D'Addario Chromes - the flats for people who don't like flats!

[Muzz]

Sooo, what with the family Xmas paid for and a Stateside holiday just booked, any GAS over about fifty quid has had to be curtailed, so obviously the next best thing is to faff about with strings

I've never really got on with flats, but after reading some good things about Chromes, and finding some cheap in, of all places, a local secondhand shop (the strings weren't second hand), I went for a set, and put them on my Fenderbird.

Quite the revelation - plenty of sustain, enough brightness for me, I like their relatively high tension, and although their tone played at home is obviously duller than the DR nickel rounds, in a rehearsal I was very impressed by the heft and solid punch they can deliver, played pick or fingers, especially with the rockier stuff. Bear in mind I'm using a Streamliner with a 2x15, so I like valvey old-school sounds.

I'm sticking with the rounds on my Dingwall, but in future I'll have a flats option available, definitely with the Chromes.

[Andyjr1515]

I agree - I love them
Andy

[Lozz196]

I`ve just bought a set, and am looking forward to using them with my band on Tues. I`ve had them before, but for some reason never put them on my gigging bass, so never used them with my band. Am impressed so far though, as I went for the heaviest gauge I could get, whereas before I think the ones I had were lighter gauge.

[gary mac]

Fairly recent convert here. Love them on my 58 bitza p bass.

They are also a brilliant company to deal with, their customer service being really first rate.

[dave_bass5]

Ive got a set, i put them on a bass every now and then and love how they feel. I do think they are closer to a dead round wound than the traditional Flats tone but i like that. I do look on them as a sort of halfway house, still got the music in them but nice and smooth to play.
I do tend to go back too rounds after a few weeks/months though, i miss the overtones etc,

When i feel in a flats mood i either put the Chromes on or a set of TI's that i also keep handy. This saves me money as in the past i'd take them off and sell them, only to return to them the following year.

[ead]

Fender 9050CLs are good too (imho obviously) and around £20.

[pobrien_ie]

Yeah I'm sold on them as well - converted about 6/7 months ago. You can get them for pretty cheap from the US too!

[Lozz196]

Well I used them with the band last night, and am 50/50. I like the thud of them, but, having used rounds for soooooo long, these strings seem to be lacking the highs and harmonics that I`m used to. They fit wonderfully in the mix with my band, providing a solid low end, although with the other band I`m not sure they would be right - so a good excuse to keep my CIJ Precision, and have that strung with rounds. That said, I will of course try the chromes with the other band - never know, they may be exactly right.

[dave_bass5]

Exacly my thoughts. Good for a while but i soon get tired of them (or miss rounds).
I do like using chromes for recording though. Other than easier to play i dont sound quite as messy as i do live.

[Muzz]

Yeah, I doubt I'd use them exclusively across both bands and all songs, but they're good to have as an alternative, and I was surprised I liked them at all, to be honest.

[Beer of the Bass]

For me that "halfway house" sound from Chromes lasts for about two months, then they get closer to a traditional flatwound sound. Soaking them in alcohol brings the brighter sound back for a while. I don't know if they're like this for everyone, or if it's some quirk of my skin chemistry!

[Lozz196]

Well decision made, like Tescos burgers, they`re off!

Played my CIJ Precision today, which is strung with old Roto Rounds, and it was like coming home from a holiday - comfort, knowing where you are with things, relaxing etc. I may well have got to like the Chromes more as I used them more, but after playing the Rotos I knew I would never like the Chromes as much.

So the experiment is over, I`m a confirmed Rotosound Roundwound type of guy (fairly sure I knew it all along).

Edited January 16, 2013 by Lozz196