"slappable" flats

[williamk]

hi all
I couldn't find the info I was looking for in any other thread;
I would like to know which flats out there are the easier/most responsive to slap? It's to put on my p-bass, I want that old school flats sound, but I'd like to have the possibility to slap as well too, if ever possible. I don't like sloppy strings.
The only flats I've tried where chromes and I didn't like them, though it's hard to explain why...
thanks!

 

[CapnSev]

Sadowsky flats and Fender flats (the new ones) both sound very nice slapped.

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

I slapped the other night with my La Bella 1954 originals!

 

[randysmojo]

Who you get an actual good slap tone with having to mess much with eq? I had thought about using pressure wounds or half rounds so slapping might sound a little more authentic.

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

its a different kind of tone slapping with flats... and no way I can slap as fast as I can with flats then the light gauge rounds I normally use...

 

[Jay2U]

New Fender flats would be about the only slappables amongst the flats.

 

[josiah goldfish]

New Fender flats would be about the only slappables amongst the flats.

Yeah, my strings (fenders) slap ok when they're new, after? Not so much

 

[williamk]

but don't flats never really "age" anyway...?

 

[Jay2U]

but don't flats never really "age" anyway...?

Flats do age, but many flatwound players like them that way. Once really aged, they produce a thumpy sound with less sustain. Not advisable for slapping, I'd say.

 

[TortugaDaPipah]

I've had no issues slapping Chromes on my J. I crank the tone and bridge pickup knobs all the way back up, normally they're zero'd. Sounds fine to me.

 

[knumbskull]

Chromes sound good slapped, based on my limited experience

 

[PlungerModerno]

I get sweet results slapping with my two month old chromes... on the neck pickup of my telebass. Decent Bite and a hint of clear percussive 'snap'. I've the modern player telebass so the bridge humbucker is the 'snappy slappy' pickup.

I think the chromes just sound very balanced and sweet - even when slapped.

Not a terribly high-fi sound from a passive neck 'bucker and flats though

 

[Willicious]

I slapped the other night with my La Bella 1954 originals!

I've been slapping a bit on a new set of LaBella 760FM's—
just one size smaller than the '54s.
Pleasantly surprised at how articulate (for flats) they sound.
We'll see how they do in 3-4 months.

 

[kasbrey]

The new Fender flats - they're kinda Chromes v2.0, very slappable.

To me they're halfway between Chromes and La Bella 760FL

760FL will do that "Brickhouse" sound

 

[masturbasser]

I slapped the other night with my La Bella 1954 originals!

I'm not much of a slapper at all but these strings actually surprised me with how good the slap tone was (especially with a foam mute). Probably won't be everyone's taste. From my limited understanding D'addario Chromes are the zingiest flats.

 

[randysmojo]

I guess that's kind of the question for some,what is the zingiest flats? Anyone know of brighter, zingier flats than Chromes?

 

[enjoi1018]

I've got some Ken Smith Slickrounds that aren't quite flats, but have no zing to them and still slap oh so sweet. Add a little flange or filter behind and viola.

 

[JimmyM]

Wow, what a lot of misinformation here!

I've slapped on any strings I ever used, and it sounds just fine with all of them. This idea that most flats aren't slappable is myth.

 

[williamk]

I've got some Ken Smith Slickrounds that aren't quite flats, but have no zing to them and still slap oh so sweet. Add a little flange or filter behind and viola.

...and viola? hahaha!!

 

[king_biscuit]

I can tell you that TIs are the worst slapping flats I've tried. La Bellas and EB/Chromes work pretty well for flats.