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Post subject: flatwound string life expectancy?
Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 11:39 am
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I've been playing quite a bit of bass recently for the first time in a long time. I had to replace the roundwound strings I had with flatwound 'cause I couldn't stand playing the roundwound ones anymore (yeah - I'm a wimp - I usually play the organ with nice flat plastic keys). Anyways, I was wondering how often I'd need to replace the flatwound strings and I heard 'not often' and I heard 'never'. I heard that Joe Osborn used the strings that came with his 1960 Jazz Bass for 30 years or something. So, what is a reasonable length of time until I should think about replacing these strings? Thanx!


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Post subject: Re: flatwound string life expectancy?
Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 12:54 pm
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Here is a thread from a few years ago...

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=81712&hilit=flat+wound+strings

I changed flats after a year or so, and still wish I had not. Now I just let them ride.

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Post subject: Re: flatwound string life expectancy?
Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 5:51 pm
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I'm running on two years on my GHS Precision flats and love the smooth dark chocolate tone.

Fender Flats are also an excellent choice. I am not fond of any other flat. I used to adore Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats, but after they went totally wonky on me out of nowhere, I'll never play them again.

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Post subject: Re: flatwound string life expectancy?
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 11:26 am
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I guess that would be subjugated to individual's tastes and/or any potential laziness involved getting around to changing them. Or is that just me? :P Hey, I'm a lot better than I use to be about changing them. I won't go 5 years, this time. :P

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Post subject: Re: flatwound string life expectancy?
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 12:55 pm
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It all depends upon your use of the bass and your body chemistry. Some people have sweat that attacks metal and strings will go very dead very fast. Other players can use strings for years without any problem.

I would say if the bass still sounds good and can be tuned and intonated- leave the flats alone.
If the bass cannot be tuned or quickly loses its tuning and intonation goes out.
- Its time to change those flatwounds.

They can last for years if you clean them after playing and keep your bass in a case or bag.

I have one bass with the same set of flatwounds since 1977. They a re the strings that came on it.

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Post subject: Re: flatwound string life expectancy?
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 2:03 pm
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BCbassman wrote:
...
I would say if the bass still sounds good and can be tuned and intonated- leave the flats alone.
If the bass cannot be tuned or quickly loses its tuning and intonation goes out.
- Its time to change those flatwounds...

Also if you tune the string and intonate it correctly, but it is still off at say the the fifth and seventh frets so that it sounds sour, it's time to change.

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Post subject: Re: flatwound string life expectancy?
Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2015 7:44 am
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I've noticed, at least with the Rotosound flats I use, that the lighter gauge has more flexibility, or just not as stiff feeling. It's strange, but if you compare the same gauge of Rotosound (105-45) to a set of round rounds (say Fender, since I replaced the strings on my Squier Jazz with Rotosound flats,) that the Rotosound seem a lot thicker to me, or maybe it's just the stiffness. When I put Rotosound flats on my Schecter, I went with 100-40 set and I found them to be perfect for playing. Sometimes I like to do string bends (when I'm feeling a little Jack Bruce-ish, I suppose :P ) and that it very helpful.

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Post subject: Re: flatwound string life expectancy?
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2015 8:44 am
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BCbassman wrote:
It all depends upon your use of the bass and your body chemistry. Some people have sweat that attacks metal and strings will go very dead very fast. Other players can use strings for years without any problem.

I would say if the bass still sounds good and can be tuned and intonated- leave the flats alone.
If the bass cannot be tuned or quickly loses its tuning and intonation goes out.
- Its time to change those flatwounds.

They can last for years if you clean them after playing and keep your bass in a case or bag.

I have one bass with the same set of flatwounds since 1977. They a re the strings that came on it.



1977! That's great. I was feeling kinda dumb because I can't remember the last time I changed them, but everything I think about doing it - I also think 'Why'? They sound great. They stay in tune. No bad spots. Why change to something I might regret when I'm still very happy with the strings.

Thanks for posting.


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