What are your least favourite flatwounds?

[Nashrakh]

Another vote for Chromes and Fender flats. Gave away both sets to other players.

 

[Root 5]

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.

There is a tremendous difference between the brands. My introduction to flat wound bass strings was a set of GHS Precision flats which have a very smooth feel and nice, warm tone. Chromes feel like 80-grit sandpaper in comparison. Thomastiks have too much texture for me, too.

I think of Rotosound flats being more akin to a half round string. Note that the medium scale - and maybe the short scale versions - are very smooth! I like the monel 400 material.

All of the strings I'm whining about are well made. I just prefer a warmer, smoother feeling string.

 

[PDGood]

I can't say enough about how different a bass with flats can sound recorded compared to live. When you play in volume a lot of treble is masked by cymbals, vocals, and guitar. Flats don't have a lot of treble to lose so that can be a challenge. But in a studio, you can hear the nuances and the warmth, and a good engineer will work to place instruments where their voicings don't overlap and you can hear everything better. My point being - if you don't like the sound plugged into your amp, also give it a shot going into a computer or recorder. You may love it in that situation.

Pier, your Zodiac sounds amazingly like a P to me. Mine did too originally. I changed the pickups just as an experiment - it did make a change but I can't say that it's better or worse than the original pickups - just different. Zodiacs are really under-appreciated instruments. I paid $70 for mine used and it's amazing. The fret dressing is on par with VERY expensive instruments. I couldn't have been more shocked. Very lightweight too. Great bass.

 

[Marial]

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

Chromes and TI Jazz flats. Just couldn't get a tone I liked out of either string.

 

[Gorn]

I never liked TI's on an electric, but they're fantastic on an acoustic.

 

[Pier_]

Pier, your Zodiac sounds amazingly like a P to me. Mine did too originally. I changed the pickups just as an experiment - it did make a change but I can't say that it's better or worse than the original pickups - just different. Zodiacs are really under-appreciated instruments. I paid $70 for mine used and it's amazing. The fret dressing is on par with VERY expensive instruments. I couldn't have been more shocked. Very lightweight too. Great bass.

mine is totally "stock", bought used for less than 100 euros. perfect fretboard, and the strings are "behind" the frets! heheh! I love how the Chromes sound when "slapped" against the frets, so I kept the action really low, and it was amazing to find out that it didn't need any kind of fretwork.

 

[SirMjac28]

I just installed some TI's and I was nervous because there doesn't seem to be any middle ground opinions of these strings but all I can say is wow!!! they feel great and they sound incredible. I think it really matters what bass you use them on I have them on my Sting P and they are a perfect match.