flatwound strings on a Jazz bass

[Basspaolo]

I love my pbass with EB Cobalt flats on, but I didn't like the same strings in my jazz (alder body and overwound single coils) because they were thin sounding, too middy and too poor on low freqs.
On the jazz I liked the fender 9050 flats sound but they were too stiff, too much effort for my 2,5/3 hour sets.
Can you recommend a set of flats that sound good on jazz and that have a less middy and thin sound than the cobalts and less stiffy than the 9050s?

 

[Jason Hollar]

I love my pbass with EB Cobalt flats on, but I didn't like the same strings in my jazz (alder body and overwound single coils) because they were thin sounding, too middy and too poor on low freqs.
On the jazz I liked the fender 9050 flats sound but they were too stiff, too much effort for my 2,5/3 hour sets.
Can you recommend a set of flats that sound good on jazz and that have a less middy and thin sound than the cobalts and less stiffy than the 9050s?

I actually acquired a new to me jazz and am trying the EB colbalt flats as well.

Fine strings, a bit aggressive in tone but yes - finding the tension a little stiff which may or may not be a bad thing.

I think I’m going to swap over to the GHS flats to see if it feels better.

 

[GIBrat51]

Do you know specifically what the original VC Squier made light gauge strings were?

Edit: I just saw this pic of a 1969 Fender string catalogue in post #63 that lists a "light" flatwound bass set as having gauges
095 080 064 048

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/history-of-fender-brand-strings.1157207/page-4

That sounds about right. I'm pretty sure that they had a heavier set - but not much heavier. Rickenbacker's factory Maxima flats, IIRC, were 40-50-77-112; they were on the Rick 4001 that I learned to play bass on, in 1968. Optima bought the Maxima factory out, and their 4440RB flats are near duplicates of the originals - down to the "4440". Sadly, the Squier factory flats that my '78 P-Bass left the factory with, were long gone by the time I bought it from it's original owner, in 1988. He'd bought it new, and proudly told me that he'd never had anything but Roto Swing Bass 66's on it. Which was the reason most of the frets had been ground away, apparently. By the time I went to bed the day I bought the thing, it had a set of Roto 77 flats on it. And, it's never worn anything but flats, since. I would like to have a NOS set of the original Squier flats; they are around, but... usually as an expensive collector thing. The light gauge GHS P-Flats are a very good substitute, AFAIC...

 

[Prodigus Filius]

That sounds about right. I'm pretty sure that they had a heavier set - but not much heavier. Rickenbacker's factory Maxima flats, IIRC, were 40-50-77-112; they were on the Rick 4001 that I learned to play bass on, in 1968. Optima bought the Maxima factory out, and their 4440RB flats are near duplicates of the originals - down to the "4440". Sadly, the Squier factory flats that my '78 P-Bass left the factory with, were long gone by the time I bought it from it's original owner, in 1988. He'd bought it new, and proudly told me that he'd never had anything but Roto Swing Bass 66's on it. Which was the reason most of the frets had been ground away, apparently. By the time I went to bed the day I bought the thing, it had a set of Roto 77 flats on it. And, it's never worn anything but flats, since. I would like to have a NOS set of the original Squier flats; they are around, but... usually as an expensive collector thing. The light gauge GHS P-Flats are a very good substitute, AFAIC...

Yeh reading the thread here https://www.talkbass.com/threads/history-of-fender-brand-strings.1157207/page-5 post #82 indicates a set 53-115. Holy @rap that's a big G and E.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Yeh reading the thread here History of Fender Brand Strings post #82 indicates a set 53-115. Holy @rap that's a big G and E.

Those (the no. 90 Pure Nickel Wrap set) apparently were not flatwound, though:
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/history-of-fender-brand-strings.1157207/page-5

The Mastersound Flatwound "medium" set was the no. 855 (gauges 55-71-90-105).

 

[andare]

Yeh reading the thread here https://www.talkbass.com/threads/history-of-fender-brand-strings.1157207/page-5 post #82 indicates a set 53-115. Holy @rap that's a big G and E.

115 sounds right to me with those gauges. I just finished complaining about how floppy the 110 E is in the Labella Jamerson set over in the dedicated thread.
Is there a reason why the E string must always have a lot less tension than the other 3? It feels weird

 

[Prodigus Filius]

Those (the no. 90 Pure Nickel Wrap set) apparently were not flatwound, though:
History of Fender Brand Strings

The Mastersound Flatwound "medium" set was the no. 855 (gauges 55-71-90-105).

Ah yes. Upon re reading thread I see they were likely round wound. Hefty nonetheless

 

[iiipopes]

This is off the wall, but it answers the OP's question: listen to the bass guitar introduction to Boogie Nights by Heatwave, a disco song: J-bass and flats.

 

[ElectricBass72]

I have a Fender 60's Vintera jazz bass with Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats. Sounds and plays great.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

I have flats on most of my J-basses. In fact, the only roundwounds I've currently got installed on a J-bass are the TI Jazz Rounds, and they aren't really comparable to any other roundwounds.

My favorite flats for a J-bass... Maybe Fender 9050Ls, or Optima Chromes for a more "old school" tone.

With P-basses I use both flats and rounds but for some reason I've always preferred flats on J-basses.

 

[andare]

This is off the wall, but it answers the OP's question: listen to the bass guitar introduction to Boogie Nights by Heatwave, a disco song: J-bass and flats.

That's one groovy walking bass under the harp. It's unusual to hear a Jazz buried so deep in the mix.

 

[Kenova]

When I tried TI for the first time I was sold on them on Jazz bass, their mids are presence is truly amazing and unique.

 

[tim0391]

Recently changed to chromes on my Sire V3. Received a recording through of a gospel gig I was playing at (granted it was from a phone) and I don’t think they were cutting through enough with the highs.

I feel like it sounded amazing in my IEM’s but I just wasn’t cutting through enough in the house mix.

Are half-rounds going to give me slightly more top?

Im kinda leaning towards either trialling half-rounds or just putting rounds back on and living with the slight clank in my ears. Purely as I know it will be giving me a better sound out front for the genre.

Thoughts would be appreciated!

 

[michael_t]

Are half-rounds going to give me slightly more top?

Im kinda leaning towards either trialling half-rounds or just putting rounds back on and living with the slight clank in my ears. Purely as I know it will be giving me a better sound out front for the genre.

If the Chromes aren't cutting it for you, half-rounds probably won't, either. I would suggest you try the GHS Pressurewounds (or Ken Smith Compressors), which are Alloy 52 (nickel-iron) "rollerwound". Plenty of the roundwound bite but with a smoother surface texture than a typical roundwound.

Products - PRESSUREWOUND™ - GHS Strings

 

[Kyle_S]

Trying out this combo for the first time with my Player Jazz and some La Bella LTF's. It sounds amazing. I finally love the tone of the neck pickup solo. Sounds just as warm as my P with flats.

I think I'm gonna be spending some time working on Joe Osborn lines (what a legend that dude was - so tasteful and melodic).

 

[foal30]

71 Jazz with Labella 760FS
Good tone

 

[maturanesa]

I have never put flats on a Jazz bass before. I do have them on my P Bass. Is there any reason not to on a Jazz?

Yes. Slap.
You usually have one of these to get the job done if a slap part is required...

 

[IPA]

Still trying to find the 'right' strings for my new Jazz Bass, today I'm trying out some Labella LTF from the parts drawer. Sound good so far.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Yes. Slap.
You usually have one of these to get the job done if a slap part is required...

However, at one time flats and tape wounds were used in the early days of slap. Larry Graham used them as well as Keni Burke.





It was a thing, for a minute