Finally flatwounds

gothbin · Post by **gothbin** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 8:49 am

Last weekend I made the step, and bought a set of dadario's flatwound chromes for my 2004 4003. It is like being back in the late 60's and early 70's. I like the sound very much, specially through the sansamp bassamp driver. Are there many out there playing flatwounds, and even use their damper? Just curious.....

shinynewtoy · Post by **shinynewtoy** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 9:13 am

No damper... but I love those Chromes and there are way more than just vintage sounds in those strings!

Wait a month until they settle in... you'll really love them!

cornishmusic · Post by **cornishmusic** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 9:53 am

Rotosound flats 40/60/80/100
on my 4003 - best bass sound I've had in all the years I've been playing.

zoomduck · Post by **zoomduck** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 10:21 am

I have LaBella "Jamerson" flats on my 64 P Bass . Chromes on my Jay Turser JTB ( with a RIC HB at the neck ). Chromes on my 77 4001 . I palm mute the Jay and Ric and have foam on the P . Love those flats !!

lars · Post by **lars** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 11:25 am

Chromes on almost all of my basses!

bob_atherton · Post by **bob_atherton** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 12:41 pm

Chromes on my Jazz Bass, (45-100) love them.

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 1:27 pm

Chromes...super soft.

westtexasrickenbacker · Mon Sep 18, 2006 1:44 pm

Great input on flatwound strings. I keep contemplating on making the switch. You all have just given added motivation!!

loendmaestro · Post by **loendmaestro** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 1:58 pm

Not to be the naysayer, but I just yanked my first set of flats off of my 4003. In my opinion they were just dull...I need the clank!

Your mileage may vary though.

fran4001 · Post by **fran4001** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 2:10 pm

Let's see:
New old stock Maximas on my '78 4001
Maximas on the Hofner Cavern
Maximas on the Hofner V62
Pyramids on the Dano Longhorn
TIs on the '60 Precision
Original Fender flats on the '76 Precision
Lakland Joe Osborn Flats on the '62 Jazz RI
Roto RS 77s on the '57 Precision RI
Rounds on the other 11! I guess I like flats huh?
Strangely, I don't have Chromes on anything at the moment. And you guys all love them, so I better try them again!

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 2:38 pm

Fran - do I interpret your writing correctly? The '76 Precision has 30 year old Fender flats on it?

I have Chromes on my 4004Ci and love the tone I get. I had them on the 4003 but once I got the 4004Ci, I put rounds back on so I have the contrast of the two.

green_us90 · Post by **green_us90** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 3:55 pm

"Fran - do I interpret your writing correctly? The '76 Precision has 30 year old Fender flats on it?"

Well I can't speak for Fran, but I can tell you I know of basses that have had the same flats on them since the early 70's- the older, the better with flats.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 4:04 pm

Chromes on my 4005WB here, i'll probably try TI's when I get my 4003/4001 back from Dale.

Dave, "better" is subjective - perhaps the older they are, the more mellow the tone? I know some here that use flats but still go for a fairly bright tone.

green_us90 · Post by **green_us90** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 4:27 pm

Yeah, that's what I infered, the older, the more mellow.

Though, My 3 sets of TI Flats still sound very zingey, and one set has been on board my '51 RI Precision for a few years now.

fran4001 · Post by **fran4001** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 4:45 pm

John, the flats on the '76 were the ones issued with it new. I got the bass off the original owner who said they were on there for several years. He replaced them with a set of Fender rounds in the early 80s. Then put the flats back on and stored it for 20 years. These are the flats with green silk on both ends. He also gave me a new set of 70s flats, and the packaging the rounds came in! Very low miles on the frets and strings. No bumps or wear on either. With the never-removed foam mute under the bridge cover, the bass really thumps. To complete the package, original case, hang tags, polish cloth, gray cord, Fender strap and a handful of Fender medium tortoise picks.