Flatwounds on a Jazz and roundwounds on a Precision?

[J-Bass RMR]

I have both on both.
Just depends on the particular bass AND what you want from that bass.

In general though, to my ears, Jazz basses (or their Pickups) seem to handle the high-freq content of rounds better than most P Pickups.

EB cobalt flats are a nice "compromise" on either.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

I went and asked Jeannie, just for fun... she rolled her eyes made that annoyed sound she makes whenever I talk about bass stuff, and told me even the World is flat, and when in question, it was always best to stick with what was natural... then she went back to reading her fake-news scrolls.

Hey, it's a snow-day. Try it both ways. I'm going to see how that pink chiffon number of hers does in a rematch snowball fight in a little bit.

 

[mdogs]

This is TB, the only answer is one of each with one of each. My 4 main basses, 2 PJ’s and 2 J’s, one PJ wears TI Jazz flats and one PJ wears Sunbeams. One J wears TI Jazz flats and one wears TI Jazz rounds.

 

[rashrader]

Strings are like underwear. Try different ones and change them whenever you want. I don’t understand these unnecessary string commitments….

 

[dave64o]

One possible reason is that flats take a while to break in. For some people it’s a matter of weeks, for some people it’s months to a year or more.

 

[CallMeAl]

Yes! I prefer rounds with a P, and when I do play a Jazz I really dig flats on it. Kinda highlights what I like and downplays what I don’t.

 

[Hans Gruber]

Dave Pomeroy had that exact setup from an article a while back.

There's something magical about flats on a J, too. Meshell Ndegeocello and Family Man Barrett are excellent examples.

 

[Sam Dingle]

this is the reason i have so many basses, and still struggle cuz i don't have a jazz with flats lol.

 

[dave64o]

Spoken like an experienced TB’er.

 

[WillyW]

Flats

Rounds

 

[tpaul]

Gee, I don't know. I mean, I've heard some crazy things in my time, but this might just be the craziest. I'm not sure I'd want to be anywhere in the vicinity when you try this wackola experiment. Wow... Have you looked into the possible ramifications? The mind boggles... Not that I'd try to tell you what to do or anything, but... Woo! I get chills just thinking about it! Yikes! Yes sir, you are a braver man than I, no question about it. Flats on a Jazz... and rounds on a Precision? I can't... I just can't. My heart! I'm not sure I can take this... I feel weak... everything is going dark... desist, sir, desist... I beg of you... Desist!

 

[dave64o]

View attachment 4545553

That bass has twice as many pickups as it has controls! Would love to hear what the controls do.

 

[GIBrat51]

Hi all, I just got a new Fender Player Precision Bass. Over the last 2 years, had 2 basses, a Classic 50s P strung with Fender flatwounds and a Lakland DJ-4 (Jazz) strung with roundwounds. It's been quite a while since I've played a Precision with roundwounds, and man, does the Player P sound good. I got rid of the 50s P and like the idea of having one bass strung with flats and the other with rounds. I am thinking of keeping the rounds on the Player P and putting EB Cobalt flats on the Lakland. I've tried the Cobalt flats before on the Lakland but took them off because I already had flats on the Classic 50s P and didn't want 2 basses with flats. Now I am thinking I don't want 2 basses with rounds.

Based on my search, I know flats on the P and rounds on a Jazz is more common and more traditional. So my question is this, does anyone prefer it reversed like I am suggesting and rounds on the Precision and flats on the Jazz?

Thanks for the feedback.

Thom

Well, I suppose it depends on your definition of "traditionally". If I had bought my '78 P-Bass new, it would have had flats on it from the factory. And so would a new Jazz Bass. To me, that's "traditionally"... Changes in playing style and the music itself, is what's given us this "rounds on a Jazz/flats on a P" and "P with flats/P with rounds" thing. Personally, I only have one bass out of 24 (that gets played regularly) with rounds on it - and it ain't either of these two basses. The closest I care to come to a Jazz Bass is an '88 Kramer Forum III - a P/J - and it wears flats. A Jazz FOS feels odd and uncomfortable to me, so... I don't own one. There are enough dual single coil basses in my herd to satisfy me, anyway...
So, bottom line? This is still a (reasonably) free country, so rather than follow the herd? Put whatever strings you like on both the basses, and just... play on, Brother; play on...
Oh... the one bass I have with rounds? A '94 Gretsch Broadkaster; it wears "short scale" TI Jazz Rounds. Flats make it sound like a frog fart in deep mud; every other roundwound I've tried, made it sound like the Gretsch Tennessean guitar it's based on...

 

[Hundred proof]

Done it both ways … even flats on my EBMM

 

[DwaynieAD]

When i had flats on my jazz it sounded amazing but it also gutted the tone that I think of when I think of a jazz bass, mainly the aggression.

 

[Thom Fioriglio]

Thanks all. I put some Cobalt flats on my Lakland DJ-4. Played for a few hours and just not feeling it with that bass. It seemed to dull the punch that it has with rounds. I am digging the Precision with rounds, so for now will enjoy that and keep rounds on both.

 

[precijazz]

I don't play funk. Just rock.

I play funk and I just put flats on my Lakland J-Sonic 5. I love it.

Now this bass has quite a dark voice to begin with, I chose TI Jazz flats (first time, notably different from other flats I’ve used) and I play though an old Ampeg B-100r 15“ combo without a tweeter.

It still has that Jazz bass growl, of course with less top end, but with more girth than with any roundwounds I played.

The only real limitation is that playing finger funk with flats is like driving with your handbrake on, at least with my limited abilities.

 

[overit]

So my question is this, does anyone prefer it reversed like I am suggesting and rounds on the Precision and flats on the Jazz?

Yes, but my basses aren’t your basses and my ears aren’t your ears. Chances are we don’t play the same music either.

 

[SasquatchDude]

Totally. I cut my teeth on early Led Zep, so flats on a Jazz was sort of the default bass tone in my head before I even started playing. I find the chunky midrange punch on a good vintage-style flatwound (LaBella, DR, GHS) complements the scooped character of a Jazz quite nicely... it's still a warm, woody timbre but with less thump and more snap.

And for what it's worth, I love the grungy, throaty sound of steel rounds on a P Bass a la Geezer Butler.

(DR flats on a Jazz)

 

[2F/2F]

Flats on both. Rounds on the occasional G&L.

If I had to put rounds on a Fender, it would be on a P, not a J.