Pyramid Gold Flatwounds

[shawshank72]

I could use all the experience you care to share about these strings.
40/55/75/105
Are they balanced tension?
How do they sound new?
Break in time fast or slow?
Smooth or rough?
ETC.
From a thread about GHS flatwound tension Mr. Moody said a balance is 45/55/75/105 and was wondering maybe the same for these as well?
I don't like going light but was interested.
Unfortunately my ocd side won't let me go unbalanced anymore so its a big sticking point.

 

[Linnin]

$65 Long Scale: .040 .055 .075 .105 "Wrapped with Chrome Nickel Flatwire these strings have a delightful low tension feel with a tone like none-other."
PYRAMID Strings Gold Flatwound Long Scale Bass Strings - 4 String Set

 

[Linnin]

I thought @nerkoids had written a review thread on Pyramid flats, but it was Optimas. Oh well

 

[shawshank72]

I thought @nerkoids had written a review thread on Pyramid flats, but it was Optimas. Oh well

Thank you for helping.

 

[Linnin]

Thank you for helping.

You're welcome. I'm interested too. One thing that concerns me is "delightful low tension feel" I had Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats and their low tension wasn't delightful at all. Tone I liked, just not the feel.

Just go ahead and burn a bunch of Loonies and write us a review!

 

[Pantone 333]

I've had mine on my Fender Jazz for two years now. They sound fantastic. Brand new they sound great. Tension wise they are firmer than TI flats but still have flexibility. Certainly not as stiff as La Bella or D'Addario chromes. To date, I've tried the following flats: Fender, La Bella TI, D'Addario, and Rotosound. Pyramids are VERY unique. They are by far the smoothest strings of the lot. I've never really understood what "balanced" is, but to me, the set feels even. I've read reviews where people complain about the dead E string. I used to have a Hofner strung with the Pyramid shortscale Gold flats and the E string in that set was crazy dead. The company sent me a replacement (free) and all was good. The E string on my Jazz is great and certainly not dead. I really can't do a good job describing how they sound, but I know that none of the flats I have tried sound like them. They are expensive, but totally worth it. 80% of the time I am playing on the neck pickup alone and man ... this bass SOUNDS AMAZING. Break in time was around two months.

 

[Linnin]

I've never really understood what "balanced" is, but to me, the set feels even.

Thanks for your review @Pantone 333. To me balanced is evenness of string-to-string: feel/tension; volume, and tone. If everything sounds and feels equal, I for one don't care what the tension figures are. "If it sounds good, it is good." - Duke Ellington

 

[nerkoids]

I thought @nerkoids had written a review thread on Pyramid flats, but it was Optimas. Oh well

I'm not that rich. I'm saving my loonies for the Optima RB flats.

Oh, and the tapes are off the Jazz. the GHS precisions are back on. What was I thinking? Still... maybe Donald could take to them...

 

[shawshank72]

Got an email from Pyramid.
Balanced tension would be 40/50/70/100
Would be good for a recording/at home bass but I could never use that gauge in live/rehearsal setting.

 

[bherman]

I've had the 40-105 set on my P-bass for 3 or 4 years now. Best feeling strings I've ever had, rich sound and great in the mix. Don't sound all that great at home but they sit better in the mix than any other strings. I have a second P-bass now that I put black nylons on but dont like them. Pyramids are the best flats for me. Pricey but extremely long-lasting.

 

[hogman22]

I've used Pyramids on my Hofner's for years. Then I started reading about the other available flats, TI, La Bella, Chromes and others. I've tried them all. I like La Bella on one, Ti on another and so on. I also was reading about folks putting flats on their P's and Jazz basses. I thought I would try it. So looking in my stash of strings, I found I had a few sets of long scale pyramids and first put them on my P bass. I fell in love right away. Then I thought I would try a set on my Jazz. WOW!!!! I never thought I would be a flat guy, but the feel of these strings is like no other. Firm, but easy play. The sound is deep, clear, distinct. Yeah, I'm a flat wound guy. Who knew! I don't know, they sound balanced to me. But my hearing isn't what it used to be. I have a 5 string set for my Jazz V. I haven't tried them yet, but soon will.

 

[woodyng2]

Interesting that the company is promoting them now as low tension strings.
They didn't used to be. (Unless they're available in more than one gauge now.)
The 45-105 sets i've used in the past were fairly high tension strings,and not balanced.

 

[Linnin]

Firm, but easy play. The sound is deep, clear, distinct.

OK so not floppy like T-I. Would you say they possess a unique signature tone?
GHS Precision flats most definitely do, just as Rotosound Swing Bass 66's do on the roundwound side of town.

 

[Pantone 333]

This dude uses Pyramid flats on his Rickenbackers. I think he does a great job at showcasing both the bass and strings:

 

[Linnin]

Effen Killer!

 

[hogman22]

OK so not floppy like T-I. Would you say they possess a unique signature tone?
GHS Precision flats most definitely do, just as Rotosound Swing Bass 66's do on the roundwound side of town.

Yes I would say they have a tone all of their own. A lot of people say the pyramids on a Hofner short scale sound dull or even dead. I have seen and heard that. They sound more like an upright bass. Not a lot of sustain especially the low E. However, I currently have a set on my 58' Hofner violin bass and they sound great! Sustain and all! I use La Bella and TI's on the other Hofner's. The long scale Pyramids on my Fenders, have great sustain and have that upright tone. I really like them.

John

 

[hogman22]

This dude uses Pyramid flats on his Rickenbackers. I think he does a great job at showcasing both the bass and strings:

Oh man! What did you have to show that too me. Now I have to go get a Rickenbacker! LOL!!!!

 

[nerkoids]

That ofMontreal tune, such a great bass line. Very original too.

 

[markjazzbassist]

i've owned a bunch of them. they are very smooth feeling. they are hand polished and some of that polish with rub off on your fingers (turning them grey-ish) for the first week or so. this is normal. they are higher tension than Labella 760FL but less than 760FS. More than TI but less than GHS .45-.105.

tone wise they are heavy on the bass and midrange (with some sparkle in the high mids) but not much treble extension. what little treble extension there is wears off with break in. Their sound like like GHS with more midrange, they have a very "thick and dense" sound. the main thing about them i loved was the attack. on the E an A strings (and all strings when i got the .45-.105 set) they sound like you have a foam mute at the bridge. it has that kind of attack/sustain quality to them.

they are nickel and pure so their output will be less than steel strings (ie you'll need to boost your volume to compensate).

wonderful wonderful strings. i love them for old school vintage R&B type stuff, or semi-hollowbody stuff. Heavy fundamental and midrange and that attack/sustain is just awesome.