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Best Strings for Fender P Bass?

#41
Achtung! Das search funktion! Eeeek!!

No scrap that. Even if you used the search function you would possibly miss the best actual strings for a P-bass.

Fender 9050CL stainless steel flatwounds.

Hear me out.
They have an awesome fundamental tone, are similarly growly as Roto swingbass 66 when new, sound amazing when fully broken in (which may take a while), are suitable for ANY style of music (including slap if you dig your old school funk), sound great either fingerstyle or a pick, they are cheap as chips to buy, won't wreck your frets and will allow you to get a real low action so your bass will be easy to play.

What's not to love? I've spent a small fortune experimenting with different strings over many years of playing.

Fender Precision Bass - very simple design that sounds amazing in any ensemble situation.
Fender 9050CL - strings that do the same.

All in my opinion, from my experience.
 
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#43
:cool:

For P-Bass I use three different sets, depending on hat tone, and feel i want.

1-TIJF344 Flats- My all time favorite strings. That were made for a P-Bass. low tension, good mid-range bump.

2- Ken Smith Compressors- A little more brightness than flats.
But still have smooth feel. Nice Thump.

3-DR Sunbeams- Nickel rounds, smooth feel lower tension.
Brighter than the Ken Smiths, well balanced set. I also love these on a Jazz Bass.
 
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#45
D'Addario ETB92 Nylon Tapewounds are strung on my Am. Std. Precision. I've had them on MIM Standard Precisions as well with a great sound.
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#50
Since I had a P-Bass I always thought it was the norm to use flatwounds (Chromes) . To my ear, at home, I've found them to be pleasing and warm. I recently joined a loud rock covers band and I was having problems hearing myself in the mix. I was turning up and still could hear the low end thump and not really cutting through even with the tone pot fully open, which wasn't in favour with the other band members or the sound engineer.

So last week I thought I'd try out putting on some coated Elixir Stainless Steels. It sounds like an odd combination but I was pleasantly surprised. I can get a bright and growly treble biased sound with the pot fully open and still achieve a relatively good classic P sound with the tone pot rolled off. Most importantly, when practising with the band the other night, I was very clear in the mix and was able to use less volume than I usual do and still have good presence.

I do still personally like the sound of flats but unfortunately it doesn't give me the sound I'm after for the projects I'm involved with. Usually I'm not a fan of Elixir strings as the standard nickel coated rounds I've used of there's seemed characterless. But the Steels they manufacture seem dampened to the accentuation of bright nickels ie D'addario EXL's.
 
#51
"Best Strings for Fender P Bass?"

Ah, yes...

They've been making the P bass for 60+ years and still no definitive answer...it's an age-old question like "why are we here?" (a: 42, duh). It's distressing to be so lost. We've gone thru 3 generations (and surely a cave painting prophecy of some kind) yet no leads.

People just keep putting whatever strings they want on them there P basses, some EVEN convinced that personal preference somehow comes into play.... and honestly? it's freaking chaos.... and frankly, I tire of it.

I sure hope we find an answer soon, thanks for leading the charge. Only then shall we receive enlightenment.
 
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