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Your favourite flatwounds for short scale?

project_c

project_c

May 8, 2008
1,592
1,870
London, UK
#1
I have a SS bass with a 2 year old set of Dunlop flats which feel and sound pretty good on the whole, they're great with fundamentals and the tension feels good, but they're lacking a bit of low-mid weight and presence so I want to explore a few other options.

There's a lot of conflicting info out there, some people swear by the LaBella Deep Talkin 760FS-S, some say they're too stiff and have too much tension, others say they don't feel balanced - but tone-wise they sound closest to what I'm after.

I've tried TI Jazz Flats in the past, didn't love the feel or the tone, found the mids / upper mids a bit nasal sounding. I also love tapes although I prefer them on regular scale basses, on short scale they didn't feel or sound quite right to me.

Curious what else people are using?

Think jazz / Motown / vintage P-bass / B15 / fingerstyle territory (rather than 60's / Hofner / rock & roll / pick etc).
 
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#2
Pyramid Golds on this short scale semi-hollowbody. Probably not what you seek, it's a British Invasion thing on this bass.

20230830_115428.jpg
 
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#4
project_c said:
There's a lot of conflicting info out there, some people swear by the LaBella Deep Talkin 760FS-S, some say they're too stiff and have too much tension, others say they don't feel balanced - but tone-wise they sound closest to what I'm after.
Click to expand...

How a set of strings feel under one's fingers is totally subjective and a matter of personal preference.

That being said, the La Bella 760FS-S (45-105) would be stiffer in feel than the Dunlop 45-105. If you like the way Dunlop flats feel but want a little more in terms of low-mid punch, I would suggest the GHS Precision Flats, which are 45-60-75-95 and not as stiff as the La Bella. I've used the long-scale version of the same set on my P bass and really liked the way they felt (= comfy but not floppy) and sounded (= focused low-mid punch).
 
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#15
My only real shortscale is the 3 low strings on bass+guitar hybrid (29.5). And the best flats for that is GHS Light set. I do have a vintage mustang as well, but currently have a strung that with piccolo strings. And it was also happy with GHS Precision flats. When they said it is the sound of chocolate they were not kidding. La Bellas on a short scale should not be that too much of a tension -- but maybe it's just me. Not sure if they have a short scale version, but DR Legend flats are also amazing in my regular bass. They are round core

My love for the Cobalts may have faded. Will replace the ones I have in a few weeks. In the light department it seems that GHS flats have the best balance and do not mind string through and some of the metal being wounded up. For medium Legends because of the feel but if you do not mind a bit of stiffness GHS.
 
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