Ernie Ball Stainless Flats vs D'Addario Chromes

[JCat]

Some of you may not be aware there's a new flatwound offering from Ernie Ball announced earlier this year. https://www.bassgearmag.com/ernie-ba...-more-at-namm/

I've searched this forum for reviews, but all I could find are opinions on Ernie Ball Slinky Flatwounds, which is an entirely different string set, engineered for modern applications (meaning distortion). Those strings got Cobolt ribbon and a plain G.

The new Stainless Flats are specifically made for old school Jazz applications. The specs looks very similar to D'Addario Chromes; Polished precision wound stainless steel ribbon, Hex steel core.

-Did you try them? What do you think?

[AllanAllen]

If they made a 13-56, I'd give them a try. I like the slinky 11's on my G&L ASAT.

[jazzshrink]

...The specs looks very similar to D'Addario Chromes...

including the price.

[chris32895]

Seems just like a D'addario similar set but with slightly lighter D and G strings. IME Ernie Ball strings are a step below D'Addario strings in quality, typically, but it's still nice to have another option

[chris32895]

including the price.

Yeah, it would be nice if instead someone came along and made similar quality strings just at a better price point

[JCat]

They may look about the same on paper...but do they sound and feel the same?
One obvious difference is that the gauge configuration is not the same. Not by much, but enough to affect setup requirements; Tension, string slots and string-to string output balance may not be identical, but possibly in the same ballpark. It's interesting though that Ernie Ball opted for lighter gauge of the wound G and D strings. The diameter and mass of the core of the wound strings are typically never disclosed, even though this affects tension and output.

[GuyBoden]

I'll have to test them against the Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Swing.

(But, Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Swing will also be much cheaper than Ernie Ball in Europe.)

[DawgBone]

I like LaBellas. Maybe I should contact them about an endorsement.

[jazzshrink]

Seems just like a D'addario similar set but with slightly lighter D and G strings.

They may look about the same on paper...but do they sound and feel the same?
One obvious difference is that the gauge configuration is not the same.

[JCat]

[Jim Soloway]

No 10's, no 13's.

[Stringswinger]

I might try a set of those 11's. Those could be an alternative to the TI’S that I use (which have become crazy expensive and might get more so if tariffs are imposed on EU stuff)

Becoming aware of new stuff makes this place invaluable.

Thanks Jcat for the heads up!

[supersoul]

Yeah, it would be nice if instead someone came along and made similar quality strings just at a better price point

Harley Benton makes 10, 11 and 12 gauge Flatwounds for €8.90 a set. They're decent, I don't like them any more or less than D'Addarios. I still like Thomastic Swing flats better, though, but they cost at least twice as much.

[GuyBoden]

Harley Benton makes 10, 11 and 12 gauge Flatwounds for €8.90 a set. They're decent, I don't like them any more or less than D'Addarios. I still like Thomastic Swing flats better, though, but they cost at least twice as much.

Yes, I too have tried Harley Benton flat 12 gauge, they're ok.

Edit: Not the same sound quality as Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Swing, IMHO.

[339 in june]

Harley Benton makes 10, 11 and 12 gauge Flatwounds for €8.90 a set. They're decent, I don't like them any more or less than D'Addarios. I still like Thomastic Swing flats better, though, but they cost at least twice as much.

I have tried Harley Benton flats 11s on a semi (Comins GCS1-ES)
I have never had a set of strings staying as little time as this one : D string broke in the middle of nowhere between post and nut while noy yet in tune. The other wound strings sounded awfully dull and didn't get 10 mn playing : direct to the bin and never again for me !
I tried Pyramid and I am happy with them so far, but I prefer Tomastik JS or D'Add Chromes (in that order) for flats
I will try these Ernie Ball next time, but their price is not attractive to us europeans compared to TI JS!

[RJVB]

I used to use Ernie Ball Earthwood S&S and quickly learned their price on Amazon is like a yo-yo, something to monitor, and order a bunch when it's at a sufficiently interesting low point.