Strings on Fenders..........

soulman969 · #1 10-07-2011, 10:47 PM

Is anyone familiar with what brand and type of flatwound strings Fender is using on their stock basses these days. Are the strings on the American made basses different from what they're using on MIM's or Squire's?

96tbird · #2 10-08-2011, 01:50 AM

Likely Fender 9050's.

JTE · #3 10-08-2011, 02:53 AM

I believe the Fender website still lists what strings ship on what bass. They don't use the same ones on all basses.

John

soulman969 · #4 10-08-2011, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTE

I believe the Fender website still lists what strings ship on what bass. They don't use the same ones on all basses.

John

Thanks I'll check that out too. Bassstringsonline.com guru Jason believes that the Fender strings may be made by D'Addario. I haven't played flats for quite some time and the Squier CV Jazz I just picked up has them so I'm curious as to what they are.

It's quite possible I'll restring it soon so I thought I'd get some ideas of a good fit for the bass and my style of playing Jason answered my PM to him with some info and great suggestions on what direction to go in. Much appreciated Jason.

He's a very knowledgeable guy and willing to help so I hope you guys will give his business venture some support.

Just want to say thanks to all for the help now and in the future. I'm new to this site and I'm learning day by day just how valuable the associations here are. Thanks again guys.

cr250_977 · #5 10-08-2011, 11:38 AM

Fender® USA Super Bass 7250ML, NPS, (.045, .065, .080, .100 Gauges)
****Taken from Fender website

JTE · #6 10-08-2011, 01:05 PM

Marcus Miller, Reggie Hamilton, AV '62 Jazz- 7250ML NPS
American Standard Jazz Fretless- 8250M NPS
Steve Harris- Rotosound Custom Flats
Tony Franklin fretless- Tony Franklin Signature strings
AV-62 Precisin, 8250M NPS
60th Anniversary Precison- no strings listed (must resist awful pun...)
Mike Dirnt Precision- Fender USA Super Bass 7350MS
Affinity Precision- Fender USA Super Bass 7250ML
Sting Signature Precision- 7250ML
'51 Precision- Fender USA Super Bass 8250M

All over the place. In addition, I really liked the strings that came on my Sting years ago. I generally despise Fender strings- except for the old 850s they quit using around '83. But the ones that came from the factory on my Sting were a very very good sounding and feeling nickle string. So, I bought a set of the ones listed on the website when I bought the bass. They were awful, a totally different looking alloy, wrap wire, etc.

John

JTE · #7 10-08-2011, 01:25 PM

Also, just because they're made by D'Addario don't make the assumption that they are the same as the ones D'Addario sells under their own name. D'Addario probably makes close to half the string company names that are out there (with GHS getting most of the rest). And while a company can go to D'Addario and just have them package their own stings with a different (which is what Ernie Ball at least used to do- in the late '80s Ernie Ball was D'Addario's west-coast warehouse, the string packages were identical except for the printing, the unusual gauges were identical, they advertised the same features of their phosphor bronze acoustic guitar strings and their hex cores, etc.). But a company can also go to D'Addario and specify the exact parameters (alloy, core wire size, wrap wire size(s), etc.) and have them make to order a string unlike any that D'Addario sells under their own name.

John

SLaPiNFuNK · #8 10-08-2011, 01:26 PM

From what I have heard... Their newer strings are being made by D'addario to Fender's specifications. There was a thread on this where a lot of people were not happy with the sound of the "new flats" and other strings and were searching for strings in the older fender packaging...

I guess this is what happened for you too JTE?

Many string "Manufactures" make products for other "Brands" the their specific specifications using their own specific materials... A .045-.100 Flat by Manufacturers Brand "A" will not be the same as a .045-.100 Brand "B" made by "A" manufacturer.

JTE · #9 10-08-2011, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

From what I have heard... Their newer strings are being made by D'addario to Fender's specifications. There was a thread on this where a lot of people were not happy with the sound of the "new flats" and other strings and were searching for strings in the older fender packaging...

I guess this is what happened for you too JTE?

Well not really. This was back in 2002 and I was trying to get them a couple of months after I got the bass. I figured because it's MIJ, they actually use some Japanese strings instead of exporting Fender US made strings to Japan.

John

soulman969 · #10 10-08-2011, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cr250_977

Fender® USA Super Bass 7250ML, NPS, (.045, .065, .080, .100 Gauges)
****Taken from Fender website

Thanks for taking the time to check that out and post it. So far my opinion of them is that they aren't very good. At least not to my liking and expectations. Very dull and muddy sounding with much higher tensions than I'm accustomed to.

soulman969 · #11 10-08-2011, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTE

Also, just because they're made by D'Addario don't make the assumption that they are the same as the ones D'Addario sells under their own name. D'Addario probably makes close to half the string company names that are out there (with GHS getting most of the rest). And while a company can go to D'Addario and just have them package their own stings with a different (which is what Ernie Ball at least used to do- in the late '80s Ernie Ball was D'Addario's west-coast warehouse, the string packages were identical except for the printing, the unusual gauges were identical, they advertised the same features of their phosphor bronze acoustic guitar strings and their hex cores, etc.). But a company can also go to D'Addario and specify the exact parameters (alloy, core wire size, wrap wire size(s), etc.) and have them make to order a string unlike any that D'Addario sells under their own name.

John

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

From what I have heard... Their newer strings are being made by D'addario to Fender's specifications. There was a thread on this where a lot of people were not happy with the sound of the "new flats" and other strings and were searching for strings in the older fender packaging...

