Help me pick a flatwound for my "bright" maple P-bass

[Deleted member 271037]

It is just the usual ways of how TB is sadly at times... OP makes a specific point everyone always gives their point of their experience or doesn't read OP post

You should see some cab discussion at times, some users completely ignore OP request. But most of the times TB delivers some great advice.

I know. You should have seen the thread where I asked for advice on J-bass pickups and specifically said I wanted true single coils, not hum-cancelling pickups!

 

[Jeff K]

YIKES! Made me jump. Those are the only strings I'd put on an electric. Calm down everybody. You can still get them.

Where? They make the Extra Long Scale, which is fine for stringing through the body; but unless they've changed recently, they no longer make the regular Long Scale (which I liked for top-loading). I went back and forth with the GHS rep here on TB several years ago. At first he said they were bringing them back, but they never did. Eventually, he told us that there wasn't enough of a demand for them to bring them back. A shame because I loved them and used them exclusively for years. Sounded great right out of the package.

 

[sethlow3]

No huevos = no eggs?

Not sure I understand this comment.

Huevos is Mexican slang for "balls".

 

[Grinderman]

I keep 2 P-basses:

1) An AO 60s P with rosewood board and LaBella LTFs - perfection

2) An International Series P with maple board (basically a 70s P). This is meant to be my brighter P-bass. I am having a little hard time finding the proper string.

I only like flats. I only like flexible strings. Right now it has Fender 9050L. They feel and look great, but they seriously lack that low-mid grind I love. Just not feeling the sound, it's got no huevos with these strings on it. They sound very "hollow" just like chromes unless I really EQ them a lot - which I don't like to do. No bueno.

So what's a brighter flat that also has lots of low-mid grind and doesn't sound hollow or scooped? Should I try Cobalts? Roto 77s?

Strings that are already a no-go: TIs, chromes, fedners, pressurewounds, any rounds whatsoever.

In that case, scratch Roto 77s, unless perhaps RS77S/40-90. I use RS77LD/45-105 which are quite stiff.

 

[Gervais Cote]

I would give a try to the Ernie Ball cobalt flats as well.
I have a set on one of my p basses and they really fit the description you want.
Worst case, you may have to turn down 10-20% the tone pot and you should be satisfied.

 

[logdrum]

Magma Ultraflats. No squeaks

My review and people's additional thoughts on them

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/magma-ultra-flats-impression-flat-that-sounds-like-a-round.1639943/

 

[logdrum]

Huevos is Mexican slang for "balls".

Cojones is the right word here.

 

[Jay2U]

Ernie Ball flats are my favorites. They're sold as singles, so one can compose a set to one's liking.

 

[Stewie]

Where? They make the Extra Long Scale, which is fine for stringing through the body; but unless they've changed recently, they no longer make the regular Long Scale (which I liked for top-loading). I went back and forth with the GHS rep here on TB several years ago. At first he said they were bringing them back, but they never did. Eventually, he told us that there wasn't enough of a demand for them to bring them back. A shame because I loved them and used them exclusively for years. Sounded great right out of the package.

Not home right now to check. You're probably right. On my Precisions the E string silk goes about a third of a turn around the tuner's post. The easy to find ones are 38" to silk I believe. Just because I don't temember them being shorter doesn't mean they weren't. Never had a problem with the 38s

 

[Rip Van Dan]

I keep 2 P-basses:

1) An AO 60s P with rosewood board and LaBella LTFs - perfection

2) An International Series P with maple board (basically a 70s P). This is meant to be my brighter P-bass. I am having a little hard time finding the proper string.

I only like flats. I only like flexible strings. Right now it has Fender 9050L. They feel and look great, but they seriously lack that low-mid grind I love. Just not feeling the sound, it's got no huevos with these strings on it. They sound very "hollow" just like chromes unless I really EQ them a lot - which I don't like to do. No bueno.

So what's a brighter flat that also has lots of low-mid grind and doesn't sound hollow or scooped? Should I try Cobalts? Roto 77s?

Strings that are already a no-go: TIs, chromes, fedners, pressurewounds, any rounds whatsoever.

