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Double Bass Good Electric Bass Strings for an Upright Player

Steve Freides

Steve Freides

Former Mannes College Theory Faculty
Supporting Member
Dec 11, 2007
2,576
1,508
Ridgewood, NJ
#1
I don't play electric much but I own a MIM Fender Precision.

Question 1: I am guessing - please tell me if I'm right - that if I want an upright-ish sound, I should go with flat-wound strings, and that the further I go from that, e.g., half-rounds or round wounds, the less upright bass-ish my Precision will sound.

I get, completely, that my Precision isn't going to sound like my upright, and I also get that I shouldn't try to make it into something it isn't, so I'm asking for recommendations for strings. Nothing esoteric, hard to find, or expensive, just what to ask for at the local Sam Ash.

Question 2: Would I be happier, if I'm only going to own a single electric bass, to own a Jazz Bass instead of a Precision? (If so, I'd probably look to do a swap.)

Thanks in advance.

-S-
 
#2
People on the bass guitar side of the forum are always hyping up LaBella flatwound strings. Personally, I've always like the GHS bass boomers on my bass guitars (though in no way do those strings have an upright sound).

I have a Carvin 6-string fretless: I use Carvin flatwound strings on it, primarily b/c not many companies make 6-string flatwound sets. Years of playing roundwound strings have left the fretboard pretty scratched up.

IMHO, yes a Fender Jazz Bass is more versatile than a Precision, the bridge pickup being a big part of that.
 
#4
T.I. Jazz Flats are a nice, low tension flat wound string. They are initially expensive, but they last an incredibly long time, making them a great value. I have these strings on my Hotrod Precision (P/J) and my 51 Reissue P. I just changed the strings on the Hotrod after ten years, and I've had the same set on my 51 for about twelve years- still going strong.

As for the P vs J debate, Jazz basses have such scrawny necks! They feel like a toothpick! lol! They sound great, but a P/J is (IMHO) the most versatile- and you get to keep the beefy neck! =)

Joe
 
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#7
Steve , I am an upright player that uses flats on all 3 of my electric basses. On my 74 P I have chromes on there and I am real happy with these strings, but they are not my first choice for upright like sounds. On my jazz I have a set of DR flats I bought at Guitar Center, don't remeber the #. These strings sound the most upright like to my ear. I have TI flats on a Classic 50s P bass and these are the flats I like the best, but to my ear the DR strings sounds the most like an upright, although it has taken a few months for these strings to really mellow out.
 
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#8
Hey Steve,

Sorry about that- in slab parlance, "P/J" is a Precision bass humbucker with the single coil Jazz pickup in the bridge position.

Adding a Jazz pickup to a Precision bass was a very popular mod when I was in school. The P pickup is a humbucker, where J pickups are both single coil. I really think this offers the most versatile tone options available from passive pickups.

Joe
 
#12
Steve Freides said:
Question 1: I am guessing - please tell me if I'm right - that if I want an upright-ish sound, I should go with flat-wound strings, and that the further I go from that, e.g., half-rounds or round wounds, the less upright bass-ish my Precision will sound.
Click to expand...

That is an accurate statement. Keep in mind that some brands (D'Addario, Ernie Ball, Fender, Rotosound) can sound quite bright for a flatwound string, especially when new. You may want to select a brand of flatwound that will offer a more traditional, darker sound such as La Bella, GHS, DR or Pyramid. My personal favorite on my Fender basses is the La Bella 760FL set.

Steve Freides said:
Question 2: Would I be happier, if I'm only going to own a single electric bass, to own a Jazz Bass instead of a Precision? (If so, I'd probably look to do a swap.)
Click to expand...

The P vs. J debate has been brought up many times on the BG side of Talkbass and it's something I've invested way too much time and money in. What it comes down to is this: either bass will work fine in almost any context, many players prefer one over the other, and a great solution is to own at least one of each model. If you want to own just one electric bass, most players agree that the Jazz Bass is the more versatile of the two, although a Precision will work well if you are seeking to emulate an upright bass. I've heard rumors that there are other models of electric basses besides the Fender Precision and Jazz, but I cannot confirm this ;)

- Steve
 
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#13
I love flatwound bass guitar strings and have used a lot of them. Here's my quick read down on the ones I know something about:

Thomastic Jazz Flats - Interesting string. A little rough, a little thin. They sound good, they're well balanced, you can get used to them and they're a fine choice, but definitely not for everyone.

LaBella Deep Talkin' Bass Flats - Kind of the Duck Dunn gold standard. Much heavier and stiffer in most gauges than the Thomastiks. They sound good, but they weren't special for me.

Fender Flatwounds - Cheap, buy them anywhere. Sounded absolutely awesome and as smooth as a skating rink. They are wicked stiff though, even in lighter gauges. You gotta want that and enjoy it, they are also not for everyone. Great sound, though. I don't think that either of the above two sounded as good (for me).

