50's (Replica) MIM Precision and flats

[cccy]

Hi, I'm asking a question on behalf of a friend of mine (he's not too good with the internet ).

He has a mexican made Classic series 50's precision ( Fender® Products ) and he's wondering whether he should try flatwound strings for a change. Never used them, doesn't know what to expect. He's into soul/pop/rock. His tutor told him not to, because of the high gloss finish on the fretboard (?) and I'd like to hear what you guys think.

Can I have your opinions? Also, any good flat brands? He's a student, not enough money for experiments!

Thank you very much.

[Pilgrim]

Yes, do it. Imperial Guitars online sells Labella Deep Talking flats at the best price.

[JustDavid]

My opinion is his best bang for the buck is to get a tutor that doesn't think flats are bad on a high gloss fretted fingerboard.

Another opinion is that you should change strings to get a sound that is better for you & your playing situation, but in a 'considered' manner. (Unless you like & can afford experimenting with various strings; some do, but it sounds like his budget limits this path.) My opinion is it's far better/cheaper/quicker to articulate a description of your current sound, articulate a description of what directions (& amounts) you'd like to go, & then research up what folk think.

And THEN go get a set of Chromes

[Barbo]

I don't agree with your friend's tutor at all.

I have TI Jazz flats on a Classic 50s P-bass and love them. I would never go back to rounds on that bass.

That was my first experience with flats and I liked them so much I ended up putting Chromes on my Thunderbird and Fender flats on my Jazz bass.

I like the TI Jazz flats the best, but they are very expensive. Truthfully I can't really tell any difference between the Chromes and the Fenders. Either is a good option if cost is an issue.

[christle]

I also have TI Jazz flats on my 50's Classic Precision and they sound incredible. The sound guys tell me the sound is big and round with a solid fundamental.

Not sure where your friend's tutor is coming from with the fretboard comments as that sounds rather uninformed to me....

Get flats on that bass...it will sound great. That bass was made for them....

[kenfxj]

Originally Posted by cccy

His tutor told him not to, because of the high gloss finish on the fretboard

Sooo...rounds will protect the shine?

[Dubista]

NO ABSOLUTELY NOT! IF YOU COMBINE FLATS WITH A GLOSS FINISH FRETBOARD YOU'LL OPEN A BLACK WHOLE THAT WILL SUCK IN THE EARTH.

But seriously, why not? It gives a more mellow sound and lot's of thump. For a lack of better descriptor, it's got more booty.

[tjh]

Originally Posted by cccy

Hi, I'm asking a question on behalf of a friend of mine (he's not too good with the internet ).

He has a mexican made Classic series 50's precision ( Fender® Products ) and he's wondering whether he should try flatwound strings for a change. Never used them, doesn't know what to expect. He's into soul/pop/rock. His tutor told him not to, because of the high gloss finish on the fretboard (?) and I'd like to hear what you guys think.

Can I have your opinions? Also, any good flat brands? He's a student, not enough money for experiments!

Thank you very much.

I hope that would be his Math tutor and not his bass tutor, because that makes absolutely no sense ...

... scour the 'Strings' section on here and you will learn more than you ever wanted to know about flat brands/sounds/tension/characteristics ... if possible, have him try to find a set used, they tend to hold their life longer than roundwounds, and if he finds he is just NOT liking them, he can get his money back out ... or, just have him buy a set of Fender CL's, or Sadowsky flats, and if he doesn't like them, he can just sell them to me ...

[LouisNeilson]

Hey guys, I'm the person OP was talking about (finally remembered my password - by resetting it :P)

Basically what happened was I was unaware of Flatwound brands, and one of my tutors is sponsored my Thomastik. I asked him about their flatwounds, he said that because of the bright tone caused by my high gloss maple neck it would be a waste - and it would take about 8 months for the strings to "die" and start producing a certain tone.

I asked about the Rotosound Jazz 60s (40 / 60 / 80 / 100 guage set) and he said he had little experience with them, and couldn't really comment

The sound I'm looking for is very similar to that old Bass sound of flatwounds on a P-Bass with a plectrum for the added attack - but those were predominantly Rosewood fingerboards IIRC

My problem is not budget, but more availability - I return to South Africa in a few weeks, where you only get 2 types of Flatwounds as far as my searches can tell, both Rotosound. So it becomes an issue of budget if I have to import strings, which is not ideal.

[SurferJoe46]

It originally sounded to me that your instructor was concerned about fingerboard wear, not sounds or playablity so much.

Thinking that a flat string has less high point contact to the board, I see that a set of flats would be kinder to the bass in almost all respects.

The PLAYER's fingers will feel the difference too - one is better in that the strings are smoother and there's a lot less string whistle, but the strings are harder to pull down cleanly and one can get some more unwanted fret buzz.

Some people say it's like playing rebar. I don't totally agree. 'Harder' to pull down? - maybe a little.

I only noticed my little finger getting tired easier for a short while - maybe a month or two. But then after the finger got a little stronger there's not noticeable physically demanding difference in playing flats verses rounds.

But Oh My! The flat wound sound is full of color, resonance and Motown/Surf thump! They are just so full of tone and life - and - OK I'll quit now.

[DavePlaysBass]

The strings will have more influence on the tone than the fingerboard material or finish in most cases. Try the TI flats on the 50's P. A lot of people dig this sound and your description of what you are looking for aligns with that sound.

[Mushroo]

I use TI Jazz Flats on my maple-board P bass, it is a wonderful sound. Not the only good sound, of course, but a sound that works well for me.

As always you should trust your ears and use whatever gets the desired sound. Good luck!

[tdub0199]

Originally Posted by cccy

Hi, I'm asking a question on behalf of a friend of mine (he's not too good with the internet ).

He has a mexican made Classic series 50's precision ( Fender® Products ) and he's wondering whether he should try flatwound strings for a change. Never used them, doesn't know what to expect. He's into soul/pop/rock. His tutor told him not to, because of the high gloss finish on the fretboard (?) and I'd like to hear what you guys think.

Can I have your opinions? Also, any good flat brands? He's a student, not enough money for experiments!

Thank you very much.

I use D'Addario Chromes and love em'.....

[rtslinger]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

Yes, do it. Imperial Guitars online sells Labella Deep Talking flats at the best price.

+1 on the DT Labella flats!

[Chef FourString]

Dude, great bass. I picked one up in January and I LOVE it.

[DavePlaysBass]

I have had TI and Labella 760FLs on my MIM 50's P. The Labellas were bigger down low with more thump. The TIs had a great midrange quality that cut thru a little better but with less thump. Both strings sounded good in the right context. The 760FLs did get a little lost in some mixes.

[LouisNeilson]

Originally Posted by Chef FourString

Dude, great bass. I picked one up in January and I LOVE it.

Yeah, I bought it with a trade in of my old Ibanez Soundgear G10 and the cash I had saved up for a new computer, based off the fact that I was a Fender (and in particular P bass) fan boy - and it worked out for me /
Even though it's Fiesta Red (or in CCCY's eyes - pink)

Love it so much, I'm leaving everything to it in my will.

But I spoke to one of my other lecturers today, he was the one who originally mentioned the idea, and he sort of clarified what the position probably was:
Maple fretboards tend to be a brighter sound, and usually people that buy them would be aiming for that kind of sound, and flats are basically going in the "opposite" direction

But I think with the added attack from a plectrum, and my valve amp, I'll be able to play all my favourite genres still !

Once I have them on (thinking Labellas) I'll let you guys know And I might post some sample sounds

Thanks a lot!