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Smooth Flatwounds with Punch?

#81
Heh. Well I ended up putting my old Chromes back on my main bass (Stambaugh J). For the E string (which wore out/went dead... thus the idea to change things up) I put on a LaBella FM (not sure the diametre). So far it sounds great. My old Chromes have to be at least 5 years old. Thumpy, punchy and smooth.

I put my GHS precisions on my Squire SS Jag that I keep at home for practicing. The GHS are great strings but I still prefer my old Chromes. The sadowskys will be the next set I buy in the future.
 
#82
Another +1 for the Sadowsky. I've tried three kinds of Flats so far: TIs (used w/ unknown mileage) Chromes (med), and now Sadowsky (med). I got used the looseness of the TI, but I just couldn't love the tone. The chromes were a bit stiffer than I cared for. There were also to clangy even after the settled for my taste.

Sadowsky: had a bit of stickyness, but quickly wore off. Tension is between TI and Chromes. Probaly closer to Chromes, but just enough less to make them very comfortable. Tone wise they don't have that old school thump, but they definitly punchy and modern sounding. They still sound like flats to me. They're on a jazz and I prefer a bit of a modern tone on a jazz and vintage flats on my P. I have a new set of GHS Precisions I'm going to try next on the P. Feel wise the Sadowsky are not as smooth as TIs, but smoother and feel nicer than the Chromes.
 
#83
I have Chromes on my fretless Sterling and they are amazing as they still sustain and growl like rounds but with none of the harsh brightness. They are super smooth to the touch as well.
 
#84
JB36 said:
Another +1 for the Sadowsky. I've tried three kinds of Flats so far: TIs (used w/ unknown mileage) Chromes (med), and now Sadowsky (med). I got used the looseness of the TI, but I just couldn't love the tone. The chromes were a bit stiffer than I cared for. There were also to clangy even after the settled for my taste.

Sadowsky: had a bit of stickyness, but quickly wore off. Tension is between TI and Chromes. Probaly closer to Chromes, but just enough less to make them very comfortable. Tone wise they don't have that old school thump, but they definitly punchy and modern sounding. They still sound like flats to me. They're on a jazz and I prefer a bit of a modern tone on a jazz and vintage flats on my P. I have a new set of GHS Precisions I'm going to try next on the P. Feel wise the Sadowsky are not as smooth as TIs, but smoother and feel nicer than the Chromes.
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Try the extra light gauge set of Chromes sometime. They have tension similar to most nickle roundwounds.
 
#85
I'm reviving this thread (I think you guys call it "bump" on talkbass, but I'm new here).

Anybody had a new set of Chromes since, well, 2011 I see ?

Just talking about the smoothness/polishing of those strings. I'm about to order a set, but I never tried them and you scared me with the "rough feel" comments...

IME, Pyramids are smooth as glass, Labellas are well polished, GHS also and Rotosound 77 Flats are rather rough for a flat... In fact that's what I currently have on my P-Bass, and although I have no real complaint about the tone I get, I don't like their gritty feel and the tension of the 45-105 is just too high. Higher than the same gauge of Labellas.

I heard of Sadowsky Flats a lot (I read talkbass a lot, but it's my first message), but getting them in Europe is hard if not impossible.

DR Flats don't seem widely appreciated here, and they're more expensive than LB 760FL.
 
#88
I just got a new set of Chromes and new set of Cobalt Flats and using them on the same exact bass with same pickups and everything. So far the Cobalts a a little bit rougher but the sound is so much better for me using the cobalt flats. This is both being brand new and installed on Ibanez Prestige bass with the same pickups and settings. Significant difference so far using the Cobalts. The Cobalts are a little sticky out of the gate but the sound is superior for me.
 
#91
BigThud said:
Anyboday can answer my question?
Click to expand...
I have a set of Chromes on my P Bass that I bought in mid 2013, right before they (stupidly) changed their packaging so that you can't tell different types of strings apart. The Chromes are way smoother than the Rotosound Flats that they replaced and are about the same smoothness as La Bella Flats. They are not rough or sticky at all and feel and sound great.
 
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#92
Thanks alot guys!

I'm gonna order Chromes for my P-Bass then. I'll give you my impression as soon as the strings are on and the bass back from the luthier (never been "professionally" set up since I got it in September 2011, so it won't be unnecessary).

The Roto Flats are not "that" rough, but I'm tired of their sound, neither a thump nor a growl. Lacks lows and highs fade away after some time.
Also, for whatever reason, the A string buzzes on the first fret (acoustically, the amp doesn't get the buzz), I suppose the nut has been cut too deep (stock strings were 45-65-85-110 rounds, I was more concerned about the 105 E of the Roto but no, it's the A), I "fixed" that with a tiny bit of paper... Not a lasting solution. So it'll get a bone nut, fit for 40-100 Chromes.
 
#93
Thuddy Waters said:
I have a set of Chromes on my P Bass that I bought in mid 2013, right before they (stupidly) changed their packaging so that you can't tell different types of strings apart.
Click to expand...

Agreed, the old packs looked better and were more easily identifiable. Now it's hard to tell rounds and flats apart at first sight.

I've never Chromes on a bass, but I have a set on a Ibanez Archtop (kind of a take on a Gretsch, but with humbuckers). I think it's a medium/light set (11-50 or so). They're very smooth, so I hope it'll be the same with the bass strings.

