• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Sunbeams Flatwounds

jazzy narwhal

Inactive
May 11, 2022
4
2
I’m looking for “old-school” flatwounds that are similar in feel, as in tension and gauge, to DR Sunbeams 40-100.

I’ve tried TIs for about six months as per the glowing reviews on here, but the tone didn’t do it for me as it was too alike roundwounds for me.

I’ve had a set of DR Legend on my bass for three weeks now and while I prefer their tone to the TIs’, I’m not 100 per cent satisfied with the tension.

What would you recommend I try next?
 
I'm not sure what to tell you, other than - Welcome to Talk Bass! My only experience with DR Sunbeams and DR Legends is with short scale sets on 2 very different short scale basses. Assuming that by "tension", you're really talking about "stiffness", then; yes, the Legends are stiffer than the Sunbeams. But, that's mostly the nature of flats vs. rounds. As for the difference in stiffness (and actual tension) between the TI's and the Legends (or anything else)? TI's are just an exception in almost every way there is. I had the short scale Sunbeams on a Warmoth Mini Precision Bass (it wears GHS Precision Flats, now); the Legends replaced an old set of GHS Boomers on an aluminum-necked, headless Kramer Duke. And, honestly? Yeah, the Legends are stiffer than the Sunbeams - but, IME, not all that much. Although, the fact that they're short scale basses, and that I play both of these basses with a pick 99.9% of the time, might have something to do with it. And, TBH, on the Kramer? The Legends sound awfully similar to the old Boomers they replaced. Which is one reason why they're on it. And, they're almost exactly as stiff as the Boomers they replaced, too. But, Boomers are very stiff rounds... If you want to try some other flats? Rather than spending big $$ on some European flats (which I use, and like a lot), how about a set of GHS Precision flats - the lighter gauge set? A little more low-mids and mids than equivalent La Bellas, but definitely Old School. So Old School, in fact, that they're near clones of the original factory Fender Flats, and it's pretty hard to get more Old School than that. I use them - and I like them a lot...:cool:
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Bruce Avilla