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stainless feel on flats

M

msiner

Sep 2, 2008
406
77
Tucson, AZ
#1
My bass currently has stainless steel strings (Dean Markley Blue Steel) and I really don't like the rough texture of the outer wrap. I want to try using flat wound strings for my next purchase, but I notice most of those use a stainless steel wrap (Fender, Sadowsky, Ernie Ball, Chromes) and only a rare few do not (TI, Pyramid, Rotosound). I have come down to considering either buying the Chromes or the Rotosound 77s. The reputation of the Rotos seems mixed with complaints about high tension and low output. The Chromes have a great reputation, but the fact that they use a stainless steel wrap irks me.

So does stainless steel feel as rough on flats like Chromes as it does on rounds? I have searched, but I couldn't find a good answer to my question. When people have used the term "rough" with flats, they seem to usually be talking about feeling the ridges between the wrappings. Am I reading too much into the stainless steel thing? Any recommendations for a smooth feeling flat wound string? Opinions on the different feels of the outer wraps of different flat wound strings would be great.
 
#2
msiner said:
So does stainless steel feel as rough on flats like Chromes as it does on rounds? I have searched, but I couldn't find a good answer to my question. When people have used the term "rough" with flats, they seem to usually be talking about feeling the ridges between the wrappings. Am I reading too much into the stainless steel thing? Any recommendations for a smooth feeling flat wound string? Opinions on the different feels of the outer wraps of different flat wound strings would be great.
Click to expand...

Chromes are very very smooth. Rotos are not.
 
#4
Yes, you're "reading too much into the stainless steel thing." No flatwound string is going to be as rough as a roundwound. They're all smooth. The biggest difference you need to consider is the sound, especially coming from Blue Steels. You'll loose alot of brightness, but if you want a flatwound with some brightness to them, Chromes are your best bet.
 
#5
squashedOpossum said:
Yes, you're "reading too much into the stainless steel thing." No flatwound string is going to be as rough as a roundwound. They're all smooth. The biggest difference you need to consider is the sound, especially coming from Blue Steels. You'll loose alot of brightness, but if you want a flatwound with some brightness to them, Chromes are your best bet.
Click to expand...

To be sure we are on the same page, when I say "rough" I am talking about the abrasive feel of the wrap material. Specifically the feeling when running your finger perpendicularly across the string with the wrapping, not running you finger end to end against the wrapping. I really dislike the Blue Steels in just about every way, so different is good. I am pretty sure I know the general sound I want and that flats will probably get me there. I am most concerned about the feel. If they don't feel good, then I won't want to play as much.

Thanks to everyone so far for clearing some things up. More opinions and advice are welcome.
 
#6
Chromes are silky smooth in every way ...

Tension wise on the advice of my tech when I went to flats on my P Bass I went from 105 rounds to 100 flats. It was a good call.

Felixwhistlethumb.jpg
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#7
I think the smoothness is mainly a function of how polished the strings are.

TIs are an exception, a little less smooth because of tiny gaps in the windings.

Sadowsky, Labella, Chromes, Fender, DR, Dean Markley, are all polished very smooth. only Roto's aren't and they seem to be quite variable. I've played sets that are very uneven and rough, others less so.

Chromes usually have some residue, from the final polish I guess, and leave your hands black the first time you play them.
 
#11
msiner, let me make this as simple as possible for you.

TI Flats!!!!

Seriously, I am sitting here writing this with one of my Rics that I have just put my old TI Flats back on. I took off Pyramids and before that I had the chromes.

Pyramids are the smoothest flat you'll ever see, they sound nice, but for me, they are too tight, a bit like steel poles, lol.

Chromes I kind like but they are very trebly sounding for what a flat string should be, probably the Stainless Steel. Also they are quite tight. nice though!

I wouldn't even bother with Rotos.

For me TI flats are the best by far, great, great sound, very flexible, but not floppy, and nice feel. I was a bit baffled why you disregarded these straight away. I've tried all the makes you mentioned and always come back to these.

Try a set.
 
#13
msiner said:
Thanks for the advice. I had disregarded the TIs for two reasons; price and reportedly low tension. The price is workable (probably less justifiable to my wife), but I don't think I have a light enough touch for the TIs.
Click to expand...

Just another two cents worth here....I have used TI flats for years, in fact the set on my trusty P bass has been on there for over five years, and they are still fine, in fact still brighter and softer than a set of DR flats (stainless) I just put on my Jazz five string. So the cost of the TI's new is nothing when you can get that amount of use out of them. I use the P bass at least a couple times a week these days, and it used to be my daily grab for years.
 

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