And there was this:drool
 
#94
Sadowsky flats are my favorites. Love Chromes too just not as smooth. Fender Flats are very smooth with a lot of thump. Not sure why they don't get much love here. For me I choose string by how they sound not so much on how they feel. I also play TI's and Erine Ball Flats. I have played almost every brand of flats out there. They are good in there on way. I don't get stuck on brands. Every bass has a string it likes, once I find it I play it.
 
#95
Yes I know, feel is one thing, tone is another. But if you can have the best of both, it's always better.

As I stated in my original message, I heard lots of people raving Sadowsky Flats (which it seems are made by Labella to Sadowsky's specs), saying they are a smooth Labella with a tad more "growl". I hear that. But in Europe, I don't know any online shop selling them. I might give a try to Bass Strings Online, but it certainly won't be for the purpose of saving money, the euro is low, shipping sounds okay, but I don't know about customs. I'll give it a try after the Summer.

I've had the old Fender (pre-2010, before they changed the "formula" and packaging), they were good. It's only now that I wonder why I didn't buy them again. I think the A string broke after 2 or 3 years, and I put rounds back on the Squier Jazz.
Not tried the "new" Fenders yet, but I have bought a Fender AVRI '58 P-Bass, and they're shipped with a set of 9050 Lights (45-100). I'll certainly will use them on that bass.
Maybe the fact the are $25-29 a set at most place put off some people who have a very high opinion of themselves.
I regret it myself. I have put aside Fender strings too quickly. "Stock strings can't be good", well they can. But most of the time I was replacing stock rounds with flats, so it's not really "oh, it's gotta have Elixirs on it" type of thought. If the basses had with flats, I would certainly leave them on, unless their tone is horrible.

Never had Ernie Ball Flats, not really interested with the new Cobat Flats, they are not widely distributed and are expensive at 47€ a set. (Labella Flats generally retail for 42-45€ or 50-58€ for the Jamerson Set)

Well, the famous Thomastik... I thought about that option. Probably on my Rick.
 
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#97
I have used Chromed extensively over the last ten years. The most recent set I purchased (ECB82), I was pleasantly surprised to see that D'Addario increased the string length enough that the silk wrappings doesn't need to be trimmed so that it doesn't end up in the nut (my P-Bass is a 2000 American Standard so through body stringing is my only option).
Once I got the bass setup, I noticed the tension is unbearably high and the strings have overwhelming bass response without the characteristic crisp high I like from these strings. I kept them on for two months hoping they would "break in" somewhat, but eventually gave up.
I have these same strings on two of my other basses with great results. Has anyone else noticed recent changes other than the increased string length?
Maybe I need to try a lighter gauge set on this particular bass. I put on a set of rounds meanwhile, but I tend to gravitate to the thump of flats and miss it.

Edit: Maybe I need to double check that the set I have on my other basses is in fact the ECB82. Is a digital caliper accurate enough to identify the difference between a few different string gauges?

Edit 2: I just checked both my Jazz Basses and it looks like I have a 100 string for the E on both. That's one of the things with flats: you go so long between buying sets that you forget what you put on last. As a general rule, do flats get thumpier as you go to lighter sets? Based on the difference between the 105 and 100 sets, I would be curious to try the 95 set.
 
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#98
BigThud said:
...
As I stated in my original message, I heard lots of people raving Sadowsky Flats (which it seems are made by Labella to Sadowsky's specs), saying they are a smooth Labella with a tad more "growl". I hear that. But in Europe, I don't know any online shop selling them. I might give a try to Bass Strings Online, but it certainly won't be for the purpose of saving money, the euro is low, shipping sounds okay, but I don't know about customs. I'll give it a try after the Summer.
Click to expand...

Another Sadowsky flats fan here. I got my last set from Station Music in Germany.Ask them even if they are not showing in thier website.
 
#99
Fran Diaz said:
Another Sadowsky flats fan here. I got my last set from Station Music in Germany.Ask them even if they are not showing in thier website.
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Thanks for the info, I will remember.
For the moment, I just received my parcel with Chromes, Labella Flats and GHS Flats. The GHS are for my Squier Tele Bass (which is strung with the same Labellas since 2008, and only now the "string-through" bridge seem to affect the strings, could break any moment, still not bad for "not advised for string-through").
I will put Chromes on a J-Bass I think. But I'm going on Holiday next week and can't go to the luthier before some time.

I'll let you know anyway.
 
#100
Eric_Allard said:
Edit 2: I just checked both my Jazz Basses and it looks like I have a 100 string for the E on both. That's one of the things with flats: you go so long between buying sets that you forget what you put on last. As a general rule, do flats get thumpier as you go to lighter sets? Based on the difference between the 105 and 100 sets, I would be curious to try the 95 set.
Click to expand...

Maybe other folk will give you better answers, as I haven't had "many" flatwound string sets (they last a long time and I only started playing bass in 2007...)
IME, a thicker string gives a "thumpier" tone, or more "percussive", and a lighter gauge gives more "growl" (for lack of a better term; you can say more "musical").
At least, 45-105 Labellas are thumpier than the 45-95 Fender flats ("old style", pre-2010 9050L, now they gave it a .100 E string). I've had GHS flats 45-60-75-95 on a short-scale bass, and maybe it's just because it's easier to play low tension strings, but they sounded more "musical".
 

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