Looking for the perfect precision bass strings

[romansito]

im looking for bass strings for my fender p bass that could give me a vintage sound and also bright and with punch for slapping if it's possible..

thank you!!

[lowendgenerator]

Too many variables. Try a bright set and roll your tone knob off. I suggest DR Sunbeams.

[Florox]

Bud, it's a P-Bass. While it is certainly musically versatile, it's not really a very sonically versatile bass. If you want to have both sounds, strings won't do it. That's like asking what tires can you get for your car that would be great for racing on the oval but would be great also for rallying. They're both designed to be different. You could either get something in between, which won't really give you both sounds, but at least you'll have something that sounds ok with both styles, or you might consider getting a new preamp on the bass.

John East makes one, albeit it is not inexpensive. But it sounds like what you're looking for.

P.S. Also, vintage could mean from a very low-mid centered sound, to an aggresive, hi-mid, sound. Or anything else really used in the past. You could specify what kind of vintage sound you're looking for, maybe link us to a Youtube video of some kind. Anyhow, an active pre-amp is still the cure here.

[JFN]

DR Nickel Lo Riders.

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by Florox

Bud, it's a P-Bass. While it is certainly musically versatile, it's not really a very sonically versatile bass. If you want to have both sounds, strings won't do it. That's like asking what tires can you get for your car that would be great for racing on the oval but would be great also for rallying. They're both designed to be different. You could either get something in between, which won't really give you both sounds, but at least you'll have something that sounds ok with both styles, or you might consider getting a new preamp on the bass.

John East makes one, albeit it is not inexpensive. But it sounds like what you're looking for.

P.S. Also, vintage could mean from a very low-mid centered sound, to an aggresive, hi-mid, sound. Or anything else really used in the past. You could specify what kind of vintage sound you're looking for, maybe link us to a Youtube video of some kind. Anyhow, an active pre-amp is still the cure here.

Dumbest
Post
Ever.

+ 1 for Sunbeams. Or if you like flats, you'd probably like LaBella deep talkin flats.

[Duckwater]

Originally Posted by JFN

DR Nickel Lo Riders.

This

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Favorite strings on my P-Bass...

Compression Wound Strings / Pressure Wound Strings

Smoother tone than a standard round wound, you don't get the same finger noise / sliding noise as you do on round wounds... Tighter feeling than a standard round, but still flexible enough for slapping... Very punchy string.

The outer rapping is compressed before being wound on the string, making it more of an oval shape, so not as aggressive of a "round" wound.

[Kwin Smith]

+1 for DR Sunbeams in A440 or 1/2 step down.
+1 for DR Nickel LoRiders for 1/2 step down or D standard.


IMO

[darkstorm]

Well, rotosound swing 66 could be great choice for vintage P bass strings from 70's onward. I'm not sure if DR strings was in existence back then. But by the same token theyre the only folks who make strings I like as well as the rotosounds. If your going for vintage P funky slappy you could add a kewl vintage vibe twist via DR neons. Which are the equal of rotoswound swing 66 sound wise to me. If your gonna be doing slapping tye dye funk soul vintage band then perhaps the neon pinks or greens. Dr sunbeams if not wanting to go psychedelic vintagy vibe like. Lol.

[DavePlaysBass]

I had a set of SS Lo Riders on my P for a couple weeks. They were bright at first but after breaking in, they had a great punchy tone. I may be pulling the Chromes off my P and going back to the Lo Riders.

[Florox]

Originally Posted by dmusic148

Dumbest
Post
Ever.

+ 1 for Sunbeams. Or if you like flats, you'd probably like LaBella deep talkin flats.

Wow, butthurt much?

Nothing I said was incorrect. The P-Bass has a sound that fits in every type of music; it just always sits right. Thus, it is musically versatile. However, if you're trying to say that P-Basses have a wide frequency range, especially with only a tone knob, well... let's review who's dumb .

