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Best strings for classic Precision pick sound?

#21
JimmyM said:
Another reason I'd give you to try the Dunlop Super Bright Nickels. Not nearly as rough but they have that similar zing.
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Well, either that or maybe you should try some of the DR coated strings like the Black Beauties or similar, which have a nice "broken in" sound to them and keep their zing a pretty long time, and also aren't rough on your fingers and have very little string noise as well.
 
#22
Linnin said:
Joe Osborn was and still is a great all around bass player of the highest caliber. While he may have played with a pick some, it was Carol Kaye that set the standard as one of the best known New Your City studio players and later as part of the 'Wrecking Crew' on LA's studio scene. She's played on more hits than all the 1980's punks added together.
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Carol Kaye didn't play on one specific instrument, though. She used Danelectros, Ps and Js. Osborn reluctantly (at first at least) used his 1960 Jazz almost exclusively during his 60s and early 70s run.

Pretty much everyone back then was muting their strings with foam or cloth. It's difficult to ascertain who exactly came up with the muted pick bass sound first. C&W folk were doing it in the 50s.
 
#24
nerkoids said:
Carol Kaye didn't play on one specific instrument, though. She used Danelectros, Ps and Js. Osborn reluctantly (at first at least) used his 1960 Jazz almost exclusively during his 60s and early 70s run.

Pretty much everyone back then was muting their strings with foam or cloth. It's difficult to ascertain who exactly came up with the muted pick bass sound first. C&W folk were doing it in the 50s.
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Did you even bother to read the original post???

Can we please let Carol Kaye and Joe Osborn rest now???
 
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#27
nerkoids said:
Did you even bother to read the second post on this thread? Can you please not jump on anyone on a thread in which the subject has already been amply addressed?
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I've read all posts in this thread, but your specific answer is not necessarily the golden answer...

Ask in a forum about strings and you will get hundreds of different replies - all depending on the repliers preference...

But considering the OP is about the classic P bass sound used in punk music, I see absolutely no point in keep discussing the sound of Carol Kaye and Jo Osborne, which are completely irrelevant to the subject - and yet you still bring it up...
 
#28
hillerup said:
I've read all posts in this thread, but your specific answer is not necessarily the golden answer...

Ask in a forum about strings and you will get hundreds of different replies - all depending on the repliers preference...

But considering the OP is about the classic P bass sound used in punk music, I see absolutely no point in keep discussing the sound of Carol Kaye and Jo Osborne, which are completely irrelevant to the subject - and yet you still bring it up...
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Your post to me appeared to completely ignore the fact I was the first to respond on-topic to the OP. Opinions and suggestions were shared amongst a few others, the OP seemed satisfied. Some people made side comments, some natural thread drift happens.

What's your problem again?
 
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#30
nerkoids said:
Your post to me appeared to completely ignore the fact I was the first to respond on-topic to the OP. Opinions and suggestions were shared amongst a few others, the OP seemed satisfied. Some people made side comments, some natural thread drift happens.

What's your problem again?
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Aren't you just a tad touchy?

I don't have a problem here, but you sure seem to have one...

I was merely pointing out the irrelevance of bringing CK and JO into a thread about punk rock bass tone - just as it would be to talk about Jamerson and Pastorius in a heavy metal thread - Apparently you didn't agree...

So let's just leave it at that...
 
#32
^^^ Okay, all sorted. Good.

Leftybavles said:
Sorry, I should have been more specific. When I think of flatwounds with a pick, I start thinking of Paul McCartney. I've used Rotosound Swing Bass strings before, but only for finger playing. I love the way they sound, but they're a little too rough for my taste. Not very comfortable when sliding from fret to fret and they throw me off a little bit.
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You could try the Solo bass pressurewounds if you like Rotosound. I use them (on my fretless) and they're close in tone to the roundwound Swing bass but much smoother feel.

And I would agree that punk on a Precision with roundwounds played with a pick is a classic P bass pick tone in its own right. I'm sure Jean Jaques Burnel would agree, too. ;)
 
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#33
BassyBill said:
^^^ Okay, all sorted. Good.



You could try the Solo bass pressurewounds if you like Rotosound. I use them (on my fretless) and they're close in tone to the roundwound Swing bass but much smoother feel.

And I would agree that punk on a Precision with roundwounds played with a pick is a classic P bass pick tone in its own right. I'm sure Jean Jaques Burnel would agree, too. ;)
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RESPECT!!!

You just named my hero of all time!

JJ Burnel was a huge influence on me when I started playing bass in the late '70's - I even used to have a black P with maple neck just like him, when he retired his greenburst P.

I also had RotoSound Swing Bass strings on mine like him, and had a pretty similar sound through my Marshall full stack (though he used Hiwatts)
 
#36
Classic P-bass with a pick sound (rounds); my vote are Fender pure nickels. I went through different roundwounds strings for my P-bass and these sing a different tone than all. I have not tried the new ones, with the new packaging though. Another pure nickel string I want to try are the Hellborg Signature strings from DR.
 
#39
Leftybavles said:
Sorry, I should have been more specific. When I think of flatwounds with a pick, I start thinking of Paul McCartney. I've used Rotosound Swing Bass strings before, but only for finger playing. I love the way they sound, but they're a little too rough for my taste. Not very comfortable when sliding from fret to fret and they throw me off a little bit.
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Ghs precision flats are very smooth on my fingers, super comfortable, the tension is perfect, and there's a lot of bounce when you use your fingers or pick, slapping doesnt sound so good with these strings unfortunately, but... ‍♂️. Diadario pro steel roundwound strings are ballin too.
 
#40
These nickel Rotosounds are my favorite rounds. And they are less expensive than regular Rotos.

preview.jpg

Boomers are good too.
 

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