What are your favorite flats for a Jazz bass?

Ryan Mohr · #1 06-14-2009, 07:14 AM

Just wondering, what flats do you guys like on a J bass. Flats that really suit the character of a J bass and take advantage of all the beautiful subtleties of a J bass. I don't think I want TIs because I'm going for a classic flat sound. I'm pretty sure I want La Bella 760FLs, but I just want some other opinions. Does anyone think the 760FLs don't sound good on a J? Thanks!

Darkstrike · #2 06-14-2009, 07:17 AM

Fretted, Chromes.
Fretless, TI's.

NortyFiner · #3 06-14-2009, 07:21 AM

I use Fender 9050M flats on my fretted Aerodyne Jazz. Besides the fact that I just like the feel of flats, it seems like big flats add warmth and fullness to the low end that compliments the brighter character of the Jazz family.

One Drop · #4 06-14-2009, 09:14 AM

Labella FL760s for my reggae tone.

Ryan Mohr · #5 06-14-2009, 11:18 AM

Here is the tone I am going for: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBu28...e=channel_page

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Fretted, Chromes.
Fretless, TI's.

My bass is fretted. I have heard the chromes are really bright and clanky. This is NOT what I am looking for in flats.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NortyFiner

I use Fender 9050M flats on my fretted Aerodyne Jazz. Besides the fact that I just like the feel of flats, it seems like big flats add warmth and fullness to the low end that compliments the brighter character of the Jazz family.

I was looking at those, how is the tension?

Quote:

Originally Posted by One Drop

Labella FL760s for my reggae tone.

Sweet!

Darkstrike · #6 06-14-2009, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan Mohr

My bass is fretted. I have heard the chromes are really bright and clanky. This is NOT what I am looking for in flats.

Definatly not clanky, more about mids, in my experience, bright and clanky is Rotosound.

Ryan Mohr · #7 06-14-2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Definatly not clanky, more about mids, in my experience, bright and clanky is Rotosound.

Hmm, mids I can definitely dig. Bright and clanky I can't, and that's what I've heard about chromes. Are you referring to Rotosound flats or rounds?

Darkstrike · #8 06-14-2009, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan Mohr

Hmm, mids I can definitely dig. Bright and clanky I can't, and that's what I've heard about chromes. Are you referring to Rotosound flats or rounds?

Roto flats are big bright and clanky,

Chromes are smoother, and more about low mids, but the high notes are fairly bright.

TI's are all about the high mids, and brighter than Chromes,

Fenders are deep and dark,

All, my experience with them anyway.

JohNLA · #9 06-14-2009, 12:02 PM

I have had the Fender Flats on my Jazz for about 6 months. They feel great to me and IMO I could cop that incubus tone. They also do a nice Jamerson tone.
Most seem to report them has very high tension and they are. I like them and I am able to play pretty quick with them. They are also my first set of Flats so I'm the most knowledgeable. I am thinking of trying the Deep talking Labella Flats next. Just to compare.

Ryan Mohr · #10 06-14-2009, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Roto flats are big bright and clanky,

Chromes are smoother, and more about low mids, but the high notes are fairly bright.

TI's are all about the high mids, and brighter than Chromes,

Fenders are deep and dark,

All, my experience with them anyway.

I'm definitely a low-mids guy, so I may have to check those out. Deep and dark sound pretty good too. I really dig the sound of the TIs here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIU66uyE-h4 I don't hear too much upper mid or treble presence. Any experience with the La Bellas?

Darkstrike · #11 06-14-2009, 12:36 PM

IIRC LaBellas are on the dark thumpy side too.

That clip is sweet!

Grizzly700 · #12 06-14-2009, 12:46 PM

GHS Precisions.

Darkstrike · #13 06-14-2009, 12:46 PM

http://www.mediafire.com/?efmmzhrt5za

This is an old recording I found of Chromes on a Jazz, running through the pickup options.

NortyFiner · #14 06-14-2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan Mohr

I was looking at those, how is the tension?

To me, the Fender flats have a medium-high tension...4 on a 5 scale with 5 being the highest tension. It's not so high that it feels like the strings are fighting you, but it's definitely not floppy either. A good solid feel for fretting.

king_biscuit · #15 06-14-2009, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan Mohr

I'm definitely a low-mids guy, so I may have to check those out. Deep and dark sound pretty good too. I really dig the sound of the TIs here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIU66uyE-h4 I don't hear too much upper mid or treble presence. Any experience with the La Bellas?

La Bellas have more low mid growl than TIs, and they have more thump than TIs. To my ears, TIs have a really mushy E string.

pickles · #16 06-14-2009, 01:49 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Kenney

"All of his basses have rosewood fingerboards and are strung with GHS flatwounds"

Which I'm pretty sure is the same as the Lakland flats, since GHS OEM's their strings (I think, can anyone confirm?).

The lakland flats are not a lot different than 760FLs IME, maybe just a little clearer with the labellas being a little chewier. Close though.

That is a pretty awesome flats tone. I really wasn't stoked on the recorded tones on the latest incubus record, but that live tone is killin.

jelpo · #17 06-14-2009, 01:51 PM

Thomastik JF344 Flatwound Long Scale Jazz Bass Strings

Ryan Mohr · #18 06-14-2009, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickles

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Kenney

"All of his basses have rosewood fingerboards and are strung with GHS flatwounds"

Which I'm pretty sure is the same as the Lakland flats, since GHS OEM's their strings (I think, can anyone confirm?).

The lakland flats are not a lot different than 760FLs IME, maybe just a little clearer with the labellas being a little chewier. Close though.

That is a pretty awesome flats tone. I really wasn't stoked on the recorded tones on the latest incubus record, but that live tone is killin.

Thanks, I knew he used GHS precision flats but for some reason I don't dig them completely. I have them on my Squier P bass, and although they definitely nail the classic flats tone, I think I would like the 760FLs even more. "Chewier" I dig.

I agree, he certainly gets a great tone from them. He is running a custom Lakland (44-94 body and neck, passive electronics, fralin single coil Js) into a Mesa BB750.

He really makes the flats thing work with an alternative rock band. Not much high end, but really articulate, punchy, and thick mids that make his tone defined in the mix. And that low end thump of course. On Light Grenades, I think it is a mic'ed Mesa Walkabout ran pretty hot. He plays with a pick a lot too. This tone at 38: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SF9b5QgMCs Also here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZstaRZQ-WJU What didn't you dig about that tone?

pickles · #19 06-14-2009, 04:14 PM

It sounds good like at :38 on that first track, or whenever the mix is sparse and he's getting his R&B feels on ... but then when it is in a rocking section there isn't any growl or personality. Sounds really flat when the music is at peak dynamics. I think I read they did most of the tracks through a Pod.

He sounds way better to me in that live track. In general I don't think Light Grenades sounds very good. All the usual criticisms of modern digital recording really come together for me on that one. Good band, good songs, sterile recording.

Just my raw $0.02.

lmfreeman9 · #20 06-14-2009, 04:42 PM

I like the DR Hi Beam flats alot, but haven't heard them on a Jazz Bass.