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Smooth Flatwounds with Punch?

#63
::::BASSIST:::: said:
I thought there was a chance I might find some strings I could use in my old string box, but no such luck.

Which string has more tension: Sadowsky or the GHS M3050 set?

Also, where can I find Sadowsky flats for the lowest price?

Thanks!
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GHS would be higher tension I believe. The cheapest place for the Sads would be eBay, but I would just order them straight from Sadowsky myself, in case of a bad string (which has happened to me twice actually).
 
#64
lowendfriend said:
The smoothest strings I have ever had are hands down the Detroit Steel Flats from webstrings.com. they are even smoother than the OP's post and they are cheap.
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+1 to this. When I first pulled them out of the package, I wasn't super impressed. They felt notchy/uneven. But, put them on your bass and get them up to tension-----super smooth. They had a big low/low-mid punch. much more of a woody/upright bass sound than the only other flats I've tried--


----which are Ernie Ball flats. Ernie Ball flats are also pretty smooth. But, they sound thin for a flatwound. They do have a bit of bite to their sound though. So if that's what someone is looking for, maybe try em. They have blue silk.
 
#66
Just put on my GHS precision flatwounds today. I did not have time to make any adjustments to action as I just put them on, tuned up and left for band practice.

These are nice strings. I like them just as much as the Labella 760FLs. They dont seem as punchy as the chromes... especially on the E string.

I can see that these will be super thumpy after a few months because even though they are brand new there is not much zing... not nearly as much as new chromes.

One thing I dont care for is that they do have a slight stickiness to them. Anyone else notice that? Does the stickiness disappear after awhile?
 
#70
I had the GHS Flats on my Warwick Corvette and I reallly liked them but I sold it almost 2 years ago so don't remember if they were sticky when old but I have the new Fender 9050's on my Fast Bass and they stick only when my hand gets damp (when it's really hot) otherwise they're nice and smooth but I'm waiting to hear what you think of the Sadowsky's if you get them...
 
#71
Sub'd.

Good thread, and I too am a Chrome lover. I have a set that I've been rockin for about 3-4 years, and like a fine wine, I feel they've gotten better with age.

That said, I know that the day will come when I want to try something else. Some great suggestions here, and the link to the comparison page was killer! Thanks!

:::: Bassist :::: , you're not the first person to notice that newer Chromes seem physically rougher than older versions. I seem to recall reading the same thing from other people at least a few times in various posts on TB. Mine feel as smooth as silk, and came in the newer packaging (that you posted) when I bought them (3-4 yrs ago).

:hmm:

-K
 
#72
Delberthot said:
do you guys get the same Rotosound flats in the US that we get in the UK?

There's a couple of guys saying that they're rough, sure its not groundwound or something? They're easily the smoothest string I've ever used.

I've been playing them on the same bass now for 7 months and they're every bit as good as they were when I first fitted them.

Oh yeah, and they're punchy as hell too. that's what i like about them.

If I can get a punchy sound using an Epiphone Goth Thunderbird through a GK 700RB II into a Hartke 215XL then they must be good.
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I bought my last Roto set in London. Compared to Labellas and Chromes they are almost like rounds. I love em.
 
#75
::::BASSIST:::: said:
Brand new I definitely notice stickiness, but I hope it goes away after some playing. Its not as bad as the Fender 9050s though (older version).

Still thinking of the Sadowskys.
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Did you try wiping them down with an alcohol swab? That may help get rid of the stickiness. I'm still digging my Chromes, but I wipe them down after every playing. It keeps the new punchiness I like about them a bit longer...
 
#78
#79
I think I would throw in a vote for the Sadowskys. I played chromes for a long time but got into Labellas, which are probably my all around favorite. I wanted to try something dif from the labellas on my recent model MIA P. Tried the Sads recently and love them. Easily the smoothest flat I've played and now that I've played a handful of gigs, I love how they are breaking in. Sounded and played great right out of packaging and only getting better. I would agree in general with the comments on here that say they are somewhere in between Chromes and the Labellas. Highly recommend the Sadowskys.
 
#80
::::BASSIST:::: said:
I have a set of Chromes on my practice-at-home bass and they are not super smooth. About five years ago I had Chromes that were way smoother. They must have changed something.

Right now I am considering:

Sadowsky flats
GHS Precision Flats
Carvin flats (I think I read good things about these a few months ago)
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Carvin flats rock (they're repackaged GHS Precision Flats actually) . Fantastic price, too.
 

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