snapped a truss rod once with the heavier Rotos. Until my left hand developed a touch of arthritis, I have also played upright. The swing band I was in played standards and I played a set of Bel Cantos with a Spiro 3885W E string. I wouldn't go to the heaviest flat wound strings. In addition to stress on the neck, they could go thump in tone because of the shorter scale than a typical 3/4 upright. Actually, first I would try a set of La Bella 760FL 43-104, as it is a typical set many folks use, including me on one of my basses. Then you can determine what you like or dislike about the tone or feel, post your impressions, and get recommendations to point you in that direction. Kind of like, "Compared to 760FL, I want strings that have more/less ________________." Or, you might like them.

 

[WG Plum]

That was my first thought. I might have a set of those on a Squier P pretty soon...have you ever played them?

I have not, they've never fit my needs.

 

[Mastermold]

I have old heavy gauge Fender flats on this bass, they have been on since 2007 and still play and sound terrific.

 

[NKBassman]

Rotosound 77 flats are the stiffest feeling flats I've ever played. D'Addario Chromes are second. I can't say how either of them compare to double bass strings, but that's what I've got for ya.

 

[Hundred proof]

I’ll second that the rotosound 77s were deal breakers for me … I’m with Ti flats now big difference

 

[DJ Bebop]

That was my first thought. I might have a set of those on a Squier P pretty soon...have you ever played them?

I run a set of the these

On this bass

I like them. I wanted to see what Jamerson and Dunn were working with They are stiff but not unplayable.

Got some sponge rubber under the bridge cover too

 

[johnh89]

I'll second the LaBella 54s . Great sound but gave me tendonitis in the end .

 

[NKBassman]

I’ll second that the rotosound 77s were deal breakers for me … I’m with Ti flats now big difference

lol yeah that's about as big a swing in string feel that I could imagine.

 

[Mastermold]

I have old heavy gauge Fender flats on this bass, they have been on since 2007 and still play and sound terrific.
View attachment 7209576

These are the set I have on this one, they say medium but are thick for that label:

 

[ole Jason]

Not sure how literal you're being with the DB comparison but here are measurements for Spiros:

Thomastik-Infield Spirocore Solo (tuned down to orchestra pitch) 3886 flatsteel wire wound on steel spiral core
G D A E
dia (in.) 0.044 0.061 0.076 0.103
tension (lbs) 56.0 57.8 57.8 57.8

Thomstik-Infield Spirocore Soft (Weich) 3885 flatsteel wire wound on steel spiral core
G D A E
dia (in.) 0.046 0.063 0.079 0.107
tension (lbs) 60.6 61.7 63.9 66.1

Thomstik-Infield Spirocore Medium (Mittel) 3885 flatsteel wire wound on steel spiral core
G D A E
dia (in.) 0.052 0.070 0.085 0.111
tension (lbs) 67.2 68.3 70.5 72.8

 

[HaphAsSard]

Hey fellow string obsessives, do you guys know of some flats that feel like double bass strings under the fingers? Obviously not gut strings...anyway normally I would research using The Internet™ but since this is a feel thing...it's up to you guys. I can get tone out of the amp and such so I'm just concerned with feel.

The experience will be several steps removed.

Electric bass flatwounds may be, on the average, lower-tension, but they have solid cores, which feature is now rare in double-bass strings, where it's been all but phased out in favour of rope-core strings, which are waaay more flexible.
Also, on an upright, they're typically plucked in a position that is proportionally similar to that of a P-bass pickup, but which is a lot farther from the bridge than the latter in absolute terms, hence even more forgiving to the plucking hand.

In short, heavy electric sets will give you uneven tension (a 075 D string might even have *more* tension than what you use on your doghouse; as for a 110 low E, you'll find it a lot less tight-feeling than it's often made out to be, and not quite in upright territory), and significant stiffness.

In order for an electric to feel like an upright, it should wear high-tension but flexible strings, and closer to balanced tension than what is usually offered.
If you're serious on this, either
1) look into the sole ropecore electric flatwound set available in the market, the Dogal Perfect Pitch flats Jonas Hellborg signature; specifically, get the 5-string set (JH1725S 34 G-B), toss the G, uptune the BEAD strings to EADG:
Invalid Link Removed
or
2) get a 1/10 or 1/8 size double-bass string set. Make sure they're chrome-steel or nickel wound, so that the whole string, not just the core, is magnetically active.
Yes: both options are expensive. I can find 1/8 size sets for under 100 euros this side of the Pond: not sure about Stateside.

Whatever you end up getting, consider also moving your plucking position well into the fretboard area.

 

[lunarpollen]

Pyramid Gold 640B Bass Flatwound Long Scale 4-String 50-110

They are handwound; the gauges are approximately 50-55-75-110

 

[ardgedee]

1) look into the sole ropecore electric flatwound set available in the market, the Dogal Perfect Pitch flats Jonas Hellborg signature; specifically, get the 5-string set (JH1725S 34 G-B), toss the G, uptune the BEAD strings to EADG:
some reviews on talkbass
or
2) get a 1/10 or 1/8 size double-bass string set. Make sure they're chrome-steel or nickel wound, so that the whole string, not just the core, is magnetically active.

A cheaper but possibly weirder option (if you can find a set; Thomann sells them but I don't know if they have US distribution) is to get a Galli Synthesis string set. The core is a synthetic elastic rather than metal. I haven't tried these but there are some reviews on talkbass -- what everybody seems to have in common is the experience of retuning frequently for days before the strings stabilize. Which I'd kind of expect. But if OP wants to try gut strings this might be as close as can be had for 34" scale electric bass.

 

[RasJay]

Rotosound Steve Harris Flats are supposed to be very high tension.

These are so high tension I felt they were going to snap my G&L pbass in two. So I used them for down tuning instead.

 

[Guitalia]

I bought a couple of sets of Fender's heaviest flatwounds for my 1977 Precision from one of the internet-only string suppliers about 15 years ago. The owner of the site actually emailed me to ask what I was going to use them on. I guess back then, he didn't have a lot of people ordering them.