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Want to try some Flats

ODDBALL

ODDBALL

Inactive
Mar 2, 2005
2,150
1,195
Salida, CA
#1
Hello TB,

I am new to the whole P Bass world and wanted to try some flats out. I am currently using DR Sunbeams and like them. I do find myself rolling off the tone most of the time. The more I read about flats the more I think I will like them on this bass. My bass is a passive Ibanez RB650, and I play mostly Classic rock and some funk.

I think I have narrowed the string choices down to D’Addario Chromes or LaBella Flats. If you have experience with either please chime in. I am really interested in trying the LaBella Jamerson set, but I have heard that they could bow your neck because of the high tension. Would I have to worry about this on my bass? And I have also heard that the Chromes are very Mid rangy, is this true. I would love to hear some feedback.

Thanks to all for the help. :)

Shaun
 
#2
I got a set of Chromes for my Peavey Fury two years ago and loved them, now all of my basses have Chromes on them, and that original set is still on the Fury. It seems that every time I pick it up, they sound even better.
They are a bit harsh to start but die down to a great mellow sound. They are middy, but its definitely not overpowering. I hae become a fully converted flatwound player.
 
#3
RawOrange said:
I got a set of Chromes for my Peavey Fury two years ago and loved them, now all of my basses have Chromes on them, and that original set is still on the Fury. It seems that every time I pick it up, they sound even better.
They are a bit harsh to start but die down to a great mellow sound. They are middy, but its definitely not overpowering. I hae become a fully converted flatwound player.
Click to expand...

+1, i Tried chromes, not as much bite as new rounds but pretty good, and after you get past the intial 'tacky' feel of flats - they are very smooth and finger noise free.

I only had them on for a couple of weeks, they get lovely and mellow quite quickly.

Right now I'm trying Rotosound 77's. They are as bright as rounds (at least initally) but have a low mid focus as opposed to a more upper mid tone from the chromes. Both have tasty lows.

Enjoy whatever you choose.:bassist:
 
#4
Any time you change what kind of strings are on your instrument, you should adjust your neck. I wouldn't recommend jumping straight to Jamersons. I have tried all the major flatwounds - Rotosounds, Chromes, DR, GHS, and LaBella in all the gauges they offer. I have finally settled on LaBella 760 FLs. They are close in tension to standard gauge rounds, and they are very easy to play, and still have some brightness to them when slapped. I also really liked DR flats, but they only come in one gauge which I felt was a little high tension for my tastes.

Chromes are slightly brighter than LaBellas in the high mids, and have a concentrated low-mid punch which a lot of people like. I didn't like the way my particular set felt, and they have a funny metallic noise when new. They respond well to slapping and playing with a pick. Most people won't notice that you are playing flats with chromes on a P-bass. They aren't zingy like rounds, but they ring nicely in the upper mids.
 
#5
guroove said:
Any time you change what kind of strings are on your instrument, you should adjust your neck. I wouldn't recommend jumping straight to Jamersons. I have tried all the major flatwounds - Rotosounds, Chromes, DR, GHS, and LaBella in all the gauges they offer. I have finally settled on LaBella 760 FLs. They are close in tension to standard gauge rounds, and they are very easy to play, and still have some brightness to them when slapped. I also really liked DR flats, but they only come in one gauge which I felt was a little high tension for my tastes.

Chromes are slightly brighter than LaBellas in the high mids, and have a concentrated low-mid punch which a lot of people like. I didn't like the way my particular set felt, and they have a funny metallic noise when new. They respond well to slapping and playing with a pick. Most people won't notice that you are playing flats with chromes on a P-bass. They aren't zingy like rounds, but they ring nicely in the upper mids.
Click to expand...

I 95% of the time I use my fingers to play. I really like the highs cut most of the time. Maybe Chromes might be to bright for what I am looking for. I want a thump to my sound more low end than highs.

Shaun
 
#6
ODDBALL said:
I 95% of the time I use my fingers to play. I really like the highs cut most of the time. Maybe Chromes might be to bright for what I am looking for. I want a thump to my sound more low end than highs.

Shaun
Click to expand...

After the initial "break in period", Chromes definitely have the "thump" you're looking for. It just takes a week or so for the new string sound to wear off, then they are nice and mellow. :bassist:
 
#7
The only way to know which you will like best is to try them out. LaBellas definitely had the best feel of all the strings I tried, but sometimes you get a bad string, and you have to contact the company to get a replacement. Even the LaBellas were too bright for me when they are new. They all mellow out with time. One thing about the LaBellas is that once broken in, they do have a fast initial decay which can sound a bit like playing through a compressor. This may be a problem for some styles. Slapping on them creates a very thuddy attack because of this characteristic.
 
#9
GHS Precision flats are very inexpensive, and have a very dark sound. They are high tension, so you will have to adjust your truss rod. They have a heavy feel to them - not as lively as the LaBellas.

DR flats have the strongest low end of any string I have ever tried. They have a funny springy rubbery feel to them and an extremely smooth polish to them. Depending on the bass, they have a little glassyness on the top end, but it's smooth. Not gritty like a roundwound or the LaBellas. Check the recordings in my sig. Doin' the Nasty is a jazz bass with LaBella 760 FLs. Bucket of Fish and Flush it were recorded with a P-bass with DRs.
 
#12
I use both Chromes (G&L L2000) and LBella's (on one Fender Jazz). Love both and they would sound good on a Pbass. But....for my Pbasses (very old or new) I haven't found anything better than TI Jazz flats.

Sorry to add that since you only had two options narrowed down. possibly you considered them and ruled them out, but if not give them a consideration and read a lot about them.
 
#14
The Chromes are the brightest flats I've tried (especially when new), but they do mellow--you just have to give them some time. Unless you play for hours a day or eat bacon before you play you'll need more than a week. They are a very nice string and won't eat a hole in your pocket.
 
#19
GHS Precision Flats user here.

I've had them on my 78 Precision with EMG PJ pickups for almost 3 years and have really grown to love the feel but will very soon be going to some sort of a hybrid (probably GHS Pressurewounds) because while I love the thump and punch of the P Flats, they are a little too dark and dead (sustain wise) for the majority of my current gigs. If you really want an old-school sound though, don't count out the GHS Precision Flats... and the price is right.
 

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