oh no thats not what I meant at all sorry it was takin that way. I now want to try Cobalts, thats what I meant
Sorry
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Switching from Rounds to Flats Advice
- Thread starter allboutbass
- Start date
Sorry
I love EB Cobalt flats, but other than finger feel, don’t really consider them to be “flats,” but rather a unique beast between rounds and flats. To my ear, they have no “thump” that I tend to think of when I think of “flats.” They are not “Jameson sound” strings.
Although less bright than some of the super-bright stainless strings, they are brighter than a really warm set of nickel rounds I tried on my GL bass.
Again, I love them, and think they’d be a great string on pretty much anything, especially if you’re looking for a “modern” tone. Not a good fit if you are looking for a “thumpy P-bass” vibe.
I have had issues with fragility of the G string with these strings. I haven’t had problems with the initial install, but have broken the G string every time I’ve pulled them off and tried to re-install them. So if you need to remove the neck to adjust truss rod, I’d use another set to get it in the ball park before installing the Cobalt G string, then hopefully only need a very minor adjustment that could be made without removing the neck. All that said, EB has been very good about sending me no cost replacement G strings when I reached out to them.
My $.02
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I actually like both of those descriptions! How does the feel/tension of the two sets compare? I like the Dunlops, but from what I've read, the LTFs are looser still, and the TIs have the lowest tension of the bunch.
Some good input here as well, thank you!
I'm starting to wonder if I should try the TIs first and THEN the LTFs... kinda reverse order. The comments from both of you along with other research lead me to believe that I might actually like the Labellas better. Hmmm.
I happen to have a brand new TI Jazz Flat low B that was in a box of single strings I got from a friend, so $56 seems like a rather palatable price to give the TIs a try. Maybe that also helps answer my previous comment about trying the TIs first?
EDIT: I'm not seeing a set for $56... got a link by chance?
5sg.
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I haven’t had them on my bass for long enough to really find out (3-4 mos?). I’ve read that they hold their tone longer than rounds and that they are more like flats re: longevity, but that is 3rd-hand, anecdotal info.
The Dunlops do this quite nicely, IMO. (Mine have about 5 months of play time on my P Bass that I've been using almost exclusively for home playing/practice during covid). I've been meaning to record/post some audio of the Dunlop flats broken in, I'll see if I can get that done in the next day or two (read: probably this weekend. lol).
5sg.
OP here
I guess any one has their own opinion and in just for using and keeping a set of strings is more than enough of a reason to be a valid thing.
Bass can sound so different even with the same strings depending on so many factors.
I really love my EXL160 rounds right now.
I have em with 1.75mm on the E and 1.50mm on the G at the 17th fret with 0.20mm relief on the 8th fret.
But I am dying to try some flats on my P.
I guess any one has their own opinion and in just for using and keeping a set of strings is more than enough of a reason to be a valid thing.
Bass can sound so different even with the same strings depending on so many factors.
I really love my EXL160 rounds right now.
I have em with 1.75mm on the E and 1.50mm on the G at the 17th fret with 0.20mm relief on the 8th fret.
But I am dying to try some flats on my P.
https://www.amazon.com/Thomastik-In...=1609955780&sprefix=Jazz+flats,aps,253&sr=8-4I actually like both of those descriptions! How does the feel/tension of the two sets compare? I like the Dunlops, but from what I've read, the LTFs are looser still, and the TIs have the lowest tension of the bunch.
Some good input here as well, thank you!
I'm starting to wonder if I should try the TIs first and THEN the LTFs... kinda reverse order. The comments from both of you along with other research lead me to believe that I might actually like the Labellas better. Hmmm.
I happen to have a brand new TI Jazz Flat low B that was in a box of single strings I got from a friend, so $56 seems like a rather palatable price to give the TIs a try. Maybe that also helps answer my previous comment about trying the TIs first?
EDIT: I'm not seeing a set for $56... got a link by chance?
5sg.