I'd suggest the LaBella Deep Talking Bass White Tape Wound strings. They may not technically be called flatwounds because they are wound with tape, but they are smoother than flat wounds and the White tapes are the brightest sounding of their taped offerings. The black tapes are the deepest, the white over copper core and white over gold core are brighter than the black, and the white has the brightest sound of the bunch.

I bought a set over 5-years ago now and swear by them. I originally used flatwound strings on my 1965 Jazz bass because that's what it came with and there really were no round wounds to be found at the time. I actually broke a G string while gigging with it and replaced the set with the Fender Black Nylon Tape Wound strings, which were darker sounding than the regular flats. I used those from about 1968 until 1976 when my '65 Jazz was stolen.

In 1985 I found another Jazz that had the same neck shape, profile, and radius as my '65. It's a 1982 Jazz that was in mint condition and it had Dean Markley Blue Steel roundwound strings on it. That bass also has an all-maple neck and uses the 70's era pickup spacing, so it's a bit brighter sounding bass than my '65 was to start with. Replaced those Blue Steel strings with the same thing at least two or three times and then went with the DR Black Beauty round wounds at a friend's recommendation. They had a better balanced sound from string to string than the Blue Steel did. I gigged a lot with those and turned them into Speckled "Gray Beauty" strings with bright steel bars on the back of the strings where they meet the frets.

Saw a video on SBL (Scott's Bass Lessons) where he was putting rounds, flats, and tapes on the same bass and playing the same musical bit with each. He was a bit enamored with the tapes and so was I. So I bought a set of them from the TB store here and went with white because I have a white bass.

They still have most of the high harmonics I got from the other strings, with better mids and very clear (not muddy) lows. The balance of sound string to string is superb. I no longer feel I have to shift my hand up to the 7th fret to play patterns with a high E or a high A. I can play those notes on the D string down by the head and the G string down by the head with plenty of body to the sound. Playing those notes on the round wounds and even my old Fender flats always sounded a bit weak, thin, and maybe even tinny with the round wounds. Not with these LaBella Tapes though. I can play those notes either up high on the neck or down low on it, whatever is the most convenient hand position for what I am already playing and it sounds great... so I do.

You should give them a try. I think you'd like them.

 

[SoulReflection]

I keep 2 P-basses:

1) An AO 60s P with rosewood board and LaBella LTFs - perfection

2) An International Series P with maple board (basically a 70s P). This is meant to be my brighter P-bass. I am having a little hard time finding the proper string.

I only like flats. I only like flexible strings. Right now it has Fender 9050L. They feel and look great, but they seriously lack that low-mid grind I love. Just not feeling the sound, it's got no huevos with these strings on it. They sound very "hollow" just like chromes unless I really EQ them a lot - which I don't like to do. No bueno.

So what's a brighter flat that also has lots of low-mid grind and doesn't sound hollow or scooped? Should I try Cobalts? Roto 77s?

Strings that are already a no-go: TIs, chromes, fedners, pressurewounds, any rounds whatsoever.

LB Flats with a good understanding of EQ and pups...

 

[dougjwray]

It is just the usual ways of how TB is sadly at times... OP makes a specific point everyone always gives their point of their experience or doesn't read OP post

You should see some cab discussion at times, some users completely ignore OP request. But most of the times TB delivers some great advice.

There was a good one awhile ago, where someone asked for recommendations for music to listen to, and clearly limited it to music with "American" roots. Blues, country, Americana, soul, gospel, etc. Within a handful of posts, people were recommending their favorite heavy metal and prog bands.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I'd suggest the LaBella Deep Talking Bass White Tape Wound strings. They may not technically be called flatwounds because they are wound with tape, but they are smoother than flat wounds and the White tapes are the brightest sounding of their taped offerings. The black tapes are the deepest, the white over copper core and white over gold core are brighter than the black, and the white has the brightest sound of the bunch.

I bought a set over 5-years ago now and swear by them. I originally used flatwound strings on my 1965 Jazz bass because that's what it came with and there really were no round wounds to be found at the time. I actually broke a G string while gigging with it and replaced the set with the Fender Black Nylon Tape Wound strings, which were darker sounding than the regular flats. I used those from about 1968 until 1976 when my '65 Jazz was stolen.

