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Post subject: Flatwound string advice please
Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 1:47 am
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I want to put a set of flatwound strings on my new American standard precision (see avatar pic), I have never used flats before & I would appreciate your advice. I am looking at the Fender 9050L 45-100 as they don't cost that much, & are made by Fender and you would guess that they would be alright for their basses.
Would I be able to just swap these over without having to, have the nut or truss rod tweaked would this be possible? And have any of you used these strings and what were your thoughts on them? Thank you :)

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Post subject: Re: Flatwound string advice please
Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 6:14 am
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I use Fender 9050ML or M on my basses. I've never needed to make any adjustments when stringing mine from whatever the previous owner used other than getting the action where I like and intonating the bass. I suppose it's possible that a truss adjustment might need to be made if there's a huge difference in tension between the stock strings the ones you are changing to. However, I don't think you'd notice that from the get go. It would likely take time of you to notice a change in the neck and then make the adjustment. However, I think they should work just fine. As long as you swap them out one at a time the worst that could happen is you need to take it into a shop to do something beyond you. (filling the nut would be the only case I could see that happening) I've never had to do that with any of the stock Fender's I've played. They usually came with stock rounds, and I usually switch strings quickly as I don't care for rounds much any more and even when I do want them I liked the old Fender Nickel Rounds. Give it a whirl. I'd think any adjustments you'd need to make would be minor at best, and even if it needs something more you can always put the old strings back on until you either have the work done or find a set of flats that works better.

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Post subject: Re: Flatwound string advice please
Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 8:58 am
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I use Rotosound Jazz Bass 77 flats on all my basses, but I noticed despite the same gauge as the round wounds like what comes on Fender or Squier, they seemed a lot thicker, or a little too stiff (that's what she said! :P ) so I switched out to a lighter gauge and now it's fine. It's less resistance when playing, at least to me. I use to like heavy gauge strings, thinking they'd have more low end response, or whatever logic I had, but I thought why make it harder on yourself, especially when it comes to using flats? You can always adjust your amp, anyway.

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Post subject: Re: Flatwound string advice please
Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 1:23 pm
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Thank you gentlemen I am going to go with the 9050L, strings & see how I get on :) .

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Post subject: Re: Flatwound string advice please
Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 1:55 pm
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You can never go wrong with Fender Flats. I like GHS Precision Flats, myself.

Here's a good thread: http://forums.fender.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=96207

and more than you ever wanted to know about flats http://forums.fender.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=81712&hilit=flatwound+strings

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Post subject: Re: Flatwound string advice please
Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 2:08 pm
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linnin wrote:
You can never go wrong with Fender Flats. I like GHS Precision Flats, myself.

Here's a good thread: http://forums.fender.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=96207

and more than you ever wanted to know about flats http://forums.fender.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=81712&hilit=flatwound+strings


Thank you linnin I read your GHS thread today at work. I have just ordered the Fender 9050L flats 45-100, they should be here on Monday :D . Two last questions will I be able to go through body with these flats,or will I have to go top load? And are these the same tension as roundwounds? I've defiantly caught the Fender bug :) .

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Post subject: Re: Flatwound string advice please
Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 2:21 pm
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That's funny that oxfan also found the Rotosounds stiff. I noticed that when I switched to a lighter gauge that alleviated that problem. I love the tone and feel of them, otherwise. The set I have on my Schecter J Bass have been on for almost a year now, so they're perfect. They have that upright bass growl and tonality to them now. If that makes any sense. I have some heavier gauge ones on my Squier Jazz Bass that are finally start to loosen up, as well, but I'm thinking about putting something else on it. That bass needs a little neck work, though. The fret ends could use a little filing (typical low end Fender issue, I've noticed :roll: ) and a little buzz. I like the bass other than that, even though it's not my main one. Maybe if I can get it to the same playing shape as the Schecter.

By the way, I never originally posted a pic of it when I got that bass when I was originally here on the site. Here it is with some other gear, in case anyone gives a crap. :P

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Post subject: Re: Flatwound string advice please
Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 2:23 pm
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luckman67 wrote:
linnin wrote:
You can never go wrong with Fender Flats. I like GHS Precision Flats, myself.

Here's a good thread: http://forums.fender.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=96207

and more than you ever wanted to know about flats http://forums.fender.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=81712&hilit=flatwound+strings


Thank you linnin I read your GHS thread today at work. I have just ordered the Fender 9050L flats 45-100, they should be here on Monday :D . Two last questions will I be able to go through body with these flats,or will I have to go top load? And are these the same tension as roundwounds? I've defiantly caught the Fender bug :) .


I tried Fender flats a long time ago. From what I remember, I liked them. That's good they still make them. I had a tendency to try every brand under the sun back in the day, but have been happy with what I have now. Who knows if that will change, though. :P

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Post subject: Re: Flatwound string advice please
Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 2:37 pm
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Nice collection you have there Paul 8) .

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Post subject: Re: Flatwound string advice please
Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 3:10 pm
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luckman67 wrote:
linnin wrote:
You can never go wrong with Fender Flats. I like GHS Precision Flats, myself.

Here's a good thread: http://forums.fender.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=96207

and more than you ever wanted to know about flats http://forums.fender.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=81712&hilit=flatwound+strings


Thank you linnin I read your GHS thread today at work. I have just ordered the Fender 9050L flats 45-100, they should be here on Monday :D . Two last questions will I be able to go through body with these flats,or will I have to go top load? And are these the same tension as roundwounds? I've defiantly caught the Fender bug :) .


"Top Load" (Bridge-Through) is the best way to go with flats. The straighter the stringpull the better.

Total stringset tension will be close to your stock Fender rounds. Just change them a string at a time. Play them in for a month before making any set-up changes as the strings will settle in and require some fine tweaking. Always adjust your truss rod first. Make sure your string height/action is where you like it (not too low), and that the strings are radiused to the fretboard. Then intonate each string. Also pick-up height may need to be adjusted for even string-to-string volume balance.

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Post subject: Re: Flatwound string advice please
Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 3:12 pm
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Thanks. That's some of it, but that pic shows the Squier Jazz Bass that's why I posted it. I have a few other pics, too.

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Post subject: Re: Flatwound string advice please
Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 3:20 pm
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Thanks a lot linnin I feel a lot better now knowing, how to string & that the tension is not far off the Fender stock strings :D . I plan on leaving the strings on for a few years as again from what I've read, flatwounds seem to get better with age.

I used to have a bass collection once Paul, but family & other things dwindled it down. But I'm more than happy with what I own now :D .

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Post subject: Re: Flatwound string advice please
Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 3:44 pm
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Yeah, I can understand that. The funny thing is a lot of those instruments could use some work on them. Input jacks have shorts, etc. Eventually, hopefully, I'll get them up and running again. Right now, my main bass is a Schecter Diamond J Bass: Image after retiring my Fender P-Bass Lyte (the one that is missing a lot of finish on it) because that instrument needs some work. It did serve me well for 11 years, though. I have an Orange Terror Bass 1000 with a Carvin 18" Imagecab that replaced a Rumble 350 combo, which I still have as a back up and also an amp that I'm thinking about using in combination with a 1982 Super Champ with the Schecter Ultra VI for some nasty twang. Image I haven't got around to implementing that yet, though. I have played the Schecter Ultra VI through the Super Champ (it had a 150 watt EV Force 10 speaker in it so it can handle the bass without blowing up) but the low end was seeming to be a bit much to the enclosure itself. I figured the Rumble will help take care of that.

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