recommendations for a fender jazz

[SiReZ]

im looking for some new strings to put on my J, i want something that has a bluesey feel. dont want it to be too bright or if there bright want them to lose there zing quick & still have a mellow growl. right now i have some dean markleys on my bass but want to switch

[strappa]

DR Lowriders
growl but little zing.
they sound broken in right out of the box

i like a little zing so i use DR Hibeams on my jazz

[Spin Doctor]

For a bluesy, mellow sound, you might want to use flatwound strings. I put some flatwound XL Chromes on my Jazz. I was diggin' the sound, i.e. not too bright but the tension is so high it was like playing on rebar. I mean they have zero give and was tearing my fingers to pieces.

So I ditched those, and put on some long scale TI jazz flats this past weekend. I really like the feel and sound, but they have weird gauges. They're like .100 - .070 - .056 - .043. Took a little bit to get used to that small "A" string (I think an .080 would be a better fit), and the setup took some tweaking, but I really like them.

[sal4bass]

DR Sunbeams sound like they would be a good sonic fit for you. My personal preference is either DR Sunbeams or TI Jazz Rounds.

Edit: I should also mention that both the DR Sunbeam and TI Jazz Rounds are low tension strings.

[G00D+~VIBES]

I like rotosound flats. I think their voice perfectly compliments that J bass 'growl'. They are on the brighter end of the flats category and higher tension, but mine are on their 2nd or 3rd year and I think the tone keeps getting richer. They also have excellent harmonics if your into that stuff. Not great for a modern slap sound, but fantastic for what I call the 'old-school' slap sound i.e. mostly slapped or played finger style, often a bit slower tempo with the occasional POP that has that syrup feel. (If that makes any since). They take work to really get into, but once you've cut your teeth on the 'big strings with high action' train, you have a different perspective on tone and the attack needed for your desired goals.

I myself use heavy Rotosound (Swing 77, I think) on my passive MIM J, with what most would consider high action, and I dig in and have to work for tone. However, on my active ibanez EDB 550 I use super light and bright Vic Wooten (gauge 90-40ish, I think) strings w/ low-low kind of noisy action and play with a much lighter and faster tough. 2 tools, 2 dynamically different voices, but they cover just about every situation I could need. Oh, and I tune the flats down a half step or a whole step depending on need, and that helps with tension (though intonation suffers slightly) and never for a long enough period of time so as to need a truss adjustment.

FWIW

[groovenut57]

Originally Posted by Spin Doctor

I put some flatwound XL Chromes on my Jazz. I was diggin' the sound, i.e. not too bright but the tension is so high it was like playing on rebar. I mean they have zero give and was tearing my fingers to pieces.

Just curious...

What gauges of Chromes were they? I ask because I happen to use the Chromes 40-100 (ECB84) on my Fender J and I find them quite reasonable in term of overall stiffness - just enough tension to allow a fairly low action without being too floppy like the TI.

[NewFender]

I just purchased a new Fender Jazz Bass, made in the USA, was this a good choice for a new basss player?

[rodl2005]

A VERY good choice sir. All comes down to if YOU like it mainly tho!!

[Spin Doctor]

Originally Posted by groovenut57

Just curious...

What gauges of Chromes were they? I ask because I happen to use the Chromes 40-100 (ECB84) on my Fender J and I find them quite reasonable in term of overall stiffness - just enough tension to allow a fairly low action without being too floppy like the TI.

I was using the same gauges as you. I just didn't dig them for the reasons mentioned before. I also had XL 220's on my Ibanez 5 string and after I changed them out for Dunlops it was like a whole new bass. The only conclusion I can draw from that experience is that I just don't like D'Addarios. String choices are pretty personal, though...

[Frankjohnson]

TI Jazz flats, have them on a MIM Dlx jazz, and have Chromes on a P bass. The Chromes are cool, a little stiffer than the TI's, but the TI's are nice.

If I didnt' have the grounding issues, Fender 9120's, nylon tapewoulds on my P Bass Dlx. Have had them on over a year, but have to drop the treble considerably to lose that buzz.

[king_biscuit]

+1 on DR Sunbeams.

[CBgaragebassist]

Try some Tapewounds. They're GREAT on a Jazz.

[Nedmundo]

On my MIA Jazz basses, I've preferred the stock Fender Super Bass strings with the taperwound E (and B) strings. I think they're nickel plated steel. The tone is solid, they're comfortable, string-to-string balance is great, and they last a very long time. For brightness, they're typical for nickel rounds -- sweet top end, but nothing harsh or overly zingy.

[DavePlaysBass]

Fender 7250s are a good punchy balanced string on a Fender J. If you want to know how they will sound and feel go play a new Fender.

Or if you want something a little darker, Sadowsky Flats are a favorite of mine. Good mid range definition with the flatwound feel and articulation and with the typical flatwound subdued high end. I think they sound like a nice of worn in set of nickel rounds with the great flatwound feel and decay.

[Shmone]

Originally Posted by NewFender

I just purchased a new Fender Jazz Bass, made in the USA, was this a good choice for a new basss player?

Terrible decision, now give it to me