Which Light-Gauge Flatwounds Have The Most SHINY Chrome-like Mirror Appearance?

[MaxCellExcelWon]

I hope some flatwound affictionados will be able to help me.

I am putting together a silver-and-chrome themed Aerodyne Jazz bass with DiMarzio Relentless chrome pickups, and I want to complete the look.

So, I am looking for the most noticeable, chrome-like mirror-finished super-shiny flats.

But, they have to be lightest gauge possible.

BTW, "Chromes" don't really look chrome to me. They seem to have more of a grayish finish.

I've seen such super shiny flats before, so I know they are out there. I just don't know what brands they are/were.

So - all you flatwound experts - what are the most mirror-like, chrome-like, super SHINY flats out there?

I appreciate anyone's help.

 

[Rocket Queen]

La Bella LTFs?

 

[MaxCellExcelWon]

La Bella LTFs?

Are those super shiny and chrome-like?

 

[michael_t]

BTW, "Chromes" don't really look chrome to me. They seem to have more of a grayish finish.

The D'A Chromes Flats get their name because of the higher-than-average chromium content in the stainless steel used for the outer wrap. But they're still stainless steel, which would always have the gray-ish color.

 

[KenD]

I hope some flatwound affictionados will be able to help me.

I am putting together a silver-and-chrome themed Aerodyne Jazz bass with DiMarzio Relentless chrome pickups, and I want to complete the look.

So, I am looking for the most noticeable, chrome-like mirror-finished super-shiny flats.

But, they have to be lightest gauge possible.

BTW, "Chromes" don't really look chrome to me. They seem to have more of a grayish finish.

I've seen such super shiny flats before, so I know they are out there. I just don't know what brands they are/were.

So - all you flatwound experts - what are the most mirror-like, chrome-like, super SHINY flats out there?

I appreciate anyone's help.

Do they have to sound good?

 

[HaphAsSard]

I hope some flatwound affictionados will be able to help me.

I am putting together a silver-and-chrome themed Aerodyne Jazz bass with DiMarzio Relentless chrome pickups, and I want to complete the look.

So, I am looking for the most noticeable, chrome-like mirror-finished super-shiny flats.

But, they have to be lightest gauge possible.

BTW, "Chromes" don't really look chrome to me. They seem to have more of a grayish finish.

I've seen such super shiny flats before, so I know they are out there. I just don't know what brands they are/were.

So - all you flatwound experts - what are the most mirror-like, chrome-like, super SHINY flats out there?

I appreciate anyone's help.

Pure nickel flats will probably look shinier, at least when new:
Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flat; Pyramid Gold; Optima 4099 (Chrome) flatwound (hex-core); Optima 4440.L RB Flatwound (round-core); Dogal Perfect Pitch Hellborg Flat Wound.


I've seen pics of stainless-steel flats with very polished, glass-like surfaces (Webstrings Detroit flats; DR Legend flats), and I have experience with yet another (Rotosound Jazz Bass RS77S) with a Monel flat ribbon winding (however, the Roto long-scale sets have a smooth treble half, but gappy A and E strings).

I also own a Galli Jazz Flat low B, and it feels smooth and looks shiny enough to me: gaps aren't felt (interestingly enough, the outer string appears to be designed like the La Bella LTF, with a very narrow ribbon for added flexibility) but not invisible, unlike the pictures (and the short-scale Rotos) I mention above.

 

[MaxCellExcelWon]

Pure nickel flats will probably look shinier, at least when new:
Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flat; Pyramid Gold; Optima 4099 (Chrome) flatwound (hex-core); Optima 4440.L RB Flatwound (round-core); Dogal Perfect Pitch Hellborg Flat Wound.


I've seen pics of stainless-steel flats with very polished, glass-like surfaces (Webstrings Detroit flats; DR Legend flats), and I have experience with yet another (Rotosound Jazz Bass RS77S) with a Monel flat ribbon winding (however, the Roto long-scale sets have a smooth treble half, but gappy A and E strings).

I also own a Galli Jazz Flat low B, and it feels smooth and looks shiny enough to me: gaps aren't felt (interestingly enough, the outer string appears to be designed like the La Bella LTF, with a very narrow ribbon for added flexibility) but not invisible, unlike the pictures (and the short-scale Rotos) I mention above.

Which would you say are smoother to the touch and more shiny, nickel or stainless?

In 40 years of playing, my experience with flats is very limited. The last set I used was the aforementioned D'Addario XL Chrome 40-95 set on a fretless Rick, and while the tension was great they felt very, very "grabby" and left my fingers black in a matter of a few minutes.

 

[MaxCellExcelWon]

Do they have to sound good?

I'm sure any brand of flats will sound good enough for what I'm trying to do.

For this particular bass, I'm going more for a certain style (or look) and will accept however the flats sound on it. How they feel and look is more important on this particular bass. I'm just building it for fun.

 

[SharpCat]

I'm voting LaBella DTF. 760FS so smooth.

 

[Elk]

Are you opposed to Brasso?

If so, DR Legends are pretty shiny.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

"Lightest gauges possible" will limit your options a bit.

I've currently got the following flats installed on various basses:

Roto77
LaBella DTF
GHS Precision Flats
Pyramid Golds
Dogal R44 Traditional
Optima Chromes
D'Addario Chromes
Fender 9050
TI Jazz Flats

The two that stand out as SLIGHTLY shinier than the others are:

-Dogal R44 Traditionals. These are the smoothest flats I've ever played, and the surface is shinier than most. I wouldn't call them "super shiny" but definitely less gray than the others on the list above. They're not particularly light gauges though, and they have a very "old school" tone/feel that may not be everyone's cup of tea. They also have an unusually low output due to the use of copper for the middle layer of wrapping. Absolutely gorgeous tone though, if you like old school flats.

