Best flatwound strings for Jack Casady bass

[interp]

Go with TI Jazz Flats. In terms of sustained quality and cost-per-use they are one of the very cheapest strings available. I just recently put a 5-year old set on a new bass I acquired. A bass player friend was trying out the bass and said "Oh, did it come with these new strings or did you put them on?"

He didn't believe me when I told him they were five years old.

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

If you like low tension, La Bella also makes Low Tension Flexible Flats. Smoothest flats I've ever seen

I'm a fan of low tension strings actually, I might consider those then. I'm still waiting for it to arrive, I managed to get one of the limited edition Silverburst ones.

 

[Rob Gray]

I have TIs on my hollowbody and I really like them but the last thing I would call them is woody

How would you describe them?

 

[Bodeeni]

I think they have a very middle of the road sound in between a round and flat. I guess, maybe they do not loose their sustain like a normal flat. I am a big Chrome fan for my classic flat sound, but am running TIs on several basses. On my hollow body they sound kind of like a round without the string noise. That bass is a Charvel Acoustic Surfcaster with a Schertler bridge microphone, kind of like a piezo, so a more acoustic than electric thing. I do run tape wounds on my fretless 4. I use the DAdarrio white tapes which are pretty bright and round, but I like the sound on that bass. TIs, flats, tapes will all have a certain character. I will try to live with a choice for a while and adapt. I guess the TIs will be more versatile, flats and tapes will have a more specific lane.

 

[Aqualung60]

Fender 9050L's

 

[markjazzbassist]

i had an epiphone Casady bass. Like most semi-hollow basses it's prone to mud and boom. I would give TI Jazz Flats a shot on there, their clarity and punch mixed with the inherent mud and boom could combine to create a very even tone.

 

[Linnin]

Even though Jack uses Blue Steels, if you want a solid woody & acoustic tone authentic to the 1960's period, the GHS Precision Flats all the way.

If you'd like a bit more air under your tone, then Fender Flats are your best choice.

 

[ATLbassist]

I'll chime in for TI flats. I've had them on my Casady few years now based on recommendations here. I've been incredibly happy with them. They are not "thumpy" in the sense of sounding like an acoustic bass. JC basses have a surprising amount of mid-to-high end clarity for a semi-hollow. (When I ran mine with roundwounds and my intonation was off, everyone knew - the fret buzz came through loud and clear.) With the tone wide open, the TIs will give your notes great definition and low end; not unlike Chromes but not as bright and with a lot less tension. They really made the bass come alive for me. It's like a P-bass tone but "airier" (can't think of another way to describe it). With the tone rolled off, you'll get closer to the thump and bump but still with good definition.

If you don't mind used, there's a set of TIs in the Classified section right now. I bought his Chromes and they were great.
For Sale - TI jazz flats & Chromes

And since I'm dorking out here, I found a demo of a JC basses with TI flats:

 

[sikamikanico]

Damn you all, now I want a JC with TIs

I had pyramids on an old Italian semiacoustic short scale bass. Loved the woody vintage thump. That's probably where I'd start if I wanted flats... (But I never tried TIs so I cannot compare).

 

[jasper383]

I have had a couple Casadys around here the last few years, and these are my suggestions.

Rounds: Hi Beams or Rotos. These basses kill with hot steel strings.

Flats: you want woody? I suggest La Bella 760FL.
you want plush, I suggest the Pyramids. One of the best, bassiest sounds I've ever had.
you want versatile? Light Chromes.
I didn't care for the TI Jazz Flats when I had them on my Casady bass. They are great strings, but I felt the others I mention above were a better fit.

 

[Jeff Bonny]

While TI flats have been my go to string for years there have been a couple of basses they didn't work very well on. The Casady however was one they seemed perfect for. To each his own I guess....

 

[Jeff K]

That is one Sharp looking bass!!! Does it sound as good as it looks?

Thanks TC. Yeah, I was very pleasantly surprised with the tone and build quality. I snagged it used from G.C. Can't remember which store, but not local, so I couldn't play it first. I like the 34" scale and placement of the single pickup (similar to the Casady).

It's definitely not as comfortable as a Jazz or P. (I've never liked the strap button placement on the back.) But it's a great "variety" bass, and good for acoustic/"unplugged" jams (even though it does need to be amplified, of course). And plenty of different tones just by changing your plucking position (closer to the neck, closer to the bridge, etc.).

One inherent flaw is that the tone knob itself is virtually useless. Doesn't seem to change the tone at all. I've read that Ibanez actually used the wrong cap in these, but it's a relatively easy fix to change it out and get a more functional tone knob variance. I just haven't done it yet.

It'll never be my "number one" bass; but all in all, I really like it.

 

[markjazzbassist]

Damn you all, now I want a JC with TIs

I had pyramids on an old Italian semiacoustic short scale bass. Loved the woody vintage thump. That's probably where I'd start if I wanted flats... (But I never tried TIs so I cannot compare).

I've had both pyramid and TI. Pyramid have a lot of the mid content that TI have but they have more thump and more bass and less high end. Great strings love pyramid

 

[Rob Gray]

I have had a couple Casadys around here the last few years, and these are my suggestions.

Rounds: Hi Beams or Rotos. These basses kill with hot steel strings.

Flats: you want woody? I suggest La Bella 760FL.
you want plush, I suggest the Pyramids. One of the best, bassiest sounds I've ever had.
you want versatile? Light Chromes.
I didn't care for the TI Jazz Flats when I had them on my Casady bass. They are great strings, but I felt the others I mention above were a better fit.

Thanks, what was it about the TI's that you didn't like?

 

[bassdude51]

I had a JC with TI flats and I was very happy with the sound and the lower tension allowed me to loosen the truss rod bolt.

 

[Rob Gray]

How does the tension compare?

I've had both pyramid and TI. Pyramid have a lot of the mid content that TI have but they have more thump and more bass and less high end. Great strings love pyramid[/QUOTE[/Q

 

[markjazzbassist]

How does the tension compare?

TI are the lowest tension, the pyramid and mid to low tension for the 40-105 set

 

[Rob Gray]

Thanks for all the advice. I'm considering trying Pyramids on the JC bass and maybe getting TI's for my Epiphone EB3. Does that sound like a good idea to those who have tried those strings?

 

[markjazzbassist]

Thanks for all the advice. I'm considering trying Pyramids on the JC bass and maybe getting TI's for my Epiphone EB3. Does that sound like a good idea to those who have tried those strings?

there's no wrong or right. I used TI for many years, then Labella, then chromes, then TI again, then pyramids, now I'm using GHS. just buy some and see if you like them, there's a chance in 5 years time you'll come around to them again

 

[iiipopes]

Actually Jack says he uses Blue Steels.

So much for Scott's post.

Yes, he may play Blue Steels now. But forty years ago in his interview with Guitar Player magazine (before Bass Player spun off) he said he used Pyramids and asked the factory to alter the silks by the extra half-inch needed to clear the nut on his Guild, as the strings were originally developed for the Hofner.