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Alright bass dudes, I'm gonna make the leap to flatwounds, and i need some advice. From what i can tell, the following brands are stocked locally, and all at pretty reasonable prices. I want to know the way that these are different from each other.

GHS
Ernie Ball
Fender

These are for my Guild Starfire ii reissue. It is semi-hollow and has 30.5" scale. I guess I would favor a tension that is medium to medium-high.

I have heard the fenders have extremely high tension, so those might be out.

GHS makes shortscale flats in both their "brite flats" and "precision flats". the brites are a ground roundwound alloy, and the precision are stainless steel. I'm a little confused, because the brites have higher gauges for the shortscale (49-108) but the precisions use the lighter gauges (45-95, according to the website). Any idea why? What opinions do any users have of these strings.

Ernie Ball doesn't make flats specifically for shortscale, but they make a chrome plated steel string in a variety of gauges.

From what I have read, all three of these brands are fairly well liked for their flats. Should I go with the short scale strings of GHS (and which variety if I do) or should I go for one of the other two brands? Bass strings are just such an investment, I don't want to make the wrong choice. My last set of strings were on for 8 years, it could be a while before I get another shot...


thanks

I used some RotoSound flats on my P-Bass a few years back. I can't remember exactly what they were "voiced" like, but I'd say they were moderate in briteness. If you have a wide tone range from your pickups they could go in many a direction as far as tone. And, using them on a semi-hollow... Those would sound great!

IIRC, they were about a medium tension, as well. Not only that, but they lasted a damn eternity, while still sounding pretty good. I've used RotoSound strings on my LP and they last months without losing tone. It's insane.

Here's two kinds they have (I used the 77's)





They're definitely worth taking a look into.

thanks. those sound good too. I spent the hour or two since posting reading page after page of talkbass threads I think I'm gonna go for the GHS precision flats in the shortscale. If the tension doesn't work out i'l be bummed, but I think it should be ok.

I've used fender steel flatwound and those rotosound nylon strings. I also use a semi-hollow bass, an eastwood hofner violin bass copy, the rotosounds were harder to play with than the fender strings, I can't remember why though, but they had an interesting dub-type sound that was fun. The fenders were probably a bit lower tension than the rotosound and you could still get pretty punchy, if you wanted to, with the fender strings. I'd vote for the fenders or those ernie ball ones even though they aren't short-scale because the chrome/steel combo would probably sound realllllly smooth with just a touch of high end. I've had my fenders on my bass for 3 or 4 years so they stay on pretty good and mine have had some abuse. I just couldn't use the rotosounds so I took them off.

Rotosound are the only flats I've ever used. They're the best sounding flats I've heard, but it just wasn't my thing. I'm all rounds now

ghs shortscale strings were too short for the guild. taking them back to swap out for ghs longscale precision or ernie ball flats. 30.5" scale isn't considered short, i guess? the ghs do have very pretty purple silks though.

If you buy locally then get GHS Precision flats.
I have them on my ’51 P.
Nice smooth feel and the tension is very good.

Now if you want the best sounding and playing flats,
get Thomistik-Infelds Jazz flats.
They have a creamy smooth sound and play like butter.
The fundamental is solid and the lows are there, without loosing any of the top and upper mids. They also sound better as they get broken in and older.

They are the only thing I’ll put on my other basses.

I get my strings from
http://www.stringsandbeyond.com/
or
http://www.juststrings.com/

ghs shortscale strings were too short for the guild. taking them back to swap out for ghs longscale precision or ernie ball flats. 30.5" scale isn't considered short, i guess? the ghs do have very pretty purple silks though.

The couple of Guild's I played were 32" scale( medium scale) longer than a MusicMaster or Bronco (30") but shorter than a Jazz or P (34"). The GHS regular long scale should fit fine, just don't get extra longs.

MM




Both are great to deal with, Strings and Beyond just has slightly lower prices.

MM

metalmariachi wrote:If you buy locally then get GHS Precision flats.
I have them on my ’51 P.
Nice smooth feel and the tension is very good.

Now if you want the best sounding and playing flats,
get Thomistik-Infelds Jazz flats.
They have a creamy smooth sound and play like butter.
The fundamental is solid and the lows are there, without loosing any of the top and upper mids. They also sound better as they get broken in and older.

