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Really High-Tension Flats
- Thread starter EliasA
- Start date
I’d go with the stiffest labella’s. Even their low tension flats are stiffer than most low tension strings.
I recently put a nearly-new set of Labella 760FS flats on my FrankenP and am enjoying them a lot. That particular bass seems made for those strings.
Stiff, polished and a very smooth feel. I used Jargar's on my DB's for years but they're not quite as hard to pull as those were.
Stiff, polished and a very smooth feel. I used Jargar's on my DB's for years but they're not quite as hard to pull as those were.
Can confirm. I bought a set of these once because they were the only flats at the music store. I took them off after about a minute because I could have shot arrows with my bass’s neck. Terrifying.
Labella 760M .52 - .110 aka “Jamersons” are about as stiff as you can get.
Or my personal fave, 760FM .49 - .109 still pretty stiff, but a bit more manageable. A sort of “diet Jamerson” if you will.
Never tried the Steve Harris Rotos.
Or my personal fave, 760FM .49 - .109 still pretty stiff, but a bit more manageable. A sort of “diet Jamerson” if you will.
Never tried the Steve Harris Rotos.
I have La Bella 760N-B (5 string set) on two basses and I like them a lot. They're very smooth to the touch and sound great. Their stiffness suits my heavy handed style. I have D'Addario Chromes ECB81-5 - also 5 set on another bass. They're not quite as stiff as the La Bella. They have a nice smooth feel and a slightly brighter tone.
I've also tried Rotosound RS775LD Monels and they sound great and are quite stiff but they have a rougher texture, not as smooth as the La Bella.
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There is certainly a very vocal flats minority. There are a lot of us, however, that just can't play them. I've tried, but I'll give myself tendonitis trying to dig some twang out of them.
Not sure what you are trying to accomplish. I play both DB and EB, and really tension is not a qualifying factor for selecting strings for either instrument. There's a wide range of tension and diameter with DB strings just as there are for EB strings. The most popular DB strings probably are TI Spirocore bass strings, and they range from fairly heavy/stiff (not that commonly used) to Mittel (medium), Weich (light) and Solo, that are used often by players looking for very low tension, downtuned from solo tuning (a whole step higher than standard tuning). Medium and light are the most commonly used. I use light gauge on my DB and Pyramid Flats or LaBella Low tension flats on my EB. I've never seen any real benefit to using higher-tension strings; some players try them then switch out of them because they are hard on your hands and arms.
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I have run the bottom 4 strings of a 5 string set of Roto's on a 4, tuned EADG. The E was around 0.130" if I recall correctly. It felt like fretting train rails. Sustain was good, but the setup needed significant adjustments.
BEAD out of a new 5 string set of Chromes on a p bass… bridge cables compared to all my other basses, even my BEAD p bass with rounds. Something to note, my other basses have TI flats or regular ol D’Addario nickel rounds
I don’t think they will give you an uprightish tone, and there are many fairly high tension flats available, but the LaBella 54 Jamerson set is in a class alone. I would have those on one of my P Basses if I had a P Bass with a neck stiff enough to hold them with reasonable relief. I have a nice Through Body set in my string box that’s barely been played. They make a nice, warm, percussive sound, but for me a set of TI flats gets more upright vibe.
On upright I prefer EP Weichs which are pretty flexible by comparison.
On upright I prefer EP Weichs which are pretty flexible by comparison.
Some extra string tension gluttony by out doing Ol’ Steve by replacing the 110 E with the B 130 (you’d have to purchase separately) and tuning it up to E1. Be sure the neck of your bass is up to the task though. I haven’t done this myself with Roto 77’s, but I have done it with the La Bella 54’s gauges 52 73 95 128 for a short while. The bass survived. Long term? Who knows what such big time tension would do to the bass neck and tendons
The Roto 77 Tension Fest
Gauges 50 75 95 130
E1/.130/73.28lbf
A1/.095/68.78lbf
D2/.075/70.92lbf
G2/.050/62.52lbf
TT - 275.50 lbf
Can’t recall where on TB and member username, but the tensions mentioned being used were in the order of 80lbf per string or something tuning up strings
The Roto 77 Tension Fest
Gauges 50 75 95 130
E1/.130/73.28lbf
A1/.095/68.78lbf
D2/.075/70.92lbf
G2/.050/62.52lbf
TT - 275.50 lbf
Can’t recall where on TB and member username, but the tensions mentioned being used were in the order of 80lbf per string or something tuning up strings
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I have medium gauge (50-105) D'Addario Chromes on one of my Ric 4003s. They work for me because I tune to D Standard. I wouldn't tune them above Eb standard because they're too tense. But that seems to be what OP is looking for.
Everyday or at least every other day there’s a new post about either “what are best flats for my bass?” or an epiphany “I’ve tried flats for the first time and OMG!!!” This phenomenon for flats has just been within the past year or so.
I've been interested in changing up the strings I usually use so I've been reading old posts here about certain types and brands to get some ideas. It looks to me more like there's always been a pretty devoted following to flats but posts about them tend to wax and wane. I think we're in a busy cycle currently but there have been similar in the past. Maybe the folks who change their flats once every dozen years or so get hyped up around the time they replace the strings and that leads to a spike in activity.
Myself, I have a love-hate relationship. Love the reduced noise under my fretting fingers, though maybe not the slick feel. Hate the dull sound, always find myself pushing the mids in EQ when I use flats, which of course increases noise and overtones. They last a long time which more than offsets the higher prices, though that also means being stuck with their particular downsides. Not a fan of high tension either but lighter gauges are not that hard to find. There is no perfect string.
You know what you don't see?
TB members who don't like rounds, jumping into threads with "roundwound" right in the title, and adding comments (more than one) not so as to suggest flatwounds instead (it does happen, sometimes, in both directions, and, though awkward, it is meant to help the OP somehow);
but to the effect of "gee, there's a whole lot of roundwound users out there: I don't know how they do it - I sure can't play those cheese graters."
But it's all good. Sometimes the vast majority is feeling insecure, and has to be periodically reassured of their dominance.
(That Monty Python -riffing meme with the Pac-Man pie chart, "HELP! We're being oppressed", comes to mind.)
Much obliged guys. Special thanks to @HaphAsSard for the great response. I must make a confession now. I don't own a DB, just borrow one for gigs, so I can't practice on it very much. I was wondering if I could build up finger strength for it with EB strings. If anyone would like to respond again, feel free. If your rec still stands, thank you again.
I was “fresh roto ss rounds” guy through the 80’s and later a nickel round fan.
A friend gave me a FSO Fretless j with flats and they were not a good pairing. That set migrated to my JC and THAT combo is sweet.
So no tribal feelings from me. I see strings (and my several basses) like shoes. Do you ALWAYS wear cowboy boots? You do? Cool!
A friend gave me a FSO Fretless j with flats and they were not a good pairing. That set migrated to my JC and THAT combo is sweet.
So no tribal feelings from me. I see strings (and my several basses) like shoes. Do you ALWAYS wear cowboy boots? You do? Cool!
