70's funky strings...

raul · #1 10-20-2011, 05:58 PM

i love funk. well, i love music in general but i just love funky stuff on bass. soulful rnb and funky playing is awesome!

what strings do you think were most used in the 70's for these styles? i know, silly question...but really...if you were a 70's soulful funky player...what strings would you be playing? what would be available as the go to set of strings? and is there anything circa now that is like them? for finger funk and some slap/popping when needed...what would it be?

mmbongo · #2 10-20-2011, 06:04 PM

Why, Bootzillas of course!

DR BOOTZILLAS - 4-String Set

Mikhail1 · #3 10-20-2011, 07:01 PM

Early to mid 70's, it was flats for most recorded stuff. But they were a few guys playing rounds, mostly Rotosounds and GHS Boomers. By the end of the 70's a lot more companies such as LaBella and Dean Markley were cutting into the roundwound market. At least, thats what I remember. Modern strings, take your pick...

SLaPiNFuNK · #4 10-20-2011, 07:34 PM

70's funk?

light gauge stainless steel

raul · #5 10-20-2011, 10:44 PM

so...mostly flats. for the most part, until after the mid 70's or so? ok. Rotosounds would be a sure fit for some funky rounds, yes? seems like it. if it was good enough for them..or for a modern take, DR seems to put out some cool strings for funky players. i know, the player brings the funk, but the strings are a big part of the tone.

so...for a Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass...for funky soulful stuff, Rotosounds would be a cool string. which DR set would be good for this stuff, on a Jazz Bass? i'm thinking of Sunbeams or Fat Beams...
or just get some Rotos!

JimmyM · #6 10-20-2011, 11:52 PM

Nobody can pick out strings for you. All you can do is try some trial and error. I've bought strings based on glowing recommendations that I've hated, and I've bought strings I thought I'd hate that I ended up using for decades.

raul · #7 10-22-2011, 06:42 PM

i guess i'm asking is because i'm just so obsessed with that awesome feel and vibe of the 70's! so much amazing playing and the tones were just killer, and i know part of it is the strings. i was hoping for some answers from people who were alive and playing bass back then, maybe just a bit of insight and some string stories from back then...

i do have a P Bass with TI flats, and that is quite funky tone for sure...but, for a different flavor for a Jazz Bass, was thinking of going with rounds perhaps, for a different kinda funky string tone. i know Rotosound was and still is big for rounds...though DR seems like a cool twist and they have so many different rounds to choose from...

but, yeah...just curious to hear some cool string choice stories from the 70's or so...

soulman969 · #8 10-22-2011, 07:45 PM

I think there were very few players who used anything but flats in the 60's and early 70's. Almost every bass I can remember came equipped with them. Fenders, Gibsons, even semi hollow basses like Epi's had flats. Big boomy sounds through 15" cabinets were in.

With the exception of the ones that were on my first bass, a Dano/Silvertone, I didn't even know round wounds existed until the 80's. I thought they were strange. Noisy and more like a guitar string then as bass string. Now they're mainly what I use.

Then along came guys like Larry Graham and Bootsy and put a whole new slant on funk bass playing. Even though he pretty much invented slapping it sounds to me like Larry Graham was still using flats on those earlier recordings but with the quality of music reproduction in those days who could tell for sure. With Bootsy I don't have a clue.

I think what gave rounds a really big boost in the 70s were guys like Chris Squire, Paul McCartney and Maurice Gibb who played Ricks and brought the bass out front in pop music.

raul · #9 10-22-2011, 11:12 PM

wow, so most basses came with flats in the 60's and most of the 70's...until around the mid 70's or so? Bootsy and Graham are two faves of mine...i think Graham used flats for the most part...i wonder when he switched to rounds? and Bootsy...what was he using during the James Brown stint? and what was he using during his P-Funk days and his classic solo stuff...seems like maybe flats on a Jazz for the James Brown stuff? and maybe just maybe rounds during his P-Funk and 70's 80's solo stuff?

DJ Bebop · #10 10-22-2011, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raul

wow, so most basses came with flats in the 60's and most of the 70's...until around the mid 70's or so? Bootsy and Graham are two faves of mine...i think Graham used flats for the most part...i wonder when he switched to rounds? and Bootsy...what was he using during the James Brown stint? and what was he using during his P-Funk days and his classic solo stuff...seems like maybe flats on a Jazz for the James Brown stuff? and maybe just maybe rounds during his P-Funk and 70's 80's solo stuff?

I think Graham did use flats for a while but, I think tape wounds before going rotosounds for a while. Remember tape wounds were made with a round wound string with a nylon flat wound wrap.

