lee4 Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 (edited) I decided to change to flats as the music I play(rock,ska,funk,soul)needs IMHO a more fundemental tone. I trawelled the net finding out about flatwounds and was in equal measures confused by the choice and staggered at the prices. So,being a cheapskate,I bought the Status strings. 1.Price. Including postage they cost £20.59!A snip compared to Rotos and Daddario sets. 2.Sounds. I have rarely used flatwounds so I do not have a reference point,but to me they have(obviously)less sustain and overtones. I fitted them on my active Status Groove and so far I have been able to get a 'thump' up to a warm growl.I've only played through my old 25 watt practice amp so far. 3.Feel. No fret noise and smooth slides,absolute bliss!There seems to be a touch more tension in them despite the guage(40-60-80-100)being the same as the Elite rounds that I usually fit.I have had to tweek the truss rod a little and play with the intonation as well. Tommorow(Thursday)I will give them a blast at a full volume rehearsal and see how the perform. P.S, Status will do roundwound sets in custom guages for under £20! Edited July 6, 2011 by lee4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martthebass Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 I've got the same gauge set on my fretless Ray. Spot on, a little brighter than some but very smooth and a nice medium tension. Can't go wrong at £20. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lee4 Posted July 8, 2011 Author Share Posted July 8, 2011 Well,through my rig at rehearsal volume the results were great.I played funk and reggae/ska stuff and these strings were ideal. For some players the lack of sustain will be an issue as will the abscense of sparkling highs,but if you need those you would never consider flats. I found that I had to reduce the level of low mid on my amp but this did'nt seem to make these strings sound in any way thin.I was still able to hear myself in the mix unless everyone was trying to 'rock out' at the same time. Hand position seems to have a greater effect on these strings compared to rounds,with the best sound found where a P pup would be.Played at the bridge they gave a great 'bark'that worked well in funk numbers. All in all these strings tick(so far)all the right boxes for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain black Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Anyone got experience of the roundwounds? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crez5150 Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 [quote name='captain black' post='1298033' date='Jul 9 2011, 10:36 AM']Anyone got experience of the roundwounds?[/quote] Yeah I've been using them for a number of years.... I really love Status Hotwires and wouldn't consider anything else at present. Plus if you purchase in Bulk (6 sets) you save even more money!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 [quote name='crez5150' post='1298056' date='Jul 9 2011, 10:58 AM']Yeah I've been using them for a number of years.... I really love Status Hotwires and wouldn't consider anything else at present. Plus if you purchase in Bulk (6 sets) you save even more money!![/quote] +1 Excellent strings and very reasonably priced. Not surprisingly they sound absolutely great on graphite necks, but I put a set (for example) onto my Alleva Coppolo KBP5 and they improved even as good a bass as that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lee4 Posted July 9, 2011 Author Share Posted July 9, 2011 If we keep telling people how good they are and how well priced the price might go up! It'll be our little secret! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain black Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 (edited) Off to buy some just now. As you say, our little secret Edited July 10, 2011 by captain black Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lee4 Posted July 15, 2011 Author Share Posted July 15, 2011 I have done 2 recording sessions this week with these strings.Add chorus and it does a passable take on a fretless(played on an acoustic track)and can sound fat but still with good note definition(on a rock number). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlackAlice Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 Have been looking into venturing into the world of flatwounds & have spent the past few weeks weighing up the options...... After reading this thread I'm going to give Status a go Angie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBus Posted July 16, 2011 Share Posted July 16, 2011 Hotwire flats on a Status S2000. Direct recording, no effects or EQ. [url="http://soundcloud.com/bassbus/s2000-flats"]Hotwire flats[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero9 Posted July 16, 2011 Share Posted July 16, 2011 I use Hotwire hexcores roundwounds on my headless basses and a custom set of premium roundcore roundwounds (110 85 60 40) on my precision. I've tried lots of different strings over the years, but the Hotwires do it for me... Superb service! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr H Posted July 16, 2011 Share Posted July 16, 2011 I fancied trying some flats for a bit of dub-style bass, so I've just ordered a set - thank you for the thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliveT Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 I've had a set of Hotwire flats on my fretless jazz for almost 2 years now. They just get better with age. The tone and punch is just the best I've had from flats, and I've tried many. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumple Posted August 14, 2011 Share Posted August 14, 2011 Anyone tried the half wounds? I've been tempted to give them a try for a while now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliveT Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 [quote name='Rumple' post='1339616' date='Aug 14 2011, 02:03 PM']Anyone tried the half wounds? I've been tempted to give them a try for a while now.[/quote] Yes. To me they just felt like light flatwounds, but not as good as flats. IMO they are not a half way house between flats and rounds but more like 90% flats in sound and feel. In the end I prefer a good set of flats which I think the Hotwire flats are. They were smooth though after only a few days, not rough like some people say halfs are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBus Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 I love the sound of halfwounds through headphones and recording. It's when I come to amp a bass that I don't like the sound of them. Always seem to end up going back to flats for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sky Posted October 19, 2021 Share Posted October 19, 2021 i know the thread is old but, what colour are the silks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted October 19, 2021 Share Posted October 19, 2021 One of my jazzes has got status Hotwire flats and the silks are black 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sky Posted October 19, 2021 Share Posted October 19, 2021 thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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