Hi! I recently got my hands on a new Ibanez 1985 RB630 in burgundy. I got it to complement my Fender American Standard Precision 2015. As I understand it, the Ibanez Super P4 pickup that comes in this bass is a little higher output than my Fender's more vintage voiced pickup. That plus the basswood body probably means more mids in general. What would be a good flatwound that could complement this more mid, higher output pickup?
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Good flatwound match for my new Ibanez RB630?
- Thread starter lastminute
- Start date
Forget about flatwounds, go with GHS black tapewounds...that's what I did with this.
Forget about flatwounds, go with GHS black tapewounds...that's what I did with this.
What do you like about them vs flatwounds?
That eventually a set of rounds will go dead, and once they sound lifeless and dull they'll sound just like flats.
Just messing with you, play what you like.
If you wish to emphasise the midrange-prominent character of the instrument, the following sets are notorious midrange-cannons (in different ways) :
Thomastik-Infeld JF344
Fender 9050L
Rotosound SM77
(the latter two have heavier-tension counterparts)
Conversely, you may instead have meant you need suggestions for *less* middy flats. If so, you should clarify
- if you prefer high or low tension, and
- if you expect a vintage, dark tone or a brighter one.
Those Blazer and RB bass has ceramic pickups that voice like Dimarzio Model P. To compensate their MID and thick low mid voice, in theory you need find a huge scoop voicing flatwound bass string set.
But I have great result with EB Cobalt flat on my Squier Mattfreeman P which has Model P install, i just need slightly dial back the Amp MID EQ knob to control/tame down that aggressive MID .
Hope help
Everything. They're smoother than flatwounds, they sound better, yes, including those floppy TIs, and they look great.
OK. What flavor of tone do you want out of flatwounds?
Dark progressing to darker: DR
Classic: La Bella
Smooth Chocolate: GHS
Contemporary Grind: New Fender Flats
Raspy Grind: EB Cobalt Flats
Classic with a hint of grind: EB Stainless
Zing then thud: D'A Chromes
Dark progressing to darker: DR
Classic: La Bella
Smooth Chocolate: GHS
Contemporary Grind: New Fender Flats
Raspy Grind: EB Cobalt Flats
Classic with a hint of grind: EB Stainless
Zing then thud: D'A Chromes
I don’t quite want a super dark and thump tone, would prefer brighter with some thump still there (but not so bright that they’re almost like rounds). Probably prefer modern over a classic tone.
Sounds like Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Flats (aka Group Flats) will fit the bill. Semi-modern in flavor with a smooth but clear midrange without being overly thumpy or thuddy or too bright. I have the Group IV (40-95) on my P bass and like them a lot.
Less middy, or flat in frequency, so not to overemphasize the prominent mids already from the pickups.
I prefer low tension, leans towards bright.
D'Addario ECB80 ("Super Light Gauge" Chromes), or Gibson SBG-FWLS; possibly also Dunlop DBFS40100, or the aforementioned Ernie Ball 2808 ("Group 4" Flats) might serve you well.
From all accounts the former two start out a little brighter than the latter two (how fast all of them they age depends on hand chemistry, not just use or exposure to the elements).
Then the best place to start is either the Fender flats or the EB stainless flats.
I'd be inclined to try a set of Optima 4440 RB Flats. Optima's version of the Maxima Flats that Rick basses used to ship from the factory with. A little darker than Fender's 9050L's, which IME with flats, define the center point of the flatwound tone spectrum. Fairly low tension, and flexible - but not too flexible. A good low end; lots of low-mids; a decent - but not prominent - mid range; and enough high end to be useful. OTOH, the #3025 GHS Precision Flats (the lighter gauge set) might make you happy, too... 
Rotosound 77's, which are low output due to using a non-magnetic alloy. Your high-output pickup will make up for it. That thing is punchier than most ANY flats out there, and the mid boost will further enhance that!
I wouldn't use nylon tapewounds myself. I find them sound like dead rounds, and give a strange type of string noise or "clack" especially when playing with a pick.
I wouldn't use nylon tapewounds myself. I find them sound like dead rounds, and give a strange type of string noise or "clack" especially when playing with a pick.
