A flatwound tension question

[Scoot]

I bought a P a bit over a year ago, immediately threw on some LaBella "Jamerson" strings, and totally loved the sound.

 

My problem is that the P is in constant need of truss rod adjustments because of the high-tension of the strings. I was told (not sure where, maybe here) that the Jamerson set was about as high-tension as you can find.

 

LaBella's site isn't as kind as D'Addario's to post tension specs, so does anybody have any insight about this? If the Jamerson's are unusually high-tension, what I'm looking for is lower-tension flats that still has a similar sound.

 

I know a few of you love the Thomastik-Infeld ( are these it? ) flats, but are they lower tension?

 

So to sum 4 paragraphs into one sentence: Any recommendations for flats with lower tension than LaBella's Jamerson set?

 

I thank you for your patience.

[way2fat]

I have a 75 P with Rotosound flats that sound great to me. Don't know how they compare to the Jamersons tension wise but they stay in tune forever and seem to have more "zing" than other flats I've heard.

[Basshappi]

Yes, the TI Jazz flats are very low tension (for flats)but I doubt that you will get the sound that you are looking for as they tend to have a rather bright and defined sound with a long decay.

 

You might try the LaBella "Deep Talkin" flats. I have a set on my fretless and they have a much more traditional sound than the TI's. I don't know how they compare tension-wise to the JJ's.

 

Cheers

[dcr]

I'm in a similar position. I've had flats on my Fender J for a few months, & I like them. I'm actually using an old set of Fender flats I had on hand. I like the tight feeling of them under the fingers, and they have a good tone. Still, the G tends to have a tad more "plink" in it than I might want; and I had to tighten the truss rod a half turn (in addition to the 1/4 turn for the strings I had on before these) to take out the major bow the flats induced.

 

So I'd like a nice, tight flatwound that is not as tough on the neck as these (so, obviously, not the Jamerson set), and also more even & generally of better quality (so perhaps some other sort of La Bella?).

 

Shopping for flats is tough, because it usually means dropping $30+ each time you try something new.

[jeremy c]

Jamerson's bass had very high action and probably needed a truss rod adjustment as well.

 

The Deep Talkin' set are a little lighter than the Jamerson set and so would therefore be lower tension. I've got them on a Precision with no problems. I also used Fender flatwounds for years with no problems.

 

TI strings are definitely low tension...and they are a whole nother animal. It's an acquired taste. Which I haven't acquired yet.

[dcr]

I had TI Jazz Flats on my Ric for a while (I replaced them with steel rounds when I put flats on the Fender; I can't try that set on the Fender, since the G had to be cut too short when I put them on the Ric). I liked them. They sounded really good for playing Duck Dunn lines. But I've gotten used to a tighter feel, & the punchier attack that goes with it.

 

Maybe the Deep Talkin' flats are the way to go. Gotta save those nickels!

[tatudbassman]

I wish I had a heavier neck on my Jazz (wanting to try BEAD). GHS Brite Flats are pretty good, without the price tag of the TI's. I'm not keen on the Thomasticks on electric basses (that's me tho), They have good stuff.

[way2fat]

Your tension will will be less when you try BEAD, tatud. Bruiser-When I went from rounds to Rotosound flats on my P, no adjustment was needed.

[Steve Lawson]

I'm using Bass Centre Elites Flatwounds on both my 6 string Moduluses (Moduli?) - obviously, graphite necks, so no adjustment needed, but still tension-wise nowhere near the Jamerson flats, so you might have more luck with these. No sure where you'd get them in the US though.

 

Steve

www.stevelawson.net

[Mr. Phil]

I'm gonna stick with my Ernie Balls loyalty and tell you try out the Ernie Ball flats. I dont know how the jamersons sound, but these sound kinda thick on my P bass.

 

they're only $20/set.

 

Group IVs

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[Fred TBP]

Been using D'Addario Chromes for years, they're soft-tension and have a nice warm low end but they also have a low output signal, so I don't recommend them on passive basses. I've tried a set of Deep Talkin' and Ernie Ball flats, and I'm debating about which set to get to replace on my Epiphone Viola, which currently has a set of Dean Markley flats.

 

The Jamerson set may be the best sounding of all, but if it's twisting your neck it's time to change sets.

