Vintage-style flats with good string balance

[tsarter]

I have La Bella 760fx on each and every one of my basses. To my ears and hands they are perfect and consistent.

 

[Killing Floor]

For vintage tone I’ve had good luck with Roto 77 flats but after the break in.

 

[Dynacord]

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.

The lighter E sounds much better to me. On the D+G I was only suggesting going heavier as OP was saying that the upper strings seemed too bright relative to the A (the D+G are the same gauge in the stock short and long scale sets - Short Scale: .100 .070 .055 .040 Long Scale: .105 .075 .055 .040).
I actually did similar last time and have .100 .75 .60 .45

 

[pbass2]

I've never felt that Labellas--the FMs and the FS I use now--were anything but evenly balanced (the Jamerson set was just a different playing experience altogether, hard to really compare those). And they are most certainly vintage sounding. Now Chromes on the other hand....

 

[foal30]

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.

I only tried the GHS Flats on your recommendation and NZ availability. I’m pleased I did

I’m assuming I have the “new” version. My understanding is GHS have very good customer service and their NZ dealer Music Planet NZ is A+ in that regard so I like to support “decent” companies.

There’s Sadowsky Blue Flats on the way as well “new” version. Giving them a try as could get in NZ for good price.

 

[michael_t]

I’m assuming I have the “new” version...

Yes. The 105E was re-formulated more than a few years ago.

 

[foal30]

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.

This year I put a LaBella 104E Flats double ball end set
On my L2 Steinberger

Should have done so years ago. Whilst it’s foolish to make comparison between Graphite and say my old Jazz Bass that LaBella is balance personified

 

[foal30]

I can’t think of a Flatwound set I’ve tried and thought “the E string is dead or the D string is too bright”

It’s possible individual strings “age” differently maybe more so if the player utilize 1 string more than others (?)

 

[foal30]

I've never felt that Labellas--the FMs and the FS I use now--were anything but evenly balanced (the Jamerson set was just a different playing experience altogether, hard to really compare those). And they are most certainly vintage sounding. Now Chromes on the other hand....

I really like Daddario Chromes. There not for every instrument or situation but I’ve got great mileage from them.

Contrary to popular opinion I don’t think they are unbalanced Tonally or to tough string to string tension.

But they are not “vintage sounding”

 

[AMJBASS]

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

I've still got a set

Labella 760FL are still my favorite vintage sounding strings. I've done hundreds of gigs with them. They balance out after a couple of weeks. Frankly, once they get in a mix, they sound great new or broken in to me.