Do I dare try flats? Guidance needed.

[Schnozzalee]

...But they're the absolute opposite of 'Zing'

[fleabag]

SIT Silencers are quite magical. I've used them on Fretted & Fretless both

They dont sound much like the dull ' dompf ' of a regular old school flat. Quite punchy in fact but they're amazingly easy under the fingers

http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/SIT_strings.html

[Painy]

[quote name='fleabag' timestamp='1471818831' post='3116188']
SIT Silencers are quite magical. I've used them on Fretted & Fretless both

They dont sound much like the dull ' dompf ' of a regular old school flat. Quite punchy in fact but they're amazingly easy under the fingers

http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/SIT_strings.html
[/quote]

They look interesting. Good price too.
I've not come across SIT strings before. Are they some kind of Bass Direct exclusive or house brand?

[fleabag]

No they're not, as far as i know. I do believe that Alan of ACG used to fit them to his basses at one point.

[kodiakblair]

I've a set of Sadowsky Blue label that may be roundwound but they're incredibly smooth.

Still in the packet I'm afraid but maybe someone can comment on their tone?

[krispn]

I've used a few brands but the TI Jazz flats are personal favourites and I've a set of GHS 'Lakland' branded flats on my 5 string which are also a nice string. Find some on here in the for sale section to reduce the financial impact especially for some of the big named brands such as TI and LaBella.


As others have said they will not sound like rounds but the feel can be quite seductive and if you get tuned into the tones there's nothing better. I got some free NYXL rounds recently from a D'Addario event but I'm sticking the flats back on for this weekends gig as I've been missing them

[Painy]

Just been looking at these SIT Silencers and it seems they're actually pressure wound rather than true flats which sounds like it could be a good compromise for me. Found a YouTube video demoing the GHS pressure wounds and they sounded really nice but I've no idea how representative they'd be of pressure wounds generally.
Any thoughts or input from anyone on pressure wound strings as an option?

Edited August 22, 2016 by Painy

[acidbass]

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1471763769' post='3115567']
I went through Rotosound (too tight), Thomastik (too loose) and D'addario (too tight) before setting on La Bellas. I've also played basses with Fenders on and they were pretty good. I think there is a lot of variation in tension and for me it was the La Bellas that nailed it.
You just need to find the ones that suit you. See if you can pick a second hand set up in the marketplace or take a punt on some Fenders.
[/quote]

Ageee exactly re: your tension findings, I went through exactly the same strings before settling on 760FL LaBellas.

[Highfox]

[quote name='Painy' timestamp='1471867975' post='3116482']
Just been looking at these SIT Silencers and it seems they're actually pressure wound rather than true flats which sounds like it could be a good compromise for me. Found a YouTube video demoing the GHS pressure wounds and they sounded really nice but I've no idea how representative they'd be of pressure wounds generally.
Any thoughts or input from anyone on pressure wound strings as an option?
[/quote]

I tried the GHS pressure wounds thinking along those same lines and found them to be in neither camp, nothing like good rounds or good flats. Didn't like.
I tried them on both fretted and fretless.

[drTStingray]

[quote name='TommyK' timestamp='1471762167' post='3115556']
Cobalts are much brighter like worn in rounds, also much higher tension. Like it shocked me how high!
[/quote]

Crikey what bass and what gauge of EB Cobalts did you use? I've got a set on my Stingray fretless and tension wise they're almost identical to the standard TIs on my Stingray Classic.

OP EB Cobalts would be a good flatwound to try. Can be quite bright, but also thumpy and very nice tone, and nice and smooth to the hands.

Edited August 22, 2016 by drTStingray

[bassbiscuits]

Flats are cool, but it took me a while to warm to them. Now they give me the best sound ever on a precision bass.

I've always used stainless steel rounds but used some Rotosound flats a few years ago which were ok but a bit uninspiring. I swapped back to rounds and my bass came to life again!

But lately I've been using a set of Labella Deep Talkin Bass flats I got secondhand on Basschat, and they're perfect for a fat precision bass sound.

Not half as dead and thuddy as you might fear - just full and fat and smooth, but with good attack and bite with a pick, without sounding thin. Best strings Ive ever used.

Edited August 26, 2016 by bassbiscuits

[Painy]

Right.
So after looking into the SIT Silencers (pressure wound nickels) as recommended by fleabag , I decided to give them a try. Really glad I did because they've answered 2 questions for me.
First of all, the E string was dead straight out of the packet. Now it's not put me off as its one of those things that I've had happen on the odd rare occasion with pretty much every brand I've used so far and it actually proved handy in a way this time. The dead string actually just sounded like a flatwound and it's shown me that it's probably not the sound I'm looking for after all - I really do miss the overtones too much I'm afraid.
Secondly, The good news though is the rest of the strings sounded amazing and in fact I think these could be the strings for me. They feel great on the fingers and I'm actually really liking the slight increase in tension (just a quarter turn of the trussrod needed). They do have the metallic zing of rounds but it's a clear, rich zing rather than the harsher, piercing zing I was getting from the prosteels (if that makes any sense).
As for the dead string I've got to hand it to Bass Direct for their customer service. I phoned to say I'd had a dead string. Mark then contacted the UK distributor for me who have sent out a full replacement set straight away and free of charge - can't really argue with that for service.

Edited August 26, 2016 by Painy

[LayDownThaFunk]

Flats and rounds of the same gauge by the same manufacturer are pretty similar tension wise. It's the construction of the flatwound which gives it less flexibility hence this idea about flats having more tension.

[Painy]

[quote name='LayDownThaFunk' timestamp='1472295626' post='3120116']
Flats and rounds of the same gauge by the same manufacturer are pretty similar tension wise. It's the construction of the flatwound which gives it less flexibility hence this idea about flats having more tension.
[/quote]

To be fair I use the term tension only because - if you can't beat them, join them.
If you prefer, then I'm liking the slight reduction in compliance / the increased stiffness .

[ahpook]

Flats ? Never worn heels myself, always flats.