Roundwound vs Flat Wounds: Precision Bass

joelb79 · #1 01-17-2007, 09:58 AM

Hey P-Bass players,

I know a lot of you swear by flats for your P's, but I cant help but love the sound of a P-Bass with rounds as well. My new MIA came with a set of Fender NPS with a taper wound E, which are growly as all get out, however I'm finding that I need something a tad tamer with the same punch.

If you use round wounds:

what strings are you using?
why?
how do they sound?

If you use flatwounds:
what flats are you using?
why?
how do they sound?

Thanks in advance!

Fuzzbass · #2 01-17-2007, 10:32 AM

I like flats, but like rounds better. One of my issues with flats is that they're limited tone-wise compared to rounds: in short, you can get rounds to sound kinda like flats, but you can't get flats to sound zingy like rounds. I also prefer the feel of rounds. But as noted, only flats truly sound like flats.

Solution: flats on one, rounds on another. Best of both worlds.

jasonbraatz · #3 01-17-2007, 11:18 AM

For me, there are two reasons I'd want to have a P bass.

1) Alder / rosewood P with flats for that old school, motown, fingerstyle funk.
2) Ash / maple P with rounds to be played with a pick for that ubiquitous rock tone

I have plenty of basses with rounds though, so were I to get a P bass it'd be for some Jamerson action.

joelb79 · #4 01-17-2007, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonbraatz

I have plenty of basses with rounds though, so were I to get a P bass it'd be for some Jamerson action.

Which is kinda why I bought the bass... i just wanted versatility.

iamoldschool · #5 01-17-2007, 12:11 PM

Flats. D'Addario Chromes. They just seem to provide the "Thud" I'm looking for. I'm also able to play faster on flats, callouses don't drag on the strings.

canopener · #6 01-17-2007, 06:38 PM

Flats. Dead rounds are ok for a P.

Foamy · #7 01-17-2007, 06:56 PM

I'm very new to the P, and I have been a round-wound player forever on other basses.
I read alot here about P's and flats, and I had a set of LaBellas sitting around I had taken off another bass I bought from another TB'er.
I decided to try them out, and the sound is phenomenal. It's what I was expecting to hear from a P - thump, boom, pow!
Flats for me for the P, and I may even try these out on a Jazz.

JimmyM · #8 01-17-2007, 09:18 PM

Rounds: D'addario XL's, .045-100. Because they're cheap and good. Bright but not overbearingly piano-like.

Flats: A 7 year old set of Labella Stainless Steel Flats. Because they were the only flats I could find in Sam Ash or Guitar Center at the time. Very dark and thumpy.

As for putting them on a P, I have a P copy with flats because it's the traditional thing to do, but more and more I've been wanting to hear that great rounds-on-P sound so I just bought a cheapo SX P copy that will get the XL's.

a.green.martian · #9 01-17-2007, 10:38 PM

'75 P, Alder(80%sure)/Maple, Sadowsky P/J pups: TI Jazz Flats.
I almost never play with the "J" pup on, so for all intensive purposes, it's just a "P."
They just sound right, I can't really explain why, but it just sounds mean.

Jazzin' · #10 01-17-2007, 11:15 PM

DR Sunbeams on my P which is an active bass.

Smallmouth_Bass · #11 01-18-2007, 12:29 AM

Rounds on my MIA P (Nickel XLs).
Flats on my Tokai P (Chromes).

Both sound good, but I am considering a set of TI flats just out of curiousity.

basspraiser · #12 01-18-2007, 07:02 PM

I originally had Rotosound round wounds on my P bass and they sounded good, but seemed to wear out fast.....I bought another set and, for some reason they did not sound that good. I have had the bass for about a year. After a short while of being "unhappy" with the sound, I decided to try a set of Fender flats - WOW! what a difference! It sounds great! The only complaint I have is that the strings had no thread or silk on them and kept slipping off the tuner pegs when I was winding them on- now that they are set they sound great!

will stick with flats on the P and round wounds on my Ric (but that is another thread!!!)

SuperSnake2012 · #13 01-18-2007, 09:03 PM

I play rounds on my P. The flat tone just isn't for me. I also play rounds on my Jazz.

The Craw · #14 01-18-2007, 11:09 PM

Rounds for me too.

HELLonWheels187 · #15 01-18-2007, 11:28 PM

You could try coated DR strings. They are a bit more dull then most strings out of the box and they stay like quite long too.

3rdBass · #16 01-20-2007, 07:50 AM

TI Jazz Flats on my maple neck Precision's. (thump/ boom)
TI Super Alloy or Power Rounds on my rosewood neck Jazz's. (twang/ crunch)

I've been meaning to try a set of La Bella "Jamerson Flats" on the Precisions. They run 52 73 95 110 which are HUGE and can put more tension on the neck, but I've heard the sonic results are worth it.

BassoP · #17 01-20-2007, 11:13 AM

I just put fender flats on my P copy last night, and they are awesome. Jury is still out on the pickup. I put a DUncan 1/4 in there years ago, and am thinking that I might now prefer something a little more vintage sounding. Still, it is great for R&B (old style). Not sure how I'd feel about flats for rock though.

SuperSnake2012 · #18 01-21-2007, 12:07 AM

I prefer the feel of rounds and I think I could get a pretty convincing flat tone if I dial down the tone... with rounds I usually dime it for rock so I get that cutting tone.

Ampeg SVT · #19 01-21-2007, 02:55 PM

when i was using P-basses i had Ernie Ball rounds on them, i loved that sound

TheButler · #20 01-21-2007, 03:05 PM

I have ernie ball rounds on my P bass at the moment. I really like the sound. I will change them for another brand when they get 'worn out' just to see how the different makers vary the strings, but i will definatly stay with rounds.