Will it work: Ernie ball flatwound E with GHS precision flats?

[Groovy Luca]

I recently installed a new set of GHS 3050m precision flats on my Jazz bass and the E string sounds very muddy and indistinct compared to the others, no highs/high mids at all, and very little sustain.
I know flatwounds well, have played 3-4 3050m sets and never had this problem, love their tone for old school reggae and soul and I'm all for a deep dark sound but unfortunately this E string is just lifeless and the other sets I played were all pretty balanced.
I took great care when installing since I know part of the wound section goes on the tuner post and I didn't twist the string while tuning. Wiped it down with alcohol, stretched it a bit, loosened and re-tuned, played and played but nothing has changed.
In the end I contacted GHS thinking I got a bad E but they send replacements only in the US and I live in Italy.

So I'm looking for 105 flatwound E string alternatives without buying a whole new set.
Here in Italy I can get Ernie Ball(group) or Chromes singles at decent prices, I read Chromes are scooped and zingy so I'm leaning towards EB, will it match well enough when broken in?
Other brands (including GHS) single E string+shipping would cost more than buying a whole set where I live.

As a background this Jazz bass is on the darker side (basswood body, rosewood board, fralin single coils).

Flats sets I tried on this bass (besides other 3050m which sounded fine and were my favorites tension wise)
- La Bella 760FS and 760FL: liked them but I would like stronger mids/fundamental. Preferred the thicker gauge for tension.
- fender "new" 9050L: nice tone but didn't age well for me, after a year the E was thumpy but D and G still too bright. Didn't like the low tension E so I really think I need a 105 gauge.

Let me know if you have any ideas!
Thanks

 

[starjag]

Sorry, not direct experience but I understand that Pyramid and also Dogal sell singles. I used a Dogal set some time ago and loved the E from their vintage set, very focused.

 

[Groovy Luca]

Sorry, not direct experience but I understand that Pyramid and also Dogal sell singles. I used a Dogal set some time ago and loved the E from their vintage set, very focused.

Thanks, I'll check it out!

 

[HaphAsSard]

Here in Italy I can get Ernie Ball(group) or Chromes singles at decent prices

Ooh, interesting: where from?

 

[Groovy Luca]

Ooh, interesting: where from?

D'Addario corda singola CB105, 18,50 €

And for Ernie Ball I've seen on their Italian website you can order singles from authorized dealers and I have a couple near me.

Which one would you suggest with GHS?

 

[Groovy Luca]

Ooh, interesting: where from?

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[HaphAsSard]

D'Addario corda singola CB105, 18,50 €

And for Ernie Ball I've seen on their Italian website you can order singles from authorized dealers and I have a couple near me.

Which one would you suggest with GHS?

Thank you very much for the link!

Unfortunately I haven't got any direct experience with either flats. From what I've heard, both will dound different from the rest of the GHS set. Depending on your hand chemistry, the Chrome .105 may not necessarily take too long to become more conventionally flatwound-sounding; anyway, the Ernie Ball "Group" is probably a safer bet.
Users here describe them as present in the mids yet smooth-sounding.
(By the way, here it is at 18.10 euros shipped:
Ernie Ball 1798 Flatwound Electric Bass String Single .105 Bass Single strings )

EDIT: 12 euros is a nicer price, if you can get it!

 

[Groovy Luca]

Thank you very much for the link!

Unfortunately I haven't got any direct experience with either flats. From what I've heard, both will dound different from the rest of the GHS set. Depending on your hand chemistry, the Chrome .105 may not necessarily take too long to become more conventionally flatwound-sounding; anyway, the Ernie Ball "Group" is probably a safer bet.
Users here describe them as present in the mids yet smooth-sounding.
(By the way, here it is at 18.10 euros shipped:
Ernie Ball 1798 Flatwound Electric Bass String Single .105 Bass Single strings )

EDIT: 12 euros is a nicer price, if you can get it!

Thank you, yes I'm very curious about these EB flats, maybe I'll just buy a set to try and keep the GHS as spares

 

[Dan_reeves]

I might have missed this, but how long have you had them on? I only have experience with the 3025 light set, but found that the E string and the rest sort of "met in the middle" after a few weeks play time. If it were me, I would perhaps consider picking up some of the Ernie Balls like you said, but really give the P Flats a bit more time to settle in.