Also, my analogy was spot on. And I'd assume you actually didn't read what the OP asked for, which for a bright slapping tone, La Bella flats is the last thing I'd recommend. If you want both vintage and modern, like the OP wants, strings alone won't do it, they're either bright, medium bright, really warm, or dead (That is not to say bright strings are incapable of being warm, but others strings, like flats, offer a warmness that is not available with rounds, just like nickels might not offer the same brightness as SS) Strings ain't all in one. Thus, the option he has now is to get a pre-amp, which will expand the bass' frequency range, and thus he'd be able to get more tones with an specific set of strings.

If anything, I'd recommend Rotosounds. Vintage sounding, if you're for that raunchy Entwistle sound, and plenty bright for slap, but even then, I think the P-Bass, although slappable (Like any bass), is not a bass known for it's ability to do so. Mainly because of it's narrow tone.

[electracoyote]

Yeah, I'm finding that if I want to retain the zing and have access to a more modern tone, I have to string my P Basses with rounds and then let the tone knob do the rest.

If I wanted vintage-only, I'd be tempted to slap some flats on there though. I should take one of my P Basses and do this.

[JTE]

For ME, the perfect strings on my Precision are GHS Precision Flats (well, the set that's actually been on the Precision for at least six years is a set of GHS sold by Lakland as the Joe Osborn set) 45/65/85/105. They have all the essential thump of a great flatwound string (something the TI Flats don't have at all), but they have a definite note as well (what I missed with the LaBellas Old Originals).

For rounds which I think is where the OP wants to go 'cause his definition of "vintage" seems to be a bit different from mine), my favorites were a toss-up between D'Addario XL-165 and DR Sunbeams. Before I finally decided the P was my flats bass, the edge went to the DR because I like the feel of the round core tensions more than the feel of D'Addrio's hex core strings. If your idea of "vintage" leans more towards Entwistle on "Live At Leeds" and Alan Spenner with Joe Cocker at Woodstock, then I'd suggest DR Hi-Beams, the best stainless steel roundwound I've ever played.

John

[PaperbackRyder]

Originally Posted by JTE

For ME, the perfect strings on my Precision are GHS Precision Flats (well, the set that's actually been on the Precision for at least six years is a set of GHS sold by Lakland as the Joe Osborn set) 45/65/85/105. They have all the essential thump of a great flatwound string (something the TI Flats don't have at all), but they have a definite note as well (what I missed with the LaBellas Old Originals).

For rounds which I think is where the OP wants to go 'cause his definition of "vintage" seems to be a bit different from mine), my favorites were a toss-up between D'Addario XL-165 and DR Sunbeams. Before I finally decided the P was my flats bass, the edge went to the DR because I like the feel of the round core tensions more than the feel of D'Addrio's hex core strings. If your idea of "vintage" leans more towards Entwistle on "Live At Leeds" and Alan Spenner with Joe Cocker at Woodstock, then I'd suggest DR Hi-Beams, the best stainless steel roundwound I've ever played.

John

I agree with JTE's assessment...but would recommend the Fender pure nickel rounds (7050?). Warm and clear. Roll down the tone knob or even add a piece of foam for the old school, then open her up for the more modern sound.
...and don't forget to let us know what you try and how it works for you!
=JR=

[fretlessguy]

Do you like flats? Then flats are the best string for you.
A preference for rounds? Then rounds are the bees' knees for you.
What's your favorite gauge? Nickel, Stainless or tapes?

My point is to use what ever you prefer. Why?

I think that the P Bass and almost all it's clones have one thing in common: While some basses sound better with one string type or another, the P just about sounds good with any type of string being played in almost all types of music.

Hence it's longevity and popularity. So....Go get your favorite set of strings and slap them on, and have fun. Don't be afraid to try something different, however.

[tabdog]

Originally Posted by dmusic148

Dumbest
Post
Ever.

+ 1 for Sunbeams. Or if you like flats, you'd probably like LaBella deep talkin flats.

No, his was fine.

yours is the one

[godsey]

Try GHS Pressurewound . they sound and play wonderful.

[king_biscuit]

I like La Bella Flats, GHS flats, medium nickel rounds (take your pick, they are all about the same), and Lo Riders steels. Depends on the mood.

[madmatt]

Personally if I had only one P-bass it would have to have flats.