I guess this is what happened for you too JTE?

Many string "Manufactures" make products for other "Brands" the their specific specifications using their own specific materials... A .045-.100 Flat by Manufacturers Brand "A" will not be the same as a .045-.100 Brand "B" made by "A" manufacturer.

I think you were telling me this very same thing in our exchange of PM's Jason. John thanks for pointing that out as well. If these are D'Ads they're nowhere near up to their usual standards.

You can add me to that list of players who are unhappy with them. The sound is dull and muddy and the string tension far more than I like to play with.

I've heard from some that some flats have to be "played into shape" but it would take more playing on these than I'd want to do before that happened. I realize my hands need to get accustomed to a bass again but I would litterally cramp up my left hand before I got through 3 sets with these.

RBX4 · #12 10-08-2011, 10:34 PM

EB slinkys

madbassplaya · #13 10-08-2011, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTE

Well not really. This was back in 2002 and I was trying to get them a couple of months after I got the bass. I figured because it's MIJ, they actually use some Japanese strings instead of exporting Fender US made strings to Japan.

John

They import the wood and everything else, why wouldn't they import the strings as well?

bassist4dalord · #14 10-09-2011, 01:17 PM

I'm pretty sure the only Fender basses that come from the factory with flats are:

1) Fretless MIM Standard Jazz (Fender 9050)
2) Custom Shop Pino Palladino Precision (TI Jazz Flats)

Flats cost too much more money for Fender to justify equipping more basses with them, and it is believed by some (not me; irrelevant) that rounds are in higher demand.

soulman969 · #15 10-09-2011, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulman969

Thanks for taking the time to check that out and post it. So far my opinion of them is that they aren't very good. At least not to my liking and expectations. Very dull and muddy sounding with much higher tensions than I'm accustomed to.

Now that I've had the time to do some research I have to make a correction to this post. The Fender 7250M Long Scale NPS is a roundwound string and it's the same strings that were on the American Deluxe Jazz I used to play.

What's on this Squire CV now are flatwounds of an unknown brand and guage which would explain why the sound and feel are about as far from that Deluxe as you can get. The former owner of this Squire only used it for a couple of months and didn't indicate that he'd changed strings so I assumed (ass-u-me) this was the stock set. Should have asked.

That mystery solved I can now set out to find a new set for this little gem that are far more like the stock set that was on this bass. Thanks for all your help guys.

soulman969 · #16 10-09-2011, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassist4dalord

I'm pretty sure the only Fender basses that come from the factory with flats are:

1) Fretless MIM Standard Jazz (Fender 9050)
2) Custom Shop Pino Palladino Precision (TI Jazz Flats)

Flats cost too much more money for Fender to justify equipping more basses with them, and it is believed by some (not me; irrelevant) that rounds are in higher demand.

And after doing some research of my own I would agree. As I indicated above the previous owner had to have changed the stock set out for the flats that are on it now.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

slobake · #17 10-10-2011, 01:22 PM

I have read on TB that GHS Flatwounds sound a lot like the older Fender flatwounds that where made in Mexico. I don't know much about the old Fender flats but I did put replace set roundwouds with GHS 55-105 flats on my MIM preicision. The upgrade in tone was amazing (IMHOP). I used to roll off the highs on my bass and my amp. Now I'm playing with all my tone pots dimed. I'm using an Ampeg BA-108.

soulman969 · #18 10-10-2011, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slobake

I have read on TB that GHS Flatwounds sound a lot like the older Fender flatwounds that where made in Mexico. I don't know much about the old Fender flats but I did put replace set roundwouds with GHS 55-105 flats on my MIM preicision. The upgrade in tone was amazing (IMHOP). I used to roll off the highs on my bass and my amp. Now I'm playing with all my tone pots dimed. I'm using an Ampeg BA-108.

I've haven't been a big fan of flats on a Jazz Bass for years and after playing and hearing what's on this one I haven't changed my mind. Someone said it's cost driven but Fender stock strings on this bass and most of the others are 7250 NPS Rounds.

A lot of PBass players like flats and I've heard and played some PBasses with flats and I do agree that they don't sound bad but I still don't like the feel of the more dull tone I get from them. Flats just don't have that piano like clarity I like.

I had an American Deluxe Jazz with those 7250's and I liked the sound and the feel of the string. I'm going to try some GHS Pressure Wounds on it and see how I like them. Those may be close to what I'm looking for. If not then DR rounds will probably get the nod. I played those some years back on my Modulus and loved the sound.

gary m · #19 10-10-2011, 01:49 PM

A great source for GHS flats is Carvin ...they buy them in bulk and repackage them in plastic bags. Fantastic savings over other resellers. Check their site.

madbassplaya · #20 10-10-2011, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gary m

A great source for GHS flats is Carvin ...they buy them in bulk and repackage them in plastic bags. Fantastic savings over other resellers. Check their site.

If they are even made to the same specifications as GHS Precision flats. GHS like LaBella make strings for several different companies but they aren't always "the same" string.

If you are registered as a VIP you will find the actual GHS Precision flats on BassStringsOnline.com to be at a price to your liking. Plus lower shipping using a faster shipping method and a rewards program.

Buy GHS Bass Precision Flatwound Electric Bass Strings from Bass Strings Online

I've used the Carvin strings and they weren't that great IMHO.YMMV as always.