Flatwound recommendations for a 51P RI

vin*tone · #1 05-26-2011, 01:00 AM

Hey guys. I just scored a 91 MIJ 51 which is currently sporting rounds and am going to restring with a set of thuddies.

I'm after the Wilton Felder Root Down tone.....

YouTube - ‪Jimmy Smith - Root Down (Part1)‬&rlm;

By the sounds of it - Labellas will be the way to go. I'm after punchy attack, deep fundamental and thickness on the D, G. I dig in pretty hard so will probably want thicker guage..... and of course.... I'll need something that can go string through.

Cheers. Vin

One Drop · #2 05-26-2011, 02:17 AM

Labellas!

Not recommended to string them through bridge, though they have a DT flat that IS made for this, according to their site. I don't know anyone who has tried them, though- you can be the guinea pig!

Thanks for the link, I forgot all about that album. Every instrument sound good enough to eat.

rodl2005 · #3 05-26-2011, 03:19 AM

T.I. J344

mongo2 · #4 05-26-2011, 04:03 AM

Fender 9050s/D'Addario Chromes

btp · #5 05-26-2011, 04:11 AM

In my experience, there's a big difference between Labella and the Fender 9050s... The Labellas are really "vintage", but the 9050s are flats that can almost sound round if you boost the treble (I've never tried the D'Addario Chromes, but I get the sense that's why people like them...) If you want "thuddies", I'd say Labella.

I don't know about the string-through issue...

vin*tone · #6 05-26-2011, 07:24 AM

Well it looks like Labellas arent recommended for string thru's. I think I'd probably prefer to go through the body if pos. Probably preferable with that bridge.

JTE · #7 05-26-2011, 09:23 AM

My favorite flats are GHS Precision Flats. One set's been on my AV '62 Precision so long I can't remember (but well before 2003), and another set has been on my Sting ('54 single-coil Precision) for at least five years. I use the 45/65/85/105 set and they work fine on the through-body bridge. Just be careful and patient putting them on.

John

REAPER52 · #8 05-26-2011, 09:29 AM

T I flats ==have them strung through on my Jazz. great strings

chadhargis · #9 05-26-2011, 11:59 AM

+1 on TI Jazz Flats.

Carol Kaye can't be wrong.

CapnSev · #10 05-26-2011, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chadhargis

Carol Kaye can't be wrong.

... except when it comes to who recorded Motown bass lines.

Seriously though- TI flats are the coolest strings ever made IMO.

fretlessguy · #11 05-26-2011, 02:58 PM

I have a set of TI Jazz Flats on mine. Quite tasty sounding.

chuck norriss · #12 05-26-2011, 03:06 PM

Oh my super tight track
& congrats on your new bass.

Here's a flats comparison
Flatwound

I use LaBella DTB & D'Addario Chrome. But I'd suggest tape wounds for that sound & that thump.

Bassman822 · #13 05-26-2011, 03:10 PM

I have D'Addario Chromes on 2 basses- MIM Pbass and G&L L2K and they work well on both basses. They are slightly zingy at first but the mellow quite nicely. I have TI 344s on my fretless, but I tried them on the G&L and didnt like them there

vin*tone · #14 05-26-2011, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuck norriss

Oh my super tight track
& congrats on your new bass.

Here's a flats comparison
Flatwound

I use LaBella DTB & D'Addario Chrome. But I'd suggest tape wounds for that sound & that thump.

Wow - that's great! The differences are really subtle but I suppose when you are playing at volume with a band the true character of each really shines through.

I've used Chromes on a few basses (Ric/P bass, Jazz.... they're currently on my jazz) and I wouldn't mind mixing it up. Maybe I could move the Chromes onto the string thru and try Labellas on my 70 RI P.

Thanks for the tips guys.

**Matthew_84** · #15 05-26-2011, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuck norriss

Oh my super tight track
& congrats on your new bass.

Here's a flats comparison
Flatwound

I use LaBella DTB & D'Addario Chrome. But I'd suggest tape wounds for that sound & that thump.

Nice! Thanks a ton for that. I've been looking for something like this for a while. My chrome's G string sounds too tinny for me and am looking for something else with a bit more thump... Looks like I'm going to try a set of GHS precisions out.

chuck norriss · #16 05-26-2011, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vin*tone

Wow - that's great! The differences are really subtle but I suppose when you are playing at volume with a band the true character of each really shines through.

I've used Chromes on a few basses (Ric/P bass, Jazz.... they're currently on my jazz) and I wouldn't mind mixing it up. Maybe I could move the Chromes onto the string thru and try Labellas on my 70 RI P.

Thanks for the tips guys.

Yes, the true test is at volume w band
I move my strings around too
Quite honestly I'll try what's on sale but I think thomastiks & nicer sets etc are worth the dough

Turock · #17 05-26-2011, 05:00 PM

My favorites are TI Jazz Flats and Pyramid Golds.

RicPlaya · #18 05-26-2011, 05:00 PM

On my MIJ P Ive tried Labellas, the Fenders, TI's, and half round and ground rounds..finally put on the GHS precisions, couldn't be happer. Tension is important to me, the Labellas and Fenders were fairly stiff, TI's little flubby..GHS just right tension (somewhat round woundish in feel) with the oldschool thump I was looking for.

billoetjen · #19 05-26-2011, 05:04 PM

I've gone string-through with LaBella DTB flats, against their recommendation. They have held up well for me. But maybe I just got lucky with the bridge on mine (individual bridges, specially designed for Warmoth, can't remember who made them).

Doctor Dirt · #20 05-26-2011, 05:08 PM

Recently bought a 2008 usa P-bass with the bridge that has tradional option for stringing instead of body through. I use LaBella Deep Talking (Jamesons) I like them and have used them for many years there is a good amount of time before they break in but it is a great sound. I have used the heavier Fender model also and think they have a great sound too . Doc