-Pyramid Golds. These aren't the smoothest surface flats you will find so perhaps "shiny" isn't the best way to describe them. They reflect light in kinda the same way that any nickle plated roundwounds do, which makes them look slightly more "sparkly" than most flats. At least in a certain light... Probably not quite what you're looking for visually, but at least they are available as singles from .020 and upwards so finding light gauges shouldn't be a problem. These are also VERY "old school" though. Expect a VERY dark/thumpy vibe, especially the E-string that some people would describe as "dead" out of the box (although this may actually become less of an issue with lighter gauges than the standard sets).

I wouldn't describe any of them as "mirror finish" or "super shiny" but definitely slightly less gray than the other strings in the list above. I have also used other types of flats in the past, and I can't remember ever seeing anyone with a noticeably shinier surface.

I have a feeling you won't find exactly what you're looking for. And even if you do, the difference in shininess will be so marginal that no-one except yourself will most likely EVER notice.

If this is for an instrument that will actually be played (rather than hung on a wall for decoration) my advice would be to focus more on getting string with the right tone/feel for your taste/playing style. But I have a feeling that's not what you want to hear.

Good luck!

 

[HaphAsSard]

Which would you say are smoother to the touch and more shiny, nickel or stainless?

Neither characteristic has ever been my priority (I was more interested in tone differences). As I said, short-scale Rotos were markedly smoother than other flats I tried (Fender, which are stainless; Pyramid and TI, nickel); beyond that, I couldn't really establish a clear "winner".

Paging @e-flat and @GIBrat51, both of whom have in their respective belts a wide enough sample size to direct you to the most promising candidates.

 

[el murdoque]

Another vote for LaBella.
I've played Fender, LaBella, Optima, TI, Pyramid, Chromes ... and more that I can't recall at the moment. The LaBella strings stood out because they looked like a solid wire - the windings were nearly impossible to make out. All the other strings have tiny gaps beween the windings.
To keep them bright and shiny, you'll have to clean them regularly, else they will get duller with time.

 

[Swerve]

Dunlops are pretty shiny.

 

[Pyrrho Epoche]

 

[Bevan777]

Has anyone mentioned Labella Super Polished yet?

https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/product/la-bella-sp-47125-super-polished-bass-strings-5-string-set-47-125/

Edit: actually I realise now that these are round wound. Thought they were flats for some reason.

 

[Low Main]

Rotosound flats. Shiny look, shiny sound.

 

[Code Brown]

Once, out of curiosity, I attempted to polish some flats with a dremel, polishing wheel and Mothers metal polish. It wasn't a serious project and it was surprisingly difficult so I quickly gave up. The strings kept moving around as I tried to polish (they were on my bass). I considered taking them off, but I figured that would be even more difficult. Polishing the top of the strings was relatively easy but the sides were difficult. Hitting all the angles around the string to get a even surface finish was time consuming and frustrating. I didn't want to risk marring the fretboard, ruining the strings or getting polishing compound everywhere - so I threw in the towel. The string's appearance didn't improve much, but again it wasn't a serious effort. I don't want to discourage you from trying, but I have to warn you that I found it more difficult than expected.
The strings were La Bella, but I don't remember the model.

 

[cymbop]

Labella 760FL.

 

[GIBrat51]

I hope some flatwound affictionados will be able to help me.

I am putting together a silver-and-chrome themed Aerodyne Jazz bass with DiMarzio Relentless chrome pickups, and I want to complete the look.

So, I am looking for the most noticeable, chrome-like mirror-finished super-shiny flats.

But, they have to be lightest gauge possible.

BTW, "Chromes" don't really look chrome to me. They seem to have more of a grayish finish.

I've seen such super shiny flats before, so I know they are out there. I just don't know what brands they are/were.

So - all you flatwound experts - what are the most mirror-like, chrome-like, super SHINY flats out there?

I appreciate anyone's help.

Well...
"Chrome-like, super shiny flats" and "the lightest gauge possible'? I'm afraid this is going to be a case of - you can have one or the other - but you can't have both. However..
Looking at the basses I have up in my living room at the moment, I see flats made by La Bella; Dunlop; DR; and Optima. But, I have other basses, down in their cases in the basement, with many other brands - and "models" - of flats. So...
- "Light as possible". Other than having someone making you a set of "piccolo bass" strings (which might not be flats; small gauges aren't much of a flats thing), the smallest gauge flats - long scale flats - that I know of, are La Bella 760FX's. They're 39-96 gauge. I have those on one of my Danelectro DC59 Pro basses, and a short scale set on my Dano Longhorn. Their 760FD set is 43-89 gauge, but those were originally made for a Dano Longhorn, and are short scale only...
- Chrome-like, super shiny". In my "Bass Herd"? The flats that are the shiniest (and the smoothest, too), are the Galli JF4505 Jazz Flats, that my Music Man 4HH Stingray Special wears, But, at 45-105 gauge? Not exactly "light". But, overall? The flats that come closest to the Galli's for "Shiny" are probably the La Bellas. I use them on several basses - in several gauges, and they do seem pretty shiny; except for the LTF4-A Low Tension Flats. They are, as you say, "kind of grayish"...
So... based on the flats I use? I'd have to say - La Bella 760FX's. They aren't quite the shiniest flats I use, but they are the lightest. La Bella's DTF's, to my eyes, do seem to get "shinier", the smaller the gauge; and the FX's are the smallest that you could use...