Sticky flats?

[Exemonium]

I just put on my first brand new set of flats. They sound great, but they have almost a slight sticky feel to them, like they're just not as smooth as others I've played, even of the same brand. These are GHS Bright flats. I had a Sterling with them on it and they played and sounded great, but they weren't new. I just put a set on my Lakland Duck Dunn, and they still sound great, but they feel odd. Is it just a residue from fabrication that I need to wear off? Will they feel better in a little bit, like worn in maybe? Or should I try to exchange them via the company?

It's not necessarily like a glue sticky, it's difficult to explain I suppose.

 

[aus_bass]

Is it just a residue from fabrication that I need to wear off? .

Most likely. My Chromes were like that. After a few hours playing, it will wear off and they'll be smooth to the touch.

 

[DownUnder_Funk]

Mine are like that too! I restrung my P with new Chromes - I'm hoping that stickiness will disappear before too long

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Brite Flats are not exactly "Flats," They are not to be compared with Chromes, T-I's, or LaBella Flat Wounds...

They are strings that started out as Round Wounds that have had the outer windings ground flat. These strings are also known as "Half Wounds" or "Slick Rounds." LaBella has a similar option where they only ground off 1/4 of the round, they call them "Quarter Rounds."

So it may not necessarily be a coating on your string that you are feeling like other flats, but it could be the windings. This should go away overtime, but not for the same reasons the "Flatwounds" will.

 

[Stanley Pugh]

My flats from Webstrings and my Chromes required cleaning before installing.
Using alcohol on a rag I get off manufacturing residue, dirt etc.
A gray dirt comes off.
Perhaps this is causing your sticky problem.

 

[alec]

Yeah, if my Fender flats are anything to go by, it wears off after a few hours.

 

[Exemonium]

Brite Flats are not exactly "Flats,"
They are strings that started out as Round Wounds that have had the outer windings ground flat. These strings are also known as "Half Wounds" or "Slick Rounds." LaBella has a similar option where they only ground off 1/4 of the round, they call them "Quarter Rounds."

HULK SMAASH!

That's slightly disheartening. I guess it's a good thing I've played them before and know I like them. Plus they were reviewed slightly higher than Fenders, and the last set of Chromes I bought didn't fit in the nut slots, so I was very concerned about that too. This fit great, I'll surely try the chromes next time, or keep an eye out in the accessories for some used ones.

My flats from Webstrings and my Chromes required cleaning before installing.
Using alcohol on a rag I get off manufacturing residue, dirt etc.
A gray dirt comes off.
Perhaps this is causing your sticky problem.

Maybe I'll pop one off and test that on a small area to see how it feels.

I'm not too concerned, I played them for a bit and either I'm getting used to it or it's going away. I notice it a slight bit on the fretting hand as well, but mostly on the plucking hand. Thanks very much everyone.

Now that slap said that, I'm very curious just how different chromes would sound...

 

[jmceachern36]

The stickyness will go away after a practice or 2. I had the same problem. I find flats can be a little sticky at times on humid days too or when I play too hard on them. That may be somthing else you'll expierience.

 

[makkE]

Fast fret helps, keep your hands clean. I also wipe them down with denatured alcohol from time to time.

Chromes need initial cleaning, because they come full with oil and steel residue.

 

[Jay2U]

Fast fret helps, keep your hands clean. I also wipe them down with denatured alcohol from time to time.

Chromes need initial cleaning, because they come full with oil and steel residue.

I totally agree! I always clean them with alcohol before installing them. A lot of black and grey residue comes off. Still then a little stickyness may remain. This new feeling fades away pretty soon.

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

HULK SMAASH!

That's slightly disheartening.

It shouldn't be! They are great strings! They are very versatile for a flat style string. Just not exactly a "Flatwound," more like the best of both worlds in one string.

 

[Exemonium]

Yeah, I'm liking them. I loved them on my Sterling, but again, they were worn in a bit by the time I got it. I'd love to try la bella flats, they were on a squier I picked up and played in a shop once. they were silky smooth, very impressive, but it was a stock squier(not from the good years) so I couldnt get a real test. But they're a bit pricey to just "try" y'know?

 

[Spinal Tapper]

I had GHS Brite flats and know exactly what you're talking about. I HATED the way they felt.

I found Roto 77's to be much smoother out of the box.

 

[::::BASSIST::::]

I put a set of GHS Precision flats on my main bass about a month ago. Initially they were fairly sticky as well, but now it has diminished... yet not completely gone. Maybe after a few months it will be. Interestingly I dug out some old Labella FM flats and they are super smooth with zero stickiness.

 

[Jayhawk]

To me, GHS flats are always pretty sticky out of the package. Once they're broken in, however, they feel great.

 

[BassmanSBK]

I just put on my first brand new set of flats. They sound great, but they have almost a slight sticky feel to them, like they're just not as smooth as others I've played, even of the same brand. These are GHS Bright flats. I had a Sterling with them on it and they played and sounded great, but they weren't new. I just put a set on my Lakland Duck Dunn, and they still sound great, but they feel odd. Is it just a residue from fabrication that I need to wear off? Will they feel better in a little bit, like worn in maybe? Or should I try to exchange them via the company?

It's not necessarily like a glue sticky, it's difficult to explain I suppose.

Actually, there is nothing in sticky on flats. But think about the profile of flats vs. rounds. With rounds, there is relatively little steel (the ridges) actually touching skin. But with flats, there is much more metal on skin. More contact, more friction, feels sort of "sticky."

As you get used to the new feel, the sticky goes away. (But if exclusively play flats, as I do, all rounds feel "slippery," like someone greased them.)

Now, there are differences in "stickiness" between different kinds of flats (some have a nylon coating, some have rougher seams than others, etc.). But the initial stikiness you feel when switching from rounds is just friction. It will go away soon.

 

[Jay2U]

Actually, there is nothing in sticky on flats. But think about the profile of flats vs. rounds. With rounds, there is relatively little steel (the ridges) actually touching skin. But with flats, there is much more metal on skin. More contact, more friction, feels sort of "sticky."

As you get used to the new feel, the sticky goes away. (But if exclusively play flats, as I do, all rounds feel "slippery," like someone greased them.)

Now, there are differences in "stickiness" between different kinds of flats (some have a nylon coating, some have rougher seams than others, etc.). But the initial stikiness you feel when switching from rounds is just friction. It will go away soon.

But still some good cleaning makes the flats feel better and keeps your fingers clean. I always use flatwounds and can doubtlessly tell the difference between just new strings and new strings after cleaning. There is also some difference between different brands. To my experience the Rotosounds are much cleaner than the d'Addarios.