"Fuller" sound

[Sharpie555]

Hey, thanks in advance for the help.

Ive got a Fender p-bass special (The one with the j-pickup at the bridge) that i play maybe 70-30 in favor of a pick. Im looking for fuller, richer, maybe darker, better tone. I've been considering trying flat wounds but i have some questions.

1. Will i loose any high end presence? some of my bass lines use the D and G strings above the 12th fret, I dont do it often, but i do want the ability.

2. Will i be buried in the mix more easily? i play with to guitars and a drummer and i like to be heard

again any comments are appreciated

[playerunk]

with flats you get some more low end..and usually guitars dont get in that sound area only if downtuned and/or with heavy distortion (they like the bass knob )

you will more likely be more present in the mix but maybe not as you are used to (less midrange but more bass)

[lmfreeman9]

You may lose some high end which might effect 10% of what you play using flatwounds.
But 50% of what you play will be fuller and with a P Bass will set better in the mix if you are playing rock or blues or country.

You might try a lighter gauge flat for better highs; Thomastik Infeld Jazz Flats, Labella DTF FL, DR Hi Beam Flats, and a lot of people on this forum prefer Chromes which are also reasonably priced.

[RickenBoogie]

In this case, your amp is more important than which strings you use.

[CBgaragebassist]

I play a fair bit up high and i use a Cort P and Fender tapewounds and IMO, flats or tapes sound better than rounds in the higher octaves. Rounds just sound too 'pingy' and the flats/tapes sound alot fuller and smoother high up.

[eyecandy]

probably you'll need thicker gauge strings..