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TI flats. Buy a set and if you don’t like them, then list them in the classifieds. I bet you don’t sell them.
Here's what I would try first (and recently did). I, like you, hadn't used them in a long time. I put a set of Chromes on one of my P basses (mid 80s MIJ Fender P).
Chromes will let you "ease into" the flats sound. They start off kind of bright so it won't be such an extreme change over from rounds. But they settle in in a few weeks of regular play. They retain a lot of mids. They can growl well. And they take well to slightly overdriven sounds. They react very well to the tone knob as well.
I will soon get a set for my 5 string P bass to see how the Low B works out. That will leave me with a flats 5 and a rounds 5 and a flats 4 and a few rounds 4s.
I have just started back into a flats journey myself so I would be interested to read your thoughts after you make a choice. Report back please.
Chromes will let you "ease into" the flats sound. They start off kind of bright so it won't be such an extreme change over from rounds. But they settle in in a few weeks of regular play. They retain a lot of mids. They can growl well. And they take well to slightly overdriven sounds. They react very well to the tone knob as well.
I will soon get a set for my 5 string P bass to see how the Low B works out. That will leave me with a flats 5 and a rounds 5 and a flats 4 and a few rounds 4s.
I have just started back into a flats journey myself so I would be interested to read your thoughts after you make a choice. Report back please.
Tried flats, tried to like them, ended up pulling them off within 2 weeks and went back to my Fat Beams. But thats just my preference
I have Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats on my 75 Precision and I absolutely love em!
I've had them on for close to 2 years now and they improve with age.
I've had them on for close to 2 years now and they improve with age.
Put some D'Addario Chromes on your P Bass and call it a day. You'll thank me later 
If you go for Chromes, I suggest you stick to the light gauge .0.040-0.095 gauge or the 0.045-0.100 gauge. Above that, they will feel stiff.
Or, 40-60-80-100 (ECB84), which feel fairly close to the EXL165 Nickel Rounds (45-65-85-105) in terms of tension/stiffness.
When I got my Yamaha BB424 she was a heap too bright. Put a set of flats on she never looked back.
Laurence
Laurence
Hard to find fault with "Flats on the G&L", and any of the ones suggested would be OK (although I agree with Pilgrim, personally). The Rick, though, would be a very close second, IMO. TI's are a good choice; but, as one who likes to wallow in the past, I like the Optima RB (Rickenbacker Bass) flats on my 4003...
I put some 45-100 Chromes on the G&L Legacy (now the L100). I've only played them about three hours, but I gotta say I'm impressed. I usually keep the tweets turned off in cabs, but after just a few minutes I turned mine back on, none of the clankiness I usually expect. I don't have a gig til Sunday, but for playing at medium volume in my office, I may like these things. I'll wander around front of house and see what they sound like when the subs come up.
Thanks for all the responses, I'll check in after I've wrung them out with a five hour gig.
Thanks for all the responses, I'll check in after I've wrung them out with a five hour gig.
Rotosound Jazz Flats seemed to be the right string for my P Bass. I have the next heavier set RS77LD. 45-105. I agree with your description of them. And what I really dig about them is the way they respond to playing with my
thumb using the tug bar.
Great flats that don't get mentioned enough around here.
I love how responsive they are. If you dig in a little they just explode with sound. It's great for me, since I'm working with a power trio. Really fills out the sound.
At 2 weeks you never gave them a chance, takes at least a month to break in and after that it just gets better.
Indeed I put a set on my, New to me Ibanez 5 er about 2 weeks ago. You can notice a change nearly every day.
Laurence
Not for me, I wasn't as pleased with the subtler timbre as I thought I may be. I absolutely prefer that new string schwing of rounds
EB Cobalt flats.
I've used Chromes ECB-81 and ECB-82, Labella 760FS, Labella LTF, GHS Pressure Wound...all in the recent past.
I put a set of EB Cobalt flats on my new Yamaha BB735A a few weeks ago. I'm impressed with their feel, their sound, and their strength.
I'm ordering Cobalts for my Precisions next.
I've used Chromes ECB-81 and ECB-82, Labella 760FS, Labella LTF, GHS Pressure Wound...all in the recent past.
I put a set of EB Cobalt flats on my new Yamaha BB735A a few weeks ago. I'm impressed with their feel, their sound, and their strength.
I'm ordering Cobalts for my Precisions next.
I resisted flats for years. I finally bought some chromes (45-100) to put on my SX fretless P/J. This bass has plastic fret lines and i did a radius sanding making it as smooth as possible. I love the result, very dynamic to the touch. One curiosity though, i had to break the vertical vibrato habit. Even though the neck is super smooth the strings "squeak" on the fret lines. So i have to do the traditional horizontal vibrato. Time to try flats on one of my fretted basses?
I just put Chromes on my Fender Elite PJ. Seems to have tamed some of the fretboard noise that I was experiencing with the very hot active preamp.
