Best flats for vintage thump on Pbass?

RunngDog · #1 03-15-2007, 12:02 PM

About time to change the strings on my '66 P, and I'd like to find some flats that would give me the classic P tone. Suggestions?

Mojo-Man · #2 03-15-2007, 01:32 PM

I also own a 1966-P.
TI-flats, only on my P-bass.

dunamis · #3 03-15-2007, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo-Man

I also own a 1966-P.
TI-flats, only on my P-bass.

+1 on the TI's-- only strings on my 62' RI P-bass.

RunngDog · #4 03-15-2007, 02:42 PM

Thanks, guys. I was leaning toward the TI's anyway, but it's great to have some confirmation. I'm assuming the JF344's are what I want (if not, please advise). Where's the best place to get these at a decent price?

jay800 · #5 03-15-2007, 09:59 PM

JustStrings.com are great to deal with. Reasonable price, fast ship - even up to my igloo

(not sitting on shelf - strings is all they do, so fresh stock)

http://www.juststrings.com/toi-jf344.html

RunngDog · #6 03-15-2007, 10:07 PM

I went ahead and ordered from Strings & Beyond - less than $40 with free shipping.

pickles · #7 03-16-2007, 08:55 AM

TIs are totally different from the classic thump formula, which is labella. Try some 760FLs.

BellBottomBlues · #8 03-16-2007, 12:19 PM

I'd say go for La Bella Deep Talking Flats or Rotosound Jazz flats (once they die they still sound purty. James Jamerson used them I think)

lonote · #9 03-16-2007, 07:31 PM

I use Fender 9050's and only Fender 9050's on my P-Basses. I find TI's too floppy for my taste.

BassoP · #10 03-16-2007, 09:32 PM

Jamerson was a labella guy. They make a sig set (probably with no actual connection to him). I'm using fenders now, they sound good and are comparatively cheap

seanm · #11 03-16-2007, 10:57 PM

TI flats for vintage thump?

LaBella or Fenders would be better but it sounds like you already made your choice. Let us know how they work out.

bongomania · #12 03-16-2007, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassoP

Jamerson was a labella guy. They make a sig set (probably with no actual connection to him).

According to their ad copy, the Jamerson sig set is made to the exact same specifications as the LaBellas he used. Whether he authorized a sig set, or whether the Jamerson estate gets anything from them, I have no idea.

Bassist4Life · #13 03-16-2007, 11:19 PM

I use the TI Jazz Flats and I love them, but I don't think they give me a vintage thump. You could probably get a thumpy sound if you mute them.

Joe

BellBottomBlues · #14 03-16-2007, 11:23 PM

My bad, youre right Jamerson did use Labella.

I remember seeing Jamerson's sig set a long while ago, and bought them. I dunno, you don't get the tone. I know he used dead strings, but when I compare the 62 RI I have strung at different times with his sigs and then the Rotos, I'd have to say the Rotos sound alot more jamerson-esque to me when they're dead.

zac2944 · #15 03-16-2007, 11:27 PM

Last year I bought a few sets (Fender,Rotosound,Chromes,Lakland, and Dean Markley) to find the Thumpiest, and Dean Markley flats were IMO the Thumpiest. Fender was almost as thumpy.

Gene Leone · #16 03-17-2007, 12:17 AM

I have a '66 P Bass and strung it with TI Flats after trying many other flats.

WOW does it sound fantastic.

seanm · #17 03-17-2007, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zac2944

Last year I bought a few sets (Fender,Rotosound,Chromes,Lakland, and Dean Markley) to find the Thumpiest, and Dean Markley flats were IMO the Thumpiest. Fender was almost as thumpy.

Years ago I bought a set of Dean Markley flats. Probably a very old set since I think they were the only flats in the store and it was the last pack. They still had the funky hand-drawn covers.

Very very thumpy. Muting? We don't need no stinkin' muting. The strings died as soon as you released them. Very high tension too.

I can't remember what happened to them. I know I took them off because they where too limited.

Smallmouth_Bass · #18 03-17-2007, 12:29 AM

I just ordered and received a set of TI flats for my P too. I plan on upgrading some hardware and getting a complete setup and those will be installed.

I don't know about thump, but I currently have D'Addario Chromes on there and like them a lot. They are surpisingly bright for flats. I am going to try the TIs because I want lower tension.

seanm · #19 03-17-2007, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smallmouth_Bass

I don't know about thump, but I currently have D'Addario Chromes on there and like them a lot. They are surpisingly bright for flats. I am going to try the TIs because I want lower tension.

If you like bright flats and want lower tension, you should be very happy with the TIs.

I would love to hear your comparison between the Chromes and the TIs. What gauge of Chromes did you use?

jsamans · #20 03-17-2007, 08:14 PM

I just put a set of the La Bella 0760M flats on my '57 RI Precision. These are advertised as the "Jamerson set" on the La Bella website and elsewhere, but they make no mention of it on the packaging.

First impression is that these things are HUGE (.052, .073, .095 and .110) but they are much easier to play than I had anticipated. I had to re-intonate the entire bass and I may have to fiddle with the neck relief down the road, gonna let them settle in for a couple weeks.

As for vintage tone, I'll let you know in a few years. I don't think Jamerson changed strings until they broke -- "the funk is in the funk" he said, with the latter being dirt and other crap on the strings. I think he also used a piece of foam under the bridge cover to mute the strings.