Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I don't usually use flats at all, but recently I had a very good experience with Status "Hot Wire" Half-Wounds. They feel just as smooth and slinky as any flats but definitely have some of the growl and character more associated with roundwounds. AFAIK they're only available direct from Status themselves. They're by no means expensive, either. Find out more at their website:

http://www.status-graphite.com/

I forgot about Status flats! I had them on my Steinberger and liked them; I'd be willing to give them another try some day.

Ordering them to the US was painless, too.

Hard to pick a favorite, but I'd have to go with B flat...though E flat comes in a very close second.

Bighouse wrote:Hard to pick a favorite, but I'd have to go with B flat...though E flat comes in a very close second.

I tend to do a lot more things in E♭.

I personally like E♭ minor...

Favorite flats?

I had a nice 3-bedroom in Logan Square when I was in my early 20s.

Back when dinosaurs ruled the earth.

jingle_jangle wrote:Favorite flats?

I had a nice 3-bedroom in Logan Square when I was in my early 20s.

Back when dinosaurs ruled the earth.

HAHAHHA- and I thought I took it to a different place! Good one Paul!

Bighouse wrote:

jingle_jangle wrote:Favorite flats?

I had a nice 3-bedroom in Logan Square when I was in my early 20s.

Back when dinosaurs ruled the earth.

HAHAHHA- and I thought I took it to a different place! Good one Paul!

Different place, huh? I've always thought these flats were pretty interesting:

I did some more research and found that a 45-60-80-105 set of D'A Chromes would have an incredibly low tension RSD of 4%... Lower than TIs which I thought were the lowest at 8%. This means the aforementioned D'A set would be extremely well-balanced and even-toned.

I've had 40-95 Chromes on my 73 FL for about 3 years now, and they still sound great. I then played Tony's C's/JDog's FL and that had TI's and they sounded awesome to me. I liked the feel too, and as a result will be changing over to them shortly.

cassius987 wrote:I did some more research and found that a 45-60-80-105 set of D'A Chromes would have an incredibly low tension RSD of 4%... Lower than TIs which I thought were the lowest at 8%. This means the aforementioned D'A set would be extremely well-balanced and even-toned.

Could you explain what RSD means? I've tried Chromes before (105-50) and not used them because of the high tension. I see you are mixing a set of Chromes to get less tension but I still don't see how they have less tension than TI's. I looked at the tensions on Juststrings......I use GHS flats right now (45-105). Love the tone but they are starting to sound very dead. I feel like they may be getting lost in the mix sometimes. Looking for an in between. Considering old dead rounds. TI's seem to lack balls for the lack of a better word. Your mixed Chromes could be nice but I don't want hi tension.......Or maybe I just need a second Ric with rounds.

Not less tension.. Better balance from string to string.

RSD=relative standard deviation.

cassius987 wrote:Not less tension.. Better balance from string to string.

RSD=relative standard deviation.

Ohhhh..... How's the tension feel on the custom set? A lot less than 50-105 set?

My custom 40-55-75-95 Chromes set is very even in tension and feel, sound great and last a long time. The tension is similar to TI JFs and are smoother that JFs but they are different enough that one should try both and decide which is best for them. I have both on various basses, but since no two are alike, I can't make a valid comparison between them, except to say I am extremely happy with both sets.

'67 4005WB - TIs
'98 4001V63 - Chromes
'08 4003 - TIs
'86 Yamaha BX-1 - Chromes

jmceachern36 wrote:

cassius987 wrote:Not less tension.. Better balance from string to string.

RSD=relative standard deviation.

Ohhhh..... How's the tension feel on the custom set? A lot less than 50-105 set?

A lot less.. Around ten pounds less for the set average.