famous bass players on flats

[SasquatchDude]

Yes JPJ never used flats with Zep.

In one JPJ-related thread someone posted a link to an earlier interview where said that he used primarily flats until acquiring his Alembic.

Somehow that sounds more plausible to me... there's no way Ramble On is rounds.

 

[John Wentzien]

Phil Chen

 

[Tom Howland]

That is the total opposite the JPJ said in another interview. He stated that the first two Zeppelin Albums were done with old roundwounds. ( with his 1963 Jazz Bass )
He never used flats.
Either way, it sounded great.

In one JPJ-related thread someone posted a link to an earlier interview where said that he used primarily flats until acquiring his Alembic.

Somehow that sounds more plausible to me... there's no way Ramble On is rounds.

 

[Tom Howland]

Don't forget.

Berry Oakley-Allman Bro Band.
Keith Ferguson-Fab. T-Birds
Michelle En degnocello- sorry for my spelling.
Bernard Edwards.

 

[bluesblaster]

early Zep albums could be old RW's , however Im not so sure on Dazed and Cofused, those sound every bit a flatwound.

 

[barrybass33]

Bobby vega...

 

[StinkFoot]

Harvey Brooks.

 

[Chrisk-K]

In every JPJ interview I've read, he always said he used rounds with Zep. The only exception is "In my times of dying."

 

[mccartneyman]

Peter Cetera on at least the first few Chicago LPs, played with a pick. Also, Tiran Porter of the Doobies in the studio, at least. Doobies producer made him use them although Tiran preferred rounds onstage. Randy Meisner with the Eagles. Also Walter Becker when he played the early Dan bass lines. The only time I heard any McCartney lines that sounded roundwound were when he used the Yamaha around the "Back to the Egg" period. he uses LaBella Beatle Bass flats now.

 

[kkaarrll]

fascinating topic to me

any more info out there about classic albums/gear etc?

 

[catgut]

im pretty sure mike gordon is famous.

If people listen to the horrendous "players" music that hock all the bass gear with signature models etc. then I guess we can listen to Phish also.

 

[cheechi]

I've wondered for a while what Paul strung on the Ric. It's reasonable most of the focus is on the Hofners, and it's clear that's the focus on the comments in this thread.

 

[Pier_]

I've wondered for a while what Paul strung on the Ric.

at the time, Maxima strings, that came with Rickenbacker basses, roundcore nickel flats.

now he uses Thomastik JF344, because Maxima failed and disappeared (but made a comeback years ago as Optima, and now they sell flats, nickel on roundcore), and the only similar strings were Thomastik flats, for that bouncy and mellow tone, plus soft tension (roundcore strings and nickel winding)

 

[cheechi]

Thanks for such a detailed reply.

So generally all of Paul's basses are strung flats.

 

[Pier_]

So generally all of Paul's basses are strung flats.

yes, he's still "from the 60's", and his sound and playing style is still there, even in the recent recordings.

for what I know, he tried using rounds on his Wal, but that bass was never his first choice.

 

[Jakub]

John Deacon from Queen - Rotosound 77 Jazz Flats(in one interview I read that he use in 80's some tapered roundwounds but I think it's not true because I hear clearly that it's p-bass on flats, the same with JPJ from Led Zeppelin - hardly imagine that sound of his bass on ex. LZ I are rounds).
Adam Clayton used on last U2 tour DR flats on his Epiphone Rivoli bass.
Pino Palladino of course - Thomastiks in standard tuning and La Bella on drop tunings (and many times Black Nylons, probably La Bella, on his Moon and Custom Shop Fender with T-bird and EB Gibson pickups).
Robert Bubby Lewis - Lupe Fiasco, Snoop Dogg, Jhene Aiko - La Bella flats and nylons on all his MTD's - He always say that he only play on "versatile strings" which are in his opinion Nylons and flats.
Adam Blackstone on one of his basses.
Esperanza Spalding - fender flats on her Jazz Bass.
Brandon Gilliard (Janelle Monae), Jamareo Artis (Bruno Mars) on p-basses, Thundercat (Flying Lotus, Kendrick Lamar, solo)... many many great bass players - I think that most of the bass players which are mostly the section bass players know that flats give best possible sound for this job (strong fundamentals, less high end, more tight sound) but flats are great for everything ! Rounds are popular since 66 but I think that are less versatile - maby zingy sound gives more "growl" for metal or slap but many cases it's just our beliefs that flats are worse or sth than rounds.

 

[michael_t]

Esperanza Spalding - fender flats on her Jazz Bass.

I have Fender flats on my Jazz bass. So, how come I never sound like her?

 

[Jakub]

Do you have a fretless ? Maby your technique is ekhm... weak or sth ? I've got StingRay and I don't sound like Tony Levin, Flea or John Deacon Btw it's great to sound like YOU not the X or Z

 

[michael_t]

Do you have a fretless ? Maby your technique is ekhm... weak or sth ? I've got StingRay and I don't sound like Tony Levin, Flea or John Deacon Btw it's great to sound like YOU not the X or Z

Assuming you were responding to my post, it was just a tongue-in-cheek comment regarding Esperanza Spalding and her amazing musicianship as a singer/bassist. It would be total silliness on my part to think I could ever sound like her just because I have the same type of bass and strings.

 

[adivin]

Tim Commerford, Rage Against The Machine.

Really?