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I had it all backwards......

lomo

lomo

passionate hack
Supporting Member
Apr 15, 2006
14,687
15,979
Montreal
#1
I have 4 basses in regular rotation, 2 J5s (with different pups) and 2 P5s (also with different pups). I live in 2 places so I keep 2 at each location. I enjoy both flats and rounds.......and had been tangled up in my own warped logic......convinced that I "should" string 1 J with flats/ 1 J with rounds and 1 P with flats/ 1 P with rounds.

BUT, I finally got over my OC tendency to "cover all my bases" (see what I did there?) and realized I prefer both Js with rounds and both Ps with flats. Symmetry be damned ;)
Do you decide what things to use on a given instrument based on how each instrument sounds with specific strings, or according to some other rationale?
 
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#3
michael_t said:
You had it right the first time; nothing warped about your logic. If I had two P's and two J's, that's exactly what I would do.
Click to expand...

That's what I thought, until I decided to string 'em each with what actually sounds best to my ears. The Fender P5 wears LaBella low T flats, the Maruszczyk with the Delano tender split coil wears TI flats. Both J5s (a Fender and a Lakland with chi-sonics) wear D'Addario nickel rounds. My ears are happy.
 
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#8
lomo said:
Do you decide what things to use on a given instrument based on how each instrument sounds with specific strings, or according to some other rationale?
Click to expand...
i've been trying out different light-gauge rounds the past year or so --- just for fun --- using a lot of the string sets mentioned/preferred by TBers in these threads...they all sound good to me! i still like TI jazz rounds for their feel and compliance qualities, and i'd still consider light-gauge roto 66s as my "always works for me" choice.

the only "rationale" i employ when choosing a string set for any of my axes = "must be round wound!" :D
 
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#9
I'm very much like this too @lomo...

... but I switched up one of my basses this year, and wow. I just never heard it this way before. I had always had it strung with my beloved TI Jazz Flats, but I switched to the Jazz Rounds just to try. I've decided to keep the fretless companion with the Flats, but the Rounds are going to stay on the fretted one awhile I think.
 
#10
I chose strings (and my basses) based on my needs.

I currently have a fretted Warwick PJ that I mostly use for rock and distorted tones. It sports DR Lo Riders and is often played with a pick, but I can deepen the tone if needed (EQ or play fingerstyle).

I also have a fretless Ibanez Portamento that is mostly used for jazz, funk, hip-hop and warmer tones. It is strung with TI Jazz Flats.

If I get another bass guitar (currently debating a UB/EUB instead), it’ll be a fretless with a CA covered board, and roundwounds that will let it sing.
 
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#11
To a degree the bass helps choose its strings. However, I became a tapewound convert last year, and much like the gentleman above that said “TI’s and done” my stringing philosophy is Labella Copper White Nylon Tapes and done. My jazz bass has them, my 6-string active Ibanez has them, and my Fretless Sire has them. They sound and feel perfect for me on all of them.
 
#12
lomo said:
That's what I thought, until I decided to string 'em each with what actually sounds best to my ears. The Fender P5 wears LaBella low T flats, the Maruszczyk with the Delano tender split coil wears TI flats. Both J5s (a Fender and a Lakland with chi-sonics) wear D'Addario nickel rounds. My ears are happy.
Click to expand...
This approach seems nor symmetrical to me. P basses are one thing, J basses another.
 
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#13
I have four bass guitars and two uprights. Originally I put D’Addario chrome XL Flats on all of my bass guitars because it felt less weird when I switched from upright to BG.

Now I love the solid fundamental and the fact that they just seem to sound “musical”. Not sure how else to describe it.

I’ve toyed with the idea of putting rounds back on one of my basses, but I haven’t come across a situation where the flats don’t sound superior to me.
 
#16
I consider it super-important to pay close attention to each bass itself. This informs string choice and all aspects of playing technique (use of onboard controls, where to pluck the strings).

As I've learned to pay close attention to each of my basses, I've learned not only what strings best suit each bass for my playing, but also how to sound the best I can for each tune - playing the right bass well with the right strings.

Never stop learning. Optimal string choices should follow from that.
 
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#17
I have 2 P's. One I've had for a long time, and it's gone back and forth between rounds and flats. Rounds are just more versatile than flats, if I only have one bass.
I got my second P, and I wasn't planning on putting flats on it. It has a different pickup, and I never really liked the way it sounded with my go-to Infeld Super Alloy's.
I slapped flats on it as a last ditch effort before I started looking into new pickups, and the bass just came alive.
It shall forevermore be strung with flats.
If the flats hadn't been the thing, I might still be looking for strings or pickups.
I say you roll with what works best for each bass.

That said, I'm a HUGE fan of TI flats on a Jazz. Huge fan.
 
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#18
lomo said:
I have 4 basses in regular rotation, 2 J5s (with different pups) and 2 P5s (also with different pups). I live in 2 places so I keep 2 at each location. I enjoy both flats and rounds.......and had been tangled up in my own warped logic......convinced that I "should" string 1 J with flats/ 1 J with rounds and 1 P with flats/ 1 P with rounds.

BUT, I finally got over my OC tendency to "cover all my bases" (see what I did there?) and realized I prefer both Js with rounds and both Ps with flats. Symmetry be damned ;)
Do you decide what things to use on a given instrument based on how each instrument sounds with specific strings, or according to some other rationale?
Click to expand...
That’s funny. I have two Sting p basses, the second one I got ostensibly for “backup”. The first one had flats on it and I decided to experiment with rounds on the backup (which is about 1.5 lbs heavier than the first one). Both basses have Fralin pickups. Well what do you know, the rounds sounded better on that backup bass. So I put rounds on the first one that’s 1.5 lbs lighter. Now they both have the same specs. And I have an actual backup that is identical. On my ‘74 p bass I have flats because that bass demands flats. So yeah.
 
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#19
lomo said:
I have 4 basses in regular rotation, 2 J5s (with different pups) and 2 P5s (also with different pups). I live in 2 places so I keep 2 at each location. I enjoy both flats and rounds.......and had been tangled up in my own warped logic......convinced that I "should" string 1 J with flats/ 1 J with rounds and 1 P with flats/ 1 P with rounds.

BUT, I finally got over my OC tendency to "cover all my bases" (see what I did there?) and realized I prefer both Js with rounds and both Ps with flats. Symmetry be damned ;)
Do you decide what things to use on a given instrument based on how each instrument sounds with specific strings, or according to some other rationale?
Click to expand...

Well, my answer is no. I have two basses one 4 string, and one 5 string, both with rounds. I don't live in two different locations, but my gigs are about an 8 hour drive and only require a 4 string. So I may need to revisit this issue.

In your case, sounds to me like it would be simple if you have 1 jazz with rounds and 1 PB at each location would work.
 

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