Recommend flats for short scale SG bass

[ThinCrappyTone]

I have never in my life owned a bass with flats. But I would like to try some on my SG. I am inspired to try them because I really like the sound of the old, dead roundwounds that are on it currently, and want to see if flats will get me a similar tone that is maybe even better.

Any and all opinions are welcome. Thank you!

For reference, here is a recording of a song I recorded with the SG with "dead rounds". This is the tone zone I'm looking to stay in.

 

[HG1180]

You should try Groundwounds/Half-Rounds first, that tone is still comparatively bright when shown againt flats, Grounds kinda bridge the gap.

Here is a set of D’addario Groundwounds for short scale you could try.

Im not an expert at all on short scale strings or basses for that matter so I shall be departing this thread now

Good Luck on your string search though!

 

[sporadic29414]

Interested as well. I was ready to grab some GHS Precision Flats for my short scale Gretsch G2220, but had concerns of a floppy E since it's only .095. String tension looks unbalanced and very low for the E as well in the GHS tension chart.

 

[GIBrat51]

I have the 45-95 Precision Flats on these two short scales; an Eastwood Flying V, and a Warmoth Mini Precision. I also have Precision Flats on my '78 P-Bass, but that one doesn't count here... Personally, on these particular basses? I don't find the E string "floppy", but I will concede that it's... close. As for them being "unbalanced"? I have to admit that balance isn't something I pay a lot of attention to. Probably because it either doesn't matter a whole lot for the simple, vintage stuff I play, or I just learned to play around it. And, I have doubts that numbers on a page translate all that well into how the strings actually feel, anyway... In any case, I'm happy with those strings - on the basses they're on. Because it's more or less a Gibson Flying V clone, I was a little worried about the PF's being muddy when matched with the Eastwood's mini humbuckers. But, they aren't. Lots of bottom end, but lots of mids and...acceptable...highs, as well. Clean and articulate, too. As for the Mini Precision? Sounds like a P-Bass with flats should... I like these strings; I think they'll stay where they are...

 

[sporadic29414]

View attachment 3940966 View attachment 3940969 I have the 45-95 Precision Flats on these two short scales; an Eastwood Flying V, and a Warmoth Mini Precision. I also have Precision Flats on my '78 P-Bass, but that one doesn't count here... Personally, on these particular basses? I don't find the E string "floppy", but I will concede that it's... close. As for them being "unbalanced"? I have to admit that balance isn't something I pay a lot of attention to. Probably because it either doesn't matter a whole lot for the simple, vintage stuff I play, or I just learned to play around it. And, I have doubts that numbers on a page translate very accurately into how the strings actually feel, anyway... In any case, I'm happy with those strings - on the basses they're on. Because it's more or less a Gibson Flying V clone, I was a little worried about the PF's being muddy when matched with the Eastwood's mini humbuckers. But, they aren't. Lots of bottom end, but lots of mids and...acceptable...highs, as well. Clean and articulate, too. As for the Mini Precision? Sounds like a P-Bass with flats should... I like these strings; I think they'll stay where they are...

Thanks! I'd been searching, but couldn't find much info on how the short scale precision flats felt so I resorted to the tension charts. The .095 E roundwound that came on my G2220 is a little loose for my taste, but the same in a flat should be stiffer. I probably need to lighten up my playing as well, but will give the GHS short scale precisions a try on my Gretsch.

 

[michael_t]

I have doubts that numbers on a page translate all that well into how the strings actually feel, anyway...

A good point!

I used to live and die by the tension figures. So, when I tried the P Flats 45-95 on my P bass, I was a little concerned about the way they seemed too uneven. As it turned out, though, they weren't nearly as unbalanced as the tension numbers might have implied. In fact, I actually liked the way the 95E sounded cleaner and clearer compared to the larger E's (100/104/105) I had tried on this particular bass.

 

[Pilgrim]

I have a 1964 EB-0 that had an extra pickup grafted on before I got it. Really a nice, light bass with an easy neck.

I installed Labella Deep Talkin' Flats when I got it. They're probably the same strings it would have been delivered with in 1964. LOVE them! Of course, they're my preferred string...and if you want flats on an SG, they're the classics.

 

[PBandJazzBass]

A lot of it depends on the exact tone you're after.

La Bella's have that classic, dark, flatwound sound whereas the Rotosound 77's are brighter and have more edge.

The Gibson EB basses tend to naturally have a darker tone so a brighter flatwound might help balance it out.

The D'Addario and GHS flats are also nice, though I'm not sure they make these for short scales.

 

[GIBrat51]

I have never in my life owned a bass with flats. But I would like to try some on my SG. I am inspired to try them because I really like the sound of the old, dead roundwounds that are on it currently, and want to see if flats will get me a similar tone that is maybe even better.

Any and all opinions are welcome. Thank you!

For reference, here is a recording of a song I recorded with the SG with "dead rounds". This is the tone zone I'm looking to stay in.

In addition to the 2 short scale basses in a previous post that wear GHS Precision Flats, I have other shorties that wear other flats. As well as a couple that don't; I'll skip those... The violin bass on the right, and the old, red MIJ Epiphone EA-260, both wear La Bella 760FL's (43-104). The benchmark flats for Old School thump. Not exactly bell-like clarity - especially on a hollow body bass, - but they're not particularly muddy, either. The Danelectro Longhorn wears La Bellas, too; the 39-96 760FX's. A little more clarity than the FLs, maybe, and definitely not as stiff; but on a Longhorn the lighter gauge works just fine... Last, but certainly not least... my headless, aluminum-necked Kramer "The Duke" Special. It wears 45-105 DR Legends flats. Clear and articulate - on the Duke, anyway - they can also rattle your fillings loose, too. They sound very similar to the GHS Boomers they replaced, actually; just a little... more... of what the Boomers are. Very nice strings...
So, if you want to try flats? There are quite a few to choose from. I tend towards "Old School" flats, myself - especially on my short scale basses, - but there are a few "modern" short scale flats to choose from, too. So, pick yer poison...

