Fender Pure Nickel Roundwounds?...

Scott01 · #1 03-19-2007, 01:18 AM

Ok so I've decided to get a set of SD SPB-2 P-bass pickups to get a semi-vintage tone with some nice warm bottom end, but I still haven't really thought about some strings to go with it.

At the moment I'm leaning towards Nickel plated roundwound's as I'm after a nice warm and beefy (almost vintage) tone - I definately dont want steel's, and I'm pretty sure flats would be just a little too lacking in definition for my taste... (However thats judging from the sounds of other's flats, I myself have never played with flats.)

I saw the description of the Fender pure nickel roundwounds (http://www.juststrings.com/fnd-7150m.html) and it sounds just like what I'm after but I haven't heard anyone ever reccommending Fender strings, are they sub-par to most other brands? Do the pure nickel strings sound that much different to nickel-plated steel rounds?

Also if anyone has any other reccommendations for a nice warm set of strings which I could use to get a nice vintage fingerstyle P-bass tone, please let me know

(I'm looking for gauges of atleast .045-.105, but preferably something around the .050-.110 mark...)

Thanks in advance.

jenderfazz · #2 03-19-2007, 01:27 AM

I've played several sets of Fender Pure Nickels and I loved them for what they did. Their sound gets really thumpy with time - great sound! I'm a steel guy, though.

Jim Carr · #3 03-19-2007, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott01

...I saw the description of the Fender pure nickel roundwounds (http://www.juststrings.com/fnd-7150m.html) and it sounds just like what I'm after but I haven't heard anyone ever reccommending Fender strings, are they sub-par to most other brands? Do the pure nickel strings sound that much different to nickel-plated steel rounds?

Also if anyone has any other reccommendations for a nice warm set of strings which I could use to get a nice vintage fingerstyle P-bass tone, please let me know

(I'm looking for gauges of atleast .045-.105, but preferably something around the .050-.110 mark...)

I have used 7150's a lot and like them very much. They are relatively dark and rich, and I've never broken one. Some people don't realize that (bass) Flatwounds were introduced (I think) in the early sixties. Until then, all bass players --and there weren't REALLY so many-- used roundwounds. BTW, there have been a couple of recent threads about vintage tone in the Basses forum, which might also help.

One thing I have said there, and which you probably know, is that the M gauge or heavier require higher tension, which is stressful for older or less stable necks. If you do go with heavier than ML gauge, I'd be sure that I have lots of truss rod adjustment left. I think also I would avoid using them on a vintage instrument. I have had to remove M gauge fender flats from my '55 and my '71. The '71 P was especially sensitive to the M gauge, due to it's rather shot refretted '69 neck.

Generally, I have found Fender strings to be good quality. I have used them on and off since 1965. I don't know for sure, but suspect that they are made by La Bella, which is not to say they are the same as La Bella, they are not.

Fender Flats are notable for their lack of character. If you want a very neutral/smooth or even darker tone for blues, they are good. Most Rockers of the late sixties used them, too. This sounds like a poor recommendation, but I think they are great and very authenic for blues, old school Rock, Soul, R&B, and heavier 60's Rock.

Scott01 · #4 03-19-2007, 05:19 AM

Cool thanks for the advice guys, looks like they will work for me

(Oh, and its going to go onto squier, so I'm not real worried about damaging the neck with extra tension...

)

SGT. Pepper · #5 03-19-2007, 06:00 AM

They are good strings. Probably the most percussive roundwounds I've ever played.

david fitch · #6 03-19-2007, 10:42 PM

I have used Fender pure nickel roundwounds and really liked them. Very warm old nickel tone but quit using them when I could not find anymore. Great strings.....Flats came first in the 1950's then rounwounds in the 60's, Dave

Jim Carr · #7 03-20-2007, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by david fitch

I have used Fender pure nickel roundwounds and really liked them. Very warm old nickel tone but quit using them when I could not find anymore. Great strings.....Flats came first in the 1950's then rounwounds in the 60's, Dave

Hate to disagree, but I was there. Flats came after roundwounds, and were so popular, that they almost QUIT making roundwounds altogether.

The roundwound 7150s are, in effect, reissues of the Fender original bass string.

Roundwounds made a come back in the seventies. In the US, a big 1971 hit by Yes ("The Roundabout" with Chris Squire using Rotosounds) made roundwounds more in demand again, and they spread from there.

Flats had come into popularity about 10 years earlier, and shipped on just about every bass Fender and Gibson made in the '60s and '70s. All IMHO.

LoveThatBass · #8 03-20-2007, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Carr

Hate to disagree, but I was there. Flats came after roundwounds, and were so popular, that they almost QUIT making roundwounds altogether.

The roundwound 7150s are, in effect, reissues of the Fender original bass string.

Roundwounds made a come back in the seventies. In the US, a big 1971 hit by Yes ("The Roundabout" with Chris Squire using Rotosounds) made roundwounds more in demand again, and they spread from there.

Flats had come into popularity about 10 years earlier, and shipped on just about every bass Fender and Gibson made in the '60s and '70s. All IMHO.

I am so glad you added the part about them making a comeback in the 1970's because I played Bass in 1974 using flats and remembered the rounds coming out about that time. Did not know they originated much earlier but fell by the wayside in favor of flats.

