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Best ROUNDS for a P-Bass?
- Thread starter Epac
- Start date
I recently found that roundwounds on a P with a pick through an Ampeg with the Compressor knob between 10 and 15 o'clock just sounds amazing.
The highs are there but tamed by the compressor enough to just have definition and articulation. The mids are crunchy and growly and the lows are fat but not boomy.
Good luck, it took me 6 years to get to the stage where I really love my sound.
The highs are there but tamed by the compressor enough to just have definition and articulation. The mids are crunchy and growly and the lows are fat but not boomy.
Good luck, it took me 6 years to get to the stage where I really love my sound.
gravesbass
Supporting Member
- Aug 16, 2006
- 2,427
- 1,871
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: DarkglassElectronics-SpectorBass-Dunlop-EMG Pickups-Hipshot
A P bass needs some high mids. Any good quality steel rounds should sound great. I like Lo Riders, and I like them broken in!
D'Addario XL's. Too afraid to try anything else after so many years, but I keep reading and reading and reading and......can't seem to pull the trigger on anything else.
The stock rounds on my 2011 MIA were awesome. I played them till they were totally dead.
Then I tried DR Low Riders. Loved them too.
She's now wearing Chromes.
Then I tried DR Low Riders. Loved them too.
She's now wearing Chromes.
edmidlifecrisis
Registered mediocre bass player
I've had a set of GHS Pressure Wounds on my Precision for about six months now, I didn't like flats either. These sound pretty great, both when practicing and when playing in my weekly home jam. They feel good, too, smoother than rounds. I have rounds on other basses. Usually D'Addario XL's and one with Blue Steels.
Thanks for all the advice, fellas...decided to go with D'Addario XL's cause I seem to always go back to D'Addario after trying out other brands...
So far, I feel ALOT more comfortable. My playing is night and day with flats vs. rounds. I play with alot more confidence, harmonic variety, attitude, with rounds. I can feel around the neck more. I just dig the sound of nickle, the warmth, the expressiveness.
That said, I did loose, to my ears, a considerable amount of low-end presence. The tone just doesn't jump out at you with rounds on a P. The tone sounds "smaller".
These will work for now...but in the future, I'd like to find a good compromise between feel, tonal variety, that sizzle that you get with a nickle wound string, and that low-end sweet juice you get with flats. I see alot of experimentation ahead.
If anyone has an idea for a flat with more sizzle or a round with more low-end warmth, I'm all ears. I've tried Chromes, they just felt flat to me after a minute.
Maybe I'm just a Jazz guy hiding in a P-body...or a Lakland guy hiding in a Fender body, ha!
So far, I feel ALOT more comfortable. My playing is night and day with flats vs. rounds. I play with alot more confidence, harmonic variety, attitude, with rounds. I can feel around the neck more. I just dig the sound of nickle, the warmth, the expressiveness.
That said, I did loose, to my ears, a considerable amount of low-end presence. The tone just doesn't jump out at you with rounds on a P. The tone sounds "smaller".
These will work for now...but in the future, I'd like to find a good compromise between feel, tonal variety, that sizzle that you get with a nickle wound string, and that low-end sweet juice you get with flats. I see alot of experimentation ahead.
If anyone has an idea for a flat with more sizzle or a round with more low-end warmth, I'm all ears. I've tried Chromes, they just felt flat to me after a minute.
Maybe I'm just a Jazz guy hiding in a P-body...or a Lakland guy hiding in a Fender body, ha!
