I have a squier vm precision 5 and the feeling of 45-65-85-105-130 is a bit floppy at the pickup spot. I need strings that not move too much without going heavier.
Any idea?
Any idea?
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Which for more stiff feeling without going heavier?
- Thread starter maturanesa
- Start date
GHS Boomers are like bridge cables so they get my vote. I doubt there’s a stiffer roundwound. Next pick would be DR Lo Rider nickles.
GHS Boomers would be my pick as well. They're way up there when it comes to tension. Alternatively, you could try the Dunlop standard nickels (the ones in the black packaging) or Dunlop Marcus Miller steels. Those two options have less tension than Boomers, but still feel pretty substantial to me.
Yeah I forgot about the standard black box Dunlop nickles. I only tried them once and they were a tad too stiff for me. I actually find the Marcus Miller’s a little less stiff.
I’d check your setup and see what’s up then. That set should not be floppy.
I'd probably go try some Rotosound jazz flats.
SIT Power Flats do come in those exact gauges, 45-65-85-105-130. I've used the 45-105 set for DGCF tuning and liked their tonal character. Didn't find them "floppy" as such even in that tuning.
I'm not familiar with Magma Flats, so can't comment on how the SIT would compare with them in stiffness/flexibility.
I'm not familiar with Magma Flats, so can't comment on how the SIT would compare with them in stiffness/flexibility.
D'Addario ECB81-5 Chromes XL Bass Flatwound Strings are in gauges 45-65-80-100-132.
I don't have a 5-er, but I've used the ECB81Ms on a lot of fours and they are basically the same gauge minus the 132 and I've found that they "push back" nicely.
I don't have a 5-er, but I've used the ECB81Ms on a lot of fours and they are basically the same gauge minus the 132 and I've found that they "push back" nicely.
Do you want to continue using flats?
If you want to stick with flats, GHS Precision Flats, D’Addario Chromes and LaBella DTF all have fairly high tension. I’m not familiar enough with Magma flats to compare them, but those three strings are known to be on the stiffer side.
I currently have 2 basses one with Chromes and one with DTFs and agree both are on the stiffer side of tension for the gauge they are.
The Chromes are a bit brighter than the DTFs, both sound good IMO.
No one knows because no one knows anything about Magma flats.
Look for hex core. It’s stiffer than round.
The labella olinto flats are stiff.
The labella olinto flats are stiff.
Here is a little clip of the DTFs. DI from a Rumble amp. Treble rolled off on the bass a bit, no comp, just a high pass at 50hz.
They really are deep strings.
They really are deep strings.
Those are the stiffest strings there are. Get any other string and lay them on the a door knob or the back of a chair and magma flats are the least floppy. You probably need to adjust your technique. I like the Magmas don't get me wrong (my thread on these flats have been read many times and comes up on google search )- there just isn't any other stiffer string, And I have tried many of the suggestions above, GHS flats, bright flats, boomers and all manner of La Bella including the Jamerson gaug, the oversized tapes. Also rotosound or even Dean Markley. They also have a lot of tension. I always have to crank my truss rod at least 1/2 turn tot he equivalent stainless steel flats from other makers.
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For stiffer feel, higher action can help. But actual tension remains the same…
You could tune half step up, but chances are that’s not an acceptable solution to you. I’m currently re-evaluating that approach, tho for different reasons and the increased tension is a con for me…
You could tune half step up, but chances are that’s not an acceptable solution to you. I’m currently re-evaluating that approach, tho for different reasons and the increased tension is a con for me…
