Jazz, Precision, Rounds and flats

[walknbluez]

I currently have just one bass in the stable, a Fender Jazz strung with flatwounds, but I'm looking for a P bass. So if you had a Fender Jazz bass and a Fender Precision, one to be strung with roundwounds and one with flatwounds, which would you choose and why? I play in a rock trio which as a classic rock sound with an edge to it and I was thinking flats on the Jazz and rounds on the P, through my tube amp.

Or, I could just get four basses, two Jazzes and two P's each strung with flats and rounds

[line6bassist]

i usually take to basses with me to a gig. one being a p-bass with flats to do blues,motown,classic or latin...and i take a EB MM sterling to do some heavy rock or funk and that has rounds on them..

[lmfreeman9]

Precision with flats gives you the classic old school thump. Rounds on a J supplies great mids.

[Oric]

If I had both, I would put flats on both.

[psychotiger]

Originally Posted by Oric

If I had both, I would put flats on both.

+1 but likely different brands of flats. On the Jazz I would prefer Lakland Joe Osbourn (if they ever get any in) and on the P bass it would be TI's. If I put rounds on either, it would probably be on the jazz.

[DavePlaysBass]

I am probably the odd guy in this that presently has my J strung with flats and my P strung with rounds.

At this point, my J bass is at its best with a set of TI Flats. I was driven there by the 48 year old frets being almost worn down to nothing. And since I have put the TI flats on that bass, it was sat in a mix better than any round wound string I have had on it.

My P bass is presently wearing Fender 7250 nickel rounds. It is punchy, warm, and "rich" sounding for lack of a better word. It sits in a mix better with the rounds and a loud drummer than it did with either TI or La Bella flats. I could not get my P to really project in a loud rock or country setting with the flats.

[DeluxeRed]

Flats on the P and rounds on the J will give you two of the most-used combinations in recorded pop, so especially if you play classic rock, you've "covered" most of the sonic ground right there.

But you're right: getting four basses is a far better solution.

[lonote]

I use Fender 9050 flats on my P-Basses and D'Addario Chromes (flats) on my J-Basses.

[dubstylee]

Flats on both, I no longer use rounds after beginning with them for 3 years. Flats just do it for me.

[Craig_S]

Flats on the P rounds on the J.

[walknbluez]

Well we have some varied preferences!

I knew this thread would cause me to want to get 4 basses!