Power Flat Flatwound Bass Strings

Power Flat is our flatwound bass string. Stainless steel ribbon wire is wound and polished to a completely smooth surface, so there is no winding texture at all. That changes two things: the string is silent under the fingers, and the tone loses the bright overtone ring of a roundwound in favour of a deep, thumpy fundamental with controlled mids and soft highs.

This is the Motown and reggae sound, the upright-adjacent sound, and the sound of almost every bass record made before the 1970s. Flatwounds also last far longer than roundwounds — many players leave a set on for years, and the tone barely moves after the first month. They are easier on frets too, which is why fretless players use them almost exclusively.

Choosing a gauge

All three sets are standard long scale. .045–.105 is the four-string, .045–.130 the five-string, and .030–.130 the six-string. Flatwounds run at higher tension than a roundwound of the same gauge, so if you are coming from roundwounds expect a firmer feel and be ready to adjust your truss rod.

Gauges

How Power Flat compares to our other bass sets

Power Flat goes furthest toward a smooth surface and a mellow, vintage tone. Silencer Nickel Semi-Flat is the halfway point — quieter than a roundwound but still bright and articulate. Power Wound Nickel is the standard roundwound, Power Steel Stainless the brightest, and Fusion Wound the tightest and most focused. We also make Power Flat flatwounds for electric guitar.

Made in the USA.