roundwound strings for precision

jmcdan3 · #1 10-21-2007, 06:37 PM

old precision bass-currently use hybrid slinkys and love em. i play a lot of classic rock and blues. i want a good roundwound string to get a nice tommy shannon type sound. i have heard good things about the rotosound swing. ive used and hated ghs boomers, fender strings, and flatwounds arent my favorite.

jasper383 · #2 10-21-2007, 06:43 PM

What was it about the Fender strings you didn't like?

I suggest DR Sunbeams or Fender pure nickels for a good, round, P Bass sound.

What strings does Tommy Shannon use? Get those!

mccartneyman · #3 10-21-2007, 06:50 PM

On his website, Tommy says he uses Fodera strings but also has used D'Addario.
Tommyshannon.com

I suggest any nickel wound string, which is what Ernies are. You may not like flats, but I suggest TI Jazz flats. Very old school, funky sound.

jasper383 · #4 10-21-2007, 07:06 PM

I wonder who makes the Fodera strings? Probably D'Addario

.

jmcdan3 · #5 10-21-2007, 07:29 PM

i want vintage, roundwound tone. think noel redding, john paul jones, tommy shannon, and other blues-rock-psychedelic players.

jmcdan3 · #6 10-21-2007, 08:06 PM

my band is a three piece if that helps. i need to stick out some. i found flats to not cut through in this setting-blues yes, but heavy improv jamming-not as much.

BellBottomBlues · #7 10-21-2007, 08:08 PM

Rotosound SwingBass are good string but some people find them rough

JimmyM · #8 10-21-2007, 08:11 PM

If you didn't like Boomers I doubt you'll like any nickel strings. I'd probably go for stainless, but they are rough and they eat frets, so that's the tradeoff you have to live with for having that ultra-bright roundwound tone.

sublime0bass · #9 10-21-2007, 08:13 PM

foderas are a brand of d'ads

so are hartke strings, fyi

bullshark · #10 10-21-2007, 08:36 PM

I tried many string set/type and now I use DR Low-Rider Nickel on my precision. Stainless gave me too much finger noise so I cut back on the tone to compensate which didn't give me the tone I wanted. I now have the best of both world, next to no fingernoise while the tone adjustment is 1/3 to midway just like I like it, I love the tone I'm getting out of that precision and the string tension is just right for me.

Mind you, this is my personal preference, another might hate this setup; why there are so many string choices. Hope you find your favorite, it's nice to walk in a music store and know exactly what you want.

JimmyM · #11 10-21-2007, 09:47 PM

I must have missed the part about the Hybrid Slinkies. If you love them, why bother looking for a new set of strings?

DavePlaysBass · #12 10-21-2007, 10:09 PM

I believe JPJ played a Jazz with Flats. And Noel Redding played a Jazz with a pick. I have a set of Labella 760FL flats on a MIM 50s Precision that really gets in the JPJ camp IMO even though it is not a Jazz Bass.

BuffaloBass · #13 10-21-2007, 10:26 PM

I just put Ken Smiths SS rounds on my P bass. Nice.

jmcdan3 · #14 10-22-2007, 11:26 AM

i know redding used swing bass. did jpj use flats?

JimmyM · #15 10-22-2007, 12:59 PM

He used flats until he switched to Alembics.

lovemybasses · #16 10-22-2007, 01:04 PM

i used roto flats for my p and it wasnt my game. now i have roto swing rounds and they also sounds not that good,yes, they are bit rough under your fingers.
my best p bass sound were with fender stock strings ( nickel ) and DR strings.
i will try some d'addario nickels - it is that p-bass sound we all love - i guess. they are dead quickly but it is ok as they are cheap.

One Drop · #17 10-22-2007, 01:08 PM

Rotos make sense in the context of a trio- they hold down the bottom and the highs sort of sandwich the guitar. Entwistle's P and Fenderbird tones were the epitome of this, IMO.

jmcdan3 · #18 10-22-2007, 02:46 PM

this will defeat my whole thread: i may try flats

i love the tension of rounds but maybe they arent as superior as flats seem to be on this forum. some covers in the three piece are jimi hendrix, led zep, cream, grateful dead, pink floyd, srv, and many many many 12 bar blues. perhaps flats would be more appropriate? i dont want my tone to be muddy but with rounds, i tend to keep my tone knob very low because i dislike the sound and twang that you tend to get out of it. could i keep my tone higher if i used flats? there probably wouldnt be as much twang, zing, and finger noise. my amp is an ampeg b100r and a Kustom 450 Tube/Solid State with a 4x10 cab.

DavePlaysBass · #19 10-22-2007, 06:27 PM

Hand placement will have a lot to do with things too. Along with pickups, bridge, body woods, etc.

I put a set of Labella Flats on my MIM 50s P. Just jammed over the weekend. Tone at about 3/4 most of the time. And I feel like I need some round wound definition. Not sure where I will go next but I have a set of DA XLs and the stock Fender 7250s at my fingertips and may start there. I actually find the TI Superalloys to be a great roundwound if you are looking for a darker voicing with a great low mid punch. Never tried them on a precision though...

Dave

BellBottomBlues · #20 10-22-2007, 06:50 PM

I use LaBella and Rotosound flats. However, I think you're trying to cover too much ground.

Regardless I say use the LaBella's if you're man enough.