Vintage-style flats with good string balance

[Boneless]

I'm using Pyramid Flats on my Orange O-Bass. I like the A string a lot. Like, *really* a lot. It sounds earthy, thumpy, rich. It's great both with a pick and with fingers. It's not as mellow as TI flats, and a bit richer than LaBellas. Still, I hate the fact that the E string is dead, and the upper strings are very bright, much brighter than the low strings (I've had them on for a year, so I suppose they've been "broken in", so to speak). So I would like to try something else with a similar character but more string balance and versatility.

Apparently, the closest sort of strings should be GHS Precision Flats, but I've read they do suffer a bit from a dead E string.

 

[michael_t]

Apparently, the closest sort of strings should be GHS Precision Flats, but I've read they do suffer a bit from a dead E string.

Of all the flats I've tried in the past, I got the best TONAL BALANCE out of the light set (45-60-75-95) of the GHS Precision Flats. I liked the 95E in particular for its warm but focused punch with better clarity and definition than any of the 104/105 E's I tried.

The "dead E" most people complain about is the .105, not the .095.

 

[iiipopes]

Where reasonable persons may differ. For broad repertoire, I prefer the Fender 9050 flats with their modern growl. They can be toned down, and over time they do mellow to more of a vintage vibe. Ernie Ball Stainless flats are mellower, with only a touch of growl, definitely have the vintage vibe, and are probably the most underrated flats out there. For the Motown/Stax/Philly repertoire, yes, I do prefer the La Bella, and my fingers prefer the 760FL 42-104, nothing heavier.

A flatwound E string dying or going thumpy is a fact of life. The reason for the E string in some sets being a lesser diameter than the math might otherwise be for similar tension is because the thicker you make the E string, the stiffer it will be and not vibrate in partials, losing consistency of tone with the other strings. That is why the traditional Fender set was 50-100: the G string was thicker than the math might otherwise indicate so it would not be as twangy, The D string was thicker so there was more mass above the poles, with the string being farther away from the pole pieces due to the crown radius of the fret board, and magnetic interaction varying as the square of the distance from the poles, not linearly, The A string was what it was, and we have talked about the E string. That is also why Fender discontinued the 9050CL set, which had the 105 E string, in favor of the 9050L set, which has the same GDA strings, 45-60-80-, but with a 100 E string instead. Yes, since I prefer the 104-105 E string, I purchase extras so I can replace only the E string when it goes thumpy but the rest of the set is still rockin'.

 

[ljazz]

Very few vintage style Flats that sounded and played as even as a worn in set of Sadowsky Black Label Flats. I have a set of LaBella LTF's that haven't broken in yet.... But they sound and feel nice and even. Those might get you what you're looking for.

 

[Selim]

Very few vintage style Flats that sounded and played as even as a worn in set of Sadowsky Black Label Flats. I have a set of LaBella LTF's that haven't broken in yet.... But they sound and feel nice and even. Those might get you what you're looking for.

With you on the black labels. But no use crying over splint milk, those are long gone.

 

[Yahboy]

I'm using Pyramid Flats on my Orange O-Bass. I like the A string a lot. Like, *really* a lot. It sounds earthy, thumpy, rich. It's great both with a pick and with fingers. It's not as mellow as TI flats, and a bit richer than LaBellas. Still, I hate the fact that the E string is dead, and the upper strings are very bright, much brighter than the low strings (I've had them on for a year, so I suppose they've been "broken in", so to speak). So I would like to try something else with a similar character but more string balance and versatility.

Apparently, the closest sort of strings should be GHS Precision Flats, but I've read they do suffer a bit from a dead E string.

Been use GHS flat 40-95 and 45-105, bright G string ,YES . DUll and dead E string , YES. Both cant match Labella LTF4A well tonal balance and string to string stiffness balance.

Hope his help , Labella LTF4A , maybe be sound bit mellow to you....

 

[Freekmagnet]

Very few vintage style Flats that sounded and played as even as a worn in set of Sadowsky Black Label Flats.

I agree 100%. The Black Label Flats were pretty freakin’ awesome. I started using the LaBella 760FL strings. They sound really close to the BLFs and more importantly, they have similar tension. The 760FL’s are 104’s, but as far as thickness, I can barely tell the difference from the 105’s

Apparently, the closest sort of strings should be GHS Precision Flats, but I've read they do suffer a bit from a dead E string.

The GHS Precisions are a pretty middle-of-the-road flatwound string. They sound pretty good straight out of the pack, but I’ve noticed that the frets wear grooves in them and they start to ring unevenly. You might try the LaBella 760FL strings. They have a little more mids than the “standard” 760FS strings and the tension is a little more reasonable.

