Flatwounds I think?

[Charla]

Hello Fellow Bassist

I'm thinking of restringing my Precision with Flat wounds (not before time I hear you say, just to pre-empt WoT). However, the last time I put FW's on my Jazz the string tension was fairly tight and not to my liking, they were Rotosounds. Any recommendations on which are best and would allow we some `play' in the tension?


Cheers

Charla

[Lozz196]

Roto flats are rather high tension. I`ve used those, La Bella Deep Talkin Flats, and D`Addario Chromes.Chromes were quite bright, not far sounding from rounds, La Bellas typically flat-sounding.

[BassBus]

I'm sure Thomastik Jazz Flats will be mentioned. Quite low tension and lovely fat, warm sound. What gauge are you using?

[andyonbass]

[url="http://www.status-graphite.com/status/frames/index_home.html"]Status Hotwires [/url] must be the best value around,

[Truckstop]

I use Rotosound 88's nylon flats. Nice and floppy.

Truckstop

[Charla]

I normally use Elixir 45 -105, I could just stick with them; the Precision is new to me and not had Elixir's on yet!

[KiOgon]

Another vote for Status Hotwires, [url="http://www.status-graphite.com/status/frames/index_home.html"]http://www.status-graphite.com/status/frames/index_home.html[/url] best value for money flatwounds without doubt & they're good - I mean very good - I mean they're comparable to the £40 ish big name flats.

GHS Precision Flats on a P-bass & TI JF344's on a Jazz bass for the win if you don't mind the price tag

[Cygnus x-1]

[quote name='andyonbass' timestamp='1345980904' post='1783720']
[url="http://www.status-graphite.com/status/frames/index_home.html"]Status Hotwires [/url] must be the best value around,
[/quote]

+1

[iiipopes]

You're all missing the best flats in the last thirty years: the 9050 Fender steel flats. They growl when you want them to. They are mellow when you need them to be. The are absolutely consistent both string-to-string and up the neck. They don't clank. They don't thud out. They are value-for-money and last forever. I'm still on my first set after almost two years of gigging. If the OP needs a hair less tension, then the 40-100 SL set might be a good choice.

Since they are smooth to the touch, a little more tension can mean the setup can be a little lower string action, and still have good feel. This is what I did when I switched, after over 30 years of playing roundwound strings of all brands, to the CL 45-60-80-105 set. I am a convert, and I play these strings all all gigs and all styles from Friday night to Sunday morning.

Edited August 28, 2012 by iiipopes

[wateroftyne]

Not before time :-)

Of the flats I've used, the La Bella FLs and (more recently) the cheaper Lakland Flats ring my bell.

They're not too high tension - the La Bellas are the lowest of the two.

[Pow_22]

Out of interest, has anyone got a close up pick of a Status Hotwire flat E string? I want to know if they are smooth like my Picato's or ''ridged'' like Rotos

[Legion]

[quote name='Pow_22' timestamp='1346138708' post='1785591']
Out of interest, has anyone got a close up pick of a Status Hotwire flat E string? I want to know if they are smooth like my Picato's or ''ridged'' like Rotos
[/quote]
No pictures but from memory - smooth like the Picato's

[KiOgon]

Smooth as a baby's bum mate photos taken just now, not far from new strings, hope they show OK.
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/kjon51/Strings%20and%20Things/20120828_083027.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/kjon51/Strings%20and%20Things/20120828_083038.jpg[/IMG]

Cheerz, John

[bremen]

[quote name='andyonbass' timestamp='1345980904' post='1783720']
[url="http://www.status-graphite.com/status/frames/index_home.html"]Status Hotwires [/url] must be the best value around,
[/quote]

That link goes to the Status homepage, can't find a way to their strings pricelist from there

[KiOgon]

[quote name='bremen' timestamp='1346145359' post='1785677']
That link goes to the Status homepage, can't find a way to their strings pricelist from there
[/quote]
[url="http://www.status-graphite.com/status/frames/index_home.html"]http://www.status-graphite.com/status/frames/index_home.html[/url]
Menu on left > follow the arrows > you'll get there

[bremen]

[quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1346145557' post='1785684']
[url="http://www.status-graphite.com/status/frames/index_home.html"]http://www.status-gr...index_home.html[/url]
Menu on left > follow the arrows > you'll get there
[/quote]

Thanks - turned out to be an Opera thing. Works with Firefox.

What are their half-rounds like?

Edited August 28, 2012 by bremen

[LiamPodmore]

Just ordered all the stuff i need to put my Ibanez back together. Gonna throw a set of Picato's i have lying around on it, though i want to try Chromes on my P-Bass and i might give Ernie Ball Group III a look as well some time soon.

[xgsjx]

I've got TI Jazz flats on my Ibby & can reccommmend them. Tension isn't much different from rounds.

[KiOgon]

[quote name='bremen' timestamp='1346146723' post='1785697']
Thanks - turned out to be an Opera thing. Works with Firefox.

What are their half-rounds like?
[/quote]
Can't help you there, not tried them. I tried GHS Ground Wounds once but I'm definitely a Flatwound person, always have been, always will be

[bremen]

[quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1346158323' post='1785889']
Can't help you there, not tried them. I tried GHS Ground Wounds once but I'm definitely a Flatwound person, always have been, always will be
[/quote]

I like the GHS groundwounds on fretless, sound like rounds but don't seem to go from 'too zingy' to 'dead' as quickly.

Much less difference between rounds and GHS groundwounds than there is between GHS groundwounds and Chromes.

[KennysFord]

+1 for TI Flats on an Ibanez, I have 'em on my Blazer and they're fab !! Really nice strings to play,warm sounding and great for diggin' in.
Loves 'em I does.

[Charla]

Firstly I'd like to thank everyone for their input, once again BC comes up trumps.

Secondly, I've gone for the Status Hotwires, purely on grounds of economics. If I get on with the flats I might go `up market' next time.


Cheers

Charla

[BassBus]

[quote name='bremen' timestamp='1346146723' post='1785697']
What are their half-rounds like?
[/quote]

I use the Status Halfwounds and I find them to be much more slippery than the D'Addarios halfwounds I have. The more they are played the smoother they become. For me they have a tone to dye for. Hotwire flats are good too.

Edited August 28, 2012 by BassBus

[bremen]

[quote name='BassBus' timestamp='1346177072' post='1786178']
I use the Status Halfwounds and I find them to be much more slippery than the D'Addarios halfwounds I have. The more they are played the smoother they become. For me they have a tone to dye for. Hotwire flats are good too.
[/quote]

Thank you! I'm there :-)

[Rumple]

+1

I've just fitted Status Halfwounds to my SR5 lovely halfway house between flats and rounds but closer to flats.