Here's a real "what kind of strings.." toughie

[GIBrat51]

Talking to a friend of mine today, and we were trying to figure out what kind of flat wound strings the tech at Ed Roman's old store put on his new-at-the-time Dean bass. John bought the thing about 8 or 9 years ago; I was with him when he did, but I can't remember what kind of flats they were, either. Anyway;
- long scale (34" scale bass)
- "very smooth" (John has always been a flats player, so for him to say that, they would for sure be very smooth);
- No Silk on either end;
- inexpensive (for flats);
and, they would have to have been "readily available" in a store 8 or 9 years ago. They put the strings on while we waited, so I imagine Ed Roman stocked them.
So, any guesses?

 

[michael_t]

The only flats with no silk I can think of based on what I've read around here for the last few years is the Webstrings Detroit Flats.

 

[HaphAsSard]

- "very smooth" (John has always been a flats player, so for him to say that, they would for sure be very smooth);
- No Silk on either end;
- inexpensive (for flats);
and, they would have to have been "readily available" in a store 8 or 9 years ago.

The only flats with no silk I can think of based on what I've read around here for the last few years is the Webstrings Detroit Flats.

Most probably Detroit Flats. Other possibility is Curt Mangans (as per this post), but they'd have to have been affordable at the time, which they aren't anymore (as per this other one).
(Payson fanned fret flats are also reportedly silkless, but have been around much less than 8 or 9 years.)