I've found the Roto 40-100s are a great balance of light enough on the fret hand and firm enough on the plucking side.
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I've been a LaBella DTF only- zone for several years, but I had a bass with a SCPB pickup that I couldn't hear in the band. Got the D'addario black tapes and that bass just came alive - my current go to bass. Funny, if I hadn't tried that, I very likely would have unloaded that bass.
I tried them (D'ad nylons) on a split coil P and didn't like them as much (more nasal sounding to me), prefer the DTF Lights on that bass.
I tried chromes and didn't care for the brightness or the feel (DTF's are smoov, even more than Thomastiks).
I tried them (D'ad nylons) on a split coil P and didn't like them as much (more nasal sounding to me), prefer the DTF Lights on that bass.
I tried chromes and didn't care for the brightness or the feel (DTF's are smoov, even more than Thomastiks).
Thanks guys! I've heard good things about the Low-Tension Flexible Flats. Quantitatively, they actually appear to be slightly lower-tension than the Jazz Flats, but I can definitely believe that they feel slightly stiffer for some other reason.
I've read good things about the Sadowskys. I havent found any tension data for them yet. I'll keep digging.
According to your original post, you're more concerned with "stiffness/flexibility" (subjective) - or how they feel under your plucking fingers - not necessarily the actual "tension" (pulling weight on the neck). You can spend all day studying the scientific numbers, but they don't always tell you how they will feel.
By the way, you won't find any tension info on the Sadowskys. I can only tell you from my own experience that the 40-100 set has an excellent balance between being supple enough for easy fretting and being stiff enough for enough resistance for plucking.
TI were my favourite flats for a long time. EB Cobalt flats changed that. Tension is just right, and they sound so lively and clean. And they are way cheaper than TIs.
I'd like to suggest the new Dunlop flats. I love 'm on my P. Tension is just above TI's. That's why I switched to the Dunlops.
I really dislike the feel of flats EXCEPT Sadowsky Black Flats 40-100 (feel the most 'normal', great when detuned) and TIJFs (great on certain basses, depending on bass/rig/style of music/etc).
Love those two for tone, feel & longevity.
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I think it (tone rather than tension) depends on the bass. I prefer the TI on my Jazz but think (subjectively) the Pyramids sound much better than the TI on my P (having tried both brands on both basses).
Rotos are stiffer, stickier and brighter than TIs, IMHO. A bit more punch. Haven't tried LTFs. After several years on TIs, I switched to Sadowsky Black flats on my Lakland 55-94 and Sadowsky Blu flats on my Sadowsky Metro RV4. Blue flats don't have quite the high end of the blacks, but the RV4 preamp has more than enough treble flexibility.
Tone-wise two models whose reviews are few and far between but describe them as in the ballpark of T-Is albeit tighter in (perceived/real) tension are the above-mentioned Optima RB 4440L and the Dogal Jaco System Carbon Steels. (I have tried neither.)
the alleva coppolo flats by la bella are somewhere in between the roto 77s and the ti flats as far as tension, i play them on my sb-2 so i'm not really sure how they sound on a more traditional passive non mfd bass
Thanks for your thoughts! The La Bella Low-Tension Flexible Flats do indeed seem very similar to the TIs. The 760FX seem like a good candidate.
I've been using TI Jazz Flats on my 63 AVRI Precision Bass and my Lakland 44-14. Like you, I wanted something with a bit more tension on my Lakland and used Sadowsky Black Label Light Gauge.
Those gave me a bit more tension, and to my ears... the one is pretty close to the TI Flats
Those gave me a bit more tension, and to my ears... the one is pretty close to the TI Flats
I prefer the tone of the TI's and have tried the chromes, labellas, pyramids, rotos and I don't know what else. All that said, I was very happy with the set of D'Addario Half-Rounds that I used. Stiffer and after some break-in pretty mellow like a flat with the feel of a round wound. Nickel outer wrap and a hex core I think made for a little more tension, but still a nice feel and a really nice tone. Most of the flats have stainless outer wrap except the TI's I think.