 

[ThinCrappyTone]

You should try Groundwounds/Half-Rounds first, that tone is still comparatively bright when shown againt flats, Grounds kinda bridge the gap.

Here is a set of D’addario Groundwounds for short scale you could try.

Im not an expert at all on short scale strings or basses for that matter so I shall be departing this thread now

Good Luck on your string search though!

Thank you, that's a really good idea! I will try them out.

 

[ThinCrappyTone]

View attachment 3940966 View attachment 3940969 I have the 45-95 Precision Flats on these two short scales; an Eastwood Flying V, and a Warmoth Mini Precision. I also have Precision Flats on my '78 P-Bass, but that one doesn't count here... Personally, on these particular basses? I don't find the E string "floppy", but I will concede that it's... close. As for them being "unbalanced"? I have to admit that balance isn't something I pay a lot of attention to. Probably because it either doesn't matter a whole lot for the simple, vintage stuff I play, or I just learned to play around it. And, I have doubts that numbers on a page translate all that well into how the strings actually feel, anyway... In any case, I'm happy with those strings - on the basses they're on. Because it's more or less a Gibson Flying V clone, I was a little worried about the PF's being muddy when matched with the Eastwood's mini humbuckers. But, they aren't. Lots of bottom end, but lots of mids and...acceptable...highs, as well. Clean and articulate, too. As for the Mini Precision? Sounds like a P-Bass with flats should... I like these strings; I think they'll stay where they are...

That's really cool info! I will give them a try as well. Thank you!

 

[ThinCrappyTone]

I have a 1964 EB-0 that had an extra pickup grafted on before I got it. Really a nice, light bass with an easy neck.

I installed Labella Deep Talkin' Flats when I got it. They're probably the same strings it would have been delivered with in 1964. LOVE them! Of course, they're my preferred string...and if you want flats on an SG, they're the classics.

View attachment 3941024

Nice! Lovely EB as well! Thank you for the advice.

 

[ThinCrappyTone]

A lot of it depends on the exact tone you're after.

La Bella's have that classic, dark, flatwound sound whereas the Rotosound 77's are brighter and have more edge.

The Gibson EB basses tend to naturally have a darker tone so a brighter flatwound might help balance it out.

The D'Addario and GHS flats are also nice, though I'm not sure they make these for short scales.

That's a good point. The modern SGs seem to be less dark than the ol' EB's, from what I have heard, but it's a good point. Bright flats might be a nice complement! Thank you for the advice.

 

[sonojono]

GHS Precision flats. 45-95 to be specific.

 

[Splash7]

I have GHS Precision Flats 45-95 on all of my short scales (4) and I love them.

 

[ThinCrappyTone]

I have GHS Precision Flats 45-95 on all of my short scales (4) and I love them.

nice!Thank you for the info!

 

[40Hz]

There’s a natural tendency to put flats on a short-scale because people equate smaller size with less bass. But on a short scale the exact opposite is usually more the case. The shorties are “all about that bass” if nothing else. Put a shortscale up against a PB in a blues or reggae setting and the PB can come across as almost anemic by comparison. Where shorties are most often lacking however, is in the mids. They have a tendency to lose note definition and sound like a low floomy rumble if you aren’t careful with your EQ settings or neck position when you’re using flats. So I’ve found a set of well broken in nickel rounds or a set of GHS Pressurewounds (my preferred short scale string) generally work better than flats do for both today’s music and classic rock if you’re playing a short scale. (And who wouldn’t want to? )

You still get that deep low end. But there’s also more definition and some very musical mids that help keep you from sounding like you’re constantly playing Come Together no matter what the song.

tl:dr - Try GHS Pressurewounds.

 

[ThinCrappyTone]

There’s a natural tendency to put flats on a short-scale because people equate smaller size with less bass. But on a short scale the exact opposite is usually more the case. The shorties are “all about that bass” if nothing else. Put them up against a PB for blues and tge average Precision can almost sound anemic. Where shorties are most often lacking is in the mids. So while they can sound fuller and lower than the aforementioned PB, they’ll also have a tendency to get muddy and have their notes mush together in the mix so it just sounds like floomy rumble if you’re not careful with your EQ settings and neck position.

So I’ve found a set of well broken in nickel rounds or a set of GHS Pressurewounds (my preferred short scale string) generally work better than flats do for both today’s music and classic rock on a short scale.

You still get that deep low end. But there’s also more definition and some very musical mids that help keep you from sounding like you’re constantly playing Come Together no matter what the song.

tl:dr - Try GHS Pressurewounds.

Thanks for the info, @40Hz This is sort of where i'm at now, using old worn-in rounds. Who knows, maybe it's exactly where it needs to be already?

Good point about the shorties being generally bass heavy. I had that same misconception before owning one. Smaller bass? Must be smaller sound!

Thanks again for the info.

 

[BarfanyShart]

I would vote Labella Deep Talking Flats. I think that's gonna be your purest flats experience available on short scale.

 

[telecopy]

I have never in my life owned a bass with flats. But I would like to try some on my SG. I am inspired to try them because I really like the sound of the old, dead roundwounds that are on it currently, and want to see if flats will get me a similar tone that is maybe even better.

Any and all opinions are welcome. Thank you!

For reference, here is a recording of a song I recorded with the SG with "dead rounds". This is the tone zone I'm looking to stay in.

GHS Brite Flats and Pressurewounds are pretty smooth. They have short sets in medium I believe.