What flats for these tones?

[Mike M.]

I'd love to try some flatwounds on my 5 string Jazz bass.

I love the sound John Paul Jones gets on "The Lemon Song" as well as the tones McCartney gets on the "Pepper" album.

What flats wound get me into that tonal territory?

I tried Rotosound flats but found them way too edgy, especially the low E string. Tried D'Addario Chromes but they seemed a bit bright as well. Tried a set of Fenders about two years ago (can't remember the model number) and that was the closest I got. But for some reason the low E got way too dull and dead too quick compared to the other strings.

I've heard good things about TI flats but have never tried them. Would those work?

[jasper383]

La Bella flats. The FS or FL set plus the B string single, if you let them age on the bass for a few months, will get you quite close.

TI Flats are great, but the late 60's sound you're looking for is La Bella.

[bluesblaster]

Actually.... JPJ never used flats on led zepplin recordings, you can look it up. Most likly he used roto SS rounds, tone rolled all the way off on bass , I saw a photo once of them in the studio and he had his Acoustic 360 rig mic'd up. Thats the way they did it before fancy tube preamps and such.

[lmfreeman9]

If those were rounds on the Lemon Song they were completely dead.

Labella FLs are lighter, FS medium, FM - heavy or Pyramid Gold.

[Mike M.]

Originally Posted by lmfreeman9

If those were rounds on the Lemon Song they were completely dead.

Labella FLs are lighter, FS medium, FM - heavy or Pyramid Gold.

Thanks guys, this really helps.

I agree...if those are rounds then they were VERY dead. I could be wrong but it always sounded to me like he also had a fair amount of compression going on that track as well. Whatever he used that tone and his killer player still slays me to this day. A total master!!