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Advice for '51 P-Bass Flats

#41
P-BASSLOVER said:
I know the sound your looking for exactly!
String that baby up with GHS Precision Flats!
They make your P-Bass sound the way they sounded in the
50's and 60's. Use the 45-65-85-105 set!
If you string through the body you'll need extra longs!
Click to expand...

Well the Roto's were okay, liked that waxy feel, but they had a certain "tweak" in the sound that is not well complimented by the single coil pickup.

I put on some lighter gauge GHS Precisions and they're a great improvement for me. Right out of the box, there's a lot less harshness. Even with a pick! The 45-95 set seems pretty light in tension - even had to loosen the truss 1/4 turn. I will definitely try something heavier next, but I can "deal" for a few months.

BTW for the GHS Precisions, the "long scale plus" works just about right. Thru body seems to add about 1/2" over the standard top-load, so any strings rated for 35" scale should fit.
 
#42
I notice alot of people suggesting Chromes in this thread and although I love them for Rock n Roll (P-bass plus Chromes = awesome!) I have to dissagree that they are "old-school" sounding or vintage.

Chromes are a different breed of flats than La Bellas or even Rotos, and have a different looser feel and alot more high-mids/highs. I don't think of Chromes as being "thumpy" at all, they are great strings, but not like the old-school flats.
 
#43
Gearhead43 said:
Chromes are a different breed of flats than La Bellas or even Rotos, and have a different looser feel and alot more high-mids/highs. I don't think of Chromes as being "thumpy" at all, they are great strings, but not like the old-school flats.
Click to expand...

I use Fender 9050Ms or La Bella 760FMs on my DIY Single Coil with a top load Fender '62 RI bridge (no string thru body) and the La Bellas sound much more "appropriate" with the single coil to me than the Chromes or Rotos.

I keep Fender 9050Ms on my SCPB with the string thru bridge.
 
#44
9050M flats have a .105 E and that has trouble making a clean break over the saddle on that through-body bridge (I'm assuming the OP hasn't switched it out). The E in the 9050ML set works better and there's no problem with the E in the 9050L.

The string tension with the 9050 series is very heavy, and it doesn't seem to change much with the nominal gauge -- 9050Ls don't seem much lighter-tension.

I use the 9050s, but am not crazy about them. They are cheap and they fit. That's about all I have to say in their favor, but that's a lot.
 
#45
When I had my '51, I really liked the sound of the DR flatwounds on that bass. The single coil pickup is brighter and more aggressive than a 2nd gen split coil P pickup and I think the DR flatwounds made the '51 P sound a little thumpier, warmer, rounder, etc.
 
#47
Gearhead43 said:
I notice alot of people suggesting Chromes in this thread and although I love them for Rock n Roll (P-bass plus Chromes = awesome!) I have to dissagree that they are "old-school" sounding or vintage.

Chromes are a different breed of flats than La Bellas or even Rotos, and have a different looser feel and alot more high-mids/highs. I don't think of Chromes as being "thumpy" at all, they are great strings, but not like the old-school flats.
Click to expand...

Tone knob adjustments can make a huge difference. I had LaBellas on my P but thought they were too aggressive and bright, the Chromes sounded warmer to my ears out of the box. I keep the tone knob at about 50% and it is the perfect balance of attack, warmth and roundness. At least to my ears. The only other string I liked on my P bass (in terms of tone) was the Thomastiks but they were too lose and floppy.

I never tried Chromes on a '51 P so I have no opinion in that regard. I'd imagine the single coil would bring out more of the aggressive attack of the Chromes.
 
#51
Bongolation said:
9050M flats have a .105 E and that has trouble making a clean break over the saddle on that through-body bridge (I'm assuming the OP hasn't switched it out). The E in the 9050ML set works better and there's no problem with the E in the 9050L.

The string tension with the 9050 series is very heavy, and it doesn't seem to change much with the nominal gauge -- 9050Ls don't seem much lighter-tension.

I use the 9050s, but am not crazy about them. They are cheap and they fit. That's about all I have to say in their favor, but that's a lot.
Click to expand...

I concur with your take on the Fender strings. The GHS Precision set was only a couple bucks more, and is very much worth it IMO for the friendlier sound and feel.

kirkm24 said:
Rolled completely off? Now I like my thud and thump but that would be pure mud with no tone definition whatsoever!
Click to expand...

Oh, no my friend - rolled-off is where "awesome" happens. :D

Just messin' ;) ... but I do use that setting pretty often, especially with a pick. (Is it just me or do these SCPBs put out enough treble to strip paint if you're not careful?)
 
#52
Jefenator said:
(Is it just me or do these SCPBs put out enough treble to strip paint if you're not careful?)
Click to expand...

No it's not just you. The single coil P pickup can slice your face off if you don't roll the tone knob back.

There is a common misconception that "vintage" tones are always deep and thuddy when in actuality a lot of vintage gear is very bright and trebly. It's might not sound like an MTD, but a lot of vintage stuff can be very bright and harsh sounding.
 

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