Members Senator Posted January 3, 2009 Members Share Posted January 3, 2009 Sup, yo. I'm want to put some flats on my Fender Jazz V. Not sure whether to string it BEADG or EADGC with the flats. I didn't really use the B, so it's strung EADGC with round wounds. Recommend me a set of flats. Preferably a 4 string set, so I could add a single C. Or a 5 string if you think I should go for a low B on a Fender. The highest I'll go is around $40.00. Edit: Okay, maybe around $50.00. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hotblack Posted January 3, 2009 Members Share Posted January 3, 2009 What qualities are you looking for in your flats?Low tension?Zing like rounds?Mellow sound? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rpsands Posted January 3, 2009 Members Share Posted January 3, 2009 Not direct experience speaking here so much as assumption, but it feels to me like a low B in flatwound wound sound really really muddy, just from my experience with drop D on flats. I've got flats on my Ibanez and even drop D starts to sound a wee bit like dirt mixed with water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Senator Posted January 3, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 3, 2009 What qualities are you looking for in your flats? Low tension? Zing like rounds? Mellow sound? Tension? Explain, please...? No, not like rounds. Mellow? Warm? I guess. I've never had flats, but I prefer the sound. I currently have round wound Roto's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hotblack Posted January 3, 2009 Members Share Posted January 3, 2009 I don't have extensive experience with flats, but here's what I've got. On my 4-string P-bass, I've got Fender flats. They have a very old school, thump sound. They are very, stiff strings, tight from end to end to end. It feels like pulling bridge cables if you really try to dig in. On my 5'er, I've got TI Jazz Flats. Very low tension. They're not stiff at all. Personally, I find them very well balanced (sound-wise). These strings will not fit in budget you listed. For flats with zing, I've seen many people recommend D'Addario Chromes, but I have never tried them myself. I ask the questions so that other flat users can chime in with recommendations. Also, are you willing to use coated strings (nylonwounds)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hotblack Posted January 3, 2009 Members Share Posted January 3, 2009 I currently have round wound Roto's. If you want something less aggressive than Rotos, you might want to try some other rounds. I switched to DR's from Rotos and never went back. Lo-Riders might be an option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Senator Posted January 3, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 3, 2009 Not direct experience speaking here so much as assumption, but it feels to me like a low B in flatwound wound sound really really muddy, just from my experience with drop D on flats. I've got flats on my Ibanez and even drop D starts to sound a wee bit like dirt mixed with water. That's what I was thinking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Senator Posted January 3, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 3, 2009 I don't have extensive experience with flats, but here's what I've got. On my 4-string P-bass, I've got Fender flats. They have a very old school, thump sound. They are very, stiff strings, tight from end to end to end. It feels like pulling bridge cables if you really try to dig in. On my 5'er, I've got TI Jazz Flats. Very low tension. They're not stiff at all. Personally, I find them very well balanced (sound-wise). These strings will not fit in budget you listed. For flats with zing, I've seen many people recommend D'Addario Chromes, but I have never tried them myself. I ask the questions so that other flat users can chime in with recommendations. Also, are you willing to use coated strings (nylonwounds)? Ah. I don't want anything too stiff. Nylon wounds? Anyone try DR flats? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hotblack Posted January 3, 2009 Members Share Posted January 3, 2009 Nylon wounds? Strings coated with nylon, plastic, or some other substance. They're "flat-like" but sound different than metal flats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Senator Posted January 3, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 3, 2009 Strings coated with nylon, plastic, or some other substance. They're "flat-like" but sound different than metal flats. I see. Thanks. I think I'll try regular flats first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tolka Posted January 3, 2009 Members Share Posted January 3, 2009 On my 5'er, I've got TI Jazz Flats. Very low tension. They're not stiff at all. Personally, I find them very well balanced (sound-wise). These strings will not fit in budget you listed. +1 on the TI's. While they are expensive initially, they last for years with the tone improving with age, so they are cheap in the long run. They have a warm mellow tone. If you like flats, I'd say try these at some stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Flâneur Posted January 3, 2009 Members Share Posted January 3, 2009 Be prepared for a sticky feeling when you try flats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Senator Posted January 3, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 3, 2009 Right now, I'm considering these... (Free shipping on orders over $35 ) http://www.stringsandbeyond.com/thjaniflworo.html ...and getting their high C elsewhere. How about DR flats? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Senator Posted January 3, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 3, 2009 Be prepared for a sticky feeling when you try flats. Ah! That reminds me. I have tried flats. On a cello. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Flâneur Posted January 3, 2009 Members Share Posted January 3, 2009 IIRC, TI originally made strings for orchestral instruments, so the feeling may be familiar. Another vote for TI, anyway. I love mine - as does everyone else who has tried them (mine, that is). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tolka Posted January 3, 2009 Members Share Posted January 3, 2009 Be prepared for a sticky feeling when you try flats. That can be the case, but goes away fairly soon with constant playing. OP : If you do decide on TI's, make sure you give them three or four weeks to break in before you form an opinion. After that, they begin to really show their true "colours". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bluedogaudio Posted January 3, 2009 Members Share Posted January 3, 2009 I don't see any reason to ever use flats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dabbler Posted January 3, 2009 Members Share Posted January 3, 2009 Not direct experience speaking here so much as assumption, but it feels to me like a low B in flatwound wound sound really really muddy, just from my experience with drop D on flats. I've got flats on my Ibanez and even drop D starts to sound a wee bit like dirt mixed with water. I don't play in alternate tunings, but don't people use them to make the tone thicker? I do however play flats on a fiver and muddy is not how I would describe the tone. The B string on a 5 string set was designed to have the tension required for a B and it sounds quite nice, IMO! Now if you go playing alternate tunings on it, that's another issue... do people really do that with fivers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bernie P. Posted January 3, 2009 Members Share Posted January 3, 2009 TI Jazz flats.Takes a few months for the best in them to come out but it's worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassman1956 Posted January 3, 2009 Members Share Posted January 3, 2009 Be prepared for a sticky feeling when you try flats. I've heard that before. Personally, I find rounds grippier and harder on my fingers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members J. Posted January 3, 2009 Members Share Posted January 3, 2009 I'm a fan of D'Addario Chromes, although I don't know if they come in a high C version. I had a set of the extra long (for 35" scale) 5 stringers, and they were great. Since your Fender is just a 34" scale, they should be cheaper than mine, which came out to $50. You should be within your budget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tolka Posted January 3, 2009 Members Share Posted January 3, 2009 I don't see any reason to ever use flats. Some agree, some dont. Strings are a very personal thing. To each his/her own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Poltergeist Posted January 3, 2009 Members Share Posted January 3, 2009 i'd say Rotosounds or D'addario Chromes. alot of guys recommend TI's, but i never them, but they must be a solid choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Scary Bill Posted January 4, 2009 Members Share Posted January 4, 2009 I have Chromes on my ESP B-G. They are not going to have zing or brightness. They will loose a little definition depending on EQ. They will be warm and more mellow. The B is fine for me. Don't expect a Piano like B, though. They are a little stiffer feeling than most rounds. This lets you get you action lower and dig in harder. The sticky feeling goes away after a couple of hours or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members burnthiscorpse Posted January 4, 2009 Members Share Posted January 4, 2009 other than the few frettless basses i have owned, I had flats on my last EB3(reissue) . but thats a totally different animal. If i remember they were daddario. very well balanced tone wise. didnt feel sticky to me. that was my first experience with flats on a fretted bass. I'm sure the strings were most of it but they did always seem to drag on fretless necks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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