What strings for the classic jazz bass tone?

[Ryan Mohr]

What strings for the classic jazz bass, 60s alder with rosewood jazz, tone? The classic precision bass tone is with flats like LaBella or GHS.

[Parabolic Box]

Do you have an example of what is a classic J Bass sound? It might be the same thing... (ie. La Bella Deep Talkin' Flats)

Though La Bella tapewounds are what come to mind for me. Thinking of something like the solo from My Generation.

[DavePlaysBass]

JPJ used Rotosound Flats I believe.

[lambro]

if you are going for flats, check out Pyramid strings...

I've always used nickel wound rounds on my Jazz Basses

[joelb79]

Originally Posted by Parabolic Box

Do you have an example of what is a classic J Bass sound? It might be the same thing... (ie. La Bella Deep Talkin' Flats)

Though La Bella tapewounds are what come to mind for me. Thinking of something like the solo from My Generation.

How exactly do tapewounds sound like Rotosound Swing 66 Stainless Steel Rounds through a distorted marshal plexi head?

[Parabolic Box]

Originally Posted by joelb79

How exactly do tapewounds sound like Rotosound Swing 66 Stainless Steel Rounds through a distorted marshal plexi head?

The original recording involved a J Bass with La Bella tapewounds played with a plectrum. (For the solo, anyway.)

[Ryan Mohr]

How about DR Nickel Lo-riders for this? Or maybe fender pure nickel?

[joelb79]

Originally Posted by Parabolic Box

The original recording involved a J Bass with La Bella tapewounds played with a plectrum. (For the solo, anyway.)

Why not call it a pick?

[Parabolic Box]

Originally Posted by joelb79

Why not call it a pick?

I was reading through the thread in Technique before arriving to this one lol

[Ryan Mohr]

I think I'm going to go the roundwound route for classic jazz tones, so the question is nickel, nickel-plated steel, or steel?

[DavePlaysBass]

My 61 J sounds the best with TI flats. It seemed to get lost in a mix with nickel rounds. Steel rounds sound great as I recall.

[Kenny Allyn]

Flats on my Precision, D'addario XL Chromes ...


But on my Classic 73 Jazz I go with the classic 7150s ... nice bark and growl rather than steel clank.



...Soft feel, easy on the frets, and for me anyway it just jumps out of the mix.

[Ryan Mohr]

Originally Posted by DavePlaysBass

My 61 J sounds the best with TI flats. It seemed to get lost in a mix with nickel rounds. Steel rounds sound great as I recall.

That's interesting that it got lost in the mix with nickel rounds but not with flats.

[One Drop]

I find in general nickel rounds don't work as well on Jazz basses as SS rounds. Flats cut through but in a completely different way- maybe it's the stronger fundamental or low mids, not sure.

[Ryan Mohr]

Thanks guys for all the advice. Now the question is what SS rounds would work best for the classic jazz bass tone. FWIW I will be putting them on this bass - http://www.rondomusic.com/sjb62ct.html

[One Drop]

Well, to me the classic '60s JB tone isn't rounds at all- I think of flats for this.

Do you have any recordings or bassists whose tone on a jazz you like? That could help us recommend a set.

Personally, DR SS Lo-Riders sound great and classic to me on a Jazz. I like the growl and the low mid punch. Sits really well with guitars in a rock mix, too.

The Jazz I use for a few numbers in a cover band has Sadowsky flats on it. These can sound full and smooth, vintage and thumpy, but can can also be really mean and growly, just by changing attack and adding or subtracting a bit of mids at the amp. Perfect for me, and voiced really well on a Jazz IMO.

[Ryan Mohr]

Originally Posted by One Drop

Well, to me the classic '60s JB tone isn't rounds at all- I think of flats for this.

Do you have any recordings or bassists whose tone on a jazz you like? That could help us recommend a set.

Personally, DR SS Lo-Riders sound great and classic to me on a Jazz. I like the growl and the low mid punch. Sits really well with guitars in a rock mix, too.

The Jazz I use for a few numbers in a cover band has Sadowsky flats on it. These can sound full and smooth, vintage and thumpy, but can can also be really mean and growly, just by changing attack and adding or subtracting a bit of mids at the amp. Perfect for me, and voiced really well on a Jazz IMO.

I was thinking something along the lines of JPJ's tone on Led Zeppelin II, perhaps on The Lemon Song and Whole Lotta Love.

[DavePlaysBass]

Originally Posted by AqueousView11

That's interesting that it got lost in the mix with nickel rounds but not with flats.

TI flats have a mid range hump that does not get lost. Goes well with the naturally scooped sound of two J pickups wide open. You may need to crank the bass a little but the mids are very rich IME. Especially if there is room to move a round a bit.

[Ryan Mohr]

Originally Posted by One Drop

I find in general nickel rounds don't work as well on Jazz basses as SS rounds. Flats cut through but in a completely different way- maybe it's the stronger fundamental or low mids, not sure.

Do slinkys also fall into the category of not cutting though on a jazz like other nickel rounds?

[WJGreer]

Originally Posted by One Drop

I find in general nickel rounds don't work as well on Jazz basses as SS rounds.

My experience is the opposite, but let's face it - the bass, the pickups, the preamp, the amp, and the speakers all collude to the result of this equation.