I've always had more trouble getting tone I like out of J Basses for some reason. The exception is when I use my EBS 212 Proline cab vs my Ampeg 212 AV (with either the Ampeg 100 Watt V4 AV or the V4BH). The EBS seems bigger and more full/even across the frequencies, whereas the Ampeg cab scooped out some of the mids. (Which ones, I'm trying to figure out.) Both J basses currently have GHS Precision Flats which help fullness and eliminate an upper nasally thing that goes on and the Ampeg accentuates. The EBS allowed me to use TIs which sounded great. The Ampeg is a no go with the TIs on a Jazz for me.
Which leads to another point. Some may have tried flats and did't like them and concluded they are not a good option for them. Given the same setup that may be true, but with a different amp and definitely a different cab they may in fact love flats in some applications more than they think. As a result, flats should not be ruled out forever. With my Ampeg cab, my Pbasses wear TIs, Roto flats, or GHS pressure wounds, EB Cobalt Flats. With the EBS, GHS Boomers sound fantastic--which after going mostly flat over the years I didn't think I'd ever put rounds back on a Pbass. So, cabs can certainly affect tone and how we perceive the usefulness of a string. No news flash there I know.
Which leads to another point. Some may have tried flats and did't like them and concluded they are not a good option for them. Given the same setup that may be true, but with a different amp and definitely a different cab they may in fact love flats in some applications more than they think. As a result, flats should not be ruled out forever. With my Ampeg cab, my Pbasses wear TIs, Roto flats, or GHS pressure wounds, EB Cobalt Flats. With the EBS, GHS Boomers sound fantastic--which after going mostly flat over the years I didn't think I'd ever put rounds back on a Pbass. So, cabs can certainly affect tone and how we perceive the usefulness of a string. No news flash there I know.
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