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This is my favorite setup for my '51 reissue P-bass. Changing the type/shape/size of the foam can have a big effect on the tone, too.
I've had Chromes (45-100) on an old Mexican Jazz Bass and I really liked everything about them except the tension. They felt just a tad to tight for my tastes. Could you guys recommend a string with similar characteristics as the Chromes, but with a little less tension? Looking for something to throw on my G&L JB.
I'm wondering if you've had any experience with la bella flats and if so, how do they compare with the 9050L?
I'm a beginner, and when I was bass shopping I happened to try out a bass with flats and loved how they felt. Ended up buying a Fender J that came with rounds and started doing a lot of reading about flats on a J. I tend to like warm, subtle tones, shy away from bright and trebly, and would rather be in the background of a mix when the time (hopefully!) comes. After reading this thread and 13 pages of an older one I've narrowed the field to three:
Fender 9050
La Balla deep talkin
Sadowsky black label
These three are exactly my personal top three for flats.
I've tried the Fender 9050L on my J but not on my P. I've tried the La Bella 760FL on my P but not on my J. I've tried the Sads on both and prefer them on the P.
I definitely like the Fender 9050L (45-60-80-100) on my J for the "warm, subtle tones without being bright and trebly", while I prefer the classic thump of the La Bella on my P.
Many thanks for your feedback, I appreciate it! Hope to have a P someday..
If you ever try the La Bella's on your J, I'd love to know about it.
That's definitely on my list of things to try in the new year, but not right away as my J is quite happy with the Pressurewounds for now.
I've got Curt Mangan flatwounds on my MIJ '62 RI jazz, .45-.100. I have chromes on my P bass- .50-.105. They fit well, but I feel the P bass is far too metallic sounding for my taste. I'm thinking about trying some new strings on the P and so far I'm looking at the Fender flats.
I have Chromes and TI flats that I tried on my Jazz. The easy winner was TI and I thought Chromes were great.
The main reason is the tone is incredibly clear and versatile. It has nice rich lows and really thickens up the D and G string immensely. The Chromes are more thumpy and tend to get a little more buried. If you want to get mixed under the kick, this is not a bad thing.The TIs are more for players who want to get mixed above the kick.
In terms of floppiness, its a non issue for me. I play light and keep my action low. Read tons of people posting about floppiness and I just have figure they play with a much heavier hand than me. The strings feel incredible under the hand and are very easy to manipulate and play fast runs on as a result.
I even slap on mine now and then and it sounds good. Its more midrange focused of course, but it's a really cool slap sound.
IMO TI flats are the best strings I have ever had on a jazz bass and Ive been playing with Jazz basses in the studio for 20 years.
The main reason is the tone is incredibly clear and versatile. It has nice rich lows and really thickens up the D and G string immensely. The Chromes are more thumpy and tend to get a little more buried. If you want to get mixed under the kick, this is not a bad thing.The TIs are more for players who want to get mixed above the kick.
In terms of floppiness, its a non issue for me. I play light and keep my action low. Read tons of people posting about floppiness and I just have figure they play with a much heavier hand than me. The strings feel incredible under the hand and are very easy to manipulate and play fast runs on as a result.
I even slap on mine now and then and it sounds good. Its more midrange focused of course, but it's a really cool slap sound.
IMO TI flats are the best strings I have ever had on a jazz bass and Ive been playing with Jazz basses in the studio for 20 years.
OP here. Lots of good info turning up here. Thanks!
I got my Pressure Wounds a week a go. Had my first rehearsal yesterday and i love them so far! Had to adjust my dirt pedals at first. Some because my J has hotter pups than my P. But I definitely think the strings has its own growl and gets my barbershop breaking up quite a bit more, than the Chromes I have on my P. 1st impression was clearly that they punched very well through and I could hear my self better than ever. When i went from J with rounds to P with Chromes, The P stood better in the mix. Now the J seemed the clearer choice. So I had to gt the P out for a few songs, and my 1st impression was correct. May be because the Chromes are used a lot by now. But low notes, especially A to open E on the E string seemed to disappear, while anything on the A string cut through almost to much. G string was just thin and weak. I loved the Chromes before, not so much any more.
I think a set of GHS Precision Flats are my next move for the P.
I got my Pressure Wounds a week a go. Had my first rehearsal yesterday and i love them so far! Had to adjust my dirt pedals at first. Some because my J has hotter pups than my P. But I definitely think the strings has its own growl and gets my barbershop breaking up quite a bit more, than the Chromes I have on my P. 1st impression was clearly that they punched very well through and I could hear my self better than ever. When i went from J with rounds to P with Chromes, The P stood better in the mix. Now the J seemed the clearer choice. So I had to gt the P out for a few songs, and my 1st impression was correct. May be because the Chromes are used a lot by now. But low notes, especially A to open E on the E string seemed to disappear, while anything on the A string cut through almost to much. G string was just thin and weak. I loved the Chromes before, not so much any more.
I think a set of GHS Precision Flats are my next move for the P.
That'll do it! I have that same set up. GHS Pressurewounds on my Fender Jazz, and GHS Precision Flats on my Fender Precision. And that's the way they are going to stay.
