FUNK FLATWOUND STRINGS

Big differences, in terms of sound and feel. Are you looking for that classic Motown sound or something with more edge? They will all develop that thumpy sound after a year or so of playing, but the GHS and Labellas will get you there faster IMO and Chromes will always retain some aggressiveness.

 

I play in a vintage funk/soul/motown band

Fender 9050M flats. Perfect balance of fundamental thump and top end cut.

 

The Fenders are my favorites, but they are the brightest and least thumpy flats that I've used(I'm a slapper/tapper/soloist/etc). If you really want the classic, powerful thump and don't mind high tension then the Jamersons are what you want, the price may be high for you but they will last forever. You can set them up for incredibly low action as well.

 

I use 9050s. Fantastic string for that style of music on a p-bass. I know, having used them on my cheap squire p-bass for this same type of band.

I'll agree with other posters in saying they're bright for flats but after a short while they die off just enough to sound great with a nice balance of thud and sparkle.

 

Roto rs66 with a pick and eq of
B:4
M:7
T:10
And throw some fuzz on that.


Sorry, go with the ghs flats.

 

You can get several guages from ultralight to medium to "original '54."

 

At first i hated the fender flats but after a month or two they were growing on me as they broke in.
Would have kept them but the D string broke and i replaced with another brand.

 

It will be fine unless the neck has problems. I've put really high tension strings on a thin mahogany neck with no issues, I do recommend a truss rod adjustment for them though.

 

Don't rule out long scale. Pyramid gold strings. The most vintage sounding flatwound ever in my opinion

 

Pyramid Gold, Sadowsky flats, TI flats are my favorites, I play Motown/R&B, blues and country/western.

I also heartily recommend getting a mute from TB member bassfreakah, send him a PM. I got a mute to put under the strings from him (or his wife, I suspect!) on my MIJ P-bass with LaBella flats, and it sounds amazing!

 

+1

I love the Jamerson set, but Pyramid Golds are great strings, too.

Since you're in Germany, the price is right: Saitenkatalog has them for 35.39€ at the moment.

 

I think you might like the jamersons for awhile. Of course you'll have to cut your nut slots to match the diameter, and crank your truss rod to keep your neck from bending. Then, after awhile, your hands will start screaming, unless you totally develop a softer touch approach. Then, after your experiment is over, you'll ditch the jamersons, get a new nut, and put some "milder" strings on. Just IMO, but check back in 6 months and let us know how it went.

 

+1
Those are my favorite flats, too. In that order! Pyramids are just so unique, have such a great feel and tone, and you can use them for just about any style. Those are my goto strings for recording as well.

 

I have kept a set of GHS Precision flats on my Highway One P-bass for 18+ months now, and they're still great. Old-school tone and thump. They're lower tension, so they are very playable. I'm lightning fast on this bass!

However, I tried a 2nd set of these on my older MiM Precision, which has modified Seymour Duncan pickups added many years ago, and I did not like the tone at all: too muddy. I went back to rounds on that instrument.

I have heard that GHS Precision flats can be spotty in terms of workmanship. But if you get a good set, and you like the tone on your particular bass, they're a steal.

For what it's worth, I hated D'Addario Chromes. They refused to sound like flats, and worse in my opinion they made lots of string noise, like "fret clack". I can't recommend those, but many people seem to like them as a "roundwound substitute".

I would avoid the heavy LaBellas just because you'll have to modify your bass to install them correctly (tighten the truss rod and likely file the nut to accommodate the bigger strings). It's not worth it if these are your first flats!