Author Topic: Strings-Flats (Read 191 times)

willride3 · « **on:** October 22, 2011, 05:43:28 PM »

I have been curious for a while about flat wound strings on my Essence. I was going to put some LaBella Deep Talkin' flats on my four string, but it would require the nut and saddles to be cut. Has anyone used the flats? I suppose I could have bought thinner flats that would fit, but those Seep Talkin' flats are the sound (well, one of them ) I hear in my head. I use them on a Fender P. Thanks

811952 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 26, 2011, 05:37:15 AM »

Until about two weeks ago I had cheap Fender flats (45-105 I think) on my Series bass. No nut modification necessary. They sounded great. I broke one at a gig though, and the only spare set I had with me were DM Blue Steels, so there it is..

The Fender flats were something like $17 per set, so experimentation is cheap..

John

sparechaynge · « **Reply #2 on:** October 28, 2011, 05:49:17 PM »

I had heard that the LaBella's are really high tension, and would twist the neck, crush the nut and bridge, etc. Has anyone heard of this happening?

mike13 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 28, 2011, 07:03:46 PM »

I tried them on my 92 Essence to compare to the Roto flats and stayed with the Roto's,they did not seem to have high tension

hieronymous · « **Reply #4 on:** October 29, 2011, 09:26:01 PM »

I found the LaBella James Jamerson set to be EXTREMELY high tension - I put them on my Telecaster Bass which has a baseball bat sawn in half neck and I feel like I could see how far they were pulling on the neck! I don't think that the regular LaBella flats are nearly that high-tension, but I only have them on short-scale basses so I can't say for sure.

sparechaynge · « **Reply #5 on:** October 31, 2011, 05:19:02 PM »

The jamerson flats...are they the same as the 54 originals? That was the set I had heard problems about and was considering trying.

hieronymous · « **Reply #6 on:** October 31, 2011, 06:39:02 PM »

Yup - those are the them! They are much bigger than the standard gauge, so you would probably eventually have to have the nut & saddles modified. Have you tried any other flatwounds first? Might be worth experimenting.

willride3 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 01, 2011, 08:35:53 PM »

The set of LaBella Deep Talkin' Bass original 1954 model 0760M I have are 052 - 073 - 095 - 110. They are a stiff set of strings, but they are loaded with old school goodness. Great for blues and vintage soul and R&B. Usually if I sit in somewhere, they have an ability to bring out comments about the tone. I am beginning to believe that they wouldn't be a good fit for me Essence 4. Perhaps a lighter set of some kind of flats is in my future..

sparechaynge · « **Reply #8 on:** November 02, 2011, 12:10:04 PM »

hieronymous
I currently use ernie ball 50-105 flats, but I want a set that has round cores. I prefer pure nickle strings, but nickle/flat/round core seems to be a rare combination, and stainless is almost mellow enough to be ok. I play with a pretty heavy hand, so I have been reluctant to try the Tomastik or pyramid flats because they are pretty thin.

hieronymous · « **Reply #9 on:** November 03, 2011, 01:45:54 PM »

Have you tried DR Legend flatwounds? I haven't but they look like they might be what you are looking for.

sparechaynge · « **Reply #10 on:** November 03, 2011, 04:17:51 PM »

Can't Say that I have, but I am really considering it. my choice was between the EB's and Dr's, and the EB's were on clearance so that's how that went.