Switching from Rounds to Flats Advice

[WillyW]

Best bang for the buck flats IMNSHO are the Ernie Ball Cobalt. They come in two flavors I think 105-45 and 95-40. Last set I bought was just south of $28

Pyramids are my all time favorites but they are twice the price, and worth every penny. TI flats can be had about the same price but I'm not super impressed by them.

 

[Sixgunn]

My advise? Don't do it!!

 

[Plain Old Barry]

If you want to try a set of flats that feel similar to the D'A EXL160 (50-105) in terms of tension/stiffness, D'A Chromes ECB81 (45-100) would be a good place to start

I agree... I use XL and NYXL rounds and always drop a gauge to Chromes.

 

[fishdude101101]

Put it this way, you should try everything except the Thomastik Infeld Jazz Flats, just so you can have that 'where have you been all my life' feeling when you finally do. Some people will slug it out with Chromes (and many prefer them), because they're cheap, and sound and feel really good, if not great. But to me, the TI flats feel a thousand times better under the fingers, and considering their legendary longevity, the price thing isn't a real issue. I like the more mid forward note definition, rather than the Chromes meatier (also muddier) bottom.

I agree with this. I'll admit though, I just don't like D'addario strings. For flats, for me, its either TI's, LaBella Low Tensions (sound like Labella's but with a little more tension than TI's) or Ernie Ball Cobalt Slinky's (Brighter like rounds but still have a strong fundamental). TI's don't have the normal flat sound though. Nothing else sounds like them and most youtube videos don't do a good job of showing them.

 

[misterCRUSH]

I play all fretless basses. All of them are strung with La Bella 760FS flats. They have a more round sound and are big without being boomy. I would say that the eq is relatively flat across the board. They sound great and feel even better for what I am doing. I play jazz exclusively.

 

[Kenova]

I'm here to chime in with ever underrated and my favorite flats GHS precision flats, no need to break in, balanced, focused, warm with wonderful midrange character

 

[LukeSlywalker]

I didn't really bond with the TI Flats. The tone was excellent, though definitely on the bright side. Compared with LaBella Deep Talkin' Flats (which is my reference), these are quite bright and a little outside of my tone pallet. More importantly, my fingers slipped under the strings while playing. The low tension is a little lower than I'm used to. This is a skill that can be developed, though. After playing with the TIs for a month or so, it got better, but I'd still slip underneath the strings from time to time. For me, the strings weren't what I was looking for. That being said, I think they are excellent strings. In fact, I still have the set - so, I haven't given up on them. I just need to find the right bass for them

Based on my similar experience, try the TIs on a jazz bass. LaBella Deep Talkin for precision and TI Jazz Flats on the jazz bass works great for me

 

[sonojono]

If you're coming from rounds to flats. GHS Precision Flats are a good choice but if you ever do miss the feel or sound of rounds. I would HIGHLY recommend Ernie Ball Slinky Flatwounds

 

[bobalu]

Most likely, you won't keep them on for more than a week or two. Buy a new set of rounds to switch back to when you do. You'll see.

I spent a lot of money trying flats. I love the smooth feel. I really like the sound. I just can't play with the high tension. Every set I tried felt like I was weight lifting with my fingers. And I don't mean jut a little change here, it was brutal (to me). I was actually avoiding playing my bass until I could change back. I did not try TI flats though, ran out of money. Give me low tension flats and I'll give it a go again. I don't think they exist.

 

[SteveCS]

Chromes sound fine but are ridiculously high tension

I have the chromes on my fretless Corvette tuned to 'Solo' tuning, i.e. F#, B, E, A, and they sound amazing.

Having used Chromes on the fretless StingRay for a couple of years I thought I would give EB Cobalt Flats a go. They don't feel like a flat and the are incredibly bright. I don't know if I 'love' them yet - they've only been on 2 weeks - but I very much like them right now. They don't really feel like flats due to the 'open' windings (compare the top image below to the Chromes in the second image), and they certainly don't sound like them. The transients are really fast and the harmonics really pop out - very much 'round' in character but with a stronger mid-focus that suits the fretless well. I've no idea if they improve or just die off with age.

 

[C Stone]

Another recomendation for GHS precision flats, fantasic strings. Incredibly transparent with a clean thumpy solid tone, low, full and clear. I chose a gauge just below my normal gauge choice. Couldn't be happier.

 

[2F/2F]

In general when talking about moving to flats, I would start with a classic, industry-standard set like LaBella Deep Talkin's, Pyramids, or Rotosound black tapes (88s).

