Pbass tones for Floyd and other rock

smeet · #1 12-14-2012, 02:57 AM

So, I have a nice new 2012 MIA Fender P5. I'm playing with a Pink Floyd copy band, and I'd like to get as close as I can to an authentic sound while keeping versatile and having a clear and aggressive live tone when needed. We'll be playing all eras of Floyd, so I need to get thumpy fat tones and also some bright grindy tones, all on the same bass. I also want a really good sounding B string thats not all boom and thump. And I want a nice mid focused sound along with a strong fundamental.

I'm not that familiar with how P basses react to strings. Ive also always used almost exclusively rounds.

I currently have Sadowsky Blue steels on there, and they sound good but not quite right I think. My first impulse was to get a set of Chromes. Will that give me everything I'm looking for?

awamori · #2 12-14-2012, 03:20 AM

Roto 77's will get you close to Roger's tone.

miles'tone · #3 12-14-2012, 03:24 AM

Rotosound jazz 77 flats are what Roger Waters used.
Tried them myself and they gave my jazz bass a huge tone. Found them to lose their zing pretty quick but they are great though.
Chromes are excellent too, enjoyed them for a couple of years but not really heavy sounding enough for me.
I've settled on Fender CL flats which do growl a bit like Roto rounds when new. They do keep a nice growl I find even after they have seen alot of use. Kind of like the perfect cross between Rotos and Chromes.
If I was in a Floyd band as you are, I would try the Rotos first and see how you get on.
Fwiw, the Fender flats are made for Fender by D'addario now who of course make the Chromes. The Fenders are cheaper to buy though by a long way so worth a try too.

VeganThump · #4 12-14-2012, 04:19 AM

I have a P5 with strung with Chromes and I love it! I had always heard about the "p-bass w/flats" tone but I never realized how damned good it actually sounds! Im sorry I digress, I find that I can cop Roger's tone pretty well if I keep my EQ relatively flat, play with a pick and use a pretty hard compression, like 8:1, YMMV though.

jbednarski · #5 12-14-2012, 05:01 AM

+1 for Roto 77s. Also used by John Deacon of Queen on his P basses.

miles'tone · #6 12-14-2012, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbednarski

+1 for Roto 77s. Also used by John Deacon of Queen on his P basses.

Cool, I didn't know that. John Deacon + P-bass + flats = one of the finest electric bass tones ever put to record.

(imho and all that jazz)

Luckydog · #7 12-14-2012, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miles'tone

Cool, I didn't know that. John Deacon + P-bass + flats = one of the finest electric bass tones ever put to record.

(imho and all that jazz)

I have to agree with Queen recorded bass tone being some of the very best out there...however u left a significant element out of the equation:

John Deacon + P-bass + flats + some of the awesomest studio engineering of the day.

To smeets, 77s are pretty stiff and lose their brightness eventually, like all "conventional" flats, so you might be happy wth the brightness at first. There is NO string that covers all tones perfectly well without compromise in some tonal area...sometimes that compromise is very large, which IMO is responsible for the "Neverending Search for the Perfect String".

smeet · #8 12-14-2012, 10:34 AM

This is good information, thanks all.
I have used Chromes before, and I know their basic tone.
How do Roto 77s and Fender CLs compare to Chromes tone-wise?

I get the impression the Chromes are the brightest and least thumpy, 77s in the middle with more growl, and Fenders the thickest and thumpiest, is that about right?

sigmafloyd · #9 12-14-2012, 12:24 PM

New fenders are pretty bright and not super thumpy. I'd recommend ghs or labella for thump

smeet · #10 12-14-2012, 01:31 PM

Oh yeah, what about the B string? I love those low notes and need a good strong B that sounds good and defined, like an extension of the E. how does this compare on the various strings?

Blues Bass Man · #11 12-14-2012, 07:48 PM

I seem to remember reading an interview with John Decon...he said he used Round Wounds on his P-Basses.

jbednarski · #12 12-14-2012, 07:51 PM

From the Rotosound website:

Flatwound. Monel. One of the original Rotosound sets from the early 1960s. These strings can be heard on many famous albums, used over the years by Sting, Phil Lynott, Steve Harris, and John Deacon. Rotosound makes the world's most famous and highest-quality electric bass strings. Outstanding brilliance and superb tone. Long scale. RS77LD Gauges: 45-65-85-105

jbednarski · #13 12-14-2012, 07:53 PM

I've heard that he did try rounds later in his career, possibly on his Stingray.

Coolhandjjl · #14 12-15-2012, 08:50 AM

Note on the Fender CL's: Although made by D'Addario, they are not Chromes as some rumors once suggested.

Too bad about Roto 77's dying. I am sick and tired of finding the right string only to have to toss it after a month. Since I am not a pro, I simply can't afford the expense.

GHS for thump. They seem to have the greatest percussive attack of all the flats I have tried.

smeet · #15 12-15-2012, 04:09 PM

I went ahead and got Chromes because I'm chicken and don't want to lose my high end...

So far, they sound good, I'll see how they sound at rehearsal tomorrow. They are bright enough that with a pick I need to back off the tone a bit. That's good, because on some songs (One of These Days for instance), I need a really bright, clanky tone.

Luckydog · #16 12-15-2012, 04:30 PM

More info on Deacon's strings from a gentleman's Deaky fan site-

http://www.deaky.net/indexE.html

Strings

RotoSound - Jazz Bass 77 flatwound
"One of the original Rotosound sets from the early 1960s. These strings can be heard on many famous albums, used over the years by Sting, Phil Lynott, Steve Harris and John Deacon." (quoted from ROTO SOUND)

RotoSound - Superwound 606 & 707
"They are the wire wound ones with just the inner cable and it only starts being wound when it gets over the bridge -- it's meant to be a bit more twangy. I use those and they're quite a nice light gauge really. I suppose I ought to use a heavier gauge at times to get more of a solid sound but I find the light gauge easier to play. I've always used them and haven't really tried others because I'm happy with the sound I get. If I wasn't I'd perhaps search and try some others." " ("International Musician and Recording World" '79)

giacomini · #17 12-15-2012, 09:21 PM

I have Chromes in my P, heck, I can even slap them and get a good tone...

Roger used rotos + pick and in some songs he gets a really bright tone, different from what you get with ghs or labellas... My string of choice for PF are Chromes all the way, can roll the tone back and have a thumpy P with flats tone and I can have the tone full open and slap it, too good to be true... (but it is)

FunkMetalBass · #18 12-15-2012, 09:57 PM

I vote Circle K Strings (Balanced 136) if you want versatility.

smeet · #19 12-15-2012, 11:29 PM

I use and like Circle K's but they can't do that flat wound sound.

u84six · #20 12-18-2012, 06:22 AM

After the chromes wear out, I'd highy recommend Sadowsky Black Label flats. I can pretty much get any tone with those strings and they're medium tension and really smooth on the fingers. We play Money in my cover band and I get compliments all the time about how close I sound to the bass on the recording. I've found throughout the years that matching the string brand of the musician doesn't necessarily get you that musician's recorded sound. Listening to the recordings and experimenting with different strings and EQ usually gets me closer.