Flat wound strings : What brand do you recommmend ?

[d l x r e v e r b]

Please recommend a brand and gauge of flat wound strings for my Fender Precision bass. Desired tone is 1960s Motown and Stax, R&B and soul.

[teleman1]

I used Fender flats and was impressed. Make sure you have it setup for the new strings

[Robal]

I like LaBella tapewound. More definition than regular flats but still warm and wooly. Not too expensive either.

[hogy]

Best I've found are Thomastiks.

[dkaplowitz]

Best I've found are Thomastiks.
I haven't tried every flatwound on the market, but I liked these strings a lot. Still have a couple sets laying around for my next jazz box.

[Bassomatic]

TIs.

Crazy weird gauges, though. You'll need a new setup.

[hogy]

Thomastiks have this amazingly slinky earthworm feel to them. You might need a setup, but you won't ever use another brand after that, so it's well worth it.

On guitars I love Pyramid flats because the are lively and vibrant. For some reason though, The bass version sounds dead and dull to me. The Thomasiks on bass sound like Pyramids on guitar, if that makes sense.

[oldrock]

my son the bass player uses fender flats on his geddy lee and likes em. maybe he should try these thomaskiks though?

[PeeWee]

+1 on the Thomastik JF344s. I have them on an AVR '62 P-Bass and a Lakland Skyline Joe Osborn and they nail that Memphis Soul tone. They are a bit slinky feeling and a set up will be needed, but once that's done you're there. If you want a hair more tension, give a set of D'Addario Chromes a shot.

For that true Jamerson thing, go for a set of 0760M LaBella Deep Talkin' flats (.052 - .110) - that's a manly man's string for sure!

[musicofanatic5]

Fender 9050. They're cheap and sound and play great on an old P-bass.

[dave19er]

i gotta go with all the people recommending the TI's. They're awesome. Just a great thumpy tone on a p-bass. Every time I play that bass, I get a big grin.

[testing1two]

I too love the Thomastiks; they are slightly lower tension string so they feel slinky and the quality and finish is the best you will ever play.

However, I couldn't handle the lower tension as I have a regular cover band gig where everyone tunes down a half step and I have a D-tuner that gets used on a regular basis, so I've been using the Sadowsky flatwounds and they have a tone that is "right" and they feel 90% as good as the TI's.

[landru64]

check out the sadowsky flatwounds

[RedsFan75]

On the TI's if they are lower tension, how high do you have to have the action to prevent buzz.

I've got DR Hi-Beams on my P right now, but have been thinking of a change to Flats.

[cpsdawg]

rotosound flats or la bella's

[Ulysses]

I've tried just about everything out there for recording. My personal faves are the Pyramids. Thomastics are great too. Negative on the Fenders, and most of the other big brands. Way too metallic and bright. I have a P-bass with each Thomastic and Pyramids in the studio right now and I prefer the dynamics and the more organic sound of the Pyramids. The Pyramids have the biggest "thump" and decay which is what I'm looking for to get that effect on a recording. Thomastics really do well after they age a bit but just a bit too bright for my tastes when new. Really only because the Pyramids are a little better at it. The Thomastics would be hands down the second best. Jamerson and many of the old schoolers used LaBellas. I have a hard time believing the alloy or composite is still the same as it was 50 years ago no matter what they say. The Pyramids do the old school sound light years better.

The big down side of the Pyramids is the price. The old saying "you get what you pay for" really applies here, though.

[pedalhead]

rotosound steve harris set - great sound and great feel

[SGNick]

I just bought cheapies from webstrings.com

haven't found anything wrong with them, I love em!

[Bassomatic]

I've tried just about everything out there for recording. My personal faves are the Pyramids. Thomastics are great too. Negative on the Fenders, and most of the other big brands. Way too metallic and bright. I have a P-bass with each Thomastic and Pyramids in the studio right now and I prefer the dynamics and the more organic sound of the Pyramids. The Pyramids have the biggest "thump" and decay which is what I'm looking for to get that effect on a recording. Thomastics really do well after they age a bit but just a bit too bright for my tastes when new. Really only because the Pyramids are a little better at it. The Thomastics would be hands down the second best. Jamerson and many of the old schoolers used LaBellas. I have a hard time believing the alloy or composite is still the same as it was 50 years ago no matter what they say. The Pyramids do the old school sound light years better.