DJ Bebop · #11 10-22-2011, 11:28 PM

And Bootsy too, listen to that early stuff. You can hear the flatwound sound. Not always the best sound but, the FUNKIEST!

TomB · #12 10-22-2011, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raul

wow, so most basses came with flats in the 60's and most of the 70's...until around the mid 70's or so? Bootsy and Graham are two faves of mine...i think Graham used flats for the most part...i wonder when he switched to rounds? and Bootsy...what was he using during the James Brown stint? and what was he using during his P-Funk days and his classic solo stuff...seems like maybe flats on a Jazz for the James Brown stuff? and maybe just maybe rounds during his P-Funk and 70's 80's solo stuff?

The only rounds I recall from the '60's were Black Diamonds, and they didn't go over. So I'd say most early '70's funk was likely to be played on Fender or LaBella flats, I recall that GHS had someting as well. During the '70's Rotosounds showed up (in the states), and as stated above, GHS Boomers became a big seller by the late '70's, speaking from personal experience. By the '80's, rounds had taken the lead in all kinds of genres, and more and more brands and "innovations" started showed up. Personally, I've always used both.

Alex J · #13 10-23-2011, 07:13 AM

This is what I'd consider the archetypal early - mid 70s funk tone: Outlaw Gang - Weedhopper (1975)

To me it sounds like a Fender P bass with flats, as most of the gritty early funk stuff does.. anyone any guesses as to what they are? I'd say rotosound as they sound quite bright..but y'never know.

I think Larry Graham was definitely on roundwounds by the time of Graham Central Station..songs like Earthquake and Pow are just too crunchy for flats.

DWBass · #14 10-23-2011, 07:56 AM

I recall most of the stores I went to for strings back then all had flatwound strings. I remember being able to play so fast and smooth then. I remember the first time I played rounds, my fingers were sore and I couldn't play as fast. Seemed the strings would stick to my fingers. But I loved the brightness and snappiness and had to have them.

raul · #15 10-23-2011, 05:55 PM

thanks for the stories! so, are you guys that used to play flats in the 70's now using rounds? if so, what made you switch and why?

i'm loving TI flats on my P Bass...great feel, smooth and i can play pretty fast with them. they feel so smooth!

i may be getting a Jazz Bass soon, again, and i'm thinking of flats for that one as well...

i do love that old school tone, but also do some occasional string popping and thumping...though mostly finger style. i love the bass tones for bands and people like Bootsy, P-Funk, Ohio Players, all the different James Brown bassists...of course, Jamerson...but also Earth Wind and Fire, Commodores...and also the tones of Bernard Edwards and also funny enough the tones John Taylor got on early Duran Duran which were inspired by Bernard Edwards...

not sure if i should just get some TI flats for the Jazz Bass or try some rounds like Rotos or a DR set...hmmm...it's a tough call, hahahaha...flats just feel so smooth and have a full body, like a nice thick shake or a glass of chocolate milk...i wonder if rounds can be EQ'd to sound that way? geez...

darkstorm · #16 10-23-2011, 06:25 PM

Plenty started useing rounds once they where widely available. Rotosounds, GHS, Fender, daddario, all made roundwounds that got used. Esp by the more cutting edge funky players.

**cfsporn** · #17 10-23-2011, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

Why, Bootzillas of course!

DR BOOTZILLAS - 4-String Set

I can't help but read that in a Bootsy voice.

DJ Bebop · #18 10-23-2011, 06:49 PM

Come to thing of it, I played funk in the 70's. Let me think...

( loud noise coming from head

)

Yes I remember now! Pyramid flats until, the round wounds and they were...Rotosound Swing bass 66 until I died about early 80's
from Disco

raul · #19 10-23-2011, 07:01 PM

i'm starting to think maybe TI flats for my soon to be Jazz Bass would do the trick since i'm lovin' TI flats on my P Bass...they seem to be an even tones but very defined string for all genres and seem awesome for the funky stuff...even for some slapping! yes? TI flats for funk on a Jazz Bass? i think so...it's that or Roto rounds...

DJ Bebop · #20 10-23-2011, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raul

i'm starting to think maybe TI flats for my soon to be Jazz Bass would do the trick since i'm lovin' TI flats on my P Bass...they seem to be an even tones but very defined string for all genres and seem awesome for the funky stuff...even for some slapping! yes? TI flats for funk on a Jazz Bass? i think so...it's that or Roto rounds...

I haven't tried the TI yet, like too! But, back in the day (oh no, here it comes

) lots of folks slapped flats before the advent of rounds. I did and, still have a bass or two set up with flats that I still slap. It is a different sound and feel, but still has it's place imho.