Flats For Blues

p-bass · #1 03-24-2008, 09:47 PM

I am back and asking for more advice. I have been playing in a Blues band and have been using D'addario roundwounds on my P-bass and like the tone I get. I have a Classic 50's P-bass and I would like to try flats on it again. I tried Chromes but did not like how bright they sounded. Does anybody know of a flatwound that will cut through live and still sound nice and fat ? Thank You

walruswaspaul · #2 03-24-2008, 10:46 PM

Ernie Ball Flatwounds , darker and warmer than the Chromes with good low mids

ljazz · #3 03-25-2008, 04:36 AM

I'm using TI JazzFlats for the blues thing I'm doing. They have beautiful mids that sit in the mix nicely. The low tension will take you a week or two to get used to, but once they break in, they sound and play wonderfully. I'm amazed every time we play, because they are so articulate, yet sound so full.

They're a bit more money, but well worth it considering how good they sound and feel, as well as how long they last.

Ljazz

lonote · #4 03-25-2008, 08:10 AM

I use Fender 9050 flats on my P-Basses. D'Addario Chromes will deaden up after a while, by the way. They are what I use on my J-style basses and my semi-hollowbody.

p-bass · #5 03-25-2008, 12:12 PM

I have tried the T.I. Jazz Flats and do not like the rubberband feel. I will try the Chromes again and leave them on longer and maybe they will mellow out ? Thank You

Guiseppe · #6 03-25-2008, 12:15 PM

I've tried and liked the LaBella Deep Talkin' flats. Higher tension then I expected, and had a nice, gritty tone to them.

JKT · #7 03-25-2008, 12:19 PM

I play primarily blues and R/B and the LaBellas are working great.

JKT

bluevoodoo · #8 03-25-2008, 02:28 PM

I have labella's on my jazz and they are awesome. It gives you all the thump you need for blues. I found they cut through well. They are nice and smooth so you dont get that nasty fret buzz when you play songs like cross cut saw, ect. I would only imagine they would sound even better on a p bass. Nice classic blues, they also work pretty dang well for the more rockin songs.

Frankjohnson · #9 03-25-2008, 02:37 PM

Don't Forget WEbstrings Stainless Steel flats -

Meaty!

woodyng · #10 03-26-2008, 09:43 AM

pyramid flats. great tone/feel/tension. the e string is rather dead-sounding,though,which i think makes it great for a blues sound. is your p-bass a maple fretboard? cuz the rosewood would be darker sounding with these strings...i have a borrowed p-bass/rosewood fb that has daddario chromes on it,and it sounds great-but after about 20 minutes of playing,my hands are worn-out!

Luckydog · #11 03-26-2008, 12:01 PM

Sadowsky flats are the schizzle. Plenty of thump but lots of definition.

Sleeq · #12 03-27-2008, 04:55 AM

Fender flats here... L gauge.

I used to head my own blues band for 4 years and now starting a blues side project.

P-bass with the said flats. what more do u need?

manicbassman · #13 03-27-2008, 05:57 AM

running with Labella black nylon tapewound flats here on my VMJ bass and Rotosound SM77 flats on my Vintage 950B (only five string flat set I could find at short notice, will be replacing them when I get the scratch together for a set of Labellas). I find the SM77's are rather taut and can clang when releasing off the fret...