Fender Strings Are...

[discreet]

Great. A recent acquisition arrived with Fender flats fitted, and I like 'em!

To the extent that I've strung my other bass with them, though this did necessitate a truss-rod tweak and a full set-up. They are much lower compliance than the strings I had on there. It's like a different bass, now. They are unusually bright and sound more like rounds, only without the fret-wear and the sore fingers...

Usually the first thing people do on buying a new Fender is change the stock strings...

Any love here for Fender flats..?

Edited February 10, 2014 by discreet

[AndyTravis]

Got some coming in the post, will let you know ;-)

[Silvia Bluejay]

I tried Fender flats and hated them. Far too high tension - never again.

[dmccombe7]

Use Fender Nickels on my Jazz but never tried the flats.

[neepheid]

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1392050083' post='2364047']
I tried Fender flats and hated them. Far too high tension - never again.
[/quote]

+1 for me. Did not like. Less compliant than a recalcitrant teenager.

[Cat Burrito]

I've used Fender flats a few times on various basses and they have always delivered for me. I'd rather the reissue basses came with them but obviously nobody at Fender agrees with me on that front.

[Dave Vader]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1392049645' post='2364037']
Any love for Fender flats..?
[/quote]

Yes, I have them on all my basses. 50-100, bloody lovely they are.

[discreet]

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1392050802' post='2364062']
Bump.
[/quote]

Ha, ha!

Yes, they are low-compliance or high-tension or however you want to say it, but I'm finding this works well for the kind of music I'm playing. These are the 50-100s, too. I find they are better balanced across the strings than my previous 45-105s.

Edited February 10, 2014 by discreet

[Beer of the Bass]

I'd been wondering about Fender flatwounds, as they make about the least expensive set of five string flats out there. I'm on Status Half wounds at the moment, but they're a little too roundwoundish sounding on the top strings, so maybe I'll move those over to my fretless and try some more flats...

[discreet]

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1392052209' post='2364094']
I'd been wondering about Fender flatwounds, as they make about the least expensive set of five string flats out there.[/quote]

That's the other thing... found them for £16.50 post-free on the Bay (four-set), so they don't break the bank either.

[Dingus]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1392051932' post='2364089']


Yes, they are low-compliance or high-tension or however you want to say it, but I'm finding this works well for the kind of music I'm playing. These are the 50-100s, too. I find they are better balanced across the strings than my previous 45-105s.
[/quote]

In contrast to the flats, the roundwounds are not particularly high tension/stiff feeling , but I think a lot of that is due to the fact that they are actually a round core construction, similar to DR Sunbeams/Hi Beams/Fatbeams, in that respect at least.

[MarkW]

I have Fender flats on my Cort A4 fretless, and really like them. I recently put them on a couple of my fretted basses too, and the transformation has been pretty cool - lovely sound and of course silky smooth under the fingers.

If they did a 6-string set I'd have put them on my fretless Corvette, but I had to fork out for a set of TIs instead

[HowieBass]

Yeah I like the sound and feel of Fender steel flats; I have them on my fretless and one of my fretted basses and will stick with them for the value-for-money aspect too.

[Highfox]

yep, Fender flats on all my flatwound basses, 45-100 are great for me.

[EssentialTension]

Haven't used Fender flats for quite a while but I did have them on a Precision bass about twelve years ago when I first went over to the flat side. Although not Fender anymore, but I'm still on the flat side.

Edited February 10, 2014 by EssentialTension

[antnee]

I love my [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Fender 9050M Flats on my SUB, would have another set.[/font][/color]

[SlapbassSteve]

I wanted to like them(they're great value!) but the scarily high tension and green silk(ewww) both conspired to foil my plans. As far as flats go, light D'addario chromes are the only I've ever been able to withstand playing for more than five minutes.

[Beer of the Bass]

Does the tension feel higher than Chromes of the same gauge?

[SlapbassSteve]

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1392056523' post='2364172']
Does the tension feel higher than Chromes of the same gauge?
[/quote]

To me, considerably... although some of this might be down to how the different metal feels to my fingers?

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1392056523' post='2364172']
Does the tension feel higher than Chromes of the same gauge?
[/quote]
It's been quite a while but memory says 'yes at least as tense as Chromes' but I liked the feel and tone more than Chromes.

[Roger2611]

I have Fender 45-105 flats on both fretless basses I can't really say I have noticed increased string tension, the only thing that concerns me with flats is I feel I am going to burn the tip of my finger if I slide too much on them.....which may beggar the question as to why have I put them on a fretless.......Hadn't really thought that one through properly!

[Highfox]

They wear in quite nicely. No sticker then the Roto's when new.
I think gauge plays a big part in the tension/feel you might be looking for as well. Took me a while to grasp that and a lot of money in the process experimenting.

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='Roger2611' timestamp='1392057387' post='2364182']
... the only thing that concerns me with flats is I feel I am going to burn the tip of my finger if I slide too much on them...
[/quote]

That's strange because the moment I go near roundwounds - usually on bass in a shop - I feel the same as you.

[iconic]

I love the Fender Super Bass 7250 nickles...nice price too around £16 'ish...take ages to die too

Edited February 10, 2014 by iconic

[Subbeh]

I'd never considered trying them till my last bass turned up with a set of Fender flats on and I loved them, tried the nickel rounds and really like those as well.