I have also found that the Precision Flats, in general, don't have a super exciting tone when solo'd but sound incredible in a band mix, including the different sounding E. So, if you haven't already, maybe try playing them to some jam tracks on YouTube (or if you have a band/live situation you can take advantage of, even better) and see what your opinion is there. Might change your mind.

You may have already done all of the above already, and in that case I completely understand moving on and trying something else instead. Good luck!

 

[Groovy Luca]

I might have missed this, but how long have you had them on? I only have experience with the 3025 light set, but found that the E string and the rest sort of "met in the middle" after a few weeks play time. If it were me, I would perhaps consider picking up some of the Ernie Balls like you said, but really give the P Flats a bit more time to settle in.

I have also found that the Precision Flats, in general, don't have a super exciting tone when solo'd but sound incredible in a band mix, including the different sounding E. So, if you haven't already, maybe try playing them to some jam tracks on YouTube (or if you have a band/live situation you can take advantage of, even better) and see what your opinion is there. Might change your mind.

You may have already done all of the above already, and in that case I completely understand moving on and trying something else instead. Good luck!

Thanks, I think yours is good advice and in fact I'll wait at least another month and decide later. Maybe I'm just impatient but I've played this set for two weeks and it wasn't like this with the previous sets, but maybe these newer ones take a bit more to break in and even out.
I agree about the sound in a band mix, I do love these strings, but unfortunately no gigs in Italy at the moment... I'll definitely record something to also have a reference.

In the meantime I've also talked to a couple local dealers and *maybe* I'll be able to get a GHS single if needed without paying 30$ shipping, so that's good news

Thanks for your advice!

 

[iiipopes]

Yes! EB stainless flats are the most underrated steel flats out there. And you can get them in singles at a reasonable price. I always keep a couple of extra EB E strings on hand to change out when the E string on the bass gets too thumpy. They blend with everything. They have a tad more mid character than La Bella flats; they have a tad less growl than new Fender 9050's; they don't go from zing to useless thump like Chromes do; They maintain their character for a lot longer time.

 

[Yahboy]

That is the thing I did before on my Sterling Ray, cobalt flat 2814 sound overly bright on it but the E string has nice full, meaty and focus tone; meanwhile the GHS 3025 .95E just dull sounding on it but others are great.

At the end the Cobalt E mix others Ghs flat ADG = nice string to string tone balance.
The Ti flat E also work too, but unbalance stiffness with ADG on GHS 3025 set.

My advice is....... get a set of Labella LTF4a instead.

Hopehelp

 

[Groovy Luca]

Interesting thanks for your opinion man!
Yeah La Bella are nice but I didn't really like the tone of Deep Talkin flats on this jazz bass, sounded kinda "hollow" and I felt lacked mids. It's funny because I love Jerry Jemmott's tone on 60s/70s records and I read he used La Bella's, but then different bass and everything, plus of course he's Jerry Jemmott!

How do the Low tension flats compare to standard Deep Talkin flats feel and tone wise? I might try them in the future
I have to be honest low tension kind of puts me off, I raised the action a lot for the fender 9050L E string for example. GHS and 760FS feel perfect for me

 

[Yahboy]

Interesting thanks for your opinion man!
Yeah La Bella are nice but I didn't really like the tone of Deep Talkin flats on this jazz bass, sounded kinda "hollow" and I felt lacked mids. It's funny because I love Jerry Jemmott's tone on 60s/70s records and I read he used La Bella's, but then different bass and everything, plus of course he's Jerry Jemmott!

How do the Low tension flats compare to standard Deep Talkin flats feel and tone wise? I might try them in the future
I have to be honest low tension kind of puts me off, I raised the action a lot for the fender 9050L E string for example. GHS and 760FS feel perfect for me

Flatwound for jazzbass I prefer broken in Ti flat for woody and organic tone rather than thumpy old school vibe from Labella LTF4a + Pbass.

Unlike DTF , the Ltf4a has pretty comfort stiffness on both fretting and plucking finger.

I been use labella DTF 760FL on my previous jazz bass, Ofcause she has big low end along with shy mid voice. Actually sound nice to me when home practice or low volume band jam.

My current jazz bass type bass are Cort gb74JJ , the only Flatwound able make the jazz bass sound meaty , juicy and nice mid voice present are EB Cobalt flat 2814.
Tension and stiffness close to 9050L and Sadowsky blk flat 40-100. Since I have no aggressive plucking hand , so I just setup low action and no fret buzz.