Various flats reviewed on P-Bass - Suggestions welcome

[Groover]

Things with the band have been slow lately, so I’ve been home tinkering with strings on my 77 P-bass a lot lately to find that perfect set of strings for this bass, which is a Maple/Ash bass, with 7.5 fretboard radius.

I’m running my tests with an Ampeg B100R and testing with tone knob fully open and also fully rolled off (somewhere in between as well, but I like to two extremes on P bass best). All strings have been used on this bass in the past for at least a few practices, but I never A/B’ed them like I did over the holidays.

Here is the rundown of flats I’ve tried and what I like and don’t like about them:


TI Jazz Flats JF344 (.043 - .056 - .070 - .100) - Nice I suppose. I see where the appeal is with these, but I just can’t quite get used to them. They sound great with tone knob rolled off, very smooth, but with tone knob fully open, they have a lifeless-like click I don’t like. Tension and the feel of the strings at this tension level is odd to me.


TI Jazz Flats JF344 (Modded) moved up by removing the stock G, and using an E string from Labella 760FM set. With this configuration, I ended up with a (.056 .070 - .100 - .109-labella) set - I’ve always wanted to try this, and I finally did. This was interesting, and I have to say… If TI would make a set in (.050 - .065 - .085 - .110) or something similar, they would capture even more users. Tuning these to a higher tension really turns these into power strings, like launching a missile tone when plucked hard. Interestingly enough, the steel Labella E string blended in sound very nicely. This was almost it for me.. however, the tension between strings didn’t quite feel right, especially the D and G strings. I’m also still not too crazy about the tone of TI’s… can’t quite put my finger on it, but the voicing is just not for me. Just for the readers, tone rolled off yields a very powerful and much thumpier sound tuned this way. With the tone knob fully open, the lifeless click I mentioned earlier was nearly gone, but just the highs are still not quite right to my ears.


Sadowsky Flats SBF45 (.045 -.065 -.085 -.105) – These are good strings. I used them on this bass for a little while, but going off memory on these as I did not A/B them over the holidays. I last used them about 6 Months ago. The feel of these is very nice, felt much like a roundwound string as far a bounce and bend factor. I recall the tone being nice and balanced feel, but I do remember it was lacking a nice solid thump on this particular bass. Highs were also a tad thin for a flatwound as well, but in the end, I just wasn’t satisfied with the overall tone… sort of a close but no cigar situation for me on this bass.


Labella 760FM (.049 -.069 -.089 -.109) – I keep going back to these as the feel is just perfect for me on this bass. They have the right smoothness, are super shiny, and they “bounce” off my fingers just right. Even though a pretty heavy set, I can play much faster with these than many lighter gauge string sets I’ve tried. Good strings, and have been a fan a Labella flats for a few years now, but just got away to try other strings. This is my most broken-in set, which may have a lot to do with the results. The set is very well balanced same notes played on different strings especially with tone rolled off are nearly identical sounding. I like a lot about these strings, except that I’ve brightened up my sound lately, and I’m now finding these a little muddy now, and the clank when plucked hard is a starting to sound little too prominent to my ears. Sound with Tone rolled-off is thumpy and pillowy, but finding the clarity less defined these days. Tone open is a tad clanky for my playing style, and I’m noticing them to be a tad scooped in the midrange area, which I never noticed before – Overall, I really dig these strings for thump (rolled off tone) and playability – so far, they feel to me the best, just not sold on the tone for what I’m playing lately.


Fender 9050M (.055 - .070 – .090 - .105) - Man, this is what I am talking about for tone on this bass! This is the exact tone I want from this bass. Strong thump when tone rolled off, and just the best tone when the tone knob is fully open. Aggressive, mean, throaty – not too edgy – just the P-bass tone I love. Perfect tone. The downer…. The feel of these strings is pretty bad IMO. Not just the high tension.. I think I could probably live with that, but man, they have absolutely little flex and no bounce-factor off the strings, and it seems that I have to press really hard to lock the note on the fret without it buzzing-out. On top of that, compared to the TI and Labella, these are pretty gritty feeling. Fine for a round-wound I think, but I’d expect some smooth feel for a flat. All-in all, I think if these had a round core (better bounce) and more a tad more polished, they’d be perfect. Ladies and gents… this is the tone I’m after, girthy, throaty, aggressive and deep – the feel unfortunately really hinders my playing style, and I’m very bummed about that.


Gee, that was a long post…. (sorry) – I just need some opinions on where I should go with this now. I’m thinking Labella 760FS (maybe they are a little less dark, but afraid of clank-factor, other option would be to go with a lighter set of Fender 9050, but their gauges are all weird, and I almost feel I’d have to combine 3 sets (M, ML, L) to get what I think would be a perfect balanced set. I just don’t know if the lighter sets have the same voicing (I’m assuming they do), and will they be a little bouncier off the fingers?

I’m obviously obsessed lately…. Please help… (no rounds at this time… you don’t want me to break downs what I have tried… lol)

Thanks!

[Gearhead43]

Er.........lower your standards?

