I would add "Cobalt alloy" to the list and put it right at the top.
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Flat wound help
- Thread starter bigdaddybass12
- Start date
I asked the OP earlier for pics of the flats for ID. If they turn out to be Rotosound Jazz 77 flats, it would make sense that they have "lower output" as they're monel (nickel-copper). My request hasn't been responded to, unfortunately.
Some flats, like the LaBella Low Tensions, sound "deader" than rounds. Closer to a 50s Motown sound. Other flats, like EB cobalts, sound like roundwounds but have a flat feel. It depends on what strings you choose.
Sure make giving advice/help a lot easier for those who do yeoman’s work like yourself, regarding all things strings on a bass, if OP’s would cough up from the get go what bass with what strings is the context of their enquiry. IMHO
Make sure that they are not La Bella White Tapes. They look like metal strings and you may be mistaking them for flats. They have lower output
Context is everything. We have no idea what he's comparing it to to arrive at his impression that the bass is lower output. For all we know it could be passive vs active bass.
The most likely causes are pickup or action height. If the bridge saddles are too high or pickups too low that will reduce output. I also agree with others that the Rotosound Monel 77s are very nice soundings strings but they are slightly quieter than other flats that I use. They have a rougher feel under the fingers than most flats. They also have colour coded ball ends and red twine wound at the tuner ends if that helps.
If you have a multimeter, check the output voltage of the pickup. It's easy. You plug in a cable and hook up the probes to the other end. Then you'll see if you're dealing with a wimpy pickup.
Blacktop Jazz or P?
IME: The stock control harness is notoriously bad on the Jazz, which has a dual P configuration, and the stock PUs are not low output.
(I replaced my pots with 250K Linear Volume & Audio taper Tone, which function much better)
I haven't played the BT P, which has dual humbuckers - so I can't imagine they're low output.
You can search that one more specifically here.
Flats vs Round really shouldn't affect the output - it's more the alloys used in the string.
The only flats I've played that were noticeably lower output are the Roto 77s flats, due to the monel alloy used.
As others have mentioned - if you're not hearing the upper frequencies you're use to with rounds - that could be part of the issue.
It took me a long time to adjust to using / hearing flats - my amp settings are definitely different that when I was using rounds.
What's the PU Height set at. That would be the 1st thing I'd check.* (assuming the PUs weren't swapped out)
*The 1st thing I do with a "new" bass is a full setup, and install strings of my preference.
This won't affect your return ability - just put the old strings back on if you decide to return it.
As for the neck dive; I'd decide if I like the bass 1st.
My BT J doesn't dive - but if it's a bass worth keeping, swapping out the tuners would almost certainly cure the dive.
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I returned it back to GC. It had bad neck dive. I spent the whole gig holding the neck up. Yea, 3” wide strap. I was practicing on my Sterling Ray4, balances perfect. Funny my $300 bass balances perfect.
