Got a P bass. What're the punchiest, vintagiest roundwound strings?

[Rory.O.Glory]

Just bought a 2001 Fender 50th anniversary P bass.

WOW. My favorite yet.

The strings are old - always preferred broken-in strings but I can feel these getting ready to go and after breaking an E on my Stingray last week, I don't want to run the risk of that happening on my P during shows the next couple of weeks. Unfortunately the guy I got it from has no idea what kind of strings they are, I doubt he's even changed them since he bought it new (studio bass he rarely used).

Anyone have suggestions for the punchiest roundwounds for that P bass growl? Or groundwounds etc... I don't want to use flatwounds on this one, I use them on my J bass and like them but I want some of that mid-y natural character amplified for the P. Also, I'm a fan of regular gauge strings with a good amount of tension.

Thanks y'allz.

[strappa]

for "vintagy" round wound tone i would go with Rotosound 66

I prefer DR Sunbeams - Hi beams are good too

but i do the opposite of what you do
i have DR round wounds on my jazz
and i use Rotosound 77 flats on my P

[billiam5billion]

+1 on the DR sunbeams.

[bassybill]

Vintage roundwound punch, growl and zing = Rotosound Swing Bass steel roundwounds. The zing goes away fairly quickly after playing them in for a while, which should suit you judging by your comments. Tension is up to you, choose your gauges accordingly.

[SLaPiNFuNK]

I keep Compression Wound strings on my P-Bass. Solid Feel, very punchy and smooth.

I know they aren't completely "round wounds" but, they posses every quality of a round wound and more...

[tangentmusic]

I'd do Roto 66's too.

[whisper14072]

+1 on the Roto Sound. I ahve a 2006 MIA P and that is what I use. Specifically the Billy Sheehan sognature strings, but have used the 66's and love them too

[darkstorm]

+100 on rotosound swing66. The original roundwound bass string and extremly great sounding to.