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The search for 5 string light flats

Tim Skaggs

Tim Skaggs

Sep 28, 2002
5,153
8,250
#1
I started looking for a new set of flats for my ‘98 Carvin LB75. I need to play light gauge flats on this bass because of an old truss rod issue (rod is tight, but broken & can’t be turned). The bass has perfect neck relief with medium gauge rounds, so I thought a light gauge flat would be best. Currently has Chromes 40-60-75-95 with a .132” B string from another set. The EADG strings are about right, but these are old ones off a 4-string and are pretty worn out. The B string is not a good fit with the other 4. Feels way too big next to the .095” E. I put these on just to try flats on this bass & I like the tone, so looking for a new set.

I started looking for a 5 string set of flats with the following gauges
G - .040”
D -.055” to .060”
A - .070 to .075”
E - .095”
B - .120” to .125” max.

My favorite flats on my 4 strings are Ernie Ball Cobalt flats and their light gauge 4 string set is 40-60-70-95. The only 5 string set available is 45-65-80-100-130. The only single B string available is a .130” and doesn’t appear to be a Cobalt / Slinky flat, but I’m not sure about that (Just Strings info)

My #2 pick is D’Adderio Chromes, 40-60-75-95. The only 5 string set is 45-65-80-100-132. The only single B string flat available is a .132”. This was mentioned above.

#3, consideration is GHS Precision flats. There is a 4 string set 45-60-75-95 and I can get a single .126” B string. The 5 string set is 45-65-85-105-126. I haven’t tried the GHS flats at all. This is a possibility, but B string reviews are pretty awful….

#4 Dunlop 5-string set 40-60-80-100-120 might be OK. Not sure on their tension. Slightly larger E & A strings could ba a tension issue. Anyone know the general tension of Dunlop flats?

Labella LTF 42-56-75-100-118. It’s a long story, but I had a very bad experience with LaBella in the 1990’s on a set of bad strings they would not replace and I don’t buy their products at all. I might have to get over that and try these. We play 1/2 step de-tuned and I worry about spaghetti tension with these.

TI Jazz flats. I have two 4-string sets on other basses I can try, but I have no B string other than the Chrome .132”. The single B string for a TI Jazz flat set is .136” and will be $70 after tax. Also worried they might be too light de-tuned a 1/2 step.

Any suggestions? I’ve thought about mixing brands. I’ve done that for years on my upright, but it’s played acoustically. Mixed strings over a magnetic pickup might sound like crap….
 
#3
Ernie Ball cobalt flat 2816.
Has fender 7250L stiffness, very nice string to string stiffness, balance string to string tonal, lasting healthy tone......and you have to accept the 130B.

This flat make the cheap sterling ray5 sound great and useful and solid sounding B string voice until 13th fret !!!

Hopehelp.

Edit. Truss rod issue on your carvin. I think 1/2 step drop to B flat has no problems in tonal quality on 2816 set.

But I have a fresh set Ti flat in my new Vintera 50s P currently, tonal quality just become fuller and high become rounder on D standard. I experienced this because my personal skill on bass setup when new string load.

IMG_20220707_231816.jpg
 
Last edited:
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#5
Tim Skaggs said:
My #2 pick is D’Adderio Chromes, 40-60-75-95. The only 5 string set is 45-65-80-100-132. The only single B string flat available is a .132”. This was mentioned above.

#4 Dunlop 5-string set 40-60-80-100-120 might be OK. Not sure on their tension. Slightly larger E & A strings could ba a tension issue. Anyone know the general tension of Dunlop flats?
Click to expand...
I just wrote this on another thread, I have D'Addario Chromes 40-55-75-95-132 (customized from Chromes ECB80 40-60-75-95 set you were referring to, a single 55 D and factory installed 132 low-B) and Dunlop Flatwound 40-60-80-100-120 set on two nearly identical Ibanez SRH 5 string basses. Yes, there's no tension data regarding the Dunlop. But, my right fretting fingers tell me the Chromes still feel stiffer than the Dunlop flats.

True that the string stiffness/flexibility doesn’t guarantee that the strings are high/low tension. Still, there's a percentage of correlation amongst them. I'd say, Dunlop Flatwound 40-120 would suffice your requirement of low tension 5 string flatwound.
 
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#6
Aidil said:
I just wrote this on another thread, I have D'Addario Chromes 40-55-75-95-132 (customized from Chromes ECB80 40-60-75-95 set you were referring to, a single 55 D and factory installed 132 low-B) and Dunlop Flatwound 40-60-80-100-120 set on two nearly identical Ibanez SRH 5 string basses. Yes, there's no tension data regarding the Dunlop. But, my right fretting fingers tell me the Chromes still feel stiffer than the Dunlop flats.

True that the string stiffness/flexibility doesn’t guarantee that the strings are high/low tension. Still, there's a percentage of correlation amongst them. I'd say, Dunlop Flatwound 40-120 would suffice your requirement of low tension 5 string flatwound.
Click to expand...

