Flats, stainless or chrome?

[Looper]

I'm looking at making a switch from rounds to flats. Have been using stainless rounds and I'm wondering with flats what are the pros and cons of stainless or chromes. Anyone got a strong feeling one way or the other?

[Jus Lukin]

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Edited February 16, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[Looper]

Thanks andyjingram. Was looking at Ernie Ball flats and it says "Flat chrome plated steel wire wrapped around a hex shaped tin plated steel wire. Provides a smooth feel and mellow sound." My other choice from the place I'd normally get strings is the DR Fl-45 flats which are stainless.
Might look elsewhere if need be, can't say I know anything about flats so if anyone has a recommendation....

[Beer of the Bass]

Stainless steel is just a steel alloy with Chromium in it, so "Chromes" and stainless steel strings are likely to be pretty much the same material. The Ernie Ball flats are nice strings, very similar to D'Addario Chromes, which are at the brighter end of flatwounds.

[iiipopes]

Fender steel flats (they're grey colour, not shiny chrome) 9050CL 45-60-80-105 converted me a couple of years ago from rounds, which I played for thirty-five years before that, to flats. They growl (in an almost subdued Rotosound Swingbass kind of way) when you want them to, are mellow when you need them to be, are absolutely consistent both string-to-string and up the neck, are value-for-money, and they last seemingly forever. I use them for everything from Friday night to Sunday morning.

Edited September 11, 2012 by iiipopes

[Spodiddley]

Having been a round wound user (Rotosound & Elites mainly) for about 20 yesrs, I recently switched to LaBella Flatwounds. I am converted. They are not as bright as round wounds, the brightness I never really liked so I tended to change my strings less often than most. I also find that I can play licks using flatwounds much quicker and slicker than before, and with no left hand shifting string noise.