I mostly use TI jazz flats and also used Chromes for quite a while I had Ernie Ball for a short and liked them also. Two questions did anyone else here notice that Chromes have bit of a clanky or metallic tone on top of their otherwise great tone? Also what gauge do you guys like on your flats. After years of playing lighter gauge rounds ripping off the Fenders that come withe bass and putting lighter gauge Sunbeams I now play the fender medium 45-105 as they sound the fattest for me so naturally the TI's feel very different so long story short what do i replace my Tis with? I certainly won't miss paying almost a hundred bucks for strings anymore.
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Yet another flat wound string question. How exciting lol
- Thread starter MrRiff
- Start date
Maybe if I only had one bass but this is for my jazz bass which I use with flats, I have rounds on my P bass.
First, I would agree that the Chromes do have a metallic edge ("clank") to their tone. I think it comes from the higher-than-average chromium content (hence the nickname "Chromes") in the stainless steel used for the outer cover.
As for my preferred gauges for flats, I like them fairly light but not too light, ie "comfy but not floppy"
My top 3 for flats:
Fender 9050L (45-60-80-100) = they start out fairly bright but do settle into a nice low mind grind. No clank like the Chromes.
Ernie Ball Group IV (40-60-70-95) Stainless Steel Flats = smoother in midrange than the Fender but still with very good clarity and definition.
GHS Precision Flats Light (45-60-75-95) = old school with woody warmth and focused punch.
Wow, everything you said Is exactly what I'm thinking even the guages you picked. I think my next set will be the Ernie Ball iV but curious why the lighter gauge with them? thanks
How frequently were you replacing your TIJFs? They should stay fresh for a couple decades.
Chromes are OK. I didn't like the stiffness and the tone wasn't what I was looking for. I want a bright-ish sounding flat and and those were fine in that respect, but on fretless it felt like the mids were missing. Didn't hate them, didn't love them enough to keep them.
My 69-yr-old hands are not what they used to be after four surgeries and can't handle anything too stiff. At the same time, I hate strings that are too loose and flexible. The three I mentioned above are comfortable to play on but still firm enough not to go too bouncy under my plucking fingers.
I should also add that, when it comes to flats, a set with a lighter E (.095/.100) tends to sound more balanced. I don't need or want them to be overly thumpy or thuddy, but clean and clear with good definition, and lighter gauges seem to work better (at least for me) than anything heavier.
