definition on low notes - flats?

[morebass!]

I'm currently using the Jamerson set of La Bella flats and like them pretty well but would like them better if there was more definition on the lowest notes. The tone has a softness to it that works very well for the A, D and G strings but not so much the E. Below the third fret on the E string I'm feeling the air but not hearing the note - particularly in a loud band setting. I tune down a half step and like higher tension so my choices are pretty limited. Maybe the .110 gauge is just too fat for 34" scale, I don't know. Anyway I'm looking for recommendations on this.

For reference I also use the La Bella tapewounds and they have great tone down low but the upper strings sound a little too thin for me and they're all too loose for digging in - thus, my set of Jamersons.

Would the heavy gauge Chromes, Fenders or Rotos give me high tension and definition in the lows?

[guroove]

I use LaBella flats on two of my basses. On my P-bass, I have medium gauge (109-49) and on the Jazz, I have light gauge (104-43) and the sound is very crisp on the jazz bass. It still has a lot of the crunch and sizzle you would expect from roundwounds without the sliding noise.

I'm not sure if this is what you mean by definition. I used to have DR flats on the jazz bass. The sound is a very focused fundamental with lots of low mids, but no highs whatsoever. If you like a dead rubbery sound but with lots of mid punch, these are good strings. The sustain is short, and they aren't the best strings for slapping. They are also low medium gauge, and medium - light tension. The feel of the DRs were the nicest of any string I ever used, and they were perfect for the deep funky old-school groove sound, but lacked upper harmonics.

I tried Chromes on two of my basses, but I didn't like their high tension, and they had a seriously weird metallic clangy sound like a really bad roundwound. I had similar experiences with the Rotosounds.

[morebass!]

Your description of the DRs sounds like they would work for me tonally but probably not tensionwise.

I know what you're saying about Chromes but they mellow a lot with age. I have a set on my Precision that are starting to sound very good after a couple months now.

[morebass!]

By definition I mean enough low mids and mids (in the right places) to discern the pitch and feel a punch in the chest. I've seen the La Bellas described as "mid-scooped" and tend to agree although I don't generally like mid-scooped tones. For the La Bella's upper notes its a good mid-scooped. My complaint really only applies to the E string.

[unclekebm]

IME, take some 'Lows' out ~ below 180Hz ish
As the strings 'break in' you might bring the lows back up a little

[morebass!]

I hesitate to take lows out because the volume of the E string is not quite as loud as the others, but it's worth playing with the eq some more. I'm now thinking this is a nut issue because of the .110 gauge string. The nut probably needs to be made wider and/or deeper. That wouldn't really explain why the open E is soft though would it?