Extra Heavy Flatwounds?

[Chaddycakes]

I have a Fender Mark Hoppus Signature P-Bass that I've been playing with the Jamerson-heavy gauge of flatwounds for a while now. Is there a reason that I shouldn't move up yet again to a .112 or even a .115 E? I realize that they will be very difficult to play, but I'd love the challenge and the resulting tone.

I won't blow my bass up, will I?

[SLaPiNFuNK]

What's difficult to play about it?

Yes go for it

[PBnJBassist]

Didn't think the Jamerson set could go on string-through bodies (which all Mark Hoppus basses are) unless you changed the bridge. Hmm... didn't La Bella release string-through safe sets awhile ago?

[SLaPiNFuNK]

They make thru body Jamersons now

As well as the other deep talking flats.

[PBnJBassist]

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

They make thru body Jamersons now

As well as the other deep talking flats.

Awesome. La Bella has been off my radar for awhile, looks like they're back on lol.

[Luckydog]

Originally Posted by Chad.mundt

I have a Fender Mark Hoppus Signature P-Bass that I've been playing with the Jamerson-heavy gauge of flatwounds for a while now. Is there a reason that I shouldn't move up yet again to a .112 or even a .115 E? I realize that they will be very difficult to play, but I'd love the challenge and the resulting tone.

I won't blow my bass up, will I?

Yessir, go for it. I'd ask to shake your hand but you'd probably turn mine into meat pulp!

[Chaddycakes]

Originally Posted by Luckydog

Yessir, go for it. I'd ask to shake your hand but you'd probably turn mine into meat pulp!

Lol, thanks. I ended up using the La Bella original 54s, and in the same gig I was told that I sounded like a chainsaw and like a DB played arco, using only a Markbass Compressore in my signal path.

[Salamenster]

Well that's a bummer... (or do you see that as a positive thing?)

[hoketus]

Originally Posted by Chad.mundt

I have a Fender Mark Hoppus Signature P-Bass that I've been playing with the Jamerson-heavy gauge of flatwounds for a while now. Is there a reason that I shouldn't move up yet again to a .112 or even a .115 E? I realize that they will be very difficult to play, but I'd love the challenge and the resulting tone.

I won't blow my bass up, will I?

Why increase the tension to 'challenge' yourself? That's not a challenge, that's a disability.

[Chaddycakes]

TONE!!

[Chaddycakes]

Also, when your hands are strong, you play better. You lift weights to get strong, you play heavy strings to get strong hands

[mccartneyman]

Originally Posted by hoketus

Why increase the tension to 'challenge' yourself? That's not a challenge, that's a disability.

Ah me ... back in 1965 when I started playing. Black Diamond and LaBella were all you could get, and they had a .110 E. You get used to it when you have no choice --- or don't know any different. Lost of good music made on heavy flats. Still.

[dukeorock]

For many years I used .50-.115 roundwounds...they aint that tough once you get used to 'em. I'd swear I much prefer the tone.

Just bought a set of Circle K's that are .49-.118 which sounds crazy, but they're really slinky for their size...possibly too slinky for me

[neebs]

dang .118 for E.. that's pretty hardcore.

I've used .112 from circle k, and they did feel sorta slinky.. But it did make my tendons hurt. Call me a sissy.

[dukeorock]

Originally Posted by neebs

dang .118 for E.. that's pretty hardcore.

I've used .112 from circle k, and they did feel sorta slinky.. But it did make my tendons hurt. Call me a sissy.

Well, I mostly play upright bass, so I guess I'm just used to bigger strings

Everyone should play what's comfortable

[Danno1985]

Originally Posted by Chad.mundt

TONE!!

So you're saying Jamerson could've had better "tone" by moving up a couple gauges?

By all means, go for it man, to each their own, but if you have a buzz free setup and like the sound you're getting with the Jamersons you have now, personally I don't really see the point in making it harder on your tendons just for kicks.

[dukeorock]

Originally Posted by Danno1985

So you're saying Jamerson could've had better "tone" by moving up a couple gauges?

By all means, go for it man, to each their own, but if you have a buzz free setup and like the sound you're getting with the Jamersons you have now, personally I don't really see the point in making it harder on your tendons just for kicks.

Hmm...tiny bit mean-spirited

I don't have anything to prove...was actually looking to go slightly lighter, and even though the Circle K's are larger, they really feel quite slinky.

[Chaddycakes]

Hmm. Maybe I need to bite the bullet and do some hard research here. La Bella said they'd make me custom sets, but I'd have to buy 6 sets. I want to record myself playing on the Jamersons and then on the .112s, so we can actually see the difference.

Anybody else want to take the Super-Motown Challenge?

[KingRazor]

Originally Posted by Chad.mundt

Also, when your hands are strong, you play better. You lift weights to get strong, you play heavy strings to get strong hands

Wrong.

Sorry, but it's not about strength, it's about dexterity.

I am physically strong enough to snap a bass string if it's tuned to pitch. That doesn't make me a good bass player. I play with a pretty light touch, a small child could easily exert as much force on a string as I do when I play.

I use heavy strings because they have narrower vibrations, which allows me to get lower action without buzzing than if I used thinner strings.

[Chaddycakes]

More metal means more electricity through the magnet, right?