Another damn string question.

[nofi]

i have been using fender flats on my electric because they are cheap, available and sound good. however, they are incredably stiff/high tension. can someone me a more flexible string. (flats). thanks.

[lowend1]

TI (Thomastik-Infeld) flats are generally considered to be the most flexible - but they are hardly cheap.  I keep Fender 9050s on one of my Jazz Basses and don't find them to be objectionably stiff - which set are you using?

[nofi]

7150. 45-100.

[Hörnisse]

I've got 9050SL's on my '57 reissue.  They are not as stiff as the GHS flats I had on there before.  They are .040 to .100 gauge.

[gweimer]

Another TI Flat fan, here.

[Psycho Bass Guy]

A more affordable solution is Ernie Ball Group II or III flatwounds which are actually made from them by D'darrio and are equivalent to Chromes but have shorter silk windings at the ball and headstock. I have Fender flats on my fretless Mexi-Jazz and EB flats on my Epi Les Paul and the difference in tension is HUGE. The EB's are brighter, but not objectionably so.

[rahock]

I like D'Addario Chrome Flats. TI s are way too floppy for me.
Rick

[ramone57]

LaBella Deep Talkin' Flats are not too stiff and not too floppy.  they sound good, too.

[Pilgrim]

LaBella Deep Talkin' Flats are not too stiff and not too floppy.  they sound good, too.

Yes!  Labella Deep Talkin' flats in the light gauge for me, gauges are .043-.104.  I probably have those on 8 basses at present.  They feel good and last nearly forever.

I found that Imperial Guitars in New York have by far the lowest prices....

http://imperialguitar.stores.yahoo.net/strings-bass-la-bella.html

They are $10-$12 less than any other source I nave found.  They even special ordered a couple of sets of the short scale Labellas for me and gave me the price break.

[lowend1]

7150. 45-100.

Aren't the 7150s roundwound?

[rahock]

The only thing that has kept me away from Labella Deep Talkin' Flats is that they really make a point of caution against using on a string thru design, and that means my 51 P Reissue.  As far as brand names I've always been happy with it's D'Addario, Labella and Ernie Ball.
Hey Tom, another thing to think about before going too low tension , is how you set your action. I know you go a little on the high side  as a result of playing a lot of ABG. If you keep your electric pretty high too , like I do , a set of TIs is probably going to feel like rubber bands to you . They are a fine string for a low action/light touch player, but if you have an aggressive right hand, like most ABG players , you're  not gonna be too comfy with TI.
Rick

[nofi]

i tried ti's during the old pit days. they were too floppy and too expensive, a felt a bit tacky to boot.

the fender 7150's are flats. the cheap twenty dollar set.

[lowend1]

i tried ti's during the old pit days. they were too floppy and too expensive, a felt a bit tacky to boot.

the fender 7150's are flats. the cheap twenty dollar set.

That's weird...
http://www.fender.com/series/fender/7150-pure-nickel-bass-strings/

[Dave W]

The Fender stainless flats are the 9050 series.

Best bet is to go to a lighter gauge of a reasonably priced string. Ernie Ball Flatwound Group IV (40-95), GHS Precision Flats in the 45-95 set, or LaBella DTB Extra Lights 760FX (39-96).

[Hörnisse]

I'm in the process of switching my '57 reissue to TI Flats.  If you want the 9050SL strings just PM me your address and I'll get them in the mail to you.  They are cut for a Fender and have plenty of wrap.  Hardly any use at all.  Maybe 30 minutes of play time on them.