In 1985 I found another Jazz that had the same neck shape, profile, and radius as my '65. It's a 1982 Jazz that was in mint condition and it had Dean Markley Blue Steel roundwound strings on it. That bass also has an all-maple neck and uses the 70's era pickup spacing, so it's a bit brighter sounding bass than my '65 was to start with. Replaced those Blue Steel strings with the same thing at least two or three times and then went with the DR Black Beauty round wounds at a friend's recommendation. They had a better balanced sound from string to string than the Blue Steel did. I gigged a lot with those and turned them into Speckled "Gray Beauty" strings with bright steel bars on the back of the strings where they meet the frets.

Saw a video on SBL (Scott's Bass Lessons) where he was putting rounds, flats, and tapes on the same bass and playing the same musical bit with each. He was a bit enamored with the tapes and so was I. So I bought a set of them from the TB store here and went with white because I have a white bass.

They still have most of the high harmonics I got from the other strings, with better mids and very clear (not muddy) lows. The balance of sound string to string is superb. I no longer feel I have to shift my hand up to the 7th fret to play patterns with a high E or a high A. I can play those notes on the D string down by the head and the G string down by the head with plenty of body to the sound. Playing those notes on the round wounds and even my old Fender flats always sounded a bit weak, thin, and maybe even tinny with the round wounds. Not with these LaBella Tapes though. I can play those notes either up high on the neck or down low on it, whatever is the most convenient hand position for what I am already playing and it sounds great... so I do.

You should give them a try. I think you'd like them.

Tapes are very nice, but beware that they can cause noise issues due to your fingers being insulated from the ground circuit.
I liked them best on fretless.
I used white tapes across many types of instruments with great success. Ultimately found that IME I had better results with Labella LTF, Ernie Ball Cobalt, also found some joy with GhS brite flats(ground wound) and quite enjoyed Smith slick rounds.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I keep 2 P-basses:

1) An AO 60s P with rosewood board and LaBella LTFs - perfection

2) An International Series P with maple board (basically a 70s P). This is meant to be my brighter P-bass. I am having a little hard time finding the proper string.

I only like flats. I only like flexible strings. Right now it has Fender 9050L. They feel and look great, but they seriously lack that low-mid grind I love. Just not feeling the sound, it's got no huevos with these strings on it. They sound very "hollow" just like chromes unless I really EQ them a lot - which I don't like to do. No bueno.

So what's a brighter flat that also has lots of low-mid grind and doesn't sound hollow or scooped? Should I try Cobalts? Roto 77s?

Strings that are already a no-go: TIs, chromes, fedners, pressurewounds, any rounds whatsoever.

'With all of the qualifiers you've listed I can't help you much. I don't use flats. However I have used a number different basses (with different types of string types) and found not to expect all basses to require the same EQ and expect a string change so solve all ills. JMO.

 

[FunkHead]

Cojones is the right word here.

No dog in this fight but notice #10 in the top 53 list:
Top 53 Slang For Balls – Meaning & Usage

 

[Rip Van Dan]

Tapes are very nice, but beware that they can cause noise issues due to your fingers being insulated from the ground circuit.
I liked them best on fretless.
I used white tapes across many types of instruments with great success. Ultimately found that IME I had better results with Labella LTF, Ernie Ball Cobalt, also found some joy with GhS brite flats(ground wound) and quite enjoyed Smith slick rounds.

Different strokes for different folks of course and you may be using different gear with different settings than I do. I use a passive 1982 Fender Jazz (US of course because MIM wasn't started yet). It is known for that dreaded 60Hz hum if the two single coil pickups are set at the same levels. If they are set at the same levels they operate as humbuckers since each of the pickups is wound the opposite direction from the other one. I currently use DNA and Eden amps and never had the problem. So obviously you are experiencing something I have not...at least not yet and I've used them for over 5-years now.

