I’m a longtime roundwound player that just put 9050L’s on a P-bass about a week ago. So far, they seem much brighter than I was expecting. About how long can I expect the “break in” period to be? I’m really looking for a Jamerson type of tone and hoping these Fenders will help get me in the ballpark.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Fender 9050 After 6mos(sort of)
- Thread starter Danbow
- Start date
Fender 9050s do take a couple of months of regular playing before the initial brightness settles into a nice full-bodied low-mid grind. That said, if you're expecting the Jamerson vibe, you may be disappointed as the 9050s are not for the old-school thump. Either La Bella or GHS would get you closer there.
This is great info; I appreciate it. Once these Fenders do break in, what kind of tone can I expect? They’re on a P-bass with a 1960’s-voiced pickup.
One of the audio techs at my church once described them as "full, punchy and clear"; he thought they sat in the mix rather well without the need for any drastic EQ tweak. I always describe them as "full-bodied punch with a hint of grind". That "grindy" (not clanky like the D'A Chromes) mid character is what seems to help them be heard better in a band mix than some of the more traditional flats. "Thumpy and thuddy" they are not. "Semi-modern" vs. "old-school".
I concur with everything Michael_t said above in both posts. Spot on.
Give them plenty of playing time before you decide they are not for you. If you don't, you will never really know. True for every flat I've tried as well.
I remember doing a session with some 9050s on a P Bass w/a pick a couple years ago when it hit me how good these strings sound when aged. New, they sound akin to Chromes, but they age really well whereas I still despise aged Chromes. They especially sound good on a Jazz to the point where I’d swear they were made for it.
Well, I guess I need to put a set on a Jazz. Just haven't found the right string for my '62. Like Fender Nickles better than anything thus far, but haven't tried the Fender flats on it yet, but was my next move. Something to do later today.
My poor fingers are hurting just reading this. 55G and 90A = a little too tight for my taste.
They are hard on your fingers and wrists for sure. I don't play them for more than 30 minutes at a time. 
I have to agree, as well. This is a pic of my P-Bass shortly before I took those 9050L's off. Much as I like them, as micheal_t says; "Thumpy and thuddy they are not." And, that's just exactly what I want from this bass. So, off they came; and they are now happy on a different bass. One that I do not want thumpy and thuddy from. Well, not too much thumpy and thuddy, anyway..
Well, yesterday a set of 9050Ls I had ordered to try out came in, so I thought I’d swap them out before a gig last night. Got the bass setup for them and I think I’ll stick the the lights after all. Sounded good, I expect them to get better, a LOT easier on me than the 55-105 set especially for a 3hr gig. Probably a lot easier on my bass neck as well.
I strung my Jazz with 9050Ls today. I know I'm supposed to give them time to settle tone-wise, but do they ever get... slippier? Them strings have more grip than a grizzly's paw.
Did you clean them before installation?
D'A Chromes and Fender 9050s, both made at the same factory, are notorious for being sticky due to the gunk that comes on them from the factory. You will notice your finger tips will turn black for the first little while. That's the residue of the compound used for the final polishing at the factory.
This is why I always make sure to clean them with an alcohol wipe before installation.
Like the 760FS set? I wonder what the difference would be compared to the Dunlops. Apologies for being slightly off topic.
It's hard for me to compare those two as I have yet to try the Dunlop flats for myself.
I liked both the La Bella and the GHS on my P bass, while the Fender 9050s seemed to matched up better with my J. I'm considering the Dunlop as an alternative to the Fender for my J.
I recently picked up a mij 75ri jazz. Maple neck with pearl blocks and a clear finish over the ash (?) body. You know the type. Anyway, I slapped on a set of 9050’s that if memory serves me right I purchased used from michael_t (might be wrong on this, can’t remember exactly) a couple years ago. Had them sitting in the packaging waiting for the right bass to come along. I’ve had them on for a little over a month now and have played several good three hour gigs with the bass. So far I’m really pleased. Can’t say I’m really good at tone descriptions but I notice real strong fundamentals down on the money notes and a nice clarity everywhere else up in the higher registers. I play classic country so it’s a lot of root/fith type stuff. The bass/strings just seems to be real punchy and clear without any excessive boomyness or mud. So far I’m digging the combination.
Yes, memory serves you right. It was Jan 2019.
I'm starting to miss my 9050 flats on my J... "Full-bodied, punchy and clear" is how the senior sound tech at my church described my bass tone with those flats. Glad to hear you're enjoying them.
Still using the 9050L’s on my Jazz for quite a while now. Still really like them and they have aged well. Tried some on my P-Bass, but I think I’ll try some LaBella’s on that one instead. I think they fit the jazz a whole lot better.
9050s have slowly overtaken Dunlops become my favorite flats. I use them on a PJ. Although I find brightness in new flatwounds to be more of a feature than a bug, I prefer the way that 9050s age, and I like the fact that they have more sustain than a lot of more traditional flats. I've been won over by the fact that they last longer, age more gracefully and cost half as much.
I have a set of GHS Precision flats on a parts P for pure thud, but that's not an everyday bass. That's a paleolithic hitting-a-rock-with-a stick bass. Perfect when I need it useless when I don't. I can use it for anything from punk to Motown, but I have to want that one sound. I also have a set of LaBellas on my Mustang, but they're new to me and still unfamiliar.
I have a set of GHS Precision flats on a parts P for pure thud, but that's not an everyday bass. That's a paleolithic hitting-a-rock-with-a stick bass. Perfect when I need it useless when I don't. I can use it for anything from punk to Motown, but I have to want that one sound. I also have a set of LaBellas on my Mustang, but they're new to me and still unfamiliar.
