Mixing Flatwound and Roundwound on a 5'er

tZer · #1 08-01-2006, 10:53 AM

Am I nuts? (rhetorical...)

I have a Fender Jazz V and I am very interested in stringing it with flats. I am finding that a lot of stores just don't carry sets of flats for a 5'er - so I was wondering if getting a 4-string set and leaving my B string as a roundwound is insane.

Any reason that would be a bad idea?

Anyone think it might be a good idea?

Please offer your insights, comments and suggestions ..... now.

Trevorus · #2 08-01-2006, 11:00 AM

I wouldn't like it. I like consistency between my strings. That's why is always amazes me when DB players mix strings.

tZer · #3 08-01-2006, 11:05 AM

My initial instinct is that it is not good - don't know why, but I just feel that way.

However, the low B is an interesting beast. In pop/rock it tends to be a string you visit every once in a while, but you don't live on it. It also tends to live in the very very low frequency zone - so my other thought was that while the upper 4 strings would sound nice and old-school as flats, the low B would get a little more kick by being round - ... I don't know... I am not ready to mess with nature at this point.

But if anyone has done this, let me know what you think of it.

Thanks!

bazzanderson · #4 08-01-2006, 02:21 PM

I've done it with my MIM Jazz V I had years ago.....this was before I heard about www.juststrings.com

Go there they have many varieties of 5 string flatwounds.

If you do it....the B will sound and feel completely different but since it's a string you don't use nearly as much as the others...the difference might not be so bad for you.

tZer · #5 08-01-2006, 02:45 PM

Well I am putting this concept on the back-burner. I just picked up a set of Rotosound 77 flats 45's - 130's - Going to string up the Jazz tonight and give 'em a go.

The mixing idea just does not seem like a good one. I though that since the B is so sonically low that having it be a brighter string might be advantageous... but ah... screw it... flats all around! Funky Motown sound, here I come!

--tz

bazzanderson · #6 08-01-2006, 02:49 PM

You'll be better off this way. I only mixed because I couldn't find a flat B either (until I discovered juststrings).

Get ready....those rotos are going to be TIGHT. I've used them before and they rock but they are fairly high tension strings.

tZer · #7 08-01-2006, 02:54 PM

I am looking forward to the change. I have been on a 'Chuck Rainey' bent for a while and am about to get all up into James Jamerson and other Motown/Funk masters of the old-school's lines.

I feel that with a MusicMan SR 5 strung round and a Fender Jazz V strung flat I really have all basses covered... pun intended...

--tz

Basshole · #8 08-01-2006, 03:07 PM

Frankly, there's aspects of the idea that I find interesting.

I would also add that putting a flat or a ground- or half-round on the high C of an otherwise roundwound-strung 6er might take some of the "twinkiness" out of it, compared to the other strings...but I digress.

Perhaps a ground wound, or half-round B might be a better compromise for mixing with flats? It would "feel" more correct, and still offer a bit of the sonic correction that you seek.

Just a thought...

tZer · #9 08-01-2006, 03:28 PM

Yeah, that is the general idea - I could actually save my B's - since they don't get worked as much in my type of music - and just by sets of 4's in flatwound. If the B was going a little dead that would probably bring it more in line with the flat tone anyhow - but there is probably a dozen ways you could choose to mix string types on extended range basses.

I agree with you notion about higher strings and reducing the 'twinkiness' - that is the general idea here only in reverse - bump the presence of the low B...

We'll see how a full set of flats flies for now.

Cutty · #10 08-02-2006, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tZer

Am I nuts? (rhetorical...)

I have a Fender Jazz V and I am very interested in stringing it with flats. I am finding that a lot of stores just don't carry sets of flats for a 5'er - so I was wondering if getting a 4-string set and leaving my B string as a roundwound is insane.

Any reason that would be a bad idea?

Anyone think it might be a good idea?

Please offer your insights, comments and suggestions ..... now.

