Flatwound strings question

[SoulToStrings]

I recently acquired an Italia Marnello electric bass w/ f-holes & a piezo pickup. It came to me with flatwound strings on it, which I love the sound & feel of.

The top of the strings that wrap around the tuning peg is BLUE, which matches the bass headstock. It's time for me to change these strings, however I'm have a real hard time finding the blue wrap ends when I search for flatwound strings. ANy help or advice on where I could get these? My local guitar store didn't even carry ANY flatwound strings so I'm in a bind. Let me know, your help is appreciated. Thanks
Brad

[Ishouldbeking]

I can't say which strings those are, but just out of curiousity, what makes you think you need to change the ones that are on there? I know a lot of bassists that don't change their flatwounds until they break, which can be years in some cases. Often just a cleaning with alcohol will get them back in shape if they're just dirty.

[cpsdawg]

i agree, i hardly ever change mine. i don't know which strings those are, but for me, the la bella flats or the rotosound jazz bass flats are great. rotos have red wrap.

[BDT]

D'addario Chromes (flatwound) have a light to royal blue silk wrap.

[SuperSoundMusic]

I believe Labella have Blue wrap at least the FMset that has a 109 E is. you might want to check out those colored strings, DR? i think made them they have a blue set. then the whole string would match your bass.

[pedalhead]

Rotosound Steve Harris Flats have a blue wrap on them.

[jyee]

+1 on the rarely changing strings bit... especially flats. Generally, aside from feel, flats are used because they have a mellower sound than rounds. if you put on new flats, you'll have to spend some time to lose the new string brightness and get them back to sounding more like flats.

wipe them down with alcohol, or if they're really dirty, take them off, put them in a jar with a bit of alcohol, seal and shake. the jar/shake method is great for rounds with dirt stuck between the windings... but you really shouldn't need to do it with flats.