I have experienced that grounding hum you mention with the gear I was using in the 60's and 70's - '66 Fender Bassman in the 60's and Standel MCIIb/SAM30b in the 70's. But that's before electrical plugs were either polarized or grounded. All amps back then came with a toggle switch to change the ground. Even after flipping that toggle to get rid of the hum, you had to be careful. If the PA the mics were going into weren't grounded in the same polarity, you'd get a nasty electrical kiss that you don't want to get! That's why we used to all touch the mic before singing into it. If you touched it and it hummed, you changed the polarity on your amp.

I've not heard of that grounding hum since then and have never heard that from any of my strings since then. I don't think I'm supposed to be the ground though anyhow and it's interesting it didn't happen with other strings....hmmmm

 

[Doug4321]

I keep 2 P-basses:

1) An AO 60s P with rosewood board and LaBella LTFs - perfection

2) An International Series P with maple board (basically a 70s P). This is meant to be my brighter P-bass. I am having a little hard time finding the proper string.

I only like flats. I only like flexible strings. Right now it has Fender 9050L. They feel and look great, but they seriously lack that low-mid grind I love. Just not feeling the sound, it's got no huevos with these strings on it. They sound very "hollow" just like chromes unless I really EQ them a lot - which I don't like to do. No bueno.

So what's a brighter flat that also has lots of low-mid grind and doesn't sound hollow or scooped? Should I try Cobalts? Roto 77s?

Strings that are already a no-go: TIs, chromes, fedners, pressurewounds, any rounds whatsoever.

I hear you! Also like the relatively flexible flatwound strings without the treble and scoop. I haven't tried the TI though, scared off by the too loose reports.

I have a pine body, roasted maple board P, and it seems rather bright top end. American vintage pickups. I put on some La Bella 760FL DTB and it's surprisingly scooped, bright top end. I know, will eventually break in and mellow out supposedly. Also have tried Chromes, different bass, and those are similar in their bright top, scooped sound, not too pleasant without a mute or something, like a lot of break in.

I agree, La Bella LTF are great for the dark plunky thing, with little break in needed, tried on my short scale.

Rotosound 77s do have a more mid range chunky grind character. They are quite stiff, I would suggest the 40-100 set. I tried on a Jazz once and noticed a recognizable sound like you hear with Waters or Sting sometimes. Interestingly they have a somewhat low output due to the nickel copper alloy. I didn't like that much really though. (The short scale ones are unusable, dark tone, terrible intonation, too loose).

Pyramids Golds and GHS Precision also have a good mid range character (tried on a short scale). The Pyramid long scales have a weird range of gauges though. Anyhow, I'd suggest the GHS 45-95 !

 

[Chris Wilke]

Another vote for EB Cobalt flats!! Very similar to TI Jazz flats but just a little more tension (I think) and a tad more aggressive/grindy. I actually use both. I'd say I probably prefer EBs on fretted instruments and TIs on fretless, just to accentuate the differences already there between those two types.

Oddly, I currently have a bass strung with both: TI JF on the G and A, and EB CF on the D and E, and in this case low B. It started out as a quick fix for a broken TI D string , then I realized the E and later the B had gone really dead. So I replaced those with a couple broken-in EBs. It has now been over a year and a half, and I haven't felt a need to replace any of the strings or the set.

It feels kind of strange to have one of my highest-end basses a Mike Lull M5 fretless, with a mismatched set of strings, but every time I pick it up I see no reason to change it. I even to it into Mike Lull guitars for a setup and they didn't seem to disagree

I guess my point/observation here is they are not as far off as it may seem. Try what ever set you are inclined towards. I don't think you'll be disappointed. But you did say grind - so I'd say EB Cobal Flats!

 

[Jeff K]

Not home right now to check. You're probably right. On my Precisions the E string silk goes about a third of a turn around the tuner's post. The easy to find ones are 38" to silk I believe. Just because I don't temember them being shorter doesn't mean they weren't. Never had a problem with the 38s

Yeah, if I remember correctly, the Long Scale was discontinued in 2013. Now it's the Long Scale +, which is what I should have said when I said Extra Long Scale. Either way, they really are great flats! But I've really fallen in love with the DR Legends.

 

[Pimpernel Smith]

What would Pyramid Gold flats do for this guy's need?