For what you describe, though, I would try D'Addario Chromes or Rotosound 77s. They are a bit more subdued in the bassiness department, and have a bit more metallic clank on tap if you want it (e.g. Steve Harris has used RS 77s since the '70s). Chromes are a more modern "slightly scooped" sound, while RS77s are more classic sounding in the low midrange (but not as much so as LaBellas or Pyramids). Personally, I dislike the anemic midrange of Chromes. It's just a little bit too weak for me. They just don't sound "big" – like the classic '50s and '60s bass sounds that are my 'home base" tone...and I really don't like the way they react when you dial treble out of them. They become very indistinct and weak. But that withdrawn midrange of the Chromes might be just the ticket for what you want. The RS 77s are more what I would call "balanced" or "flat across the board" in terms of e.q., not mid-scooped.

But, all that being said, as long as you have excellent e.q. controls on your rig, and know how to use them, the primary concern is feel, IMO/IME. Do you want a string that "rolls" and "springs" under your fingers, or a string that keeps its position when you touch it? One with a polished finish, or a bit of "grit" on its surface? One with gaps between the windings, or a totally continuous feel, such that you can't even tell it has windings? High tension, medium tension, low tension? Etc.

I want high tension, no gaps between the windings, smooth but not slippery feel, and no springiness or roll on the right hand...and the inherent tone to be warm, "plucky," and classic. LaBella Deep Talkin' .110s are my go-to set, used on all my go-to basses. I have other sets on other basses, however, covering a decent range of various flat wound feels (and tones). I don't go as far as TIs for loose feel, or as far as Chromes for modern tone. I pretty much use nothing but flats, and always have but I have some basses with half rounds and even some with rounds.

 

[iiipopes]

So ... a 50-105 Flats set would be a much greater tension compared to rounds? I just wanna keep a similar tension so I can keep the truss rod from moving it too much.

Thanks for your suggestion !

I second the Fender 9050L Flats, which have a little bit of midrange grind, or possibly the La Bella 760FL 43-104 for their old school tone with character. Yes. Tension is a function of mass, not diameter. A flatwound string, generally, has less space and more metal between the windings due to the nature of the flat ribbon wrap compared generally to round wound wire wrap. Therefore, again, generally, that means a flatwound string has more mass for the given diameter than a round wound string. So a 45's set of flats will have similar tension to a 50's round wound set.

 

[allboutbass]

I second the Fender 9050L Flats, which have a little bit of midrange grind, or possibly the La Bella 760FL 43-104 for their old school tone with character. Yes. Tension is a function of mass, not diameter. A flatwound string, generally, has less space and more metal between the windings due to the nature of the flat ribbon wrap compared generally to round wound wire wrap. Therefore, again, generally, that means a flatwound string has more mass for the given diameter than a round wound string. So a 45's set of flats will have similar tension to a 50's round wound set.

Ok .. now I know why they are higher in tension, didn't know they were more dense or "packed"
Thanks !

 

[Claymore]

I like Labella Low Tension Flats on my P and TI Flats on my J.

 

[allboutbass]

I like Labella Low Tension Flats on my P and TI Flats on my J.

Specifically which set you have on your P?
Thanks !

 

[Claymore]

Specifically which set you have on your P?
Thanks !

These.

 

[ArteK]

One thing I found when I first played flats is that the action matters. The first few basses with flats that I tried had high action and I found them unplayable (to the point where I'd get right hand plucking blisters way earlier than I would with rounds).

After that experience, I left flats alone for decades. (I thought they were too hard to play.) I finally tried again maybe five years ago. I remembered my prior experience, so I tried lowering the action on the bass and found them much easier to play. Now I mostly play flats, because I like the old school sound they bring to the bass.

Granted, doing a special setup for flats might not be what you want to do with your bass, especially if you might end up going back and forth. Low action with rounds can result in buzzing if you aren't obsessively careful about your technique. But for me, it's the only way I can play flats.

 

[ok-djmiller]

I like the LaBella Deep Talkin' Flats on my p-bass. Not cheap, but reasonably priced for a set of strings that will last for years upon years. And if LaBella strings were good enough for James Jamerson, they're good enough for me.

 

[Paul New]

I spent a lot of money trying flats. I love the smooth feel. I really like the sound. I just can't play with the high tension. Every set I tried felt like I was weight lifting with my fingers. And I don't mean jut a little change here, it was brutal (to me). I was actually avoiding playing my bass until I could change back. I did not try TI flats though, ran out of money. Give me low tension flats and I'll give it a go again. I don't think they exist.

They certainly do exist. TIs are low tension.