Deep Talkin and Jamerson Flats experience???

[Scutterflux]

Well I had my first experience with some of these flats, and I need more...more... ...more

I guess the question I have is related to guage, tension and tone.

The nut on a bass I'd like to put them on seems to be cut for a thicker guage, the strings I played were medium lights. I don't want more tension than the medium lights, or to much more depth in tone, the tone was damn neat perfect.

Do the Jamerson or med guage set have a greater string tension?

As well do they have a deeper less defineing tone?

[Bobby King]

Originally Posted by Scutterflux

Well I had my first experience with some of these flats, and I need more...more... ...more

I guess the question I have is related to guage, tension and tone.

The nut on a bass I'd like to put them on seems to be cut for a thicker guage, the strings I played were medium lights. I don't want more tension than the medium lights, or to much more depth in tone, the tone was damn neat perfect.

Do the Jamerson or med guage set have a greater string tension?

As well do they have a deeper less defineing tone?

The Jamerson set has a lot of tension, the most of any flats I've played.

[JimmyM]

To me, all Fender/LaBella flats sound the same regardless of thickness or tension. The nut should be OK.

[UBU]

The labella "jamerson" set is a large gauge, high tension set. They're 52-73-95-110 (0760m)

[bassman10096]

The Jamerson set has a lot of tension, the most of any flats I've played.

I played a Jamerson set for a bit, but the tension on the 110 E string was starting to give me tendonitis. I've had more success getting to the Motown sound using "regular" heavy guage flats, raising the action a bit and focusing on right hand than chasing Jamerson's string preference. From what I understand of his personality, he'd think we were a bunch of sissies for worrying about it.

[Marley's Ghost]

I have the Deep Talkin 43-60-82-104 set and I really dig them. They have plenty of sustain if I want or punch if I mute them properly.

[Mojo-Man]

Originally Posted by Bobby King

The Jamerson set has a lot of tension, the most of any flats I've played.

+1
Big tension, big tone.
If you can play them, the sound good.
My need to ajust neck?

[Scutterflux]

Well, I guess the thicker guage is out of the question

That's to bad, becuase I could really use the thicker guage to sit in my nut a little better, however I really thought the light guage had allot of tension to begin with. SO I won't be getting a thicker guage labella set. I guess I'll see about working the nut instead.

Thank you

[James Hart]

I've got the thickest Deep Talkin' flats on my white 5 string... man do they thump!

[GlennW]

I have a set of .049-.109 on a bass and I like them a lot. They don't feel as stiff as D'Addario chromes and sound a lot better.

[James Hart]

Originally Posted by James Hart

I've got the thickest Deep Talkin' flats on my white 5 string... man do they thump!

Bridge cabling!

[FenderP]

I've always had flats on my basses - my standard set is the Rotosound RS77LE set which in terms of gauge is similar to the Jamerson.

I tried the Jamerson set once and didn't like the sound in comparison to the Rotos, so I just put the Rotos back on. The feel was also quite different.

[Bobby King]

You know, we all love Jamerson and have read about his legendary high action and heavy strings. The Jamerson LaBella set is fun to try as a curiousity item. There probably weren't lots of string choices back in those days so that's what everyone had to deal with. But if you put them on your bass, it requires a lot of adjustments -- nut, truss rod, action, etc. I find that you can get the whole flatwound sound and experience with a lighter gauge set from LaBella or Sadowsky or Roto or whatever without all the problems of using the Jamerson set. I used to think it was a "manly" thing to try and use big, heavy flatwounds, but it's not really necessary.

Some of the newer flats like TI and D'Addario Chromes are interesting strings, but they are a little different to me than the old, LaBella-style flats. I think that LaBellas, Sadowskys Ernie Balls, Fenders and Rotos give more of the old-school sound and feel.

[FenderP]

Originally Posted by Bobby King

You know, we all love Jamerson and have read about his legendary high action and heavy strings. The Jamerson LaBella set is fun to try as a curiousity item. There probably weren't lots of string choices back in those days so that's what everyone had to deal with. But if you put them on your bass, it requires a lot of adjustments -- nut, truss rod, action, etc. I find that you can get the whole flatwound sound and experience with a lighter gauge set from LaBella or Sadowsky or Roto or whatever without all the problems of using the Jamerson set. I used to think it was a "manly" thing to try and use big, heavy flatwounds, but it's not really necessary.

I disagree a tad. I love high action and thick strings. I'm odd man out, I know. Most people look at my basses and shake their head. I've gotten so used to the RS77LE set that it feels lightweight to me, and my repair guys have put metal plates under the bridge to RAISE my action because it starts to feel too low.

To each his own, though. I can still play it this way and have it sound great in a Rush tribute band

[Scutterflux]

James Hart Quote:
Originally Posted by James Hart
I've got the thickest Deep Talkin' flats on my white 5 string... man do they thump!


Bridge cabling!

Nice bass!

Sounds like too much tension for me on the Jamerson set though.

I'm thinking I should try a different set, that's deep toned like the labella's, thick guage and lighter tension. Do they make such a string?

FenderP I've always had flats on my basses - my standard set is the Rotosound RS77LE set which in terms of gauge is similar to the Jamerson.

Those are a brighter sounding flat are they not?
Do they have less tension than labella's?

[FenderP]

Originally Posted by Scutterflux

Those are a brighter sounding flat are they not?
Do they have less tension than labella's?

A bit brighter, but flats are flats. I always say it takes me a good 6 months of playing to break mine in

As far as tension, it's the same or possibly more. My setup doesn't help at all since I have high action and thick strings with a ton of tension. This particular set (RS77LE) is one of the highest tension sets around I think. People wonder why my neck hasn't bowed in 20 years lol

[Jim Carr]

Originally Posted by UBU

The labella "jamerson" set is a large gauge, high tension set. They're 52-73-95-110 (0760m)

+1
If your nut is cut to narrow, you may crack it. This is a common and likely occurance, as you probably know. I'd consider having a qualified tech install the strings and refit the nut. You might even ask that the current nut be duplicated first, so you can go back to where you are in a hurry if you want to. Just my $.02

[SGT. Pepper]

Originally Posted by James Hart

Bridge cabling!

Thats a really nice bass!

[Scutterflux]

Jim Carr Quote:
Originally Posted by UBU
The labella "jamerson" set is a large gauge, high tension set. They're 52-73-95-110 (0760m)

+1
If your nut is cut to narrow, you may crack it. This is a common and likely occurance, as you probably know. I'd consider having a qualified tech install the strings and refit the nut. You might even ask that the current nut be duplicated first, so you can go back to where you are in a hurry if you want to. Just my $.02

That's the issue I have, someone probably had the nut on my vintage bass, worked for jamerson's or tapewounds, but I don't like high tension, or tapewounds. Oh well, the price we pay for owning vintage gear

[atlbass]

I put the Labella Deep Talkin' Flats on my Fender P Bass and they sound great, in a way, close to a fretless sound. I liked them so much that I put a set on my Ken Smith BSR5GN. I was getting some fret noise mostly due to the brass nut on the Smith I believe and these solved that problem and sound awesome, low, smooth and punchy.