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Roscoe Club

#21,801
Let's talk flats for a minute:

I'm not a HUGE fan, but I really want to try out some flats with my LG5 PJ. But my only real experience with flats on a 5 string is with Chromes on my fretless (which I really didn't like at all), and I found the low B to be lacking and anemic.

I'm normally a GHS bass boomers and/or pressurewound guy.

What kind of experience do you guys have with flats that really keep the nice, strong, Roscoe low B sound?
 
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#21,804
Skip Chucker said:
Let's talk flats for a minute:

I'm not a HUGE fan, but I really want to try out some flats with my LG5 PJ. But my only real experience with flats on a 5 string is with Chromes on my fretless (which I really didn't like at all), and I found the low B to be lacking and anemic.

I'm normally a GHS bass boomers and/or pressurewound guy.

What kind of experience do you guys have with flats that really keep the nice, strong, Roscoe low B sound?
Click to expand...

The best sounding flats I have found are the TI Jazz flats, however, the B string on all I have tried has been less clear than the D'Adarrio EXL's nickel rounds that I prefer. I do have TI flats on one of my 4 string basses and they sound wonderful. I have tried Chromes, LaBella, TI and Cobalt flats.
 
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#21,806
armybass said:
Ok. I’m responsible for the detour so I’ll try to get us back on track. My son Ben is going to help me get a good family photo this week but he did this for me in the meantime. It’s truly an embarrassment of riches but I have no regrets nor guilt lol. And yes there is still one more being crafted by the master at the present moment.
View attachment 4720721
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We salute you! :drool:
 
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#21,807
TI’s sound and feel amazing on my Classic P. I’ve never tried flats on a 5. Idk, seems odd to me. I guess I belong to the P with flats, J with rounds school of thought, although flats can sound nice on a jazz as well. I like my 5 string nice and “modern” sounding.
 
#21,813
I have flats on 4 out of my 6 electric basses - TIs on 2 (P bass and fretless Sire V7), Chromes on 1 (fretless Godin Acoustibass), and Fender 9050s on 1 (a passive PJ). I like ‘em all, but I’ve never tried flats on my SKB - it’s an intriguing idea. I think I’d try the TIs first - I think their forward but not too aggressive mids would go great with the Roscoe Barts.
 
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#21,814
I had LaBella DTF’s on my Century for about a day. Had the same set on another bass for about the same amount of time. They used to be my go to flat, but they just don’t work for me now. I have TI flats on another bass, but they are likely coming off. I find that the B is just not to my liking. If I EQ/adjust to make the B work, everything else is thin and wimpy. I put a set of of Balanced nickels on the century, great tone, but the bass really needs a tapered B to get the action low enough.

Anyway, I know this was no help, but best of luck on the flat search.
 
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#21,815
BassJuju said:
I have TI flats on another bass, but they are likely coming off. I find that the B is just not to my liking. If I EQ/adjust to make the B work, everything else is thin and wimpy.

Anyway, I know this was no help, but best of luck on the flat search.
Click to expand...

I've actually had a couple sets of TI flats where the B string was not balanced sounding with the other strings. The current set that I have on my Spector sounds very balanced (and it's a new set purchased recently). @JohnnyR is another Roscoehead that really loves the TI Flats and he's mentioned the same thing (about the B string being unbalanced on some sets).
At what they cost you'd think that they would be a bit more consistent but I guess that it is what it is. They certainly sound and feel great when you have a balanced set.
 
#21,816
Skip Chucker said:
Yeah, I don't like Chromes at all.
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Here's a clip that I recorded over ABB's Mellisa using Chromes on my SKB-3005 Roscoe with Chromes. The idea was to get closer to the classic rock bass sound. I thought that they got fairly close.
 

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#21,820
Thumper said:
Heresy, I know, but I always ran my TIs with a roundwound B, usually a DR Lowrider nickel. Worked for gigging, I never professionally recorded with them that way though.
Click to expand...

Not really… upright players run different strings all the time. I have at least 2 types on each of mine. However, you are correct in that most electric bassist running one type. Still, I really like that idea. May need to give that I try.
 
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