[dalkowski]

Try Chromes. Then get a girlfriend (I don't mean to diss you, but your obsession is getting compulsive).

Good luck on your quest.

[cassius987]

I like the 43-60-82-104 LaBella Deep Talkin' Flats set the best because the tension is balanced the best, and overall not too high not too low.

[BZadlo]

I've found similar results and am most in love with the LaBella's too. To me, they have the best feel and sound.
I've had a set on my T-bass for a few months now and am noticing that the mids are starting to drop off too.
I was playing on the Jamerson's right before this so, the 760FM's seem light to me. I think they're the perfect gauges. The E on the Jamerson set is like 115 and it almost has too much low end. I think that the 760FM's have a nice balance of depth and clarity.

I heard a clip of some Ernie Ball flats that sound kind of intriguing yesterday. Sounds like they have a little more in the upper mid range.

http://www.ernieball.com/news/45-1

[floydman]

maybe what you are not impressed with is the sound of the ampeg
try testing with a different amp
try testing through headphones on a preamp or amp headphone out jack

[Groover]

Cool, thanks on replies. When I play live I use a 6PRO and an Avatar 410NEO and whatever the house mix is, and all the strings mentioned have been used on the same bass through that head/cab at some point or another. The B100R was just my index for the A/Bing at home, but was also recalling the strings' live performance

Agreed on the compulsion... though this is also a review to help others when in search of strings.

As far as the girlfriend goes... lol... have one, and I'm pretty thorough with her too..

[dalkowski]

Way to go -- thoroughness is essential.

Is it the sound or the feel that you're getting hung up on?

[pathdoc2]

I use Fender flats on my main P bass. Records wonderfully.

[Groover]

The feel is more critical than tone to me. The tone is ultimately very similar coming from the same bass - give or take...

I guess in a nutshell, I like the tone of the Fenders 9050M best, but I like the feel of the Labella 760FM and wondering what can I try that will combine the two as best as possible without spending another $100+ on strings to try. Maybe the Chromes, but from what I've read, those seem to be different in tone than the Fenders?

I also changed the title on this thread... it was a little too much.

[debassr]

Originally Posted by cassius987

I like the 43-60-82-104 LaBella Deep Talkin' Flats set the best because the tension is balanced the best, and overall not too high not too low.

+1 for LDTF 760FL's

Originally Posted by dalkowski

Then get a girlfriend (I don't mean to diss you, but your obsession is getting compulsive).

+1 Again

[engedi1]

I was disappointed to read what you said about the Sadowsky strings as those are the ones I intend to try next. Of course, I really enjoy the TI Flats on my Sadowsky m5-24 so mnaybe I would like the Sadowsky flats better than you did. To me, it is all about finding the right strings for the bass and the TI flat's have worked really well, the only reason I would switch is to try to get something of their tone with a little less flex. After having them on for a couple of months, I am getting used to it however!
These strings get a great live sound for me, and I get nothing but compliments on my live tone.

[Staccato]

Thanks for the review!

[kimokeo]

Take the flats off and put a set of rounds on it. She will come alive then!

[Groover]

Originally Posted by engedi1

......To me, it is all about finding the right strings for the bass and the TI flat's have worked really well.....

In regards to the Sadowsky... They are nice strings. I had them on this bass for about a year. I just remember them getting a little thin in the upper register when playing live, but probably had to do with the tone the guitar player was using maybe. Lots of variables, and I agree 100% that the same strings on a different bass give different results, so I'd say give them a shot. They may be the strings you're after.

Sounds to me so far that I should give the Labella 760FL a shot as well as maybe the Fender 9050L, After that, then I can settle and get married...

[GerManson]

not so long ago i found a youtube video reviewing flats on a P Bass
let me do a search.

got it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDZJMKfgaCk

[CamiloDíaz]

I suggest Labellas 760FS, not as stiff as the FM, not too loose as FL and plenty of low-mids to get the sound. If you liked Fenders, tho, you might find them a bit too bright sounding.

[debassr]

Originally Posted by GerManson

not so long ago i found a youtube video reviewing flats on a P Bass
let me do a search.

got it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDZJMKfgaCk

Chromes sounded amazing to me in that clip but youtube videos probably aren't the best way to judge tone in real life although it's a good way to get a decent feel for comparative tone between different options.

In real life, I like 760FL's on my P and Chromes on my J.

[kevcooke]

Get several p-basses and string each one with a different set [/idealist]

I have TI flats on my p-bass and personally I'm happy with them. This is such a taste thing. I have chromes on my Yamaha TRB6 fretless. The tone is well rounded, no extremities in terms of highs/mids/lows but they are crazy high tension.

How about Elites flatwounds? Don't overlook them because they are cheap, they are actually incredibly nice and I am just waiting on them to release a six string set for my Yamaha! http://www.basscentre.com/4-string-b...ee-tshirt.html

[guroove]

DR makes some nice flatwounds. Not very bright at all, but the E doesn't have that muddy dark sound to it. The only problem I have with them is slapping. They just feel a little heavy for slapping, and the E string doesn't seem to have a lot of bounce to it.