Corvine Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 Hello. I was wondering, in people's experience, what are the brightest sounding flatwounds? I prefer the zing of roundwound strings, but I also like to slide about a lot, and love the feel of playing on flats. I have tried groundwound/halfwounds as a compromise, but still much prefer the smoothness of sliding about on flats. Can anyone recomend a flatwound that has a nice bright sound, preferably one that keeps it sound for the longest time? (new set of strings aint cheap!) Also someone suggested string cleaner to maintain the new-string sound. I have been using fast-fret. Anyone have an experience/advice with this or other products? (Need the strings in a long scale length set of 5 btw) Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 I haven't tried them all obviously, but I found D'Addario Chromes to be very bright for flats. Too bright for me, in fact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franzbassist Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1371674457' post='2116925'] I haven't tried them all obviously, but I found D'Addario Chromes to be very bright for flats. Too bright for me, in fact. [/quote] +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 A fresh set of Chromes would do the job. I've heard that Rotosounds also fill the "bright flatwound" niche, but haven't tried them. Nylon tapewounds might also be worth a look, as my D'Addario tapes may even be a little brighter than Chromes once both are played in (although as a caveat, I didn't like the B string on the tapes, though others have had different results). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 Chromes are bright. As are GHS Brite Flats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 GHS Brite Flats are ground wound, but are very smooth - as are the Status half-rounds I have on my fretless (which are even smoother). I don't know which half-rounds you tried before, but these two are much flatter and smoother than the D'Addario ones for example. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1964 Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 I love Chromes. Bright for flats, but still with a bit more warmth and depth than rounds. They do have a bit more tension than a lot of stings (noticeably more than the Ernie Ball Slinkys I use for rounds). But they're excellent strings IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.I. Joe Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 Fender Stainless Steel Flatwounds are very bright for flats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highfox Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 [quote name='D.I. Joe' timestamp='1371682307' post='2117061'] Fender Stainless Steel Flatwounds are very bright for flats. [/quote] +1 to that and pretty cheap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBassBob Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 I like Chromes. They have a nice presence to them and they aren't totally thumpy when broken in. I guess you could liken them to some dirty, old nickel-rounds except with far less string/finger noise and more warmth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raggy Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Another vote for Chromes here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voxpop Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 [quote name='Raggy' timestamp='1371717540' post='2117208'] Another vote for Chromes here. [/quote] And me.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 From personal use, Chromes, but having watched a few flats-comparisons on youtube, agree with the Fender recommendations. In fact I thought they sounded twangier than the Chromes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corvine Posted June 20, 2013 Author Share Posted June 20, 2013 Cool, thanks. Anyone got an idea which chromes keep their sound longest? And where's a good place to buy online? I've been looking on strings direct, but they don't seem to have all the types of strings that I hear people mention. I need 5string long scale length which makes it a little more difficult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corvine Posted June 20, 2013 Author Share Posted June 20, 2013 [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1371724430' post='2117326'] From personal use, Chromes, but having watched a few flats-comparisons on youtube, agree with the Fender recommendations. In fact I thought they sounded twangier than the Chromes. [/quote] Can't seem to find the Fenders in a 5 string set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawrenceH Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 [quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1371675208' post='2116937'] A fresh set of Chromes would do the job. I've heard that Rotosounds also fill the "bright flatwound" niche, but haven't tried them. Nylon tapewounds might also be worth a look, as my D'Addario tapes may even be a little brighter than Chromes once both are played in (although as a caveat, I didn't like the B string on the tapes, though others have had different results). [/quote] Can you remind me which tapewounds you use? I'm wondering about replacing the 4-year-old DRs on that ash jazz, and remember yours sounded rather good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 (edited) [quote name='LawrenceH' timestamp='1371728539' post='2117398'] Can you remind me which tapewounds you use? I'm wondering about replacing the 4-year-old DRs on that ash jazz, and remember yours sounded rather good. [/quote] Mine are the D'Addario ETB92-5 set. They're .050 to .105 gauge (ignoring the B string). I put them on in September and the sound hasn't really changed much in 9 months. This is unusual for me as a set of Chromes has usually lost its brightness after 6 weeks when I've used them (they must not agree with my sweat!). Edited June 20, 2013 by Beer of the Bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iiipopes Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Yes, Chromes start bright, in a "ping" sort of way. But then they quickly thud out. For longetivity, and some good growl, Fender 9050CL 45-60-80-105 have been the flats that changed me from a rounds player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corvine Posted June 20, 2013 Author Share Posted June 20, 2013 (edited) [quote name='iiipopes' timestamp='1371736752' post='2117539'] Yes, Chromes start bright, in a "ping" sort of way. But then they quickly thud out. For longetivity, and some good growl, Fender 9050CL 45-60-80-105 have been the flats that changed me from a rounds player. [/quote] Any idea if anywhere sells these as a 5 string set (in uk)? Edited June 20, 2013 by Corvine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassicinstinct Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 [quote name='simon1964' timestamp='1371677753' post='2116978'] I love Chromes. Bright for flats, but still with a bit more warmth and depth than rounds. They do have a bit more tension than a lot of stings (noticeably more than the Ernie Ball Slinkys I use for rounds). But they're excellent strings IMO. [/quote] +1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntLockyer Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 I used google and got Chromes - http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/p/912327/daddario-ecb81-5-flatwound-chromes-45-130-5-string/ Fender - http://www.richtonemusic.co.uk/products/fender_9050_bass_strings_stainless_steel_flatwound_9050-5l_040-_125_set_of_5.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immo Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 Hi, I dare to bump the topic. What would you say about GHS Pressure Wounds? I need flatwound strings with a quite bright sound but with a little less tension than Chromes. A long lifespan would be nice either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 [quote name='Immo' timestamp='1381678290' post='2242168'] Hi, I dare to bump the topic. What would you say about GHS Pressure Wounds? I need flatwound strings with a quite bright sound but with a little less tension than Chromes. A long lifespan would be nice either. [/quote] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GcQJyHGbeY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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