If you were this P-Bass, what would you wear?

[rbart]

Here's the deal: I'm not really an electric bass player; I'm an acoustic guitar/mandolin/banjo player who happens to own an electric bass. A bunch of years ago, I picked up a 1973 P-Bass at a guitar swap (planning to become a guitar/mandolin/banjo/bass player- but that never happened).

Judging by its neck finish, dings, and general wear, the previous owner(s?) put a lot of miles on this machine. Since it's just languishing here, I figure I should sell it and get it back into the hands of someone who will actually use it. Judging by its fairly extensive modifications, it seems to have been customized for a particular sound and/or style.

The strings that came with the bass are long gone, and I'd like to replace the current set with something that matches the instrument's personality or mojo or whatever. So here's my question: If you were a 1973 P-Bass with the listed modifications, what type of strings and setup would make you happy?

As purchased:

• Brass nut
• Badass II bridge (original holes filled with flathead brass screws)
• Black-brown metal pickguard (body is natural finish)
• DiMarzio "Model P" pickups (creme plastic covers)
• DiMarzio 500K pots
• Toggle switch on pickguard: series and parallel pickup wiring
• Second toggle: 0.047uF (normal) and 0.01uF (bright) tone caps

In addition:

• Since I assume the metal pickguard was supposed to provide hum protection, I've foil-shielded the cavities; plan to redo the grounding, and possibly replace the current discs with higher quality caps.

I know asking "What kind of strings should I buy?" is a no-no, so let me put it this way: "How would you set up this bass for a bass player who'd want to play this bass?" (I'm guessing not with high action, heavy gauge LaBella flatwounds, and foam under the bridge- but that's only a guess.)

Thanks for your wise and insightful replies,
rb

[bigbass94]

Originally Posted by rbart

Here's the deal: I'm not really an electric bass player; I'm an acoustic guitar/mandolin/banjo player who happens to own an electric bass. A bunch of years ago, I picked up a 1973 P-Bass at a guitar swap (planning to become a guitar/mandolin/banjo/bass player- but that never happened).

Judging by its neck finish, dings, and general wear, the previous owner(s?) put a lot of miles on this machine. Since it's just languishing here, I figure I should sell it and get it back into the hands of someone who will actually use it. Judging by its fairly extensive modifications, it seems to have been customized for a particular sound and/or style.

The strings that came with the bass are long gone, and I'd like to replace the current set with something that matches the instrument's personality or mojo or whatever. So here's my question: If you were a 1973 P-Bass with the listed modifications, what type of strings and setup would make you happy?

As purchased:

• Brass nut
• Badass II bridge (original holes filled with flathead brass screws)
• Black-brown metal pickguard (body is natural finish)
• DiMarzio "Model P" pickups (creme plastic covers)
• DiMarzio 500K pots
• Toggle switch on pickguard: series and parallel pickup wiring
• Second toggle: 0.047uF (normal) and 0.01uF (bright) tone caps

In addition:

• Since I assume the metal pickguard was supposed to provide hum protection, I've foil-shielded the cavities; plan to redo the grounding, and possibly replace the current discs with higher quality caps.

I know asking "What kind of strings should I buy?" is a no-no, so let me put it this way: "How would you set up this bass for a bass player who'd want to play this bass?" (I'm guessing not with high action, heavy gauge LaBella flatwounds, and foam under the bridge- but that's only a guess.)

Thanks for your wise and insightful replies,
rb

Nice

Rotosound jazz 77. Lot of people love 'em,and a lot of people love 'em

[pickles]

Hi beams 45-105.

[quadebass17]

hows about you just sell it to me and i'll choose the strings?
;]

[P_bass]

I use either of these on my PBasses.

Chrome Flats

Or Stainless Rounds

[Fine Cut]

honestly, if ur gonna sell it, the strings dont really matter THAT much...though they do none-the-less...go get some ghs boomers or somethin, deff roundwounds...whoever you sell it to 9 times out of 10 will change the strings, no matter what you put on there lol, good luck with the sell

[joelb79]

1 out of 10 people use flats. I say stick with rounds.

[pbass2]

Sounds like a rock machine to me. I'm all about flats 'n foam and old school warmth/thump/whatever you wanna call it, so I wouldn't seek out a P like that. I think someone who would look for a bass like that would most likely prefer rounds. I'd go with nickel rounds(less harsh than stainless steel)--DR Lo-Riders, D'addarios, etc.--all good.
Not to say it wouldn't sound great with flats though! I agree that Chromes would be good if you go the flat route as they can still rock out, especially when new.

[Wootsticks]

LOW action, labella super duper heavy gauge and foam.

[BillyRay]

Rotos swing 66. Nice piano-like sound that will sure rock.

[Jeb]

Originally Posted by pbass2

Sounds like a rock machine to me...

Me too. The DRLoRiders sound like a match, but so do a bunch of others. Depends on the sound that you want. Flats will tame it some, rounds will pull the blanket off, so to speak. Strings are one of those things that are so personally validated and subjectively promoted. They are ALL good. We all have our preferences, but in reality, strings are just one small item in the huge chain of variables to consider. I'm convinced that playing style affects tone more than anything else. READ: who you are and not what you have.

[Tabzoid]

Rotosound Jazz 77s, extra light gauge. soo comfortable...

[Greyvagabond]

I'd got with medium-light gauge D'Addario flats, set up with fairly low action. I just put them on my P-Bass with a BadAss II bridge and Seymour Duncan 1/4 lb pickups, and they have seriously changed me life!

[ishouldbeking]

Honestly... if you're just looking to sell it I'd go with a common denominator type of string. Put some nickel-round Daddarios on, probably .105-.045 (or something similar, maybe .100-.045). Those are the kind of strings most people are used to and they probably sell more than any other string out there. They have an even all-purpose tone, and certainly won't break the bank.

If you put a set of stainless steels on there you run the chance of someone playing it and thinking "wow, too bright for me" or "it doesn't feel that nice" since the strings are rough. And flats have two problems: (1) they're expensive, and (2) most people never have, nor never will play a bass strung with flats. I say get a set of decent but reasonably priced nickel rounds.

EDIT: and keep in mind that half of the above responses came from people that didn't read your entire post, hence all the "throw some flats on there" responses.

[southshoreconor]

IMO if i was looking at a bass like this (a player, modded etc.) i wouldn't care what strings are on it. i would throw the cheapest strings you can find on it and tune it to standard just to show there is no significant neck bow or twist and that the pickups/pots work. cause when i show up at your house i just want to get a good feel for the instrument's playability, knowing this isn't going in any trophy case or museum. as soon as i get this bass home, im putting MY OWN strings on it, and setting it up to MY taste and then getting ready for my gig.

perhaps in your selling price include a set of stings of the buyers choice?

$.02