PLEASE DONT STRING ME ALONG

gary mitchell · #1 10-30-2008, 08:27 AM

as you all know buy now iam a lead guitar player playing bass out of need of my church and the little band iam in. seems like bass players are few around but i find i really like it but know nothing about equipment, now my question i have a usa fender p i play in a band that plays dylan, billy joe shaver country, and blues. SO CAN ANY OF YOU OLD PROS SUGGEST WHAT TYPE OF STRINGS TO PUT ON MY BASS PLEASE

MooseLumps · #2 10-30-2008, 08:31 AM

Type? Flats probably. it's really up to you fellah, you could wrangle the tone of the old blues devils with rounds and a treble knob doing an imitation of an old newspaper press on your high end,but you wil probably be more satisfied with flats.

as for which flats, that is totally up to you. it's about taste.

If you need a suggestion, d'addario flats are fairly well reguarded around here.

bassteban · #3 10-30-2008, 08:40 AM

I concur w/flats as a good choice for your situation, but rounds can work well too. I have SS rounds on my 73 P & like it; it's my 'classic rock' bass.

Phalex · #4 10-30-2008, 08:42 AM

Flats are the natural choice for a precision.

Pilgrim · #5 10-30-2008, 09:54 AM

I agree, for a classic P tone, flatwounds are the way to go.

My top suggestions:

- Labella Deep Talkin' Flats
- D'Addario Chromes

I've used both a lot, and they last well and sound great. Also kind to the fingers.

Poor Tom · #6 10-30-2008, 10:01 AM

I have flats on my jazz right now, and I enjoy them.

But the truth is that you need to discover what you like for yourself. It can take years for a string instrument player to find "their perfect strings". It is all about personal taste, and you will quickly find that (especially bassists) are very picky about our tone. Hell, even when you find what you like, you will probably go through phases of loving/hating certain tones.

I personally can't stop switching back and forth between flats and rounds.

NOW: all that aside, if you are looking for a specific type of sound, you can describe it to us and hopefully we can point you in the right direction, but we can't tell you what YOU will like the most.

Have a nice day =D

stflbn · #7 10-30-2008, 10:13 AM

Unfortunately you'll find a surprising percentage of bass players who have no idea of gear, what they gear they have does, or how to get adaptive sounds out of their gear. I'm always surprised when I meet bass players who are playing their basses, amps, etc simply because someone told them to, or the band makes them.

:: sigh ::

Currently I'm in a situation string-wise where I like how the Top end of my basses sound with flats, but not currently digging how the low E and B strings sound with flats. I'd like a bit more life out of the low strings rather than 'thud' or 'brump'. I'm determined to find what I need via EQ'ing though.

.

Kyon` · #8 10-30-2008, 10:42 AM

Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats are my personally favorite, I also enjoy Marcus Miller Fatbeams, both on the opposite end of the sound spectrum but I've found with good eqing they can fit in anywhere.

4Mal · #9 10-30-2008, 11:58 AM

ooo. I can't live with flats alone. If it were 1 bass in the stable - it would have to be rounds. I can EQ some thump into a decent round wound, I can't EQ harmonic's into a flat that doesn't have them though ...

Your sting choice is also somewhat dependant on your rig, your ears and your technique - we really can't decide for you...

I would suggest you try a lower end, lower cost round. D'Addarrio XL's maybe - they aren't a real zingy string. Give those a shot for maybe $20 ? When they die off in 6 months, try a flat. Maybe the GHS Brite Flat's - not a high cost string. Farily brite for a flat.

After experiencing those two sets you'll be in a better position to make an educated determination for yourself.

Phalex · #10 10-30-2008, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Mal

Maybe the GHS Brite Flat's - not a high cost string. Farily brite for a flat.

Brite Flats really are awesome. They feel really bad at first but after a few hours of play time they get really nice.

lmfreeman9 · #11 10-30-2008, 03:28 PM

LaBella Deep Talkin Flats FS

godspeed68 · #12 10-30-2008, 03:35 PM

If for whatever reason you choose not to go with everyone elses opinion on flats, an EXCELLENT roundwound choice would be DR Nickel Lowriders.

tom

fretlessguy · #13 10-30-2008, 09:30 PM

Flats do sound good on a P. I have TIs on mine, and I love them. On my Fretless P I have a set of Fender Nylon Tape wounds which sound really cool. I have also used nickels, stainless, tapewounds-you name it. All have had qualities I like. In the end, it will just have to come down to what YOU like. Granted, bass strings are expensive to experiment with.

If you are just going to use it to play at church, rounds would probably fit most styles played there. Flats would sound good with Sothern Gospel, however.
If the majority of your playing is going to be with your blues and country outfits, I'd go with flats.

GeneralElectric · #14 10-31-2008, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Mal

ooo. I can't live with flats alone. If it were 1 bass in the stable - it would have to be rounds. I can EQ some thump into a decent round wound, I can't EQ harmonic's into a flat that doesn't have them though ...

I find that the harmonics from flats are fuller and richer than their roundwound counterparts. However most of them are much harder to pull off as your fingering must be that much more precise as you're in contact with more of the string surface.

My 2 cents