Favorite flats?
- Thread starter alex1fly
- Start date
Blille
Well-known member
TIs are the golden standard but I think a lot of folks don’t realize their gauges are lower. It’s not that they are “easier to play” it’s that the lower strings are thinner than in the sets of competitors.
What I like and use now is Chromes but I swap the top two to be thicker. Like a set of chromes 10 but the top two are 12/16.
Pyramids and LaBella are very nice as well.
What I like and use now is Chromes but I swap the top two to be thicker. Like a set of chromes 10 but the top two are 12/16.
Pyramids and LaBella are very nice as well.
Blille
Well-known member
Hard to describe but imagine a smooth surface in your strings, and much warmer tone.
Interesting...probably not a string for the heavies though. \m/ \m/ Right?
Blille
Well-known member
Likely the opposite of what you want
In bass it’s more up for discussion (Kill Em All was recorded with flats and Steve Harris used flats) but it’s still unusual.
alex1fly
Well-known member
Actually flats can work with heavy distortion. They don't sting as much as rounds, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Check the video for riffage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXjvdSlxKa8
I enjoy the feel of flats. So smooth. Always have one of my basses strung with flats, and I've had flatwound sets on my guitars now and then. These days I find myself with an extra guitar or two, so I'd like to throw some flats on again.
I enjoy the feel of flats. So smooth. Always have one of my basses strung with flats, and I've had flatwound sets on my guitars now and then. These days I find myself with an extra guitar or two, so I'd like to throw some flats on again.
alex1fly
Well-known member
This bit about TIs is true with their bass strings. Lower tension than a regular set. Actually feels quite nice, especially if you regularly switch from bass to guitar.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
I use Pyramid nickel flats. Gets that 'historic' sound.
Blille
Well-known member
You can play anything with anything and compensate on the amp with EQ but I think it’s pushing it
I have two guitars with flats but I use them almost exclusively for jazz.
Good to know.
I haven’t considered TIs but I’m not loving the chromes in my bass. They should be broken in by now but they still stick to my RH fingers. I may change.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Really gross, worse on bass than guitar. All the extra surface tension makes them stick to my fingers really bad.
solspirit
Ultimate Post Liker
alex1fly
Well-known member
You can play anything with anything and compensate on the amp with EQ but I think it’s pushing it
I have two guitars with flats but I use them almost exclusively for jazz.
Good to know.
I haven’t considered TIs but I’m not loving the chromes in my bass. They should be broken in by now but they still stick to my RH fingers. I may change.
Chromes are different IME. When I was gigging pre-covid I put in some good time with Chromes, La Bella Deep Talkin, GHS, and TIs. The Chromes were the highest tension, the stickiest, the least enjoyable to play, and had the least amount of thump. The other three were far superior for a smooth feel and old school thump.
alex1fly
Well-known member
Some bass flats are stickier than others, and its different for everybody. A flat set that isn't sticky, however, feels absolutely amazing. So smooth and silky.
Benjy_26
25's Nemesis
Weird. Must be a difference in skin chemistry or something. Once broken in, flats are slick as hell for me. Bass or guitar.
Blille
Well-known member
That’s great to know, thanks. I was thinking of trying GHS.
alex1fly
Well-known member
No problem. Bass strings are pricey, but the smooth feel is so worth it. It just adds this element of tactile pleasure to the playing experience. Highly recommend. And the long life claim holds true for me - my prized set of La Bellas has lasted me 4 years so far and has been on/off a couple different basses 6 separate times with no issues or degradation of tone. Pretty incredible. To accelerate the break-in process you can add sweat, lotion, chapstick, really anything goopy/oily and let them sit for a couple days and then clean them off. This really does make a difference in cooling down the zing in exchange for smooth thump. But time is important too - they need several weeks, if not longer, at tension and getting played before the vibes (technical term) all align properly. It's a long-term investment for sure, but worthwhile and I'll never not have a bass with flats. Also, the palm mute + thumb pluck is just immense.
GHS was a good set for me. Classic sound and feel. La Bella is a little rounder/more 3D and deader (in a good way), they're a leader for a reason. TIs are similar to La Bellas but with a touch more high end zing and a touch less mids which helps it cut for slap/pop techniques and lower tension. This is primarily my experience with the Fender P Bass through various amps and PAs, though I dabbled with them on a Jazz Bass as well but not as much. Currently I have the TIs on the P Bass with a La Bella D string, as the TI D string unraveled when I was putting the set back on there this last time. Very similar sound except for the differences noted above. I can't tell the difference during recordings or jams, though.
/endrant
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