JamesBass Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 I'm really determined to move on to flatwound strings finally after really getting fed up with the round wound sound, I'll still keep on bass set up with rounds, but I'm gonna put flats on all my P basses for now, so where can I find flats cheap? I'm looking at trying D'Addario Chromes, LaBellas and Thomastik Infeld Jazz Flats. Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Thomann are cheapest for Thomastik but you have to spend about £160 for fee shipping. They are still cheaper than most places even with the £10 shipping charge though. For almost everything else, I actually find Amazon to be cheapest, but the prices fluctuate a lot so you have to keep any eye on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Try some Fender 9050 flats - available everywhere and very affordable. I've been using the 50-100s for ages - they're great. La Bellas I found too 'floppy' and Chromes were alarmingly 'taut' - the Fenders are Goldilocks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman Steve Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 If you're doing much in the way of touring, I'd drop the company and email and ask about artist pricing. I became a Rotosound endorsee as a result of such an email. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Bass Strings Online have decent prices for LaBella, their shipping isn't inflated and it seems to be the luck of the draw whether your package has import duty applied. I've just had a set of Sadowsky flats from them which reached me without attracting the attention of Customs. (This always seems to lead to multi-page threads about the ethics of tax avoidance, but please, let's not!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Try Stringthis.com , based in the US. i generally buy two sets at a time and find that even with postage from the US they work out half the price of stringbusters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 I use TI jazz flats and the cheapest on line place that I could find that sells them is : http://www.lordofthestrings.com/lots/RAPRD/Thomastik-JF344-Jazz-Flat/11001621.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaypup Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Fenders are the best flatwound I've found - cheapest too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoham Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1409737098' post='2542732'] Try some Fender 9050 flats - available everywhere and very affordable. I've been using the 50-100s for ages - they're great. La Bellas I found too 'floppy' and Chromes were alarmingly 'taut' - the Fenders are Goldilocks. [/quote] I bought those very strings from Amazon for about £15. Nice strings, sound nice on my P. Look good too - dark green threads looks much better on my black P than the red ones that Rotosound use. Believe they are made by D'Addario too (though definitely not Chromes). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Status Hot Wires are excellent value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 The way I interpret the thread is that the OP is looking for a site that is the cheapest for a given brand. If he was looking for the cheap[u]EST[/u] flats, then he would not be interested in trying TI jazz flats (that's not to say the TI's are not worth the money. IMO they are..). [size=4] [/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesBass Posted September 3, 2014 Author Share Posted September 3, 2014 [quote name='Bassman Steve' timestamp='1409737564' post='2542741'] If you're doing much in the way of touring, I'd drop the company and email and ask about artist pricing. I became a Rotosound endorsee as a result of such an email. [/quote] Alright Steve, I've considered this a few times but I'm very stop start with things, in fact I've not even had a rehearsal with a band for about 6-7 weeks as I've done my knee in! Just getting up and about now, will drop you an email soon to arrange that meet up! [quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1409748622' post='2542912'] The way I interpret the thread is that the OP is looking for a site that is the cheapest for a given brand. If he was looking for the cheap[u]EST[/u] flats, then he would not be interested in trying TI jazz flats (that's not to say the TI's are not worth the money. IMO they are..). [size=4] [/size] [/quote] Exactly that, these are the brands I've ever the best about from friends and reviews etc. The fenders seem to have a love hate following! Plus I've had a few bad sets of fender rounds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman Steve Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Ok, look forward to meeting up. I'll tell you what I said to Rotosound and you can try it on your chosen string makers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molan Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Carvin flats are La Bellas without the fancy packaging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 [quote name='JamesBass' timestamp='1409750166' post='2542936'] Exactly that, these are the brands I've ever the best about from friends and reviews etc. The fenders seem to have a love hate following! Plus I've had a few bad sets of fender rounds! [/quote] Why not just search the internet? I know this seems obvious but the price of strings changes and sometimes by a lot. I bought some strings that were manufactured by one the companies you mentioned less that a year ago and now they are over double the price they were when i bought them. Also some manufacturers 'custom' strings can be cheaper than buying a standard 'off the shelf' pack. Take a look around, there's plenty of choice out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfretrock Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Got a set of D'Addario XL Chromes from Amazon for my P, cheaper than most. You may get free shipping. Delivery was quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 [quote name='JamesBass' timestamp='1409750166' post='2542936'] Exactly that, these are the brands I've ever the best about from friends and reviews etc. The fenders seem to have a love hate following! Plus I've had a few bad sets of fender rounds! [/quote] With regards the TI flats, be aware that these have VERY low tension (one of the lowest ) and this often puts people off them. It would be a shame to spend a lot of money, and only then realize that the low tension does not suit you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder652003 Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 [quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1409745167' post='2542855'] Status Hot Wires are excellent value. [/quote] this, about £20 direct from status, good strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesBass Posted September 3, 2014 Author Share Posted September 3, 2014 [quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1409757673' post='2543014'] With regards the TI flats, be aware that these have VERY low tension (one of the lowest ) and this often puts people off them. It would be a shame to spend a lot of money, and only then realize that the low tension does not suit you. [/quote] I've seen they are low tension and I'm quite comfortable playing with a lower tension, the D'Addario rounds I use are low tension too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzneck Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Status - £20 from Colchester, perfect for this ol'boy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3below Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Cheapest place is here - BC. Get some used flats - TIs crop up regularly. My first set running at 8 years just fine. Nothing to worry about with used flats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 [quote name='JamesBass' timestamp='1409764446' post='2543107'] I've seen they are low tension and I'm quite comfortable playing with a lower tension, the D'Addario rounds I use are low tension too [/quote] Then, in that case you'll probably like the TI's. It may seem like an obvious think to say, but give the TI's a while to break in, like all flats. They take some time to acquire their mellow tone. I have come across people who say they tried them for a week and decided they did not like them. [size=4] [/size][size=4] [/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deepbass5 Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Another vote for Status Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 [quote name='JamesBass' timestamp='1409764446' post='2543107'] I've seen they are low tension and I'm quite comfortable playing with a lower tension, the D'Addario rounds I use are low tension too [/quote] I found them much more low tension than ANY rounds i've ever played. When they say low they mean L-O-W. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Status...and you'll be supporting a British company building excellent basses which we wouldn't want to lose... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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