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Smoothing out flats?

bthiemann80

bthiemann80

Mar 31, 2007
612
117
Central Illinois
#1
I have some GHS Precision flats on my pbass currently and I LOVE the way they sound, but hate the way they feel. They feel really grippy and sticky compared to other flats i've tried (Dean Markley, Fender, Labella). I'm wondering, is there any way I could smooth these flats out through polishing or cleaning or something? When I was breaking them in, I indulged in some fried chicken and used the grease to lube the strings a few times, along with some mousturizing lotion and margarine. They made the strings sound awesomely dead but it seems like it also has made them a bit more grippy/sticky. I've been taking some dr. ducks axe wax to them and it seems to help smooth things out a bit, but is there anything else that can be done to smooth these puppies out?
 
#7
My first set of flats were Sadowsky (made by Labella) and they were mirror-smooth but they gripped my fingers so that it was really difficult to gliss on them at all. This disappeared though, after about 2 weeks of playing them, and I never had any problem with them after that. My hands stay very dry, they sweat very little while playing and I don't play with dirty/greasy hands.

The only other flats I've used are TI, which I have on my fretless. They aren't nearly as smooth as the Sads, and also didn't have the "grippy" problem out of the box.
 
#13
DavidRavenMoon said:
That's what calluses are for! I've been using round wounds since about 1974, and my fingers are just fine. :)

I like both, flats and rounds, for different things. I even have different brand rounds on different basses.

If the strings hurt your fingers, you need to play more.
Click to expand...

I think flats are tougher on your fingers than rounds as more of your finger tip comes into contact with the string.
 
#14
No offense to the OP but this has to be the dumbest thread I've read in awhile here in the string forum.

You put a ton of crap on your strings and you wonder why they stick. Throw them out and just buy a replacement set. I bet you didn't even protect the fretboard and do a wipedown when you were finished. :rollno:
 
#17
the strings are probably smoother than other flats you've used and thus more finger to string contact, so they feel sticky. ghs 'fast fret' is likely what you're after. i find flats can be a little sticky feeling when playing outdoors when the humidity is higher, so 'fast fret' is always in my case and works great.
 

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