I Just Got A 1974 P-Bass

[p-bass]

I bought it off a friend for $800 and it's in good shape. I am going to get a set up and restring it. I don't know what kind of strings I should put on it. I play in a Blues band and think some flatwounds would sound great on this. So what do you guys think,flatwound or roundwound for a 1974 Fender P ? I still can't get over the fact I have this bass. Thank You

[Deacon_Blues]

Congrats to the "new" bass! Sounds like a great deal too. I bet it's worth much more than that.

I'd put flats on that one, maybe a set of Labellas. They get lots of love here, especially when put on a P bass. Otherwise, the Thomastik-Infeld flats sound amazing, if you don't have anything against the low tension.

[UncleBalsamic]

Originally Posted by Deacon_Blues

Congrats to the "new" bass! Sounds like a great deal too. I bet it's worth much more than that.

I'd put flats on that one, maybe a set of Labellas. They get lots of love here, especially when put on a P bass. Otherwise, the Thomastik-Infeld flats sound amazing, if you don't have anything against the low tension.

+1

Enjoy your bass.

[Eckie]

Congrats from a fellow '74 owner. I was in New York back in 2004 and Sam Ash had one in the same colour as mine for $2,000 so it looks like you got a bargain.

For a while I was using Fender 8520M Superbass and it sounded great. More recently I put on 9120 Nylon Tapewounds. The tension is a lot lower and I find it more difficult to control. Maybe my right hand style is too aggressive.
Anyway, the 9120s sound fantastic if you're after an old school sound

[p-bass]

I feel very lucky to have got such a good deal. The man I bought it from is a guitar player and said he puchased the bass about 1981 in pawn shop. He said it has sat in his house all that time and never really played. The strings are so dead they have no tone so I am going to buy some today and take the bass to a shop here in town tomorrow and have them put on the strings and intonate and set it up. The neck is like a Jazz neck and the body is natural and everything looks original. Still can't make up my mind,flats or rounds ? Please give me the pros & cons for each on a bass of this vintage. Thank you

[wateroftyne]

Niice score!

I don't think flats or rounds should be down to the age of the bass.. a P-bass is a P-bass!

It should be down to the tone you want. Look through threads here, and see what players of different styles are using, and find out what strings your favourite tones are.

personally, I'm flats all the way. Don't believe anyone that tells you that flats lack definition and don't cut through!

[sedan_dad]

String choice is up to you.
I have my basses strung up with GHS, Chromes and T.I.'s.
I really like the T.I.'s. Very smooth feeling. True they have low tension but if you play with your finger tips rather than your pads they work very well. The Chromes ,while zingy sounding when new,are good for digging in while the GHS are more abrasive feeling to me although they have a great warm tone.

[fish slapper]

Pics? No pics/ no bass.

Flats. Blues on a 70s p bass? Definitely flats.

[envika]

NO PICS???

Also, I prefer flats on a P-bass but on a mid-70s P-bass rounds might be a better bet, because they were in style at the time. But really, put whatever strings on it that you want.

[p-bass]

fish slapper & envika ,I don't have the stuff to get a pichture of the bass up so you will have to trust me,I am poor and only have a computer. waterofftyne, those are some nice basses you have there. I kind of wish mine was sunburst but at the price I paid I think that would be asking to much, I just feel very blessed to have it whatever the color. I am leaning toward flatwound string for this bass. I just put some GHS Precision Flatwound strings on my 50' Classic P and really like them. Yes, I think I am going flatwounds on this bass. Thank You guys !

[Jim Carr]

I'd be more concerned about gauge. IMHO, it would be a good idea to avoid loading too much tension on an older neck.

Lighter gauge chromes are great on a P-bass. You might like Ernie Ball Flats, Fender ML flats, or TI flats.

I have also liked D'Addario rounds, Sadowsky black labels, and Fender nickels. Just make sure you don't have so much tension that you start cranking down the truss rod.

Chef swears by La Bella's, and though I used them years ago, I haven't been back lately. Again, watch the tension. All IMHO, MYYV.

[One Drop]

What colour is it?

If it has a Jazz size neck it should have the letter A on the neck butt, if it has ther older style date stamp. These are relatively rare.

Great score, enjoy your bass!

I would slap some Sadowsky or Labella flats on that baby myself, but WoT makes the real point here: go with the tone you like.

Most of these basses have rock hard necks, no need to worry about tension IMO. I have a '73 Jazz and it has .105 Roto rounds on it, no problems.

[p-bass]

One Drop, the neck does seem rock hard and stright as an arrow. I will be string it with GHS Flatwounds 45-105. I will be using it my Blues band. It is natural with an "A" neck and maple board.

[P-BASSLOVER]

Originally Posted by p-bass

One Drop, the neck does seem rock hard and stright as an arrow. I will be string it with GHS Flatwounds 45-105. I will be using it my Blues band. It is natural with an "A" neck and maple board.

Probably the most perfect flatwound for a P-Bass. They are a medium tension string, and they sound great on a P-Bass!
You're gonna love'em! I use them or Chromes when I want flats. Stay away from Roto and Fender flats. {Harpoon Cables}
Even in the lighter gauges they are still stiff!

[p-bass]

I could not bring myself to do it....put flatwounds on my new '74 Fender Precision. I had the Bass set up and had the shop put on some GHS Bass Boomers. The nickel roundwounds sound great and I still get a good "Blues Tone" when I roll back the treble knob. This Bass is solid as a rock and very comfortable to play with the A neck and maple finger board. I love this thing !