This is good info and what I was looking for. The bass is well worth a good set of strings, but I have to work around its truss rod adjustment failure. Since the rod was very tight when it failed, back bow is as much a possible problem as excessive neck relief. I know I can always go back to rounds, but my “test” of the Chromes the last three gigs has me looking forward to getting a balanced set of flats on this bass. Thanks for the info on the Dunlops.
 
#7
I love chromes on mine- I will still slap with flats, it’s not a Motown thing for me, I just like how the fundamental sounds, and they’re ironically less boomy. Anyway, point being that I find them very compliant for playing flats like I play my basses with rounds, so they’re pretty comfortably light
 
#8
Tim Skaggs said:
D’Adderio EXL170-5 is what I had on it before I put the old Chromes on there to try it with flats.
Click to expand...

D'A EXL170-5 = 197.78 lbs. in total tension. So, the idea is to keep the overall tension of the new flats to be close to that, right?

Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats 40-60-70-95, plus 130B:

G 040 - 39.42 (lbs.)
D 060 - 43.80
A 070 - 32.58
E 095 - 32.50 (148.3)

B 130 - 35.35

Total: 183.65 lbs.

Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Flats Grp IV, 40-60-70-95:

G 040 - 37.81 (lbs.)
D 060 - 45.16
A 070 - 34.64
E 095 - 35.41 (153.02)

B 130 - Sorry I don't have tension info on this particular one, but should be close to the Cobalt 130B.

Total: 190 lbs. (estimated)

D'A Chromes 40-60-75-95, plus 132B:

G 040 - 37.83 (lbs.)
D 060 - 46.49
A 075 - 42.58
E 095 - 36.20

B 130 - 38.72

Total: 201.82 lbs.

GHS Precision Flats 45-60-75-95, plus 126B:

G 045 - 41.5 (lbs.)
D 060 - 46.5
A 075 - 38.5
E 095 - 36.7

B 126 - 34.4

Total: 197.6 lbs.

La Bella Low Tension Flats 5-string set, 42-118:

G 042 - 36.2 (lbs.)
D 056 - 34.0
A 075 - 30.5
E 100 - 34.2
B 118 - 28.3

Total: 163.2 lbs.

TI Jazz Flats 5-string set, 43-136:

G 043 - 37.03 (lbs.)
D 056 - 37.47
A 070 - 31.30
E 100 - 34.39
B 136 - 34.83

Total: 175.02 lbs.
 
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#9
michael_t said:
D'A EXL170-5 = 197.78 lbs. in total tension. So, the idea is to keep the overall tension of the new flats to be close to that, right?

Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats 40-60-70-95, plus 130B:

G 040 - 39.42 (lbs.)
D 060 - 43.80
A 070 - 32.58
E 095 - 32.50 (148.3)

B 130 - 35.35

Total: 183.65 lbs.

Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Flats Grp IV, 40-60-70-95:

G 040 - 37.81 (lbs.)
D 060 - 45.16
A 070 - 34.64
E 095 - 35.41 (153.02)

B 130 - Sorry I don't have tension info on this particular one, but should be close to the Cobalt 130B.

Total: 190 lbs. (estimated)

D'A Chromes 40-60-75-95, plus 132B:

G 040 - 37.83 (lbs.)
D 060 - 46.49
A 075 - 42.58
E 095 - 36.20

B 130 - 38.72

Total: 201.82 lbs.

GHS Precision Flats 45-60-75-95, plus 126B:

G 045 - 41.5 (lbs.)
D 060 - 46.5
A 075 - 38.5
E 095 - 36.7

B 126 - 34.4

Total: 197.6 lbs.

La Bella Low Tension Flats 5-string set, 42-118:

G 042 - 36.2 (lbs.)
D 056 - 34.0
A 075 - 30.5
E 100 - 34.2
B 118 - 28.3

Total: 163.2 lbs.

TI Jazz Flats 5-string set, 43-136:

G 043 - 37.03 (lbs.)
D 056 - 37.47
A 070 - 31.30
E 100 - 34.39
B 136 - 34.83

Total: 175.02 lbs.
Click to expand...

YES, very near the tension of the EXL 170-5’s should work perfectly.

Looks like the 4 string light gauge EB Cobalt Flats with a separate B-string would work well IF the separate B-string is a Cobalt Slinky. The packaging for the individual B shown on Just Strings appears to be an EB Group IV string.

The GHS Precision flats are also just right on tension, but reviews on the B-string of that set are ugly…

As would be expected, the TI flats & the LaBella LTF flats are quite low tension, probably too low at 1/2 step de-tuned.

Wow on the tension of the LaBella LTF .118” B-string. That appears to be a recipe for a super floppy B.

Thanks a lot for the info.
 
#10
Tim Skaggs said:
Looks like the 4 string light gauge EB Cobalt Flats with a separate B-string would work well IF the separate B-string is a Cobalt Slinky. The packaging for the individual B shown on Just Strings appears to be an EB Group IV string.
Click to expand...

You can always get in touch with Jason at Fret Nation ([email protected]) and order the 4-string set of the Cobalt Flats along with a single 130B. He does list Slinky Flatwound singles...

