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Smooth flats?

el murdoque

el murdoque

Mar 10, 2013
12,061
25,424
Germany
thedirtjounal.com
#1
What flatwound strings have a perfectly smooth surface?
I've had a set of the golden LaBellas on a bass for a while and those were perfect in that regard.

Right now, I have Optima Flats, TI Jazz Flats and Chromes on my basses, but none of these deliver in that particular discipline.
 
#5
el murdoque said:
What is the silk color of the Pyramid Gold? I've seen photos of purple silks and photos of a dark teal color. The former would look quite ugly on my bass, the latter is a good match . . .
Click to expand...

Pyramid Gold silks are lavender color. It's a bit of a statement but one gets used to it. It is also quite delicate and needs gentle handling so it won't fray. Actual color is a bit lighter than how it appears in the photo below.

IMG_2166.jpg
 
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#6
You can't get better than the La Bella flats mirror finish. You already have the best. I prefer the FL's 43-104 for even tone and feel string-to-string. Yes, depending on the bass and the player's particular style, the E string can get a little thumpy over time, So I have a spare E string that I will put on in a few years.
 
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#7
iiipopes said:
You can't get better than the La Bella flats mirror finish. You already have the best. I prefer the FL's 43-104 for even tone and feel string-to-string. Yes, depending on the bass and the player's particular style, the E string can get a little thumpy over time, So I have a spare E string that I will put on in a few years.
Click to expand...

I really want to like my 760FS set but E and A strings sound increasingly more puffy/thumpy than I like and D and G still sound thin and metallic. So I'll probably have to resume the flats quest.

Edit: I can do with the extra thumpyness but the thinness of the D and G are a deal breaker. Thinking of replacing them with the D and G from the heavier FM set but given LaBella don't sell singles it means buying a whole expensive set for just two strings that may or may not deliver what is lacking.
 
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#10
el murdoque said:
What flatwound strings have a perfectly smooth surface?
I've had a set of the golden LaBellas on a bass for a while and those were perfect in that regard.

Right now, I have Optima Flats, TI Jazz Flats and Chromes on my basses, but none of these deliver in that particular discipline.
Click to expand...
I have D'Addario Chromes, La Bella DTF, and Dunlop Flats on separate Ibanez SR basses. The Dunlops are just as smooth as La Bella's. And yes, the Chromes aren't the same in that regard.
 

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