It’s 2025, what flats you like best on your Ric bass.

[jps]

It’s weird, I only have the sticky problem with flats, not rounds.

More surface area on flats to stick to.

The weirdest thing is they seem to really hurt my finger joints, when my normal Roto Swing Bass 40-100 or 40-95 don’t, even though the tension is higher. I love how they record, but I struggle to play them comfortably for an entire set.

Maybe you're sub/unconsciously applying too much finger pressure on the flats?

[nixdad]

TI JF344 Flats on all of my Ric basses - 4005V, 4005XC & 4003.

They are the Best investment you can make - killer tone and feel, and they last forever.

[DavyR]

I have "Thomastik-Infeld JF344 Jazz Flatwound Bass Guitar Strings - .043-.100 Long Scale" on my 1971 4000/4001 and they have too low tension, especially the "A" string, for my feel ...

[henry5]

More surface area on flats to stick to.

The weirdest thing is they seem to really hurt my finger joints, when my normal Roto Swing Bass 40-100 or 40-95 don’t, even though the tension is higher. I love how they record, but I struggle to play them comfortably for an entire set.

Maybe you're sub/unconsciously applying too much finger pressure on the flats?

No, it’s not that. I fret very lightly at the best of times. As I mentioned before, there’s a kind of drag on the strings which seems to affect the sideways movement of my finger joints. I’m hypermobile, have somewhat unstable finger joints and suffer with chronic pain so I think it’s a combination of those factors.

[RobW]

Same TI-JF344 since 2009 and they're still going and sounding strong

[BRcarlos]

760FGS Deep Talkin’ Bass Gold Flats – Standard 45-105 just because they look cool on my Mapleglo 87 4003S.

[woodyng]

TI Jazz flats on my Cheyenne. (Also my GL L-1000). They seem to have a small amount of metallic clang.(which I like).
I still have all my used Optima, Labella Lo tension flexflats, Labella White/copper tapewounds and Maxima flats in storage in case I get the urge to try them again, but for now I’m really enjoying the feel, sound, and playability of the JFs.

[mike_d]

I’m currently using La Bella Low tension flexible flats on my 4003s. I like them. I also like TI flats. I currently have them on a Jazz Bass and they feel very smooth.

[8mileshigher]

La Bella Low Tension Flats on my 4003.
These strings last for years.

[kennyhowes]

I recently played a '60s 4005 in a shop that had roundwounds, and it was set up nice, so I thought I'd try a set on mine. Took off the trusty TI set, put on a set of pure nickel rounds, the action went way up, and so the Tis went back on. The ones in the store must have been a lighter gauge. I wasn't committed enough to dial it in.

I have yet to experiment with flats on a 4001 or 4003 of my own, but would like that, to truly get my McCartney on.

[Ratwax]

I put TI Flats on my '24 4005, and I'm very happy with them. After that I reused the shiny, new RIC roundwound strings on my 4003. Zingy!

Cheers,

Andrew