[Subsonicbass]

Link:

 

Thomastik Infeld Jazz Flats Tension Chart

 

[jeremy c]

Fred, thanks for reminding us about D'Addario Chromes. That's a good choice...the string tension shouldn't be significantly different from round wound strings of the same gauge.

[Scoot]

You guys rule.

 

I think I'll go w/ the D'Addario's since I had them on my Warwick years ago for a month and was pleased. The new BP's comments on them are what I'm after too: "Full fundamental with some midrange complexity."

 

Looks like these flats are even less tension than their rounds of similar gauge . . . which means they are WAY lower than the Jamersons . . . which means I see a lot of truss rod loosening in my future.

[dcr]

I was at Midwest the other day & they had several sets of Chromes. Seemed like the price was decent. It's a good place for strings. (And other things, if you've got the dough!)

 

Let us know how you like whatever you go with.

[dcr]

PS--Basshappi, thanks for the PM! You are SO da man!!

 

[Fred TBP]

Originally posted by dcr:

I was at Midwest the other day & they had several sets of Chromes. Seemed like the price was decent. It's a good place for strings. (And other things, if you've got the dough!)

And they last a LONG time! I still have the original set I bought 4-5 years ago. I put it on one of my AEBs (Epiphone El Capitan) after reading that the piezos sense the vibration of the string rather than the magnetic pull.

 

Also available online. <<-click here

 

Still look clean

and they sound nice;

worth a purchase

at twice the price!

[dcr]

So, Scoot, did you try the Chromes? If so, how are they?

[57pbass]

Scoot,

You might want to check out a set of Sadowsky Flats.

 

I have a set of Labella 45 - 105 on my Jazz bass and it sets ups very nice. I did have to tweak the neck when I installed them.

I also have a set of Fender Flats on my Tele Bass and they work out real well.

[musicfiend]

I have the jamerson sets on my wrwick and I know what you are talking about. I lioke them though, becasue before i used d adarrio 45's and i would play had enough that it sounded like butt. Also when i flicked my hipshot down to d it lost a lot of tension. So right now the jamerson's work great for me, they still feel nice and taut when detuning. On a side note, I can fit my pinky between my strins and my neck, if you ask me...that's pretty damn funny.

[Scoot]

Originally posted by dcr:

So, Scoot, did you try the Chromes? If so, how are they?

Yes, I'm in the process of going with the Chromes. Not sure how they are yet since it's still in the shop. 6+ truss rod adjustments take a while to undo ya know.

[theheftyman]

I've had a set of LaBella Deep Talkin' Bass flats on my Carvin B5 fretless for a couple of years and have not had any neck issues.

[wraub]

I put Chromes on my fretless a while back, they are nice. Low tension, good tone, reasonable price.

I agree with Fred, I think they'd work better on an active bass rather than a passive, but they sound so good to me that I'd probably put 'em on a sandwich if I thought that would cover the gig.

 

Peace,

 

wraub

[_Sweet Willie_]

I have Chromes "on deck" to go on my fretless. For some reason, though, that bass hasn't been exiting its case at all of recent. Not sure why my attention has wandered so...

 

Originally posted by wraub:

...but they sound so good to me that I'd probably put 'em on a sandwich if I thought that would cover the gig.

 

Lay 'em straight and use a long hero loaf or coil them on a kaiser roll? Mayo, mustard, relish, or just finger funk?

 

Peace.

--SW

[dcr]

I hope this isn't OT for the thread, but I've been very pleased with Fender flats (on a fretted, passive J). Huge, ballsy output, pretty even & tonally versatile. They seem to have pretty high tension, which is part of their tone & output, I think, but I did take them off my J because I'm wimpy about tightening the truss rod too much. Still, I like them.

[Tom Capasso]

Food? Somebody's talking about food?

 

Yeah - that's what I want. Big sandwich. Hey NYC crew - whadda ya say we open a shop in NYC with "bass scale length" heroes?

 

Sorry - never tried chromes, and the last flats were in 74....

 

Tom

[Fred TBP]

Originally posted by Tom Capasso:

Sorry - never tried chromes, and the last flats were in 74....

Tom

Ahem. That club in Teaneck? My friend "Whitey"?

Those were Chromes he was wearing, good buddy...

of course you didn't get a full plug-in check out, but you did fondle them...

 

(to the rest of ya: I'm talking about my 5-string fretless. Whew, we got some nasty minds round heah!)