Muzz Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Sooo, what with the family Xmas paid for and a Stateside holiday just booked, any GAS over about fifty quid has had to be curtailed, so obviously the next best thing is to faff about with strings I've never really got on with flats, but after reading some good things about Chromes, and finding some cheap in, of all places, a local secondhand shop (the strings weren't second hand), I went for a set, and put them on my Fenderbird. Quite the revelation - plenty of sustain, enough brightness for me, I like their relatively high tension, and although their tone played at home is obviously duller than the DR nickel rounds, in a rehearsal I was very impressed by the heft and solid punch they can deliver, played pick or fingers, especially with the rockier stuff. Bear in mind I'm using a Streamliner with a 2x15, so I like valvey old-school sounds. I'm sticking with the rounds on my Dingwall, but in future I'll have a flats option available, definitely with the Chromes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 I agree - I love them Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 I`ve just bought a set, and am looking forward to using them with my band on Tues. I`ve had them before, but for some reason never put them on my gigging bass, so never used them with my band. Am impressed so far though, as I went for the heaviest gauge I could get, whereas before I think the ones I had were lighter gauge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Fairly recent convert here. Love them on my 58 bitza p bass. They are also a brilliant company to deal with, their customer service being really first rate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Ive got a set, i put them on a bass every now and then and love how they feel. I do think they are closer to a dead round wound than the traditional Flats tone but i like that. I do look on them as a sort of halfway house, still got the music in them but nice and smooth to play. I do tend to go back too rounds after a few weeks/months though, i miss the overtones etc, When i feel in a flats mood i either put the Chromes on or a set of TI's that i also keep handy. This saves me money as in the past i'd take them off and sell them, only to return to them the following year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Fender 9050CLs are good too (imho obviously) and around £20. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pobrien_ie Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Yeah I'm sold on them as well - converted about 6/7 months ago. You can get them for pretty cheap from the US too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Well I used them with the band last night, and am 50/50. I like the thud of them, but, having used rounds for soooooo long, these strings seem to be lacking the highs and harmonics that I`m used to. They fit wonderfully in the mix with my band, providing a solid low end, although with the other band I`m not sure they would be right - so a good excuse to keep my CIJ Precision, and have that strung with rounds. That said, I will of course try the chromes with the other band - never know, they may be exactly right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Exacly my thoughts. Good for a while but i soon get tired of them (or miss rounds). I do like using chromes for recording though. Other than easier to play i dont sound quite as messy as i do live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 Yeah, I doubt I'd use them exclusively across both bands and all songs, but they're good to have as an alternative, and I was surprised I liked them at all, to be honest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 For me that "halfway house" sound from Chromes lasts for about two months, then they get closer to a traditional flatwound sound. Soaking them in alcohol brings the brighter sound back for a while. I don't know if they're like this for everyone, or if it's some quirk of my skin chemistry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted January 16, 2013 Share Posted January 16, 2013 (edited) Well decision made, like Tescos burgers, they`re off! Played my CIJ Precision today, which is strung with old Roto Rounds, and it was like coming home from a holiday - comfort, knowing where you are with things, relaxing etc. I may well have got to like the Chromes more as I used them more, but after playing the Rotos I knew I would never like the Chromes as much. So the experiment is over, I`m a confirmed Rotosound Roundwound type of guy (fairly sure I knew it all along). Edited January 16, 2013 by Lozz196 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.