The best flatwounds for my P?

scottbass · #1 10-22-2008, 12:01 PM

This is just a simple poll - comment if you want, but please vote!

It's time to put some flats on my P bass - BUT WHICH ONES? My specifics:

2008 American Standard Precision 4 string, maple board

Band 1: blues, electric blues, Motown (Raitt, Trout, Lang, Tedeschi, plus Jamerson), Fender Bassman-type sound

Band 2: classic rock (Cheap Trick, Nugent, Black Sabbath, Stones, Kinks, Grand Funk), Ampeg SVT-type sound

The strings have to be wound long enough to be strung through-body.

Any set close to .045 - .100 or .045 - .105 is OK. Nothing bigger than that.

Thanks for your opinion/vote!

ser1960 · #2 10-22-2008, 12:09 PM

D'Addario

nemo · #3 10-22-2008, 12:16 PM

Sadowsky (but I don't know about the lenght).

They will give you thump AND definiton without sacrificing either of them.

etoncrow · #4 10-22-2008, 12:18 PM

Supposedly Jamerson used something very similar to these on his P-bass for all the Motown stuff.

http://www.juststrings.com/labellael...djamerson.html

scottbass · #5 10-22-2008, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by etoncrow

Supposedly Jamerson used something very similar to these on his P-bass for all the Motown stuff.

http://www.juststrings.com/labellael...djamerson.html

Thanks, etoncrow. The specific Jamerson set is .052 - .110. Those are a little too heavy for my preference. But LaBella does make the same "Deep Talkin'" strings in .044 - .096 as well as .043 - .100, so either of those would probably suit me!

Surly · #6 10-22-2008, 12:42 PM

Chromes for band #1, Rounds for band #2.

etoncrow · #7 10-22-2008, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottbass

Thanks, etoncrow. The specific Jamerson set is .052 - .110. Those are a little too heavy for my preference. But LaBella does make the same "Deep Talkin'" strings in .044 - .096 as well as .043 - .100, so either of those would probably suit me!

I use the Deep Takin' flats set on my Lakland BG P-bass

BillMason · #8 10-22-2008, 01:01 PM

Quit band 2 and give them my phone number.

unclekebm · #9 10-22-2008, 01:09 PM

I play songs from both bands with TI jazz flats on my P no problem
they can get round and thumpy to bright and grindy...
lots of sustain...they take a while to break in
cheers

scottbass · #10 10-22-2008, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillMason

Quit band 2 and give them my phone number.

That would be a long commute from Halifax to St. Paul, MN for just $100 per gig!

BillMason · #11 10-22-2008, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottbass

That would be a long commute from Halifax to St. Paul, MN for just $100 per gig!

I could call it in!

rezin · #12 10-22-2008, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottbass

Thanks, etoncrow. The specific Jamerson set is .052 - .110. Those are a little too heavy for my preference. But LaBella does make the same "Deep Talkin'" strings in .044 - .096 as well as .043 - .100, so either of those would probably suit me!

did you catch this part?

Important note: La Bella flatwound strings are not suitable for use on instruments that require through-body stringing.

just wanted to make sure

Mastermold · #13 10-22-2008, 01:59 PM

I just put TI flats on one of my P-basses and was blown away! Fat tone, easy to play, and that's not even broken in yet!

I just ordered another set from Strings and Beyond in fact -- they're having a 15% off sale on TI strings.

selfblessed · #14 10-23-2008, 02:31 AM

The older my D'Addario set gets the more I love them. They are not easy to bend but...That's ok.

D.Don · #15 10-23-2008, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by etoncrow

Supposedly Jamerson used something very similar to these on his P-bass for all the Motown stuff.

http://www.juststrings.com/labellael...djamerson.html

+1 on the jamerson flats

D.Don

mobis.fr · #16 10-23-2008, 02:58 AM

i wouldn't go with the TI.
they fit in band 1 but not in 2. they don't have enough tesion for rock.

i would go with the fender - they are cheap and have nice low mids. at first they are a little bit stiff but the mellow out after a while.

tapp01 · #17 10-23-2008, 03:48 AM

I love my Chromes, but I'm unsure as to if they are long enough for thru body stringing. Great tone and feel otherwise.

MellowTone · #18 10-23-2008, 03:52 AM

I voted Thomastik-Infelds. That said, they're the only flats I've really tried (JM344), but I love them. They feel great and I love the sound. But that said, if you don't like them, it's an expensive test, but they will last a very long time. They are a low tension set.

EDIT: Actually, when I look at Band Two, I'm not so sure. They'd be great for Band One, but you might not get the type of growl you're looking for for Band Two.

xsubs · #19 10-23-2008, 08:35 AM

I have used nearly all the flats mentioned... some of them for long periods. Most (Fender and LaBella in particular) are too stiff, at least for me. The chromes are just too bright. I used to really like Pyramids, and used them for years until I changed to TI... from there I went to the Sadowsky set. I had thought that the Sadowsky strings were going to be it for me, until I bought a set of the Lakland Joe Osborn flats. For me they're perfect.
The comparison:
Pyramid - Low tension, smooth feel, not too bright, fairly good life.
TI - Lowest tension, smooth feel, bright sounding, fairly good life.
Sadowsky - Medium tension, fairly smooth, medium brightness, good life span.
Lakland JO - Low/Medium tension (between the Sadowsky & Pyramid), very smooth, not too bright, good life span (the set on my JO are over 1 year old)

As always YMMV!

Note that NO flats work well when strung through the body... it breaks the outer winding. Nearly all makers state this fact.

fretlessman71 · #20 10-23-2008, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillMason

I could call it in!

And you could have a smoke DURING the gig!

(Sorry... did I bring that up again?

)