Ernie Ball Flatwounds - A little rougher in the windings than Fender, but not as stiff. Similar price and availability and sounded good. I used them after trying the TIs and Labellas, but not wanting to go back to the stiffness of the Fenders. They are more like Fenders than the other two, sonically.

As for basses: I have had both a jazz bass and a fretless P-Bass. Much to love about each of those instruments. Jazz basses without a doubt are more versatile, but can never really sound like a P-Bass if that's what you're going for. I prefer the ergonomics of a PBass to a Jazz Bass, especially sitting and holding it. They are just shaped better to me. But, that's preference. If you have a PBass, unless it's not working for you, I'd leave well enough alone. If you have doubts, go play some jazz basses and see if they compel you to switch.

The thing with flatwounds, though, is that they have this beautiful and wholesome tone that can't be beat. You and a guitar player in a room full of listeners...studio work...just lovely if that's the sound you want. But other stuff, weird rooms, "cutting through the mix", flatwounds can leave you...well flat. There's a reason that most EB strings sound pingy, in the mix, everything mellows out.

As a 98% of the time doublebass player, though round wound strings and like playing a cheesegrater to me. I've been using one of those compromises and for what I've been doing, I'm completely happy. Right now it's GHS Pressurewounds. The Ken Smith Compressors are also great. I don't prefer one to the other, but check the gauges, they are slightly different and one will be better for you or your bass than the other. Not too stiff, plenty smooth, easy on the hands, can get all of the sounds that I want or need out of them, though I'm not playing modern, slappy stuff.

You should be able to get the GHS at someplace like Sam Ash or they should be able to get them for you if they sell other GHS strings, which they must. They're not expensive, they've held up well for me, though I don't play that bass all that much. Of course you can buy either on-line.
 
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#14
TroyK said:
LaBella Deep Talkin' Bass Flats - Kind of the Duck Dunn gold standard. Much heavier and stiffer in most gauges than the Thomastiks. They sound good, but they weren't special for me.
Click to expand...

The light gauge La Bella flats are not heavy and stiff; about the same as a medium light set of roundwounds. They are also brighter and clearer compared to the heavy gauge Jamerson/Duck Dunn set. I didn't like the really heavy ones but the 760FL set is something special IMHO. La Bella is also making a string called a "low tension flexible flat" that seems to be their response to the Thomstik flats.

TroyK said:
Fender Flatwounds - Cheap, buy them anywhere. Sounded absolutely awesome and as smooth as a skating rink. They are wicked stiff though, even in lighter gauges. You gotta want that and enjoy it, they are also not for everyone. Great sound, though. I don't think that either of the above two sounded as good (for me).
Click to expand...

This is an accurate description of the older Fender 9050 flatwounds that were made in Mexico and came in a package with a picture of a P-Bass, but the newer US made ones in the green "F" logo package are a completely different string. They are less stiff, very bright with strong upper mids, and quite similar to D'Addario Chromes. So much so that many people believe that D'Addario is now making strings for Fender, a theory that is further supported by the presence of multicolored ball-ends. These are cool strings, but not something I'd recommend for a person seeking an upright bass vibe from their electric.

I like that we are having this discussion in the Double Bass "Miscellaneous" section :-)

- Steve
 
#16
And another vote for Labella's... I have the light set on a Jazz of mine, they do sound really good.

Odd thing that no one has mentioned GHS Precision flats yet; I had a (dead) set of them on a '51 P-bass I once borrowed (the one with the single coil), and that was a very good tone; strong on the fundamental, and very short sustain.
 
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#17
Thanks for everyone's opinions on strings and which bass.

I think I'm going to pick up a used J bass to go along w/ the Precision and then maybe keep rounds or half-rounds on the Precision and flats, from among those mentioned above, on the Jazz bass. I don't know if you folks are like this - well, I know you are, actually - but I just found a Squier Precision I didn't even know I had, hanging out the back of closet here. <sigh> Probably will sell that and put the funds towards the new-to-me used one.

Someone asked is there any other bass than these two? Honestly, for me, I don't think so. If I played more electric bass, then sure, but since I don't, and since they're very affordable - especially when considered next to their upright brethren - then I'm figuring I'll have one of each and be able to get what sound I want, and each one, used, will cost me less than some sets of upright strings <another big sigh here>.

-S-
 
#20
When I think "Precision" bass, I think BIG, FAT, MEATY OLD SCHOOL TONE- James Jamerson and Duck Dunn come to mind immediately. A Precision can do more with the right set up, but they do the old school thing so well!

When I think "Jazz" bass, I think "GROWL", and while that growl can be found with flats, I think round wound strings accentuate it, especially a nice, bright string. Round wound strings are great for slapping too- and IMHO, the Jazz is THE (electric) slap bass- if you're into that sort of thing.
 
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