Electric Bass Doublers -- Try This Set
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 12:24 am
In the summer of 1976 I started playing electric bass. I loved the instrument, but hated the strings. Every set I've tried through the years was either inconsistent in tone, not balanced in tension, or inconsistent in that subjective "feel." Before there were acoustic bass guitars with phosphor bronze bass strings, there was one set with copper plated strings, and I was able to get one set before the company went out of business. So starting a few years ago I would assemble my custom sets as singles became readily available, as on such websites as juststrings.com.
But now -- after 35 years, I finally have a set I can truly say I like: Fender's new 9050CL flats. A couple of years ago I started complaining about what I perceived as quirks in string sets that may have been necessary due to amplifier technology of the day, but was not necessary anymore, and were just getting in the way of playing. A couple of guys got ahold of the ear of the Fender rep about the time they changed their formulation on their flats, going from a more chrome based outer wrap to a more carbon or nickel steel outer wrap of varying dimensions depending on the string. I got a set of the 9050L's, which vary by having a 100 instead of a 105, then through a friend got an advance sample of a new 105 to replace the E string. The gauges of the set are 45-60-80-105, with each string having a different core/wrap ratio, and, for example, the outer ribbon wrap of the E string is narrower than the A string to maintain flexibility, and therefore consistent tone.
Now, grant you, I've tried just about every set of flats out there over the past 35 years, would have them on for about a week, and then go back to rounds and live with the compromises. So with great intrepidation I strung them up. WOW! These strings have it all: tone, feel, consistency, both up the neck (they don't "choke out") and across the fingerboard (they are consistent). They don't thud out. They actually have a bit of a growl to them that is reminescent of a subdued Roto growl. They are as stable as it gets once you get them seated in. They last a long, long time and they are reasonably priced.
No longer do I have to fiddle with a new set of strings. I don't have to get an extra "E" string to replace when it goes dead and thuddy. It doesn't. I don't have to put a small piece of paper under the G string in the saddle notch to keep it from getting twangy. It doesn't. I don't have to turn the tone knob down on the bass for the first couple of sets while they seat in and lose the whang. I don't have to play them for awhile just to get the "feel" of string to string so I don't over or under pick each string. I just play and concentrate on the music. This set of strings has converted a round-wound guy to a flatwound guy. I heartily recommend all the EB guys at least try a set.
But now -- after 35 years, I finally have a set I can truly say I like: Fender's new 9050CL flats. A couple of years ago I started complaining about what I perceived as quirks in string sets that may have been necessary due to amplifier technology of the day, but was not necessary anymore, and were just getting in the way of playing. A couple of guys got ahold of the ear of the Fender rep about the time they changed their formulation on their flats, going from a more chrome based outer wrap to a more carbon or nickel steel outer wrap of varying dimensions depending on the string. I got a set of the 9050L's, which vary by having a 100 instead of a 105, then through a friend got an advance sample of a new 105 to replace the E string. The gauges of the set are 45-60-80-105, with each string having a different core/wrap ratio, and, for example, the outer ribbon wrap of the E string is narrower than the A string to maintain flexibility, and therefore consistent tone.
Now, grant you, I've tried just about every set of flats out there over the past 35 years, would have them on for about a week, and then go back to rounds and live with the compromises. So with great intrepidation I strung them up. WOW! These strings have it all: tone, feel, consistency, both up the neck (they don't "choke out") and across the fingerboard (they are consistent). They don't thud out. They actually have a bit of a growl to them that is reminescent of a subdued Roto growl. They are as stable as it gets once you get them seated in. They last a long, long time and they are reasonably priced.
No longer do I have to fiddle with a new set of strings. I don't have to get an extra "E" string to replace when it goes dead and thuddy. It doesn't. I don't have to put a small piece of paper under the G string in the saddle notch to keep it from getting twangy. It doesn't. I don't have to turn the tone knob down on the bass for the first couple of sets while they seat in and lose the whang. I don't have to play them for awhile just to get the "feel" of string to string so I don't over or under pick each string. I just play and concentrate on the music. This set of strings has converted a round-wound guy to a flatwound guy. I heartily recommend all the EB guys at least try a set.