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
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#12
My 1st Devon bass is getting up in age. She turned 20 years old in May. 3 years ago, the truss rod bolt was repaired (by Devon). It works, but to avoid risking any future issues, I switched to a lighter gauged option. I tried the LaBella White Gold Tapewounds…Too flimsy for me. I tried the LaBella Low Tension Flats….Also too flimsy for me. So, I went with the D’Addario, Black Nylon Tapewounds and have been happy with them. Not a big stretch, since I have always used them on my Acoustic Electric Basses. Tight enough for Slap, bright enough for Pick use and buttery enough for some “better than flats” tones.

B683D1AA-F189-4954-8D6B-D8B460A9344D.jpeg
 
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#13
Tim Skaggs said:
#3, consideration is GHS Precision flats. There is a 4 string set 45-60-75-95 and I can get a single .126” B string. The 5 string set is 45-65-85-105-126. I haven’t tried the GHS flats at all. This is a possibility, but B string reviews are pretty awful….
Click to expand...

I experimented on a Carvin with this set. Worked ok but I still prefer EB super-slinky rounds, 2824.
 
#14
After listening to people say they like them, I put a set of Cobalt flats on a Yamaha bass and am completely underwhelmed. It might be a bit of an overstatement to say that they're junk, but they certainly aren't a good match for this particular bass.

I'm going to put some Jazz Flats, which have never disappointed me ASAP
 
#15
Gizmot said:
After listening to people say they like them, I put a set of Cobalt flats on a Yamaha bass and am completely underwhelmed. It might be a bit of an overstatement to say that they're junk, but they certainly aren't a good match for this particular bass.

I'm going to put some Jazz Flats, which have never disappointed me ASAP
Click to expand...
Kinda the opposite for me. I like the EB Cobalt flats on everything I’ve tried them on, but I don’t care for the TI Jazz flats on anything I have except for my acoustic fretless & a parts p-bass. They seem weak on the low end on ever other bass I try them on, & I have a total of 13.
 
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#19
michael_t said:
D'A EXL170-5 = 197.78 lbs. in total tension. So, the idea is to keep the overall tension of the new flats to be close to that, right?

Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats 40-60-70-95, plus 130B:

G 040 - 39.42 (lbs.)
D 060 - 43.80
A 070 - 32.58
E 095 - 32.50 (148.3)

B 130 - 35.35

Total: 183.65 lbs.

Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Flats Grp IV, 40-60-70-95:

G 040 - 37.81 (lbs.)
D 060 - 45.16
A 070 - 34.64
E 095 - 35.41 (153.02)

B 130 - Sorry I don't have tension info on this particular one, but should be close to the Cobalt 130B.

Total: 190 lbs. (estimated)

D'A Chromes 40-60-75-95, plus 132B:

G 040 - 37.83 (lbs.)
D 060 - 46.49
A 075 - 42.58
E 095 - 36.20

B 130 - 38.72

Total: 201.82 lbs.

GHS Precision Flats 45-60-75-95, plus 126B:

G 045 - 41.5 (lbs.)
D 060 - 46.5
A 075 - 38.5
E 095 - 36.7

B 126 - 34.4

Total: 197.6 lbs.

La Bella Low Tension Flats 5-string set, 42-118:

G 042 - 36.2 (lbs.)
D 056 - 34.0
A 075 - 30.5
E 100 - 34.2
B 118 - 28.3

Total: 163.2 lbs.

TI Jazz Flats 5-string set, 43-136:

G 043 - 37.03 (lbs.)
D 056 - 37.47
A 070 - 31.30
E 100 - 34.39
B 136 - 34.83

Total: 175.02 lbs.
Click to expand...
So, @michael_t I got the EB Cobalt flats 40-60-70-95 on the bass and they are fantastic as anticipated. I didn’t order a B string (yet), but just tried the .132 D’Adderio Chrome I already had. It feels pretty good for tension, but it’s quite different in tone from the new EB’s. I was about to order the EB Cobalt Flat .130, when I passed by the .110 & thought, it’s .015 larger than the .095 E string. Would it work? But I came to my senses and ordered the .130”. I wish there was an Eb Co flat in .125”, but the difference would probably be negligible as compared to the .130, it’s just that the difference between the .095 E to the .130 B is a physical “step up” when the B string height is set properly for no fret buzz. If both strings were lying on a flat surface, the .130 would be .035 “taller” than the .095. Since the B string has to be some higher off the frets, the height difference over the .095 E is something greater than .035”. Noticeable….
 
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#20
Tim Skaggs said:
the difference between the .095 E to the .130 B is a physical “step up” when the B string height is set properly for no fret buzz. If both strings were lying on a flat surface, the .130 would be .035 “taller” than the .095. Since the B string has to be some higher off the frets, the height difference over the .095 E is something greater than .035”. Noticeable….
Click to expand...

An interesting observation...

With a typical factory 5-string set, the B is usually the lowest in tension. This custom set the Cobalt Flats you've put together (40-60-70-95-130) is NOT typical in the sense the low B has more tension than both E and A. Would it be possible for the low B to be set slightly lower than the E so the "step up" would be more like .020" instead of the full .035"?

Incidentally, I use a .096E with a .130B on my Yamaha 5-string, and have never noticed any difference in the string height - at least not enough to affect the way I play.
 

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