The big down side of the Pyramids is the price. The old saying "you get what you pay for" really applies here, though.

I've had the Pyramids on guitars I've bought used, but never tried the bass line. I'll hafta check the flats.

[phatster]

[;.

For that true Jamerson thing, go for a set of 0760M LaBella Deep Talkin' flats (.052 - .110) - that's a manly man's string for sure![/quote]
I totally agree,old school vibe!!

[daddyo]

Thomastik Infeld

[otaypanky]

I have read that the LaBella 0760M LaBella Deep Talkin' flats (.052 - .110) are not designed to be used with 'through the body' instruments ~
Anyone know for sure? I'd like to try them on an American Jazz

[SGNick]

I have read that the LaBella 0760M LaBella Deep Talkin' flats (.052 - .110) are not designed to be used with 'through the body' instruments ~
Anyone know for sure? I'd like to try them on an American Jazz


That is correct, they are not designed to be used with through-body design.

I have some on my Hofner, love em!

[xk49w]

Please recommend a brand and gauge of flat wound strings for my Fender Precision bass. Desired tone is 1960s Motown and Stax, R&B and soul.La Bella Electric Bass Guitar "Original 1954" "Jamerson Set", .052 - .110 Flatwound, 0760M. (not through-body)

[jokerjkny]

sadowsky...

done!

seriously, terrific string that just has that sweet old school tone. not this dumpy thuddy thing.

[BluesyCat]

sadowsky...

Done!

Seriously, terrific string that just has that sweet old school tone. Not this dumpy thuddy thing.

+1 !!

[Bassomatic]

sadowsky...

done!

seriously, terrific string that just has that sweet old school tone. not this dumpy thuddy thing.

Ever tried the TIs?

[jokerjkny]

Ever tried the TIs?

i've always wanted to, but the sadowskies never really made me want to try anything else.

from what i've been told, the sadowskies have a bit more top end detail than other flatwounds. but this true thru their whole line of strings which tend to be on the bright end of the spectrum.

[rodl2005]

D'addario CHROMES!!!! :dude I can't believe no-one's suggested 'em yet!?!!?!?!?!? They're really well priced & sound GREAT!!! I bought a light guage set -40-95 IIRC (after not using flats for 20 yrs or more) & they were the only flats I liked-after trying some 'cryo''s & some Fenders -I didn't like. The CHROMES seem to be pretty lively & are even nice for slapping!!:jo Had 'em on a year now & they keep getting nicer! Gee flats are cheap compared to being a RW user!!:D

[teleman1]

I finally put flatwound black GHS strings on my fretless. Wow. THe Fender flats I ahd were a nice improvement over wound. But these things almost have a slight rubbery feeling. They have way more soul. I put flats on my fretted Jazz Bass. I love it. My playing is more accurate and my fingers don't get eaten. Once I got use to fretless & flats, its hard to play a wound string cause you are always sliding to the note.

[babaseen]

I went with the 760FS and found that after a year they really locked into the Motown sound I was searching for (guess the aging process is important for flats, going on two years now)...they have a stiff tension that helps establish the right technique and hey, they even are good to slap or pull harmonics too. Although, still need to roll off the P-bass tone knob to nail the Jamerson thump. And most important they sound good in the mix in the live situation (of course, there are other factors involved here, but the strings have a significant role in the tone chain IMHO))!!!
I had tried the TI power Bass strings on the fretless Sadowsky Modern 5 before and was not impressed, so I have been reluctant to spend $$$ on another TI brand for the P-bass plus I'm not big on the slinky feel.:worried

I am curious about the Sadowsky flats and the Pyramids (flats are still new to me having been a SS roundwounder for a few decades, but I am digging them), it's just the cost and the potential break in period that puts me off for now.