Where to go from Rotosound 77s?

This will give you some ideas tone wise.



Chromes seem to be a love/hate thing. Personally I'm on the love side but that's me. They are cheap enough to be worth trying IMO.

 

There's so much variation from one brand of flatwound to another. A lot more so than rounds, in my opinion. You really just have to try all of them.

It'll cost you but in the end you'll know what you like. Plus you can recoup about half your money. Used flats almost always sell in the classifieds.

 

Right now in the classifieds, a guy (not me) is selling used sets of regular labella flats and low tension labella flats. A good place to start.

 

Sounds like you might want to try either the La Bella DTF or the GHS Precision Flats, both of which are well known for the classic thump.

D'A Chromes and Fender 9050s, on the other hand, are for something a little brighter and slightly more aggressive.

 

Chromes will thump after they are settled in a few months.

Underrated string: Ernie Ball flats: defined, not much "new string zing," settle in quickly, and very versatile. I found this out when I needed an E string to go with ADG Fender flats when the E string got dark on me. It blended very, very well and sat well in the mix. It's a cross between Chromes and Fenders when new, and settles in to a nice round defined tone that is mellow without being too thumpy.

Then again, as stated above, the La Bellas are hard to beat.

 

Although I have Fender 9050s on my '78 P-Bass (along with the bridge cover/mute), the LaBella DTFs have taken up residence as "flats-of-choice" in my herd. Anything else would have to show me an awful lot to replace them; nothing I've tried has, so far.

 

I agree. I used the EB 110 set on an old Precision for a long time and they just got better all the time! That said, the LaBella Jamersons take some beating for fundamental bass tones on a P. I've just been in the studio using a 7 year old set and the engineer was in heaven!!

 

I have to say, while I feel like LabEllas have a more "fundamental" sound, I love the texture of the Roto flats, especially the E.

 

Since you like traditional flats, try Ghs Precision flatwound. Not as stiff as the 77s, but they retain that rubber, clack thud and fundamental.

 

I think you made a good choice. I have been really digging the Deep Talkin' flats for on my P. They've got a really balanced, nuanced tone. They are definitely a well-rounded flat (there's a pun in there somewhere).

 

GHS Precision will be about as opposite from Roto 77s as you can get. The GHS have a great vintage 'thunk' tone to them.

 

DR Flats are my fav. They don't get mentioned much in all the discussions about flats, but they are really great strings. I have em on all my basses.

They sound very much like a broken in LaBella, but right out of the package. A little less stiff than the LaBellas.

 

Yep. Give them a few weeks to a month to settle in. Roto's are known to be one of the brighter flats out there. That is not the case with the LaBella's. They are pure thump. But do have some top end when new.

 

gonna have to stick with the rotos, considering i just put them on yesterday