Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Ken Smith Compressors are not flatwounds. They're roundwounds with the outer winding slightly compressed. Nice strings but they definitely don't sound anything like flatwounds.

Flatwound means the winding is a flat ribbon.

Playing in a Beatles trib band I have gone thru MANY sets of flatwounds over the years(we've been together 14 years).
I prefer Rotosound flats, but Chromes are also nice, as are Pyramids but they are kinda pricey and the treble is somewhat subdued, and they're not as smooth as Rotos or Chromes.
GHS Precision Flatwounds(NOT Brite Flats)are also good.
I hate Fender flats, and didn't care for TIs either(too mellow).
I've tried the "compressed" string by a few different makers and they just don't sound/feel/act like flats. They're too bright and have too much sustain(compared to flats).

I am lucky to live right around the corner(literally)from The Bass Emporium which has a great selection of strings.

I use Chromes on my 71 4001. Gagues 40,55,75,100. I love them. Very smooth, playable, and clear sounding but still thumpy.

While I use Chromes on my V63, I also use DR Nickel Lo-Riders on my 4003. So I also have two very distinct sounds with my Ricks.

The 4001SLH I use in the Beatles tribute band has Rotosound flats.
The 4003LH I use in the Rutles tribute band has Rotosound flats.
The 4001CSLH I use in my original-music band has Rotosound rounds.

Thanks for the responses, very informative. I decided to try the Chromes 45-100 because they were available locally and priced right for experimentation. I didn't notice the word nickel on the box, I don't know why but I expected to. I am concerned about fret wear so the next set will have a nickel wrap. I currently use DR pure nickels on my six strings, so I may try the Low Riders next. What I need are a few more basses so I can do a string comparision all at once. Again thanks for all the replies.

It is always interesting to compare notes when it comes to strings. There appear to be two main nickel flatwound string makes out there, Pyramid and Thomastik Infelds.

I have found the best sound for my liking is to be had from the Pyramid Flats on my 4003. They are rougher than the Thomastik Infelds. While the TI's are smoother, they are less bright over all. I have never tried Rotosound flats.

The stainless makes are silky smooth and sound quit nice but are reputed to be hard on the frets. My question is, how much harder on the frets can these very smooth stainless flatwounds be than the somewhat rougher texture of the Pyramid Flats. Does anyone know?

I just re-strung my new 4003 with Pyramid flats. Love 'em.

Does anyone here use flats on their 5 string - preferably an S5. If so, I'd like to hear your thoughts on sound, responsiveness, etc and of course what brand.

thanks!

The Chromes aren't hard on the frets at all. Neither are the Rotos, or GHS flats. All of which I've used on my basses. I still use the Chromes on my Jazz Bass with wonderful results. The previous owner of that bass really wore down the frets. Probably with stainless steel rounds, which can be hard on the frets. As for rounds, any DR nickel plated bass strings, and SIT Silencers are easy on the frets I've found. I've never worried about stainless steel flats causing premature fret wear at all. Never had any reason to.

I have used GHS (the Precision Flatwounds), Fender and LaBella stainless flats for years, and I haven't seen any fretwear from using them. Chromes and Roto flats won't wear your frets either, but they aren't stainless.

I bought one set of Pyramids and won't again. The tone was very nice but no better than other brands costing less than 1/2 as much, and they lost intonation in 6 months, which is not acceptable to me in a flatwound.

Dave how do the Labella flats compare to Pyramids? I like them but don't like the price and they do seem to wear quickly. The flat windings separate at the bridge after a while.

Good point Dave, the D'Addario Chromes have a chrome-plated steel outer wrap.

Bob: A guy by the name of Joe Osborne used LaBella strings at one point.

Thanks to all for information on the steel flatwounds and fret wear. I may try some LaBella Flats at some point.

Peter: Joe Osborn now has his own Lakland signature strings, they're available direct through Lakland's webstore. I know GHS makes these for Lakland but I don't know how (or if) they differ from the GHS Precision Flatwounds.

Bob: Just depends on which LaBella. Their 760M, the so-called Jamerson set, is 052-110 and is very high tension from all reports so it must have large core wires. The "regular" line is what I know: The 760FM (049-109) and 760FL (043-104). These are lower tension than average for their size. When I bought my latest 4003, I put on a set of the 049-109s and the relief decreased from the stock RIC rounds. Tonewise these are rich, deep, lots of thump but not as bright as Pyramids, Chromes or Rotos.