First Ever Set of Flats

E

eJake

May 22, 2011
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New Orleans
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#1
Hi talkbass!

I have always approached my tone coming from a Mexican J bass with rounds. I knew what general sound I was looking for and was able to achieve it reasonably well. Im fascinated with rhythm and melody and maybe didn't pay as much attention to tone as I learned tunes through my life. I like minimalism in moderation. I was aware that other types of strings existed but always thought that strings were just whatever. I hate to even admit this but last time I had my four string set up the guy asked what strings I wanted, I told him whatever rounds you like is cool. Then I spent the next 3 months beating the brightness out of the low e. That's when my tone ear started to get a bit sharper and when I start reading deeper on TB...

I just had my really pretty (but imo one too many strings and waaaay too many dollars) American deluxe V set up with GHS precision flats.. Wow... It's like I've been loving hamburgers my whole life and just discovered cheese. That is the sound I have wanted all these years and didn't even know it! And the strings aren't even close to broken in yet.

So obviously I'm gonna get my baby (2004 MIM Jazz) set up with some flats. Right now I'm mainly playing reggae and salsa with some R&B/funk gigs peppered in. I'm thinking of going with the same GHS P flats because:
- they're cheap
- they seem to have that super low sound that I've been searching for the past couple years
- I've already tried em out.

Are there other brands out there that I should be looking into? It's gonna be hard to sell me on 70 or 80 dollar strings but I'm open to suggestions.

Also I'm interested in hearing from people who rarely change their strings. How infrequently do you do it? What aural or other cues are you looking for to let you know it's time? I've heard Duck Dunn never changed his low E?

I really appreciate this resource we have here. Just a Google search away from the information that I'm looking for accompanied by an endless stream of opinions :)

Groove on!
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#2
Fender 9050CLs...not the regular lights, not the mediums. Check out the Strings board for the thread.
Fender stopped production, reintroduced them again about a year ago, and stopped making them again. I bought mine for $21 after years of not even considering them because of the price, thinking they couldn't possibly be good.
I was wrong!
2mhtw5x.jpg

GHS black tapewounds. I didn't want to spend $39.95 for the 9050CLs someone was selling on ebay so I tried these...also discontinued.
Incredible strings!
Used my L2000 last night at Woodrock Studio. I still can't believe how good it sounded.
x3xt1j.jpg
 
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#3
I've tried and been happy with various aspects of (listed in order of brightest > darkest to my ear) D'Addario Chromes, Fender 9050s, DR Legend Flats and Labella 760FS. I mainly gig the Chromes and roll off the tone knob for thump or roll it up for clang. The Labella's are the smoothest to the touch and just feel amazing.
 
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#5
I'd typed a long rave about the GHS med flats on my P, but long rave short: they sound frikkin' awesome and don't break the bank. I style myself as NOT a Fender guy, but those strings got me playing that thing all the time. It's coming to a gig next Thursday, even.
 
#6
My go to flats are TI Flats. Pick up a used set here on Talk Bass classified if you can.
They are well worth the price New because one set will last you a lifetime. But once they begin to break in the tone goes from good to phenomenal .

Chromes sound great too , but they are the brightest flats I've ever heard.

These are my 2 favorite flats. Different but it depends on what you want in a flat.
 
#9
jd56hawk said:
Fender 9050CLs...not the regular lights, not the mediums. Check out the Strings board for the thread.
Fender stopped production, reintroduced them again about a year ago, and stopped making them again. I bought mine for $21 after years of not even considering them because of the price, thinking they couldn't possibly be good.
I was wrong!
View attachment 2783141
GHS black tapewounds. I didn't want to spend $39.95 for the 9050CLs someone was selling on ebay so I tried these...also discontinued.
Incredible strings!
Used my L2000 last night at Woodrock Studio. I still can't believe how good it sounded.
View attachment 2783142
Click to expand...

Those fenders seem right up my alley! Maybe I'll give em a go for the 4 string. What are your thoughts on string life?
 
#10
Thanks for all the replies! I'm probably gonna go do a search about different tensions. If anyone feels like chiming in with their thoughts on it I'm game. I've been playing my 5 for the past couple hours, my arms and hands feel pretty normal.

I would be really interested in playing a bass with TIs but until then I do not see myself spending that kind of money. My main bass cost $400 new 15 years ago, I'll save the cash for that P I got my eye on.
 
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#14
lowdownthump said:
My go to flats are TI Flats. Pick up a used set here on Talk Bass classified if you can.
They are well worth the price New because one set will last you a lifetime. But once they begin to break in the tone goes from good to phenomenal .

Chromes sound great too , but they are the brightest flats I've ever heard.

These are my 2 favorite flats. Different but it depends on what you want in a flat.
Click to expand...
Can you elaborate on flats being bright? What do folks see in bright flats? I've seen a bunch of people around here use Chrome's so I know there's something to it.
 
#16
eJake said:
Can you elaborate on flats being bright? What do folks see in bright flats? I've seen a bunch of people around here use Chrome's so I know there's something to it.
Click to expand...
What I like about bright flats is the very strong and focused fundamental without the "vintage" or "motown" sound. For the style of music I currently play that's what I like.
 
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#17
Flats are so expensive here in Oz that once I tried D'Addario Chromes ($60+ per 4 string set), and liked them, I thought i'd just stick with them. Haven't tried any other brands and unless I suddenly have lots of spare cash to splash I won't.
 
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#19
I'm gonna have to give another thumbs-up for D'Addario Chromes, specifically the .100-gauge for that little bit of extra flex they offer. Also, I dig the Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats quite a bit, too. They seem to occupy some weird space between rounds and flats and are easily the brightest I've ever encountered.

eJake said:
Can you elaborate on flats being bright? What do folks see in bright flats? I've seen a bunch of people around here use Chrome's so I know there's something to it.
Click to expand...

To my ears, "brightness" equals "clarity", so flats without brightness do not keep my interest. For example, I tried a set of DR Legends and to me, they sounded dull and muddy. :meh:
 
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