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5 string set for Fender P - flatwounds?

Discussion in 'Strings [BG]' started by arther daily, Oct 31, 2001.

  1. Oct 31, 2001 #1
    arther daily

    arther daily Guest

    May 3, 2000
    Reading, UK
    OK, I'm about to buy my 1st new set of strings for my 5string fender P... I play through a valve ampeg head so my sounds is pretty warm anyhow - but I want to take the 'parpy' edge off the high notes...

    I play hard rock but am not after a sharp/crisp well defined sound - I'm thinking more john paul jones (is that his name - geezer from led zeppelin??) - which is pretty much why I went for the fender P sound in the 1st place....

    What will flatwounds do to my sound?? - I've never used them before?
     
  2. Oct 31, 2001 #2
    Bruce Lindfield

    Bruce Lindfield Unprofessional TalkBass Contributor Gold Supporting Member In Memoriam

    Dec 13, 1999
    Brighton, England, UK, Europe
    John Paul Jones played a Jazz bass in Led Zep!! Although he has played several different basses since.

    Flatwounds are supposed to give less finger noise, but I don't really like them.
     
  3. Oct 31, 2001 #3
    arther daily

    arther daily Guest

    May 3, 2000
    Reading, UK
    hmm, i can see that.

    finger noise isnt really a problem for me - especially playing rock lines on a fender p...

    i might try 'em out
     
  4. Oct 31, 2001 #4
    Thomguy

    Thomguy Guest

    Oct 15, 2001
    New York, USA
    >I play hard rock but am not after a sharp/crisp well defined sound<

    While it's true that logically you'll experience less fingernoise from flats, most importantly, you'll notice a more mellow tone. When you think about how they're made: round-vs-flat, more winding material touches the core on a flatwound string. The result can be likened to palm muting. This also depends on the winding material itself. Nickel (not nickel plated steel) will be the most mellow and flatwound stainless (or other) steel will tend to give you more clearly defined highs and mids than the softer nickel. Flatwounds also typically have more tension (when comparing similar gauges and materials) so the slight change in your technique also tends to add the their characteristic "thumpiness". It sounds like you're on the right track if you're looking for a sound that's not as crisp as the rounds you've been playing.
     
  5. Nov 3, 2001 #5
    Ari Schor

    Ari Schor

    Mar 3, 2000
    Montreal
    i THINK JPJ used either Rotosound or Fender Flats with his jazz...i would give those a try...
     
  6. Nov 5, 2001 #6
    LarryG

    LarryG

    Oct 30, 2001
    SWFL
    Arther,

    Please advise on which strings you end up going with and how you like them. I'm gonna be changing over to flats soon.

    (BTW, I work in Reading, PA. The mayor of your city (Ms. Williams) was here a couple of years ago visiting our mayor.)

    Regards,

    LarryG
     
  7. Nov 5, 2001 #7
    arther daily

    arther daily Guest

    May 3, 2000
    Reading, UK
    We have a Mayor!!!

    Actually Reading here is not a city, it's a town. It's abit of a sore point to some residents, the population is easily big enough but we dont have a catherdral!!!

    Hey nonny nonny for ye olde England laws?

    Re:the strings - will do.
     
  8. Nov 14, 2001 #8
    arther daily

    arther daily Guest

    May 3, 2000
    Reading, UK
    right, just checked out the cost of flatwounds 5 string sets - £40... i cant pay that for strings, so i went with roundwounds again...

    one days guys... £40... NO WAY!
     
  9. Nov 14, 2001 #9
    RAM

    RAM Guest

    May 10, 2000
    Chicago, IL
    If you're looking for a nice flatwound string, I personally recommend using Tomastik-Infeld (I think that's the spelling). I have 'em on my MIM Jazz and think they get a cool sound.

    One thing that I should point out is that flats do seem to sustain less than roundwounds do.

    When I'm playing rock and want a real agressive sound, I use my SansAmp Bass Driver DI and crank a little distortion in there. You would barely recognize the fact that they're flats:D

    Other times, I find that I do get less finger noise and a slightly mellower tone. Hard to describe...more "thumpy", less "twangy"...

    Hope this helps!:D