The 'brightest' Flatwounds?

[Corvine]

Hello.
I was wondering, in people's experience, what are the brightest sounding flatwounds?

I prefer the zing of roundwound strings, but I also like to slide about a lot, and love the feel of playing on flats. I have tried groundwound/halfwounds as a compromise, but still much prefer the smoothness of sliding about on flats.

Can anyone recomend a flatwound that has a nice bright sound, preferably one that keeps it sound for the longest time? (new set of strings aint cheap!)

Also someone suggested string cleaner to maintain the new-string sound. I have been using fast-fret. Anyone have an experience/advice with this or other products?

(Need the strings in a long scale length set of 5 btw)

Cheers

[discreet]

I haven't tried them all obviously, but I found D'Addario Chromes to be very bright for flats. Too bright for me, in fact.

[franzbassist]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1371674457' post='2116925']
I haven't tried them all obviously, but I found D'Addario Chromes to be very bright for flats. Too bright for me, in fact.
[/quote]

+1

[Beer of the Bass]

A fresh set of Chromes would do the job. I've heard that Rotosounds also fill the "bright flatwound" niche, but haven't tried them. Nylon tapewounds might also be worth a look, as my D'Addario tapes may even be a little brighter than Chromes once both are played in (although as a caveat, I didn't like the B string on the tapes, though others have had different results).

[wateroftyne]

Chromes are bright. As are GHS Brite Flats.

[dannybuoy]

GHS Brite Flats are ground wound, but are very smooth - as are the Status half-rounds I have on my fretless (which are even smoother). I don't know which half-rounds you tried before, but these two are much flatter and smoother than the D'Addario ones for example.

[simon1964]

I love Chromes. Bright for flats, but still with a bit more warmth and depth than rounds. They do have a bit more tension than a lot of stings (noticeably more than the Ernie Ball Slinkys I use for rounds). But they're excellent strings IMO.

[D.I. Joe]

Fender Stainless Steel Flatwounds are very bright for flats.

[Highfox]

[quote name='D.I. Joe' timestamp='1371682307' post='2117061']
Fender Stainless Steel Flatwounds are very bright for flats.
[/quote]
+1 to that and pretty cheap

[BigBassBob]

I like Chromes. They have a nice presence to them and they aren't totally thumpy when broken in. I guess you could liken them to some dirty, old nickel-rounds except with far less string/finger noise and more warmth.

[Raggy]

Another vote for Chromes here.

[voxpop]

[quote name='Raggy' timestamp='1371717540' post='2117208']
Another vote for Chromes here.
[/quote]
And me....

[Lozz196]

From personal use, Chromes, but having watched a few flats-comparisons on youtube, agree with the Fender recommendations. In fact I thought they sounded twangier than the Chromes.

[Corvine]

Cool, thanks.
Anyone got an idea which chromes keep their sound longest?

And where's a good place to buy online? I've been looking on strings direct, but they don't seem to have all the types of strings that I hear people mention. I need 5string long scale length which makes it a little more difficult.

[Corvine]

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1371724430' post='2117326']
From personal use, Chromes, but having watched a few flats-comparisons on youtube, agree with the Fender recommendations. In fact I thought they sounded twangier than the Chromes.
[/quote]

Can't seem to find the Fenders in a 5 string set.

[LawrenceH]

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1371675208' post='2116937']
A fresh set of Chromes would do the job. I've heard that Rotosounds also fill the "bright flatwound" niche, but haven't tried them. Nylon tapewounds might also be worth a look, as my D'Addario tapes may even be a little brighter than Chromes once both are played in (although as a caveat, I didn't like the B string on the tapes, though others have had different results).
[/quote]

Can you remind me which tapewounds you use? I'm wondering about replacing the 4-year-old DRs on that ash jazz, and remember yours sounded rather good.

[Beer of the Bass]

[quote name='LawrenceH' timestamp='1371728539' post='2117398']
Can you remind me which tapewounds you use? I'm wondering about replacing the 4-year-old DRs on that ash jazz, and remember yours sounded rather good.
[/quote]
Mine are the D'Addario ETB92-5 set. They're .050 to .105 gauge (ignoring the B string). I put them on in September and the sound hasn't really changed much in 9 months. This is unusual for me as a set of Chromes has usually lost its brightness after 6 weeks when I've used them (they must not agree with my sweat!).

Edited June 20, 2013 by Beer of the Bass

[iiipopes]

Yes, Chromes start bright, in a "ping" sort of way. But then they quickly thud out. For longetivity, and some good growl, Fender 9050CL 45-60-80-105 have been the flats that changed me from a rounds player.

[Corvine]

[quote name='iiipopes' timestamp='1371736752' post='2117539']
Yes, Chromes start bright, in a "ping" sort of way. But then they quickly thud out. For longetivity, and some good growl, Fender 9050CL 45-60-80-105 have been the flats that changed me from a rounds player.
[/quote]

Any idea if anywhere sells these as a 5 string set (in uk)?

Edited June 20, 2013 by Corvine

[bassicinstinct]

[quote name='simon1964' timestamp='1371677753' post='2116978']
I love Chromes. Bright for flats, but still with a bit more warmth and depth than rounds. They do have a bit more tension than a lot of stings (noticeably more than the Ernie Ball Slinkys I use for rounds). But they're excellent strings IMO.
[/quote]

+1.

[AntLockyer]

I used google and got
Chromes - http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/p/912327/daddario-ecb81-5-flatwound-chromes-45-130-5-string/
Fender - http://www.richtonemusic.co.uk/products/fender_9050_bass_strings_stainless_steel_flatwound_9050-5l_040-_125_set_of_5.asp

[Immo]

Hi, I dare to bump the topic.
What would you say about GHS Pressure Wounds? I need flatwound strings with a quite bright sound but with a little less tension than Chromes. A long lifespan would be nice either.

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='Immo' timestamp='1381678290' post='2242168']
Hi, I dare to bump the topic.
What would you say about GHS Pressure Wounds? I need flatwound strings with a quite bright sound but with a little less tension than Chromes. A long lifespan would be nice either.
[/quote]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GcQJyHGbeY