fender precision bass flat wound

Bloomyleo · #1 05-27-2011, 06:41 AM

Does anyone have any input on the best flat wound strings for a fender precision bass? I'm looking for that old school funky sort of dead sounding tone, if that helps...

Stones_Fan · #2 05-27-2011, 06:58 AM

You can't go wrong with La Bella flat wounds and a foam mute under the strings near the bridge. Look for the 0760 "Jamerson Set" which is the original 1954 Fender style. That setup kills on a P-Bass for old school tones.

lonote · #3 05-28-2011, 10:04 AM

I like Fender 9050 flats on my P-Basses.

Mushroo · #4 05-28-2011, 10:05 AM

I use TI Jazz Flats on mine.

Floyd Eye · #5 05-28-2011, 10:06 AM

Chromes and a foam mute.

Turock · #6 05-28-2011, 10:12 AM

I love both TI Jazz Flats and Pyramid Golds; however, I find the Pyramids give more of a "old school funky sort of dead sounding tone".

bluesdogblues · #7 05-28-2011, 10:31 AM

Exactly LaBella 0760M Deep Talkin Flats 1954 James Jamerson sets (52-110) Flatwound string as on my Fender Precision Basses

You can't go wrong with that.

Combination of this strings and Fender Basses (P or J) had been on too many hits record (played by James Jamerson, Joe Osborn,.. And some other..

Just consider the 'minuses':
#very high tension and stiff strings,
#which you may adjust your trussrod a bit to compensate (turn it clockwise);
#less playability (hard to play, need strength to play,..maybe almost like play a DB hehee).. (I compensate them on one of my P-Bass by tuning down to DGCF and set the bridge lower)...;
#less definition of note

But it sounds soo good in the P (just like what you'd like to achieve type of sound you describe on your #1st post), balance from string to string.
And it'll last forever, getting better as time, like a good wine

And believe me you'll probably get plenty of "No No" recommendation too from felow TBers here about that strings..

As alternative:
Some say (and i almost believe them that I'd like to try too someday if these strings of mine ever break or if I ever have a new bass) they are:
#Lakland Joe Osborne FW strings; or
#GHS Precision

------------

This topic has been thousands times asked in TB (but I'm still happy to comment in it anyway hehee) and you'll get various inputs as well, some are good but you have to decide one for yourself.

Hope it helps.

Cheers

Pilgrim · #8 05-28-2011, 11:02 AM

I love Labellas, but I find the Jamerson set too large in gauge, and as a result, unpleasantly stiff. I prefer the Deep Talkin' flats in light to medium gauge.

Best price on Labellas is at Imperial Guitars online; best variety is at Juststrings.com.

iflemm · #9 05-28-2011, 06:37 PM

I also tried the Labella Deep Talking Bass strings on my MIA Standard Precision, and also found them very stiff to play.
I now use GHS Precision Flats, (medium gauge .45-.105).
They have that "Motown" thump, which gets better with age, and they feel great. After trying various flat wound sets, they are now my strings of choice. They have the sound, that people use flats to get.

Nedmundo · #10 05-29-2011, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iflemm

I now use GHS Precision Flats, (medium gauge .45-.105). They have that "Motown" thump, which gets better with age, and they feel great. After trying various flat wound sets, they are now my strings of choice. They have the sound, that people use flats to get.

Exactly. They are called "Precision Flats" for a very good reason. Thickest sound I've ever heard from the D and G strings.

**Matthew_84** · #11 05-29-2011, 06:50 AM

I have chromes on my P bass right now and have for about 5 months. I like the feel of them and the E and A strings sound great, but the D is kind of thin sounding and the G is very thin (almost tinny sounding). I would have gotten LaBella's but they apparently aren't made for basses where the strings have to be strung through the body (which is he only way with my bridge). There is some fairly recent thread (I looked for it in my subscriptions, but I guess I didn't subscribe to it), where a fellow TBer posted clips of a flatwound shootout he did (I don't think it's in the "flatwound shootout" thread though), he tried all of the main brands onto two different basses. For my tastes GHS precision won, and so I have ordered a set, but you should try and find that post and decide for yourself.

