Basszilla Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 HI all Recent convert to using flats on a pbass - great sound. Any recommendations? Soundwise - I like a nice full and warm bottom end and the string needs to be flexible. I use both fingers and pick. Scale wise - is there anything I should bear in mind when purchasing them? I string them through body on my 2004 pbass. Cheers Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 GHS Precision Flats 3050M are OK strung through-body. But through-body is not always a good idea with (some) flats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 (edited) [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1447793535' post='2910514'] But through-body is not always a good idea with (some) flats. [/quote] Also, the extra distance through the body sometimes requires longer strings e.g. my 30in scale Mustang needs 32in scale strings - otherwise the silk would not be clear of the speaking length of the string. Edited November 17, 2015 by JapanAxe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1447793535' post='2910514'] GHS Precision Flats 3050M are OK strung through-body. But through-body is not always a good idea with (some) flats. [/quote] ^^^ these. About £21 shipped from Lakland. (My boring stock answer - sorry) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1447794409' post='2910537'] ^^^ these. About £21 shipped from Lakland. (My boring stock answer - sorry) [/quote] Are the Lakland ones now just GHS in a GHS packet? Purple silk not black silk and not repackaged? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 (edited) [quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1447794330' post='2910535'] Also, the extra distance through the body sometimes requires longer strings e.g. my 30in scale Mustang needs 32in scale strings - otherwise the silk would not be clear of the speaking length of the string. [/quote] THe GHS 3050M are long enough for through-body on 34" scale. Edited November 17, 2015 by EssentialTension Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1447795017' post='2910547'] Are the Lakland ones now just GHS in a GHS packet? Purple silk not black silk and not repackaged? [/quote] Yep - just GHS's in GHS packets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1447795086' post='2910548'] THe GHS 3050M are long enough for through-body on 34" scale. [/quote] Cheers, that's worth knowing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 For flexibility I'd go for TI's. They're the only flats that I like, most sound like you're using rope or something, plenty of thud and nothing else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lo-E Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1447793535' post='2910514'] GHS Precision Flats 3050M are OK strung through-body. [/quote]. They also have a nice, even sound and a very smooth feel. For flexibility, you can't beat TI flats, but the sound is very mid-forward. Personally, I love TIs on Rics and Jazz Basses, but I find them too mid heavy on Precisions. You might also want to explore Sadowsky Black Label flats for a very even feel and tone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 [quote name='ambient' timestamp='1447807064' post='2910661'] most sound like you're using rope or something, plenty of thud and nothing else. [/quote] Have you been listening to them whilst wearing ear muffs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 [quote name='Lo-E' timestamp='1447814245' post='2910671'] For flexibility, you can't beat TI flats ... [/quote] True enough but the GHS Precision flats are not very high in tension. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 [quote name='ambient' timestamp='1447807064' post='2910661'] ... most sound like you're using rope or something, plenty of thud and nothing else. [/quote] That's like saying most rounds sound like barbed wire .... which of course they do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1447827454' post='2910678'] Have you been listening to them whilst wearing ear muffs? [/quote] No, but I like to hear the notes, the sound I like obtain ranges from cello like to acoustic classical guitar like. Something I couldn't get with other types that I tried. They were absolutely fine if you wanted to sound like James Jamerson, but I don't. A lot were also very high tension, particularly the D'Addario Chromes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 [quote name='ambient' timestamp='1447845905' post='2910842'] No, but I like to hear the notes.. [/quote] Me too. Flats are great for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 Also worth a mention are La Bella FL Deep Talkin' and Status Graphite Half-rounds. La Bella FLs are bloody expensive and not always easy to obtain, but they do sound wonderful. I started using them when I bought my first proper vintage Precision, on advice from Basschatters who know this stuff inside out ... Clarky, Beedster, and Wateroftyne. They're not so good on longer scale basses like the 35" Mike Lulls I play now. The Status Half-rounds offer a genuine compromise between the feel of flats and the snarl of good rounds on a P. I converted to Lakland Joe Osborn strings when I started playing 35" scale since all Lakland 5-strings are 35" AFAIK. Those Osborns then turned out to be re-packaged GHS strings, which takes you back to Essential Tension's post up at the top. The fact that they fit 35" scale so well also means that they are excellent for string-through-body on a 34" scale bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acidbass Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 La Bella 760FL for me. Tried TI Jazz Flats but found the tension to be too loose for my tastes. The LaBellas work perfectly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basszilla Posted November 18, 2015 Author Share Posted November 18, 2015 So...I think it's a toss up between Labellas and TI, leaning toward the Labellas. My bass is a string through body 04 US Pb. With that said, is there a particular set I should go for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 (edited) [quote name='Basszilla' timestamp='1447857751' post='2910985'] So...I think it's a toss up between Labellas and TI, leaning toward the Labellas. My bass is a string through body 04 US Pb. With that said, is there a particular set I should go for? [/quote] With ordinary La Bella Deep Talking 760 flats do NOT string through the body. La Bella do make a string through version but I have no idea what they sound like. Edited November 18, 2015 by EssentialTension Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 If you're going string-through then you need to check that the LaBellas will actually reach the nut before the silks start. Mark where the nut touches the string you currently have (Tippex is good) and take the string off, measure it carefully from ball-end to mark, then ask your chosen string supplier to confirm the precise length of the LaBella from ball-end to silk. Obviously you shouldn't have a problem ... they make these strings to fit the basses! The fact is, I have several times found the first 1/4" of the silks on one or more strings on the "wrong" side of the nut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basszilla Posted November 18, 2015 Author Share Posted November 18, 2015 Cool cheers guys. Out of curiosity... Which flat has a red silk? Is that a roto? - Reason being I bought the bass from the marketplace here and it came fitted with some old flats that are strung through. Wondering if that's not good for the bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 Rotosound Flats have red silk but so do La Bella 760FL and also Thomastik Jazz Flats and probably some others. Some flatwound strings don't like the break angle at the bridge when strung through the body. GHS Precisions and Thomastiks are both fine in my experience. Given that La Bella actually label a set as suitable for string through body, I have always strung La Bellas through the bridge. The oddity in this is of course that the original Precision bass was string through body only and used flats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 [quote name='Basszilla' timestamp='1447857751' post='2910985'] So...I think it's a toss up between Labellas and TI, leaning toward the Labellas. [/quote] Just in case it saves you a few quid... I'm a long-time user of the LaBella FLs. They're fab, but to me they're interchangeable with the significantly cheaper GHS Precision Flats. Both great strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basszilla Posted November 18, 2015 Author Share Posted November 18, 2015 Thanks WOT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LayDownThaFunk Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1447795017' post='2910547'] Are the Lakland ones now just GHS in a GHS packet? Purple silk not black silk and not repackaged? [/quote] Always were the same string anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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