I had a similar experience recently with string suitability for certain basses, I bought a set of D'addario chrome flats and fitted them to a Squier precision, just couldn't get them to a set up I was happy with.
Swapped a set of lighter rounds from a Peavey millenium which I wasn't too keen on either, result on both basses was very pleasing, the Peavey was able to be set up with a much lower action with the chromes and the Squier benefitted with more pliable strings (the tension with the chromes was too much for me, ouch!).
Regards
Jim