Need suggestions on flatwound strings for my Precision Bass

de la mocha · #1 11-02-2006, 06:35 PM

I tried fender flats before and had mixed feelings They were too muddy but I'm willing to work with them. I tried chromes and I love them but were a little bright for flatwound strings but before I try them again I wanna know if what I'm missing.

Basically, I'm looking for the Brown eye girl, voodoo child (slight return), In the gadda la vida kind of sound. That deep, bassy classic rock rumble, but distinct to recognize every note, nothing muddy.

Any suggestions or should I stick with chromes or try fender again?

ElBajista · #2 11-02-2006, 08:22 PM

TI Flats. Not as bright 'n clanky as Chromes, super sweet cutting but warm midrange, and no mud whatsoever.

I had a set on a Lakland Glaub I had a while back, and it was P-bass heaven.

Psychicpet · #3 11-02-2006, 08:28 PM

try a set of Fender nylon tape-wounds....... waaaaaay fun!

Nyarlathotep · #4 11-02-2006, 08:30 PM

Have you tried closing the tone knob, to cut the highs. I do that when I solo the P pup on my PJ. Great thump, and I'm using Chromes!

Jazzdogg · #5 11-02-2006, 08:35 PM

My main axe is a fretless '71 P-bass. I used to use tape-wounds; they gave me a big, thick, R&B bottom end, but didn't allow me to achieve the clear, woody, harmonically-rich tone I was looking for when playing jazz.

Since I switched to Thomastic Infeld JazzFlats I've been very satisfied; a slight tweak of the tone controls on my B-1500 gives me exactly the tone the situation demands, irrespective of genre.

Good luck finding "Your Sound."

MixBass · #6 11-03-2006, 02:11 AM

I put TI's on my 64 and am on my 2nd honeymoon with her. I can't wait for gigs where I get to play it.

zombywoof5050 · #7 11-03-2006, 04:14 PM

The LaBella 760FL set.

Mojo-Man · #8 11-03-2006, 04:19 PM

TI flats- nice, balanced, mids, low tension

GHS- Similar to TI, a little more tension.

Roto-77- Good treble bite, for flats. bright.

I like all the above, but my fav. are TI-flats, for a P-bass.

de la mocha · #9 11-03-2006, 07:45 PM

Well, I went to Sam Ash and they only had Chromes, light gauge, so now that's what I have on my p bass. Got a nice low end thump and clear, clean highs. The notes are distinguishable and clear, not muddy.

It's been a while since I used these strings, I was a roto sound convert. I'm actually glad I got these. Now I can continue with my Billy Cox impersonation........

de la mocha · #10 11-04-2006, 03:14 PM

I'm never going back to roundwounds! Flats forever!!!!!!

**Freddels** · #11 11-04-2006, 03:28 PM

Each bass is different. I have Chromes on some basses, LaBella Black Tape wounds on another, TI Flats on another and my Zon sounds great with Ken Smith Slicks. Sometimes it just takes a little experimenting to find the ones that sound great with your bass.

seanm · #12 11-04-2006, 04:15 PM

I love the sound of Rotosound tape wounds. But we practice in a very electrically noisy basement (the house doesn't have proper grounding). With metal strings, touching the strings cuts the hum, but that doesn't work with the tape wounds.

I use Chromes (the orange set) for rock for a brighter tone. I used LaBella 760FL on my main gigging bass. When the other P doesn't have the tape wounds, it has LaBella 760FS.

Chris Breese · #13 11-04-2006, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by de la mocha

I'm never going back to roundwounds! Flats forever!!!!!!

I must have said that a hundred times!!! I do love my TI flats!

Psychicpet · #14 11-04-2006, 08:32 PM

Getting ready to put some Roto RS77LD Monel Flats on!!

hmmm..... me thinks Roto has got me suckered in

Nyarlathotep · #15 11-05-2006, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by de la mocha

I'm never going back to roundwounds! Flats forever!!!!!!

+1. Compared to the flats I have now, all the other rounds I've tried (inluding DRs) Just havn't had the right "stuff"...

Bobby King · #16 11-05-2006, 06:27 PM

I recently tried the Sadowsky flats and I really like them. The TIs are interesting but are a different sort of unique string. To me the Sadowskys are a a little like the Labellas but better, a little brighter and in familiar gauges .045-.105. They are more "old school" than TIs which I prefer on my P bass.

kevcooke · #17 11-07-2006, 11:16 AM

The only flats I have tried are rotosound... and i hated them, they just sounded hollow and lifeless, no bottom end or midrange punch

JacoLesFlea · #18 11-07-2006, 11:42 AM

I broke my gstring lastnight..

And this morning I decided to go with a set of flats, the Fender 9050ML 50-100 gauge..the tech noticed that the intonation was way off so he adjusted the truss rod it took him a couple times but now everything is in tune. he also adjusted the action I am excited about these flats, they are very smooth to the touch.

this was done on my Fender Jbass

mobax · #19 11-13-2006, 07:40 PM

LaBella.

gingerbeer · #20 11-17-2006, 10:23 AM

i use the labella 760 M (jamerson set) on my Pbass you can go close with fender 9050 M or ernie ball group 1 flatwounds .perfect for oldschool tone .