**Matthew_84** · #12 05-29-2011, 06:52 AM

found it

Flatwound recommendations for a 51P RI

iflemm · #13 05-29-2011, 08:58 AM

I think you will be happy with the GHS Flats. They are supposedly made for 34-36 inch scale basses, and on my string through the body P-Bass, they fit perfectly, so I guess that it's true.

Doctor Dirt · #14 05-29-2011, 09:07 AM

Been playing the "Deep Talkin'" for a long long time and the reason for that model over all the rest is the G string thickness (gauge). I don't like going under that thickness and I've been unable to purchase singles. They will take their sweet time to break in and some folks can't tell when they actually DO break in but they do hahahaha!!! Fantastic on a P or J bass and they do little to no harm on the board. I have used the heavy Fender Flats and I think their just fine but again I like the thickness of LaBella's. Welcome to the "Flatz World"!!! Doc

I do have the fender bridge (on a 2008 P-Bass)with the option of traditional stringing and that is the way to go. I did have the LaBella on a 1999 J-Bass body through and had no problems.

bluesdogblues · #15 05-29-2011, 10:21 AM

Yea Doc... Me too feel the same about Labella Jamerson G (and D) string.

Also strung through body here.. No problem at all (except the E string's silk wrap sits over the nut a bit, but no big deal)..

Very very happy with the sound and that's All that matters to me

parsons · #16 05-29-2011, 10:22 AM

I have a set of Chromes on my P that sound great, but i wouldnt call it real old school sounding.

fitani · #17 05-29-2011, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nedmundo

Exactly. They are called "Precision Flats" for a very good reason. Thickest sound I've ever heard from the D and G strings.

FWIW I put a set of these on My Jazz bass. Clearest- Fattest Notes Ive heard from my Bass.

samjones_de · #18 05-29-2011, 10:37 AM

LaBella 760FL are great for an old school sound.
But others like TI or Chromes are not bad either for that kind of thing.

For sounds please have a listen to my
flatwound shootout

GeneralElectric · #19 05-29-2011, 11:24 AM

I've had the LaBellas before but I don't like buying from them anymore. I've had a tendency to have the strings break in a top loading bridge. They've been the only strings I've broken aside from Fender Nylon rounds. When I have a stiffer string I play with a heavier touch to get that punch. Something the strings don't agree with.
Labella is a lousy company too. I bought a set of their tape wounds and the A string had thin spots, rough spots, and bits of metal showing through: right out of the package! I called and emailed and called and emailed. They kept promising to send me a replacement, and after two months I gave up. So much for a $45 set of strings.
They won't be getting any more of my money. Ever.

I've always been partial to GHS Precision flats. They're also really cheap too. I had one string break at about the 5th fret randomly and GHS mailed me a whole new set free of charge which arrived in the mail two days later. They've also been very friendly whenever I've talked to them. (Kudos too to DR Strings and TI Strings in the CS department)

Only one bass of mine has flats now and they're ancient mystery flats. No idea of the brand and they've been floating around for awhile. The silks are a purply blue.

BigBassBob · #20 05-29-2011, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew_84

I have chromes on my P bass right now and have for about 5 months. I like the feel of them and the E and A strings sound great, but the D is kind of thin sounding and the G is very thin (almost tinny sounding). I would have gotten LaBella's but they apparently aren't made for basses where the strings have to be strung through the body (which is he only way with my bridge). There is some fairly recent thread (I looked for it in my subscriptions, but I guess I didn't subscribe to it), where a fellow TBer posted clips of a flatwound shootout he did (I don't think it's in the "flatwound shootout" thread though), he tried all of the main brands onto two different basses. For my tastes GHS precision won, and so I have ordered a set, but you should try and find that post and decide for yourself.

Might I ask what gauge your Chromes were? I've got a set waiting to go on my p and your post has left me a little worried lol.

Ah well, I guess I just have to try them either way. I know I get on with TIs (at least on the fretless) so they're an option... or some GHS flats.