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What is your favorite flatwound?

#82
La Bella DTFs are my overall favourite: lovely organic warmth to them once they've broken in. That said, I have TI's that sound great on some of my basses: including a set of unknown ancientness on my '68 P-Bass. And Chromes sound absolutely brilliant on my new G&L LB-100. I think the only conclusion one can reach is that flats in general are wonderful, and various flats are wonderful on various instruments—but not on all instruments. [P.S. I also like flats on my electric guitars...]
 
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#83
jmlee said:
La Bella DTFs are my overall favourite: lovely organic warmth to them once they've broken in. That said, I have TI's that sound great on some of my basses: including a set of unknown ancientness on my '68 P-Bass. And Chromes sound absolutely brilliant on my new G&L LB-100. I think the only conclusion one can reach is that flats in general are wonderful, and various flats are wonderful on various instruments—but not on all instruments. [P.S. I also like flats on my electric guitars...]
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Correct. Not for everyone or every occasion but i do use the TI's on my fretless....
 
#85
I have flats on 3 basses. TI flats, Ernie Ball Cobalts, and some mystery strings with blue silks. The Cobalts are my favorite and I think I am on the same page for wants out of a flat string. The mystery strings are runner up. The TI flats I am still on the fence about. If they were a $15 string they would be in the trash already. But since they're not , well , they're not. I'm hoping they improve with age but I'm not holding my breath.
 
#86
Much as I like flats, and, considering how many of my 23 basses wear them - I don't really have a "favorite" flatwound. What I have - through much trial and error - are flats that, IMO, work best on a particular bass, for what I like to play on that bass. With so many basses, "versatile" isn't much of a consideration around here. Anyway... which bass wears which flats?
- '01 Rickenbacker 4003. It wears the Optima RB flats.
- '73 Rickenbacker 4001. It's starting to develop the neck problem that plagues older Ricks. So, I need super low tension strings - the La Bella Low Tension Flexible Flats.
- '78 P-Bass. GHS Precision Flats (and a mute in the bridge cover).
- '91 Danelectro DC59 Pro. La Bella 760FX flats (39-96) for this one.
- '95 Alembic Epic. Italian Dogal R44's (42-100).They seem to suit the Alembic very well...
- '17 Gibson Thunderbird. Roto RS 77s on this bad boy.
- '94 Gretsch Broadkaster. It's wearing the Fender 9050Ls that the P-Bass used to wear.
- '18 Danelectro Longhorn. Again, the La Bella 769FXs. I'm not sure I like the tension - or lack of it ...
- '18 Warmoth Mini-Precision. GHS Precision Flats, like it's big brother...
- '71 Epiphone EA-260. It still wears the La Bella 760FLs it wore when I got it, and I hear absolutely no reason to replace them.
- '15 Eastwood Magnum. EB Slinky Flatwounds (formerly "Cobalt Flats").
- '88 Kramer Forum III. It's currently stringless (customization/restoration). It had Chromes on it when I got it. It'll wear them again...
- '78 Kramer 450B. Optima 4099RLs.
- '18 Eastwood Flying V bass. La Bella 760FLs.
- '15 G&L Custom Shop (no lefty, otherwise) Tom Hamilton signature ASAT bass. I put the old Chromes from the Forum III on it.
- '06 Carvin LB-20. It's set up BEAD, with the 65-135 strings from a set of Roto RS 77s.
- '03 Starfire violin bass. Another set of La Bella 760FLs.
And, that's pretty much it. My other basses wear tapes, or rounds. Either because (like my other T-Bird and Dano DC59) they contrast nicely with the flats; or, I just like the sound of them on that bass...:whistle:
 
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#89
Dirk Rockbottom said:
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
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Try LaBella low tension flex flats or La Bella Nylon Tapes
 
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#91
1. EB Cobalt flats.
2. Chromes

I see a lot of suggestions for LaBella low tension flats, and those might be a great string, but I don't use LaBella products if there's another similar choice available. I tried a set of prototype perlon core / bronze wound LaBella acoustic bass strings several years ago on my ABG. The strings arrived, and I immediately put them on. They continued stretching until bedtime. When I got up the next morning, 3 of 4 were broken. They sent me short scale replacements that wouldn't work at all and wouldn't make that right. Too many other stringmakers to put up with that level of customer service.

I also see a lot of suggestions for T-I Flats. I'm glad to see many players enjoy them, & I wish I was one. I tried them on multiple basses & didn't like them as well as light gauge Chromes. I now use that set of T-I's on a fretless ABG. That's about the only place I could tolerate them.
 
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#93
Dirk Rockbottom said:
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
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Love the Dunlop flats. Nice deep fundamental, full mids and enough hugh end definition. No clank.
 
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#94
bassfootballguy said:
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
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They are expensive strings but right now you can get them on Amazon and they’re not as outrageous. For some reason the package says “accordion accessory” but they are in fact electric bass flat wound strings. Go figure

Amazon.com: Buying Choices: Thomastik-Infeld Accordion Accessory (JF344)



bassfootballguy said:
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
Click to expand...
 
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#98
Depends on the bass.

On my fretted P, I loved GHS Precision Flats, and hated Chromes.

On my fretless Jazz, Chromes were my favourite flat, but I wanted a brighter tone so I went with Ken Smith Compressors.

On my fretless Portamento, I love Chromes. They match the instrument perfectly. I do have them tuned to D Standard, which I prefer for tuning reasons, but it also makes them a bit looser which I also prefer, especially on fretless.
 
#99
My favourite flats are probably Pyramid Gold, even though the E-string can be a bit of an, ehm, acquired taste.

I also love TI Jazz Flats and Rotosound 77.

LaBella DTFs can also be cool for some stuff.

With those four widely different sounding flats I've got all my flatwound needs covered (not a big fan of bright&clanky flats like Chromes).
 

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