What is your favorite flatwound?

[Dirk Rockbottom]

I would like to get some opinions on flatwounds. I have tried mainly chromes and stainless steel including LaBella Deep Talkin', D'Addario and GHS. My problem is that the chromes sound too hollow and clangy and the stainless steel sound too dead. I would like something bright but not clangy, deep but not dead. Rounds are too rough for me and hurt my fingertips. They also sound too raspy. But if someone could recommend a roundwound with a smoother tone, I might reconsider. The DR nickel plated steels are close but still don't totally do it for me. Thanks, Dirk

 

[Iristone]

Roto 77s.

 

[Aidil]

What strings you refer as chromes? FYI, D'Addario Chromes are stainless steel flatwounds.

This is first time I read Chromes are categorized as too hollow, which I don't really understand what this means, unless when Chromes (which are known as bright sounding flatwounds and that you might refer as clangy when hitting the frets) are being used on a hollow or semi-hollow bass, which usually means they become warm sounding.

I might suggest you switch to tapewound instead. D'Addario Nylon Tapewounds or La Bella White Nylon Tapewounds are known as bright sounding despite lots stereotyped tapewounds as dark sounding. These also should not fall into clangy category

 

[MynameisMe]

There are bright (brite) flats.
Also those Ernie Ball Cobalts. A totally different sound than most flats.
Brighter like a round.
For thumping deep flats the best on my MIM P and my Jack Casady are LaBella Low Tension Flats.
Note, these did not sound good on my Amer Standard P.
I can’t seem to find the right strings for that one.

 

[vanderbe]

Ernie Ball Cobalt flats or Sadowsky Blue flats.

 

[Hammerfield]

DR Sunbeams are really smooth and warm roundwounds, low tension also. I put the set a couple of days ago, they have that brand new round zingy, but i read that with use they mellow that even nicer.

My fav flats right now are the La Bella 1954 Original. If you dont like that classic thump, maybe you can try with TI Flats

 

[TC.65]

You should give GHS Balanced Nickels a try. They are pure nickel strings and have a smooth feel for a round wound string. They give the full fundamental without sounding dead or too thumpy. I used too use only flats but these are all that I use now.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

Dead ones.

 

[michael_t]

Rounds are too rough for me and hurt my fingertips. They also sound too raspy. But if someone could recommend a roundwound with a smoother tone, I might reconsider.

If you want a slightly mellowed-down roundwound tone but with a smoother feel than typical rounds, you can try the GHS Pressurewound. Punchy lows and crunchy mids without too much zing up top.

I switched from rounds to flats for the smoother feel, only to realize they didn't meet my tonal goals. The PWs give me both the tone I need and the feel I want.

 

[BLDavis]

Dead ones.

This.
Broken-in flats are, for the most part, completely different from brand new ones out of the package. Some take longer than others to settle in. I'm currently playing a set of D'Addario Chromes that are close to five years old. They've settled into a sweet spot that is mellow but I still have some brightness and harmonics when needed.
Bottom line is, don't be too quick to judge the tone of a set of flats until you give them time to break in. They almost always get better with age.
B.

 

[gelinas666]

Fender 9050 L's.. Got them installed on just about every bass I own.. They work great on all on them.(Which is many!)

 

[jnewmark]

Not a big Flats player, but I do have a P bass loaded with GHS Precision Flats. No sticky feel, no breaking in period, even tone across the strings. Sound good right out of the package. Good for studio stuff. Haven't used them live yet.

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

If you want a slightly mellowed-down roundwound tone but with a smoother feel than typical rounds, you can try the GHS Pressurewound. Punchy lows and crunchy mids without too much zing up top.

I switched from rounds to flats for the smoother feel, only to realize they didn't meet my tonal goals. The PWs give me both the tone I need and the feel I want.

or these.... super slick feel for a round....

 

[bassfootballguy]

T-I Jazz Flats. I’ve gone through lots of brands and these have become a staple. They sit so well in the band mix and the feel of a well set up bass with T-I flats is just unmatched, IMO.

BFG

 

[mikecd1]

The nickel roundcore Thomastik flats are just wonderful especially after the first week. They age well, play a little on the soft side as they're lower tension I think and being roundcore they're a bit more flexible, but once you get the feel they were just such a delight to play. Used to use D'Addario half rounds and chromes as well as some rotosound, labellas and others, but have used nothing but the thomastiks since the nickel rounds. Pricey, but worth it IMO.

 

[Dincrest]

If you're thinking about a pressurewound string, I'd also recommend trying SIT Silencers. They strike a great balance between rounds and flats.

SIT Power Flats are also a good string to try if you're looking into full on flatwounds.

 

[Aqualung60]

Fender 9050 L's.. Got them installed on just about every bass I own.. They work great on all on them.(Which is many!)

+ This. I've tried many flats but always come back to the 9050L's.

 

[Hundred proof]

Used TI flats exclusively for years on both a 68 Pbass and a 73 Jazz. They have a unique sound and feel. As of late I’m also using LaBella low tension flats.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Either Fender 9050's or EB Slinky Flats (those are the cobalt ones). If you start considering too many, you get choice paralysis.

If I had to add a third, it would be RotoSound 77's.

 

[Holdsg]

Based on what you say your tone goals are, I'd also recommend the EBMM Slinky/Cobalt flats.
The stickiness wears off in about 4 hours playing time.

Otherwise, my fav flats are, in no real order.
Sadowsky, Labella (deep talking and flexible flats), TIs, and the Fenders (which are the best value out there).