 

[matante]

I used the La Bella DTFs with a .096" E string and don't remember them sounding uneven. I think the E string broke in first but the rest followed soon after. You might also give the Dunlops a try.

 

[foal30]

With you on the black labels. But no use crying over splint milk, those are long gone.

Nice strings though

 

[foal30]

Of all the flats I've tried in the past, I got the best TONAL BALANCE out of the light set (45-60-75-95) of the GHS Precision Flats. I liked the 95E in particular for its warm but focused punch with better clarity and definition than any of the 104/105 E's I tried.

The "dead E" most people complain about is the .105, not the .095.

I like the GHS 105 set

 

[Stewie]

I also use GHS 45-105. I may do something subconsciously to even them out. I’ve been using them for 40 years and they just feel like home

 

[michael_t]

I like the GHS 105 set

Maybe I should have mentioned the "dead E" issue was more common with the "old formula" 105E. GHS did re-formulate it at some point in response.

 

[ljazz]

Been use GHS flat 40-95 and 45-105, bright G string ,YES . DUll and dead E string , YES. Both cant match Labella LTF4A well tonal balance and string to string stiffness balance.

Hope his help , Labella LTF4A , maybe be sound bit mellow to you....

I really dig this tone. I have a set of the LTF's on my backup P, and they are starting to sound like this. I really need to play that P a bit more. I miss the Sadowsky Black Labels for this kind of tone, but the LTF's are turning out to be a great alternative.

 

[Durham52]

The La Bella LTF-4A Low Tension Flexible Flats (Yeah, the name is a mouthful) are my favorites. 42-56-75-100 looks like a odd progression of sizes, but I think they work particularly well for evenness.

 

[staurosjohn]

Of all the flats I've tried in the past, I got the best TONAL BALANCE out of the light set (45-60-75-95) of the GHS Precision Flats. I liked the 95E in particular for its warm but focused punch with better clarity and definition than any of the 104/105 E's I tried.

The "dead E" most people complain about is the .105, not the .095.

I have *these - .095* on my Oly White FrankenFender… def. would fit what you’re looking for!

 

[Deleted member 271037]

I think the Optima Chrome Flatwounds could be PERFECT for you (not Optima RB Flatwounds which are VERY unbalanced and a bit floppy).

Wonderful strings!

Optima Chrome flats are nicely balanced (tension and tone). The tone/feel is kinda halfway between Pyramid Gold and LaBella DTF but maybe a tad more lively/less thumpy than either of those. The E-string isn't "dead" at all. I've only tried the 45-100 set btw. If you like Pyramid Golds (except for the E-string) I think you may like these Optimas better than GHS flats.

I know what you mean about the Pyramid Gold E-string. It's very "dead". That's the reason I don't like the Pyramid Gold long scale sets. The short scale sets are AMAZING though and much better balanced. Pyramid Golds are also sold as singles in pretty much any gauge you could possibly want. You MIGHT get a better result with a lighter gauge long scale E-string but I've never tested this myself. I guess you might have to go slightly lighter on ALL the strings to keep the tension reasonably balanced... The Optimas will probably be a much better choice.

 

[BarfanyShart]

My impression is that the gauges of the LaBella sets are quite carefully selected for balance. 760FL, 760FX and 760FS(short) are sets that I have used and liked better than the other flatwound sets I have tried.

 

[michael_t]

My impression is that the gauges of the LaBella sets are quite carefully selected for balance. 760FL, 760FX and 760FS(short) are sets that I have used and liked better than the other flatwound sets I have tried.

I did try the La Bella 760FL on my Am Std P prior to trying the GHS P Flats 45-95. While they were better balanced across all four strings in terms of playing feel, the 104E tended to sound a bit too muddy for my taste. I found the GHS 95E much cleaner and clearer, and better-balanced with the rest TONALLY. Just my experience...

 

[Dynacord]

If you like Pyramids, they can be bought custom gauged. I get them through Pyramid Bass Strings — Hot Wire Bass and there's no upcharge and one can choose whatever gauges one wants for each string (in .05 increments - might be finer than that on some). I find the long scale set is much better balanced using a 100 or 95 E vs the 105 that's standard.
Could try going heavier than standard on the G and D.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

If you like Pyramids, they can be bought custom gauged. I get them through Pyramid Bass Strings — Hot Wire Bass and there's no upcharge and one can choose whatever gauges one wants for each string (in .05 increments - might be finer than that on some). I find the long scale set is much better balanced using a 100 or 95 E vs the 105 that's standard.
Could try going heavier than standard on the G and D.

I love Pyramid Gold short scale sets but I've never liked the .105 E-string in the long scale set so I've actually been thinking about testing a lighter E.

Very interesting that you suggest going heavier on the D+G-strings. I would have expected lighter D+G-strings to be better balanced if you go lighter on the E-string.

I may have to try this.