Fender Flats - Light--Medium Light--Medium

[rydin4lifebass]

I currently have a P bass strung with EB super slinkys (45-65-85-100). I want to string it with Fender Flats, but not sure which set to get between the light(45-60-80-100), medium light(50-65-85-100), and medium (55-70-90-105) . I recently put a set of Fender tapewounds on my other bass and love the playability and thicker feel. I'm looking for that class "thump/boom" sound..I'm leaning towards the medium-light gauge...thoughts?

[mkandolf]

I've got the mediums on my 78P. You want thump and boom, that's where it's at!

[rydin4lifebass]

Is that too much tension on the neck? I don't want to have playability problems or anything?

[seanm]

If you like the tapewounds, you should have no problem with the tension of the medium flats. A P bass will have no problem with medium.

[Kael]

IME, you can get thump out of lighter gauge flats as well. Not as much as the thicker ones, but FAR more than you'd ever get out of any set of rounds. I'd suggest starting with the light gauge and moving up if needed.

[rydin4lifebass]

the Fender tapewounds have low tension, which is why I was going to get the ML's....yet I'm drawn to the mediums for MORE THUMP..haha.

[seanm]

Ok. I have never used the Fender tapewounds, just the rotosound. While the rotosound tapes felt like they had less tension than medium flats, my truss rod said otherwise

[rydin4lifebass]

The P Bass I'm putting them on was my first bass and is a silvertone revolver, so nothing top of the line. I wan't sure if the tension on the medium would be too much for the neck. I have ML gauge rounds on it now, so the difference in "thump" will be noticable from them but is there a big difference in tone from the ML's to the M's? Also, how would the difference between gauges affect my playing on how hard I have to dig in?

[PBnJBassist]

Originally Posted by Kael

IME, you can get thump out of lighter gauge flats as well. Not as much as the thicker ones, but FAR more than you'd ever get out of any set of rounds. I'd suggest starting with the light gauge and moving up if needed.

I totally second that. I use Fender LG Flats on both my Squier Classic Vibe and Fender Classic Series P-basses and they are quite stellar (to say the least). I played the hell out my 1st set that's on my Fender and they broke in rather quickly (around 2 weeks) and they give me "thump" and enough tension for easy play so they aren't stiff power cables; but they aren't flexible rubber bands either. Before using the Fender LG Flats, I was using D'Addario MG Chromes on all my basses, however, as others will point out, those are a bit too bright and take longer to break in. Even then, they are still quite bright for flats.

Again, try the Light Gauges first. If you still want thicker, then move up, but keep those lights around just in case the ML Fenders don't do it for you. Also, if you're looking for more thump, you might want to try a foam mute. I went out and bought some weather strip and attached it onto one of my spare bridge covers (so I can switch out between the two) and it gave me that old-school thump I was looking for.

[waynobass]

Medium light, on the theory that if you have three choices, the best is the middle one.

[John Wentzien]

Originally Posted by waynobass

Medium light, on the theory that if you have three choices, the best is the middle one.

[rydin4lifebass]

Sounds like I'm going ML...appreciate all the input guys...

[John Wentzien]

Good sounding strings! My choice for flats!

[rydin4lifebass]

Originally Posted by John Wentzien

Good sounding strings! My choice for flats!

what gauge do you use out of curiousity?

[John Wentzien]

Originally Posted by rydin4lifebass

what gauge do you use out of curiousity?

I used the medium guage stainless steel flats...Great strings! had them on for about a year.....but went back to SS Rotos...
Nice flats !

[rydin4lifebass]

I rarely use drop d tuning...I know flats are known for higher tension but would the ML's be suitable for occasional drop tuning?