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Flat strings no silk?


Grangur
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Hi all, for some time I've been using D'Addarrio Chrome flat-wounds on a blue bass and on a dark bass where the blue silks probably don't notice much. I like the feel and the sound and all's good.

But, I've now decided to put flats on another bass and blue isn't really what I'd like on there. It's OK, but not great. What I'm used to is the bare metal of Elixirs that I've been using.

Does anyone know of any flats similar to the Chromes that don't have any silks on there?

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[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1507492975' post='3385891']
I had no idea silk colour bothered people.
[/quote]

I suppose it depends on your nature. I'm particular about all aspects of the look of my basses as well as the tone.

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[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1507493728' post='3385897']


I suppose it depends on your nature. I'm particular about all aspects of the look of my basses as well as the tone.
[/quote]

So what if you found the perfect silk colour but they sounded crap, and the perfect sounding string were the worst coloured silk?!

Si

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[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1507492975' post='3385891']
I had no idea silk colour bothered people.
[/quote]

It doesn't bother me as such, but, thinking about itfor the first time, I think I also prefer strings with no silks.

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[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1507493831' post='3385898']
So what if you found the perfect silk colour but they sounded crap, and the perfect sounding string were the worst coloured silk?!

Si
[/quote]
In the past I've played all my basses with Elixir or Fender strings: They have no silk.
My basses are mostly Warwicks and most are natural wood colour. I guess I've been lucky that the silkless strings have mostly sounded to my approval. :)

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[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1507493728' post='3385897']
I suppose it depends on your nature. I'm particular about all aspects of the look of my basses as well as the tone.
[/quote]

Ah.

For me the look of the bass is completely unimportant. If the perfectly balanced comfy bass, with acceptable tone was a Daisy Rock Butterfly with Trump's face on it, loaded with DR UV reactive strings... then I'd be happy to play it.

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[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1507536244' post='3386045']
Ah.

For me the look of the bass is completely unimportant. If the perfectly balanced comfy bass, with acceptable tone was a Daisy Rock Butterfly with Trump's face on it, loaded with DR UV reactive strings... then I'd be happy to play it.
[/quote]
Now, a butterfly Daisy Rock, that could be cool! :D
Yet anything with Trump's face on it would simply need to be slapped.

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[quote name='Delberthot' timestamp='1507531960' post='3386014']
I've never tried the La Bellas but I didn't find Chromes to be low tension.

I might have imagined this but are Fender strings made by D'addario? Might be an idea to look into their flats as they might be similar if they have no silks
[/quote]

Hmmm... Yes. Thanks. Didn't realise they did flats. I'll have to try them

http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk//strings-c1/bass-guitar-c34/fender-9050m-4-string-stainless-steel-flatwound-bass-guitar-strings-55-105-long-scale-p1100?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI44GKkYzj1gIV1G4bCh1VhQBfEAQYAyABEgJUDPD_BwE#fo_c=1949&fo_k=66e377ac1e563739a3c7036ea45f52b4&fo_s=gplauk?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=

They do 5's too.

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[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1507536758' post='3386050']
Now, a butterfly Daisy Rock, that could be cool! :D
Yet anything with Trump's face on it would simply need to be slapped.
[/quote]

As it happens I've got a Daisy Rock Butterfly - but the balance on it is rubbish! (alas!). Sounds like a pretty good P bass though.

I take it out when band mates are being too serious and need annoying!

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You sound like me. My response to everyone being ordered to gig dressed in black and only play black guitars (so we looked like a serious band) was to turn up in a red shirt with a Capri Orange bass :D - I didn't last long in that band!

String silk colour has never really bothered me although I seem to remember quite liking the pale blue of Dean Markley Blue Steels (I think) at one time.

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[quote name='Westenra' timestamp='1507556273' post='3386309']
What is the benefit of having silk wrappings anyways?
[/quote]
It means that when you take them off a bass to put on another bass (i'm constantly swapping and changing) they fray and look like crap!

I'm all for a good quality flat without silks, dont DR Legends have no silks?

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[quote name='chrisanthony1211' timestamp='1507558366' post='3386325']

It means that when you take them off a bass to put on another bass (i'm constantly swapping and changing) they fray and look like crap!

I'm all for a good quality flat without silks, dont DR Legends have no silks?
[/quote]

Been following this because I tend to swap strings around and silks don't play that game.

Pretty sure DR legends have silks, but not 100%.

D'addario half wounds don't have silks, not quite a flat but sound a lot like them when old.

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There's a way to keep your current strings, but with a more neutral colour.

Dip the silks in black dye, leave them to dry, rinse them off, leave to dry again, apply to bass ... Job done.

If it's only the colour of the silks that you don't like, if you're ok with them being black, and you're happy with the sound and feel of the strings otherwise, then it's an option. Cheaper and less risky than buying a new set of strings that you're unfamiliar with.

I dyed the silks on a set of Ernie Ball Cobalt flats in this way. Dyed the purple silk to black. It worked absolutely fine.

Edited by Fionn
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[quote name='Fionn' timestamp='1507642409' post='3386932']
There's a way to keep your current strings, but with a more neutral colour.

Dip the silks in black dye, leave them to dry, rinse them off, leave to dry again, apply to bass ... Job done.

If it's only the colour of the silks that you don't like, if you're ok with them being black, and you're happy with the sound and feel of the strings otherwise, then it's an option. Cheaper and less risky than buying a new set of strings that you're unfamiliar with.

I dyed the silks on a set of Ernie Ball Cobalt flats in this way. Dyed the purple silk to black. It worked absolutely fine.
[/quote]

This is cheating. It's deception at it's worst.

(Why didn't I think of this? Many thanks :) )

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[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1507655117' post='3387031']
Can't you just pull the silk off?
[/quote]
Strings without silk tend to have smooth windings right up to the ends. So the metal windings are smooth against the tuning peg.
Strings with silk have less steel under the silk. They have gaps in the windings and sharp edges to the steel, that the silk is there to cover.

Most of my basses have good quality tuners and I don't want to have the posts scratched too much with the rough edges.

If it costs money for a string maker to add the silk, so why would they do that if there wasn't a benefit? Or is it more a "serious disadvantage" of not having a smooth finish?

Smooth metal windings are, no doubt more expensive to produce, otherwise why would makers introduce the silk covering as an additional process to the manufacturer?

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[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1507652982' post='3387015']
This is cheating. It's deception at it's worst.

(Why didn't I think of this? Many thanks :) )
[/quote]

Nae worries man.

I've got a set of Fender 9050's on the way. They're for a black and tort P Bass. Thing is, they've got that hideous lime-green silk on them. As soon as they arrive, the silks are getting dipped in the black stuff. Sure, it affects neither my tone, nor my technique, but there are aesthetic considerations. It's an unnecessary indulgence, to be sure, but hey, we've got food and shelter sorted out, so why the hell not?

Bass players against gaudy silk, unite! :D

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