With 19mm string spacing at the bridge, nothing about this bass is an effort, and playing your favourite licks is a joy. The highly polished stainless steel wrap gives the string a slick feel that plays fast, and makes for silent position shifting on the neck. Rather than rate the strings and impose my preferences on the reader, I’ll do my best to describe the essential characteristics of each set objectively. String tension is considerably lower than on its Deep Talkin’ Bass flats, but not quite as low as Thomastik. I found a high quality Fender: I would say that the sound is more consistent with a floor that fits well, g…, Hi everyone, so I use from time to time NickelPlated Steel String Fender Super Bass 7250 Roundwound (45-100). La Bella also makes strings with an extended silk wrap from the ball end, specifically designed for stringing through the body, as well as short-scale sets for the Höfner Beatle bass. GHS Precision Flats are available in short-, medium-, and long-scale sets, as well as light or medium gauges for 4-or 5-string bass. They start out remarkably bright, which may turn off those not willing to go through the break-in period. By D’Addario EXL160 Bass Guitar Strings. So no product and o…, Well, again, I'm not bassist and has no experience of this instrumentalist regarding the strings. While flats are generally described as sounding darker and warmer than roundwounds, there is still a considerable range of variation between brands, and knowing these differences will help you spend your money wisely, as flats tend to cost a bit more than your average roundwound set. While their attack is relatively mellow, a strong midrange voice keeps the Jazz Flats from fading into the background, and gives pickstyle playing a pleasing roundness. La Bella’s response to the new breed trend is a great hybrid between old and new tone concepts. All the same with above! While they allowed further development of the electric bass, Leo knew these 'Franken-strings' would not suffice in the long run. Fender 9050 Stainless Flatwound Bass Strings, Fender 7250 Nickel-Plated Steel Roundwound Bass Strings. Fender's extensive selection of bass guitar strings consists of a myriad of highly recommended options, including the Fender 9050L Stainless Steel Flatwound Long Scale bass strings. The string tension is well-balanced across the set, falling on the lighter side of medium, but they exhibit none of the roll-under-the-fingers that some lighter-tension strings have. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, La Bellas are definitely on the stiffer end of the spectrum, although lighter-gauge sets can mitigate that issue. This characteristic is partially a result of the fairly thick core and the amount of wrap needed for a .105" (or thicker) string. Their extended frequency response pushed technological development from one end of the signal chain to the other, also inspiring new musical approaches like slapping and harmonics. After all, it is the coiled metal wire with another flat metal, not rocket science. The outer wrap is less polished than on Chromes, but if you dig a more 'organic' feel, they may be just what you’re looking for. At this time, 5-string sets are available, but no offerings yet in shorter scale lengths. While it took DR Strings several years to get around to offering a set of flats, the company took the time to get it right. If you listen to older recordings done with flatwounds, you can often hear intonation issues on the E string, but for those seeking the ultimate in old-school tone, it is simply part of the charm. They are highly polished, giving them a silky feel under the hand. Licks” Slutsky’s great book/audio package Standing in the Shadows of Motown brought the work of flatwound-strung Motown session bassist James Jamerson to light, and a new generation of players discovered what it was like when the world was flat. All rights reserved. Truly the MacGyver of his era, Fender took gut upright bass strings and covered the portion that ran over the magnetic pickup with a steel wrap. © As it turned out, the Eastwood’s tailpiece/floating bridge design added several inches of non-vibrating string length behind the bridge, making the standard long scale set the proper choice. I look forward to reviewing the other Player Series basses in the near future. One issue that I’ve experienced multiple times with Ernie Ball flats is string slippage around the tuner post, particularly on the G string. The Legends are definitively old-school in character, but they manage to strike the perfect balance between clunk and intonation on the E string. The E string exhibits just enough clunk factor to make them great for old-school applications, but their improved sustain and intonation place them high among the new breed of flats. Sign up below to get the latest from Bass Player, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! With a highly polished wrap for silent position shifting, Street price: $45 | String gauges: .042, .056, .075, .100. Have not tried other brands, I must say that it is more the price that attracted me. Sustain is considerably improved over old-school sets, making TIs an excellent choice for fretless players looking for a more upright bass-like tone. Get these if you're after long-lasting brightness, Street price: $25 | String gauges: .045, .065, .085, .100. Although the British company is best known for inventing the roundwound electric bass string, its flatwound sets have always had a loyal following, including Phil Lynott, Roger Waters, and the company’s signature artist, Iron Maiden’s Steve Harris. Great intonation and punchy attack - perfect for old-school tones, Street: $30 | String gauges: .040, .060, .080, .100. La Bella Ltf-4a Low Tension Flexible Flats, La Bella Ltf-4a Low Tension Flexible Flats, We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices. Pyramid Golds use a pure nickel flat ribbon for the outer wraps, and have a supple feel and richness of tone that some have described as 'luxurious'. They can lean toward the stiff side, particularly sets with a .050" G string, but the lighter-gauge sets are more pliable. I just tried the D'Addario and the Fender. BA1 1UA. Recommended For: All Levels. Best Bass Guitar Strings Review. There were electric guitar strings, and gut upright bass strings, but the new instrument needed a hybrid of the two. Sold as part of its Deep Talkin’ Bass series, La Bella now makes flatwounds in gauges ranging from extra-light (.039"–.096") to the stout set that Jamerson used (.052" through .110".). On my 30"-scale Eastwood Classic IV, a short-scale set of Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats proved to be too short - the silk at the tuning end extended onto the fingerboard. Fender American Ultra Jazz Bass Review | Premier Guitar Subscribe The objective being to play the bass guitar …, I use these strings for 6 months now, this is a revelation! There was a problem. Being imported, the price is higher than others, but longevity is good - I have multiple basses strung with sets well over five years old. When choosing a flatwound set, first consider your tone goal - do you want thump, or growl? If you want to 'flatten' a shorty, make sure you know the scale length, the total string length required, and the distance from 'silk-to-silk' on the string itself. La Bella flatwounds are the epitome of old-school tone, and rightfully so - the Original 1954 Vintage set was the go-to string for top session players like Jamerson, Chuck Rainey, Jerry Jemmott, Duck Dunn, and a host of others. A low-stress setup can permit the string and instrument to vibrate more freely, decreasing choked overtones that can cloud the note. Followed by the success of the new Marcus Miller signature set, it seems the folks at Dunlop have now set their sights on flatter pastures. Jazz Flats are wound around a supple core that creates a low-tension feel, a less-choked response, and better intonation than their stiffer competition. Roto flats have a pronounced high end, which gives them great clarity for high-volume rock, without the clankiness that roundwounds can produce. In the 1970s, use of flatwound strings began to dwindle as the crisp bite and increased sustain of roundwounds became the new standard for bass tone. But during the formative decade prior, the electric bass was equipped with what we now call flatwound strings - a flat ribbon of steel wound over a steel core, which works best with magnetic electric-bass pickups. As the strings settle in, the high frequencies dull and leave behind a warm thump that is both pleasing and highly functional. If you’re looking for dirty thump, they may not be your best choice, but what they do provide is a strong fundamental with sparkling high end that seemingly never fades. As flatwounds are often used to capture the classic tone of yesteryear, they are also popular with players of short-and medium-scale basses. Pickstyle is crisp, but not overly clicky, and the feel is taut, but not stiff. In some cases, it can affect intonation on the lowest notes, giving the E string a drastically different tone compared to the rest of the set.