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“Sooner or later, we all come back to P bass with flats”
- Thread starter BassyBill
- Start date
i have flats on several fretless basses , but I don't like the feel of them. I would never put them on a fretted bass, too "flat" sounding. Gave up my P-bass in the late 70's -early 80's.. Current basses I have are superior in every way, and can easily emulate a P-bass sound. Fender P did become a bit more interesting of late by adding a J pickup and active electronics.
I think I've read all the posts in this conversation. I mentioned half-round strings way in the beginning and can't believe that no one else brought them up. I may have missed it, but frankly, I find them ideal on my Fender Jazz. It just seems like such a good compromise. Why no love?
For me, the deal breaker with half-round strings is the sticky feel. Certain flats have this feel too (I'm looking at you, Ernie Ball Cobalt flats). GHS Pressurewounds don't have this issue because the outer wrap is compressed instead of being ground.
- Steve
Half-Wounds (Ground Wound Rounds), have been my string of choice for many tears but they can't really do a 'flats' tone, they can get round woundy if you dive into them, that's what I generally like. Sayin' all that, a P with flats + a P with rounds are a pretty good team that could tackle anything.
I play GHS Pressurewounds on my Jazz Bass and have for over 10 years. I've not found a better string for that style bass or others like it. They're not a true half round but they're in somewhat the same category tonally. Of the two I much prefer the Pressurewounds.
Nickel Rounds
Never could understand the Flats crowd on a P-Bass.
I usually have Flats or Tapes on Hollow or Semi-Hollow basses with the exception being my Gibson SG.
I've always been a Jazz/Rick guy... and yet... my very first bass in 1984 was a Squier Bullet. Second bass a Kramer Striker (P copy). Fast Forward thirty years and I bought a 1983 Precision a few years back. Don't know why.
And now I'm seeing a P by a European builder with a finish to die for. It's perfect. I may just do it.
But flats? No way. Steve Harris is my second all time-fave and... no. I just can't.
And now I'm seeing a P by a European builder with a finish to die for. It's perfect. I may just do it.
But flats? No way. Steve Harris is my second all time-fave and... no. I just can't.
Steve plays flats.
SH77 Steve Harris Custom Monel Flatwound Bass Guitar Strings - .050-.110 Long Scale 4-string | Sweetwater
After a brief flirtation with rounds on one of my P basses, I finally gave up and put chromes on all four of my P basses. I prefer the feel of flats.
Yes I do. I don’t gig it since I have 3 gig worthy Squiers. They’re all easily replaced should one walk off a bar gig.
Back in November I picked up a Leclair P at Replay. It’s a 3TS 62 styled P with a tort guard. If my gig schedule picks up that will probably become my main player.
In 2021 I put flats on my Precision for the first time (I first picked up a bass in 1986), I will never have round-wounds on a Precision again.
Last month I bought a Player Jazz and have tried to live with the rounds it came with. It is now at the luthier getting a setup and a set of flats. I will never have round-wounds on a Jazz ever again.
Play what ya like, use what ya like but, for me, I am done with rounds.
Last month I bought a Player Jazz and have tried to live with the rounds it came with. It is now at the luthier getting a setup and a set of flats. I will never have round-wounds on a Jazz ever again.
Play what ya like, use what ya like but, for me, I am done with rounds.