They are the only thing I’ll put on my other basses.

I get my strings from
http://www.stringsandbeyond.com/
or
http://www.juststrings.com/

ghs shortscale strings were too short for the guild. taking them back to swap out for ghs longscale precision or ernie ball flats. 30.5" scale isn't considered short, i guess? the ghs do have very pretty purple silks though.

The couple of Guild's I played were 32" scale( medium scale) longer than a MusicMaster or Bronco (30") but shorter than a Jazz or P (34"). The GHS regular long scale should fit fine, just don't get extra longs.

MM




Both are great to deal with, Strings and Beyond just has slightly lower prices.

MM

i got the ghs precision flats. i still have the little guild product card and it says 30-3/4" scale length. never actually measured. excited to string these up, but people are coming over in 20 minutes i went with the "medium" gauge 45-65-85-105.

All the reviews of the i read of the TI's seemed to say they were really good, but that 1.) they didn't have a super traditional "flats" sound and 2.) they were pretty floppy, especially compared to other flats. I was worried they might be even floppier on the somewhat shorter scale guild. if these ghs don't work out i might look into TIs. Do you find them to be unusually loose?

basically, i was having an easy time getting really aggressive sounds with the rounds i had, but a difficulty achieving mellows. i'm hoping the flats will help default to mellow, and i can hopefully still dial the aggression back in. i will report back on my experiences.

I use d'addario chromes and I like them a bunch still have enough top to sound alive with a pick. More and more everyday I think flats are the answer.

Hope that helps somewhat.

so i'm strung up and tuned up and I'm sort of in love. it's pretty weird feeling, but i really think i'm liking it. the tension is perfectly good. the tone is mellowed out and a little woody, but i was still able to get back the hairy noisiness when i fooled around with the eq. it was basically exactley what i was looking for. i think the sound is a much better match for the band i am going to be playing in soon, so i'm excited about that.

if there is one thing i kinda miss its the string noise when sliding from note to note (not like on a true slide, but when your fingers just rub over the strings). i was playing aeroplane flies high, and it felt like it was missing a tiny something.

HOWEVER, I think its making my wolf computer sound much better on the bass. I am gonna try it out with the rest of my pedals and see how that goes...


overall, i am very optimistic about the new strings. ghs precision flats, 45-105.

Pyramid Gold Nickel Flatwounds.

I have them on my Warwick. They also make a short-scale set.

I use D'addario chromes one most of my basses they've been my fav string for like 17 years now. I also like and use Thomistik-Infelds Jazz flats, good strings, I use to use TI upright strings for a long time too. Ernie Ball flats are a good sting from what I remember but I only used them once.

I don't like RotoSound, Fender or LaBella.

Mudfuzz wrote:I use D'addario chromes one most of my basses they've been my fav string for like 17 years now. I also like and use Thomistik-Infelds Jazz flats, good strings, I use to use TI upright strings for a long time too. Ernie Ball flats are a good sting from what I remember but I only used them once.

I don't like RotoSound, Fender or LaBella.

Do you find the TIs to be looser than other flats? thats the major criticism i've read.

A little. but that is kind of their thing. They are designed more like a doublebass string then a guitar string. As far as I know they are the only maker that makes BG strings with padding: padding is a layer of material [perlon I think] put between the layers of windings. They do this on most DB string to cut highs, this also might add to flexibility.

I would describe TI Jazz flats as bouncy. Both in feel and sound. They are not as direct and in your face punchy as other flats, but they trade that a little [they are still flats and therefore punchier then any roundwound] for their bounce and "liveness".

Mudfuzz wrote:A little. but that is kind of their thing. They are designed more like a doublebass string then a guitar string. As far as I know they are the only maker that makes BG strings with padding: padding is a layer of material [perlon I think] put between the layers of windings. They do this on most DB string to cut highs, this also might add to flexibility.

I would describe TI Jazz flats as bouncy. Both in feel and sound. They are not as direct and in your face punchy as other flats, but they trade that a little [they are still flats and therefore punchier then any roundwound] for their bounce and "liveness".

At some point I would be worried about excessive buzz. I really like a tighter feel under the fingers. Really liking the strings I have now. I'd love to try other strings if i ever get some other basses, but for now i feel set.