LeytonPlaysBass

I did indeed paid for them. I’m just in the fortunate position of being able to pay trade pricing instead of retail. I was trying to be helpful and provide context of what I had previously tried and a light hearted reference to what is an expensive pursuit of finding the right string in the Flatwound world. 😕

I hope you don’t mind me reviving the thread. I’ve had a set of the Pino flats on two basses, so I thought I’d give a little feedback from my experience. I’ve tried a number of different variations of flats on my Fender CS Sean Hurley precision, trying to find the set for it, but always found myself in the Goldilocks predicament: too much tension, not enough tension, too bright, bad intonation, etc. I’d tried Chromes, Elites, Thomastik, La Bella (stock on the Hurley), Fenders, Ernie Ball Cobalts, Ernie Ball Group Flats, and the newer Ernie Ball Group 2.5s. The set I eventually settled on were the La Bella Olinto Signature Flats, possibly as the gauges matched the Thomastiks PowerBass rounds I use on other basses. Nice tension, maybe sounded a little more roundwound but still a nice thud. Not long after I settled on the Olintos, I saw that the Pino sets were going to be released. I’m not a lover of EB strings in general, and I really didn’t like the cobalt flats, so you can imagine my joy when the Pino Signatures were a take on the Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats…. Curiosity got the better of me, and I bought a set of the Extra Light 38-98 to pop on my Geddy Lee Jazz. Well, I took to them instantly. Although they were lighter in tension than what I was used to in a flatwound set, more ‘bouncy’ than loose, they were a joy to play. I was surprised by just how much warm/rich bottom end they had and how the top end still sang and sustained when you played a harmonic. I found them nice and balanced tonally across all strings and they possessed a ‘played in’ feel as if they’d genuinely been on the bass for a while. I was so impressed, the next morning I took my Hurley bass to the shop and took the Olintos off (😬) and put an Extra Light Pino set on. Now, after a truss rod tweak, I have the set for the bass. It has all the characteristics as above on the Geddy but then it has ‘that sound’ when you dampen the strings with the side of your hand or engage the Hurley’s mute. Long story long, I was really concerned they would be a gimmick (and the recent feedback on the EB John Mayer Signature Silver Slinky’s we’d had didn’t fill me with optimism either) and it would be another set of EB Flats on and off in quick succession. However, I’m pleased to say that I was wrong to think that and for me, with or without Pino’s name on them, I think they are worth the money. The silk wraps are a pretty colour too. Apologies for the War & Peace post! (A little OCD may have kicked in while stringing up the Hurley)

Thank you for the kind words! I was extremely fortunate to receive it as a Birthday gift for my 30th. 11 month wait for it to be built but absolutely worth it.

I do love my 30th Anniversary StingRay 5. The neck is rather special (Middle on the rack). Unfortunately my Classic Sabre doesn’t get the use it deserves.

Thank you!

Thank you! The mute comes factory fitted as standard and with the perfect pressure setting out of the box. I understand some people have issues with it pushing the tuning sharp. I’m still trying to get the best from the Head and the two SL112s. Sounds fantastic but I can’t help but feel a cab is distorting around 12 o’clock 😰

My latest addition. 😀 Fender Custom Shop Sean Hurley Signature, Aged Charcoal Frost.