What are your least favourite flatwounds?

[Onelessrant]

Or in a different way, what flatwound strings would you avoid like the plague?

 

[jamersonburton]

the ones that don't exist? It's all personal preference. I have been happy with all flats I've played (D'addario, Rotosound, GHS, DR, new Fenders, and Ernie Ball)

 

[gary m]

Wow, hm...I tried a set of stainless Chromes once that were horrid, couldn't get rid of them fast enough. Also a set of D'Merles I had way back in the 80s that started to unravel from both ends...luckily got them off before one had a chance to break.

 

[Root 5]

D'Addario Chromes. I wouldn't avoid them like the "plague" but they're my least favourite flat. Too bright with a slightly rough texture.

Anyone who thinks Chromes are smooth haven't played GHS, La Bella, or Pyramid.

 

[hdracer]

Fender
They suck. If I want zing I'll save the money and get rounds.

 

[Onelessrant]

Much agreed to Root 5 and hdracer!

There seems to be quite a difference between the different types of flats.
I just wondered if those differences bothered anyone.

 

[shawshank72]

Rotos

 

[shawshank72]

Fender
They suck. If I want zing I'll save the money and get rounds.

Agreed, but only at first.
My set of 9050ML are now a few months old and have no zing whatsoever.

 

[emblymouse]

Yes, the Monel's. I like a higher tension but these were bruisers.

 

[JimmyM]

TI Jazz Flats. Their fans love them like religion, but if I wanted rounds, I'd have bought rounds. Plus I didn't like how they never go dead or how they feel weird, like they're rolling under my fingertips.

 

[Pier_]

TI Jazz Flats. Their fans love them like religion, but if I wanted rounds, I'd have bought rounds. Plus I didn't like how they never go dead or how they feel weird, like they're rolling under my fingertips.

to me it sounds really strange... my two sets of TI "broke in" in a couple of weeks (or maybe a month), and after three years they sound the same...

some examples:

Assembled Precision Bass:



with mutes at the bridge: finger , pick

no mutes: finger , pick

here's a comparison between three years old TIs (on that bass) and few days old La Bella 760M (on a P50 mexico): https://www.dropbox.com/s/jrs9oeo73pfy1bk/P50 vs Piercision.zip

I'm looking for the samples with my ex Jazz Bass

it's true that they sound really bright when new, but they mellow really well and sound perfectly even when broke in...

the flats I hate are Rotosound... Swing66 are my favourite rounds, and Jazz77 least favourite flats... rough, bright, and they are the only flats that (to me) die after months... they sounded like dead rounds, not like broke in flats...

 

[JimmyM]

Man, if I could have gotten the TI's to sound like that, I might have kept them. I had them on for 4 months and used the bass semi-regularly, and the new string zing never wore off. But those clips of yours sound like actual flatwounds

 

[PDGood]

Man I love audio comparisons, I learn a little something every time. Thanks for posting those on flats.
I did a quick experiment with the one bass I have with flats - a Peavey Zodiac with BassLines pickup which is basically a P bass. It has Chromes on it that are probably a year old. It sounds a lot closer to the 3 yr old TIs than it does the Labellas.

I also learned one other thing. The Chromes sounded way deader through an amp than they did going direct into the computer. Night and day difference - much much brighter in the computer.

P.S. I attempted to upload a sound file of the Chromes playing I Feel Good but apparently haven't figured out how to do it on the new board yet. Anyone want to explain I'll be glad to upload the file. I clicked on "Upload A File" and selected the file and a progress bar zipped along like it was done, but I don't see the attachment.

 

[drumsnbass]

D'Addario Chromes. I wouldn't avoid them like the "plague" but they're my least favourite flat. Too bright with a slightly rough texture.

Anyone who thinks Chromes are smooth haven't played GHS, La Bella, or Pyramid.

Have a pair of D'As on a bass now and yeah, they feel 'sticky'. Was actually considering trying a little candle way on them.

 

[PDGood]

Here's the file: I Feel Good with Chromes on a P configured bass. Not exactly note for note from the record but close enough you can compare to the other two.

 

[petrus61]

By far, Chromes have to be the worst for me. It's funny, but I read a post earlier today by someone that said many of the basses they bought from the classifieds here came strung with them. Coincidence?

All kidding aside, I could never really see why they are always touted as an introductory flat when they are probably the most likely string to turn a player off just switching from rounds for the first time. There are so many better choices, IMO.

Close second is Fender. I tried to convince myself they were ok, but they're essentially polished Chromes. Stiff as a board and scooped.

Third place is DR flats. I have nothing good to say about those at all. They seem to be about the polar opposite of everything DR makes (quality, low tension strings with great feel).

I've tried em all and those three reign supreme in the land of suck.

 

[Pier_]

Man, if I could have gotten the TI's to sound like that, I might have kept them. I had them on for 4 months and used the bass semi-regularly, and the new string zing never wore off. But those clips of yours sound like actual flatwounds

I know, I found often your posts about being unable to "tame" them, and to me your comments sounded strange, because mi sets broke in easily. I didn't like them only on fretless basses, because on them I prefer heavy gauges.

Man I love audio comparisons, I learn a little something every time. Thanks for posting those on flats.
I did a quick experiment with the one bass I have with flats - a Peavey Zodiac with BassLines pickup which is basically a P bass. It has Chromes on it that are probably a year old. It sounds a lot closer to the 3 yr old TIs than it does the Labellas.

here's my stock Zodiac EX with a 4 years old set of 45-100 Chromes! (the sound quality and volume are different from the other samples, because this one was recorded using the Line6 Backtrack. it's just "me playing casual things with fingers and at a certain point some pick", and then took the file as it was)



this exact set was used for two years on a fretless bass, when it was my only instrument (so heavy use!), then passed on some other basses and ended up on the Zodiac (who was a "comeback". it was my first bass, in black, but sold it to buy a Fender. years later I bought another one, in red finish, because it was too good for the price!).

 

[Gorn]

DR flats. I bought them cuz they were the one set of flats I've never tried. They stink. Lifeless, thudless and weak.

 

[elBandito]

Roto flats. They still feel somewhat like roundwounds. Groundwound? Couldn;t get the E string to intonate, and the tension is just killer.

 

[rydin4lifebass]

Oddly enough, I'm going with TI Jazz Flats along with JimmyM. I was excited to buy a used Fender Jazz with them after reading all of the praise for them. After a set-up, I wasn't impressed with them at all. I found them to be bright and zingy without really allowing the Jazz to "burp" like I wanted it to. I'll soon be throwing on a set of EB slinky's on it in an attempt to get more of the sound I'm looking for. I really wanted to like them, especially since I didn't spend the money on a new set and I figured they'd last for years but I was disappointed in them.