It does look they have gone up in price to $64 and won’t be in stock for a while. Still a great price. The TI’s have nice metallic sound (Growl) that I love. The La Bellas are very beautiful! Try the White Nylon Tapes. These strings sound full and rich and support the band. The TI’s are a string you would not change often so not as expensive in that regards. That said the La Bella Whites are well worth a try and about half the cost. https://www.amazon.com/Bella-750T-White-Tapewound-Strings/dp/B00H2MABQ2
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D'addario nickels have been my go-to strings for a lot of years, one set lighter though (EXL170-5). I just always seem to come back to them.
Chromes sound nice, but definitely higher tension. Like others have mentioned, my hands always felt fatigued after playing them. If you decide on the Chromes, I'd definitely suggest getting the Super Light gauge set.
Like you said, it all depends on personal preference, but I think you'd be most happy with the Dunlops or the Cobalts, and either set would be a good way to try flats without breaking the bank. The only reason I went with the Dunlops is because I read several reports that the Cobalts felt "sticky"... perhaps due to the more open winding that @SteveCS mentioned earlier in the thread.
I've been quite happy with them. The tension feels reasonably similar my standard nickel rounds, and they sound a bit warmer than I remember the Chromes being, while still keeping a reasonably modern sounding high end.
5sg.
@EatS1stBassist - Thanks for that link. That set did indeed come up in my search, but I breezed passed it because "Accordion Accessory" in the title threw me off! ha!
5sg.
5sg.
I ordered some SM77's - will let you know how it goes!
Please do! I practiced a couple of hours last night on my set with a pick, and I’m really loving them. Of course I’ve said this several times before on TB, but these feel really comfortable and should be versatile enough to cover a lot of ground. The step down from 45-105 to 40-100 made all the difference.
Yeah, I am at the point where I am questioning why I am punishing myself with 50-105 Chromes! So I am looking for the same type of transition, but I certainly don't want low tension strings.
Ok I ordered some Cobalt 45-100. Thats what my Fender flats are. I think the only thing that concerns me is the reading of "rust" "corrosion" on the strings.
But it sounds like they might be the right string for what I want to use them for.
But it sounds like they might be the right string for what I want to use them for.
drumvsbass
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How the OP decides to spend their $$$ on bougie strings is their business. The Steve Harris Flats are nowhere near the brightest or clankiest either. It's the right amount for Steve. Controlling the amount of clank (or what kind of clank) want in the top end is the point of the choice here, and maybe the feel as well, these are certainly preferences. As for frequency of string changing, when I was playing metal I was changing my rounds every 3 weeks or so. I would expect that kind of life out of flats if was looking for the 'bougie' bright flatwound tone too. Price is a non issue as far as I am concerned (I wasn't buying cheap rounds). And then both strings will deteriorate into the 'dull lifeless thud' that some like the sound of on dead rounds, some the sound of on dead flats. I'm sorry if you can't hear the subtlety in how these things are different from one another not just all, one, dull, lifeless, thud. There are a lot of flavours of string.
Of course the argument of you can always subtract but can never add, but I've never heard a tone knob that could take fresh set of Roto rounds and make them sound like Labella Motown Deep Talkers. But apparently a fresh set of flats can cut a 3 guitar metal mix? anyway...
So really what is accomplished by any of this 'discussion'? You don't like flats. Yay for you. You made your point. People disagree with your point of view. Deal with it. Don't complain about it to me (or anyone else for that matter) that everyone doesn't agree with you, because to continue will not elevate you to any great height. You will convince no one, not with your poor argument, nor your poor demeanor. So continue to entertain the rest of us please. To continue to post is to admit you need the attention, to continue to engage you means I need the entertainment. It's cheap. And the comments in my DMs are amazing, but I am sure I just got bored.
Sorry if my words hurt, I would expect that someone who plays rounds exclusively would have thick callouses.
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They lost a mid-high clank that I didn’t care for, but they still have plenty of mid-highs without the clank.
Although I just received and installed a set of DA half rounds and the honeymoon period is so far very enjoyable. And coming from the those big chromes - very fun. But maybe I’ll put the Rotos on my other P and see what I think....
