Hellzero

You can wipe them with some alcohol before fitting them as you will remove a lot of the remainings of the polishing process, and don't forget that you'll have to readjust the intonation (a lot). And as usual with all strings, bend them at 90° or more before cutting them and fitting them. 😉

This guy can't play, that's awful! 🤢🤮

Hmmm, hmmm.

Also check if the nut is not too low...

I'm a pure CBS child. And my wife is a pure moon child (not sure who will understand this one).

Pre-CBS? 🤦🏻🤔😂🫨🤪

Here's my stone to the building. Just like you, I like flatwounds that almost sound like roundwounds, but for other reasons. I don't play with a plectrum, but I play fretless 99,99% of the time, so looking for the same overall feeling as you, but not for the same use. I've tried almost everything available, yes it cost me quite a lot, but I always managed to resell the sets I didn't like. I also have one question for you @dmc79 : Do you play in the higher register? It's important, because a lot of flatwounds sound weird past the octave, out of tune in fact, even with a perfectly set-up intonation and it's more obvious on the E and A strings (linked to the construction)... With that in mind, the best flatwound strings are the DR Legend, but they are a bit too dark for your liking, or the Dogal Hellborg Perfect Pitch Flat Wounds, but they are too floppy for your taste (and very expensive). To me, the Fender 9050 are the perfect flatwound strings for your needs (and mine) and their intonation has improved over the years, certainly thanks to more control and precision during the manufacturing process at the factory. Frankly, the Ernie Ball cobalts are as dull as possible. The D'Addario Chromes are so stiff you could tow a truck with them, just like the Rotosound 77's and absolutely not the kind of tone you're after. The Thomastik Infeld Jazz flatwounds are really good, very close to what you're asking, but the low tension is not a plus for you and sometimes the E sting may sound a bit dead to the ears, just like the LaBella Low Tension which are darker than the TI flatwounds. The LaBella Deep Talkin' Bass will not suit you as they are indeed the sound of Motown as @fretmeister said. You may also consider these Harley Benton flatwounds as they are close to the TI flatwounds sound wise, only stiffer and really cheap, worth a try even if the sanding process (to flatten the string) is not perfect, but won't be an issue with a fretted bass : https://www.thomann.co.uk/harley_benton_hqs_bass_45_100_flatwound.htm Good luck with your quest.

At least, someone dare asking the right question...

It reminds of an old joke told to me by a drummer... Q: Do you know how to create a bassist? A: You take a big pile of shìt, but not too much or it will turn into a drummer. Sorry @Dad3353... 😉

I think Charles is a really clever person and he sums up the issues in the video very well. His proposal at the end proves his empathy for the people who have had their music stolen, with some good exposition for them too afterwards. Congratulations to him for that!

For the record, a guy made a 1600 kilometres round trip to come to my place to buy the 1976 Fender Twin I was selling for peanuts and he barely slept. I offered him tons of coffee and a meal before he drove back and asked him to call me when he was home sound and safe, which he did and told me he was going to a festival a few hours later...

I've done a 1200 kilometres (around 750 miles) round trip to buy a Leduc U-Basse 6 from my place to a small town in Switzerland, I was younger and driving was part of my job (no, it's not linked to trucks). And I've done regular 600 kilometers (around 375 miles) round trips to sell, trade or buy instruments/amps in Paris.

Wow, Guitarchat is online since 10 years: Tempus fugit...

Ace!