The amount of difference in overall sound between a Jazz bass with neck pickup only and a Precision, given that pickups for both vary, isn't such that it's a big deal as Amps have EQ.
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flatwound strings on a Jazz bass
- Thread starter ics1974
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The amount of difference in overall sound between a Jazz bass with neck pickup only and a Precision, given that pickups for both vary, isn't such that it's a big deal as Amps have EQ.
It's funny how you concider rounds on a Jazz to be a norm, and that flats can only be used on P's as another norm. Like you're breaking the norms by doing it differently because a forum has indoctrinated it on to you.
This is by any means no offence, I'm just fascinated by the psychology of it.
Flats will emphasize on certain frequencies, and rounds will on other frequencies. The same goes for different pickups.
This is by any means no offence, I'm just fascinated by the psychology of it.
Flats will emphasize on certain frequencies, and rounds will on other frequencies. The same goes for different pickups.
+1 on Joe Osborne, RIP. For me, with TI flats, and bridge pup and tone rolled back some, and pluck closer to fingerboard, it warms it up and gives a good presence in the mix (a Pbass it is not, but ...). Good for the broad mix of music I play now. Then dime the bridge pup and pluck harder by bridge for solos. Years ago I used Roto 66 with both pups dimed for hard/prog rock and you can't so easily replicate that sound with flats.
Flats on a Jazz? Any problems here? (Check out the hot J in the live video!)
it's not just the forums. When I was growing up in the 90s, many/most of the adult bassists back then had a P with flats and another non-P with rounds. More than a quarter of the ones with Rics had flats on their Rics. Almost none had flats on a J.
It shouldn't be. That's why you have two volume and a tone knob on your JB and an EQ section on your amp. Pick a string that feels good and gets you in the ballpark and dial in your sound from there.
Flats give you a more focused and (depending on how you play) punchier timbre. Not all flats are dark or warm. Some (like Chromes and Cobalts) are pretty bright and sound more like broken in rounds that traditional flats. Some flats, like TIs, have a lot more in their midrange than other flats. LaBella's Gold Flats have a certain fizzy top on them that's a whole different smoke.
tl;dr - Flat strings are not created equal.
study 'herd behavior' and 'mass hysteria'. also of interest: cognitive dissonance, self-fulfilling prophecy, confirmation bias, and finally: IQ and decision making processes.
Maybe its that flats are usually thought of as being more mellow than rounds, and a Jazz more mellow/scooped vs the mid rangy P bass. So folks may not like the thought of pairing a mellow string with a more scooped bass? Of course we know this isnt entirely accurate, but maybe it was more so at one time?
I have flats on my Jazz, LaBellas, and use it mostly in the studio. The only thing I don't like is, sometimes, the E string sounds deader than the others. It's never any other strings. Maybe I should switch brands ?
Ive had that issue with Labella and GHS Precision flats...not consistently, but i've definitely ran into unbalanced E strings.
Most of my Jazz Basses are currently equipped with either EB Cobalt Flats or TI Flats. Quite satisfied with both.
I've had the GHS Precision Flats Lights (45-60-75-95) on my P bass for six months now and no dead E issue. In terms of tonal balance, these are the best flats I've used to date.
Yea, I was using a heavier gauge...and not the only one who has experienced that as well
Yeah, I have ECB82s on my Jazz clone (Hamer Cruise Bass). Love the tone of them, but sometimes the stiffness does interfere a bit with playability, especially near the nut. Should just try ECB81s...45-100 instead of 50-105.
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I have TIs on my Pbass of course...Right now I have rounds on the jazz only because of a project I did with some slap, but I don't slap much at all anymore. The TIs are going back on the jazz..it sounds lovely. Nice and smooth with some bark and burp, and they are effortless on the fingers. If I want to slap now I just pick up my 80s Tune Maniac with EMG Js. Do it!