I use a flatwound on the B string on certain basses because it has a warmer tone,the other 4 strings are roundwound,there is no rule!!!don't follow the pack!do what's good for you,good luck.

tZer · #11 08-02-2006, 07:15 AM

I love the found of my Jazz V with flats all around! I cannot believe that I have gone almost a quater century without ever using them.

I was at Jim's last night working on more of his songs. As I have described before, his songs have a very 70's pop-rock sensibility including flavors of the Beatles, Led Zeppelin (acoustic), Neil Young, Elvis Costello and so on. I have always found myself writing very melodic, lyrical basslines for these songs ala. McCartney and John Paul Jones, but for some reason they never hit home for me. I always liked the notes I was playing but there was always a missing element - but what?

Flats! Suddenly while I was playing the same kind of lines I always played, Paul McCartney was 'in the room'! I adjusted my attack just a little and there was that killer 'Penny Lane' sound!

So for now at least, having one bass be the 'modern rocker' (MMSR5 + Roundwound) and one being the 'old-school rocker' (Fender Jazz V + Flatwound) feels like I have everything I need!

bassmonkeee · #12 08-02-2006, 07:37 AM

Glad you like the Rotos. The monel flats are a unique beast. I like the four string set, but honestly, the low B didn't sound great with my bass. D'Addario Chromes work wonderfully, though.

Welcome to the wonderful world of flats!

tZer · #13 08-02-2006, 07:47 AM

About those rotos... man! talk about tense! Those things are like bridge cables, they are so stiff!

I am going to have to adjust my action - they require so much tension that my action raised pretty noticably.

But I love the sound! Are the D'Addario Chromes not as 'high tension' as the rotos? - That is my only complaint at this point. And maybe when I get my action down a little, the tension won't bother me as much.

Fuzzbass · #14 08-02-2006, 05:41 PM

You're not nuts. I have seriously considered using rounds down low and flats up high: f'r instance roundwound BEAD, flatwound G. Maybe even round BEA, flat DG.

But if you're happy with all flats, you won't have to bother with that hassle!

tplyons · #15 08-02-2006, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevorus

I wouldn't like it. I like consistency between my strings. That's why is always amazes me when DB players mix strings.

Cause you've never had a string set that didn't like your bass. D'Addarios are great on mine, 'cept their G strings.

I usually use D'Addario E and A, and Thomastic D and G's.

bazzanderson · #16 08-03-2006, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tZer

About those rotos... man! talk about tense! Those things are like bridge cables, they are so stiff!

I am going to have to adjust my action - they require so much tension that my action raised pretty noticably.

But I love the sound! Are the D'Addario Chromes not as 'high tension' as the rotos? - That is my only complaint at this point. And maybe when I get my action down a little, the tension won't bother me as much.

Chromes are my string of choice. Not as bright as Jazz flats and DEFINITELY not as tight feeling. Chromes are a very bright flat, though...just not as bright as Jazz77s.

tZer · #17 08-03-2006, 07:03 AM

The tension is something I will surely get used to and it really does not throw me off - I just noticed it, that's all.

As I have been studying the likes of Jamerson and McCartnet (flat-users) I have been discovering that part of their 'sound' comes from not only using flatwound strings, but also having fairly high action causing them to play a little more judiciously.

While I am not in favor of having my instrument dictate to me how I play it, I see the logic behind this condition (flats + high action) and the sound these two masters created. So for now let's say I am walking in the footsteps of the masters instead of acknowledging the fact that I don't know how to set-up my bass.

But if my experience of the last few days is any indicator, it is safe to say that I will always have a bass with flats in my arsenal. That sound is just too genuine, pure and perfect to ignore!

bazzanderson · #18 08-03-2006, 07:55 AM

flats are interesting...with really low action and the right amp eqing they are great for rock, punk, metal, pop-rock and alterna-rock. The higher the action the more uprightish tone. With really low action and it seems that the high and high-mids come out more.

I think I need to re-visit the Jazz77s. I may get a lighter guage 5 string set for my MIA Jazz V (like 40 through 120). The last time I used them was on an MIM Jazz V several years ago....I remember them being the brightest most unique sounding flat ever (and incredibly tight).