SGT. Pepper · #9 03-20-2007, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Carr

Hate to disagree, but I was there. Flats came after roundwounds, and were so popular, that they almost QUIT making roundwounds altogether.

The roundwound 7150s are, in effect, reissues of the Fender original bass string.

Roundwounds made a come back in the seventies. In the US, a big 1971 hit by Yes ("The Roundabout" with Chris Squire using Rotosounds) made roundwounds more in demand again, and they spread from there.

Flats had come into popularity about 10 years earlier, and shipped on just about every bass Fender and Gibson made in the '60s and '70s. All IMHO.

Your wrong there Dr. Jim, Flats came first.The first roundwound was introduced by Rotosound in the late sixtys.

lonote · #10 03-20-2007, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGT. Pepper

Your wrong there Dr. Jim, Flats came first.The first roundwound was introduced by Rotosound in the late sixtys.

+1

When I started playing in 1965, only flats were available. I remember buying my first set of roundwounds about 1969 or 1970.

Jim Carr · #11 03-20-2007, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGT. Pepper

Your wrong there Dr. Jim, Flats came first.The first roundwound was introduced by Rotosound in the late sixtys.

Nope. No disrepect intended, but I'll have to just stand by my personal experience: I learned on a borrowed black Dan-Electro short scale bass in 1963 that was strung with roundwounds, and in 1964 used a borrowed Harmony single-pickup single-cut-away hollow body (sunburst) bass that was also strung with round wounds. It was shortly before the Beatles and the British Invasion.

You can see from the name of these strings and the '57 vintage bass what Fender is saying about these. These are a Re-Issue of a 1950's bass string.

Roundwounds came before flatwounds. Flatwounds became THE THING in the 60s, and then roundwounds made a comeback in the early 70s, although they were around the whole time, they were hard to find, considered poor quality, and just not very popular. Most music stores in that day carried one or two brands of bass strings.

I was there and playing bass. Yes, I am OLD (unfortunately), and have a terrific memory (fortunately).

david fitch · #12 03-21-2007, 07:50 PM

In 1951 Leo Fender had The V.C. Squire Co. make Flatwounds for the Fender Precision Bass. Take a look at the old Fender Flatwound pack and they have a picture of a pre '57 P-Bass. When I was younger ( I am getting old also) my Father who played bass since the 1940 's would tell my to get those twangers (Roundwounds) off my Bass!

david fitch · #13 03-21-2007, 09:52 PM

Fender Frontline 2002.FENDER STAINLESS FLATWOUND 9050s-The first electric basses were made by Fender,and those basses used flatwound strings.Made to sound more like an upright bass,they are now used by a wide variety of players to achieve a different tone.Every sound from jazz, to country,to reggae-expand your tonal palette with 9050s today. Now what is Fender trying to say ? Come on !

The Craw · #14 03-21-2007, 10:04 PM

Flats and rounds were both available in the 50s. All Danelectros came standard with rounds. Fenders came standard with flats.

david fitch · #15 03-22-2007, 07:25 AM

The first Danelectro was a six string bass guitar(more of a baritone guitar). It came out in 1956. The four string Long Horn bass came out in 1958. Fender introduced the Precision Bass in 1951. Flats were first and the standard until the 1970's. Peace...Dave

Jim Carr · #16 03-22-2007, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by david fitch

Fender Frontline 2002.FENDER STAINLESS FLATWOUND 9050s-The first electric basses were made by Fender,and those basses used flatwound strings.Made to sound more like an upright bass,they are now used by a wide variety of players to achieve a different tone.Every sound from jazz, to country,to reggae-expand your tonal palette with 9050s today. Now what is Fender trying to say ? Come on !

Looks like they were both available in the 50's, which I did not know. Thanks!

The Craw · #17 03-22-2007, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by david fitch

The first Danelectro was a six string bass guitar(more of a baritone guitar). It came out in 1956. The four string Long Horn bass came out in 1958. Fender introduced the Precision Bass in 1951. Flats were first and the standard until the 1970's. Peace...Dave

I'm well aware of the timeline. I mentioned Danelectro specifically because Jim Carr brought it up.

My point was that they were both available in the 50s. Flats were the standard for Fender until the 70s. Not for all brands.

david fitch · #18 03-23-2007, 09:38 AM

And my point was flats came first. Dave

david fitch · #19 03-23-2007, 05:46 PM

Mr Craw, I think you misunderstand what I mean by "Standard". It is what the players of the 1950's and 1960's used. Monk Montgomery, James Jamerson,Tommy Cogbill, Jerry Jemmott, Carol Kaye and the list goes on and on. These GREAT Bass players used Fender Basses strung with flatwound Strings. The only Dano's I remember are the Tick Tack bass in country music. Peace ...Dave

saxofunk · #20 03-23-2007, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott01

Cool thanks for the advice guys, looks like they will work for me

(Oh, and its going to go onto squier, so I'm not real worried about damaging the neck with extra tension...

)

Last night I replaced a set that was on my G&L SB-2 for well over a year. Out of the box they are pretty bright, almost too bright, but that is wearing off after a couple hours and they are sound better already. I really like they way they age in the long run. Give me a couple weeks and I'll be back in I am NEVER changing these strings again heaven. The tension and feel of the wraps are also just right to me. I'm using .045-.105 and haven't had any problem keeping the setup right.