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.
I have a P and a J. I tried flats on both and the P with flats sounded much better than the J with flats. The J now wears rounds.
Conventional wisdom says P flats, J rounds, yes, but I have a J with 10 year old Chromes and it sounds like heaven!
The conventional bass wisdom would say "flats for P and rounds for J". My own unconventional wisdom says "it all depends on one's tonal goals".
That said, here's my experience...
My P seems to take better to different types of flats - La Bella, Fender, Sadowsky, D'Addario - and still sound good with any of them, though with different flavors.
My J, on the other hand, tends to be very fussy about what flats go on it; out of the four mentioned, I've only liked the Fender flats on my J. (Or, is it my ears that are fussy?)
My P has always worn flats (La Bella/Sadowsky) since the day I brought it home last September and it will stay that way, except I will be switching from the La Bella to the Fender as soon as my order for the 9050CL arrives.
Meanwhile, my J has been happily purrring since I discovered the GHS Presurewounds.
I feel the same way
Nothing against flats on a j bass
But given the question and having played flats, tape wound and rounds on both my p and j I think I can fairly say from experience what I prefer
Try every type of string and see what feels and sounds best in both your practice and band situations
After 2 years on flats and tape wounds it was like coming home when I went back to rounds
The only bass I've ever put flats on is my Precision (the previous owner had TIs on it, then I replaced them with Chromes, and now it has Labella Deep Talkin' flats), but I have thought about trying a set of flats on my Jazz just to see how they sound. But, for now, I love how the current rounds sound on the Jazz so those will stay on it for quite a while. I'm sure I'll eventually give them a try, though.
I'm not a fan of the TI's, but the Chromes sound AMAZING. I only recently put the LaBella's on and haven't had an opportunity to play them with the band yet, but so far I like them.
I'm not a fan of the TI's, but the Chromes sound AMAZING. I only recently put the LaBella's on and haven't had an opportunity to play them with the band yet, but so far I like them.
The only flats I've ever liked on a Jazz bass are TI's.
I've yet to find a flat that doesn't work on a Precision, although some sets work better than others.
When it comes to rounds, I always match them to a specific instrument.
On a Precision I think Chromes work better than rounds if you want a brighter clearer sound than a traditional flat.
On a Jazz, I like both GHS Pressurewounds and DR's Pure Blues rounds.
LaBella's White Nylon Tapewound strings are also an interesting possibility. I've got their copper set on a Jag bass and I'm in love with the sound. I'll probably throw a set on one of my PBasses next string change just to see how well they work with a passive single coil pickup.
I've yet to find a flat that doesn't work on a Precision, although some sets work better than others.
When it comes to rounds, I always match them to a specific instrument.
On a Precision I think Chromes work better than rounds if you want a brighter clearer sound than a traditional flat.
On a Jazz, I like both GHS Pressurewounds and DR's Pure Blues rounds.
LaBella's White Nylon Tapewound strings are also an interesting possibility. I've got their copper set on a Jag bass and I'm in love with the sound. I'll probably throw a set on one of my PBasses next string change just to see how well they work with a passive single coil pickup.
I recently put a set of Rotosound 77 flats on my black Jazz bass. I liked them so much, that I put a set on my Carvin LB70. Now I'm getting to the point were I don't like the sound or feel of rounds at all. Eventually I'll switch to flats on everything except for my Schecter and my pink Jazz bass. Maybe they will move to flats too at some point.
Its really personal preference. I had rounds on my P bass initially, but after a month our two I switched them out to flats (LaBella 760FL) and love them. The P was very rock-n-roll with the round wounds, but with the flats its much more mellow. I've always had rounds on my 4 string J bass.
So if I had to choose and only had one of each... P - Flats, J - Rounds.
So if I had to choose and only had one of each... P - Flats, J - Rounds.
A conundrum for sure. I'm aware of only two of us in the local area that use flats.
I've flats on both of my Precisions. They sound good. I've been alternating between Labella and Chromes. The Chromes seem to be the least objectionable and are winning out, tone wise so far.
A friend of mine has GHS Precision Flats on her Jazz. She plays through a tiny little GK combo. Her tone is NOT to be sneered at. Wonderful, smooth and tasty sound.
I may soon investigate GHS Precision Flats.
Doesn't address the question OP other than to say that flats work well on both Precision and Jazz. Your choice which one gets to wear the flats/rounds. You'll be happy either way.
I've flats on both of my Precisions. They sound good. I've been alternating between Labella and Chromes. The Chromes seem to be the least objectionable and are winning out, tone wise so far.
A friend of mine has GHS Precision Flats on her Jazz. She plays through a tiny little GK combo. Her tone is NOT to be sneered at. Wonderful, smooth and tasty sound.
I may soon investigate GHS Precision Flats.
Doesn't address the question OP other than to say that flats work well on both Precision and Jazz. Your choice which one gets to wear the flats/rounds. You'll be happy either way.
