I Need some suggestions: P bass Strings

[AngelCrusher]

Consider going the other way and getting some brighter flats, like Chrome's.

Chromes in .40 gauge are the best strings I have ever had on a P. Works for about everything. Even sounds insanely heavy with distortion.

 

[noahw1]

Another vote for the GHS Balanced Nickels. They have great fundamentals and string mids in a round wound without the zingy top end. These are my new favorite strings.

 

[edencab]

for flats, I say you can't go wrong with Fenders on a Fender

 

[Nighttrain1127]

+1 On the Cobalt Flats Nice and thumpy but also Brite enough to help cut through.

 

[FirewalZ]

Another vote for the GHS Balanced Nickels. They have great fundamentals and string mids in a round wound without the zingy top end. These are my new favorite strings.

I haven't seen too many reviews on these yet but was wanting to try them. Ive tried Fenders pure nickel and after a while thought they were a bit dull with no edge..

 

[Ploonter]

Pure Blues+tone knob=all bases covered.
(no pun intended)

 

[noahw1]

I haven't seen too many reviews on these yet but was wanting to try them. Ive tried Fenders pure nickel and after a while thought they were a bit dull with no edge..

There’s a thread on here about them.

 

[Nighttrain1127]

The GHS Balanced Nickels are Brighter than the EB Cobalt Flats but relatively thick and thumpy also A little More low End than the Pressure Wound GHS But Much more note definition without being Zingy.

 

[Squint]

+2 on the Ernie Ball Cobalt flats. Great middle ground. Still cut but no zing or finger noise. Tension may be a little higher than most rounds but less than Chromes IMHO.

 

[twinjet]

Im looking for "tamer" rounds, maybe something i haven't tried yet...something that 1) Works well on a P bass/classic sound. 2) Warm and full yet can still cut through. 3) Flexible/responsive to tone knob...(Patsy to Bad Company).

Here you go! DR PURE BLUES are my favorite string. They sound great on a Precision Bass and currently are on my L-2000. They're pure bliss...

DR Pure Blues!!!

 

[pbassnut]

I play mostly roots music and have settled on DR Sunbeams 105 - 45 as my goto roundwounds. I like their lower than average tension for that gauge set and I can get a warm, round sound out of them that fits the music just fine, IMHO.

 

[gelinas666]

Fender 9050L's.. Stainless Flatwound...

 

[Chef]

Yea..I dig flats, especially on this bass. Problem is I only have 1 P bass and hate swapping strings and don't like the super high tension anymore (or really low tension either).

LaBella low tension flats;
Lower tension, traditional sound

 

[InnerBass]

Im getting involved in a new project supporting a female singer, its a mix of old school Country (think Patsy Cline), new Country and some classic rock thrown in the mix. Of course Flats are the first thing that come to mine, however, we will be in larger room/festival type gigs and IME flats dont always cut well. Im looking for "tamer" rounds, maybe something i haven't tried yet...something that 1) Works well on a P bass/classic sound. 2) Warm and full yet can still cut through. 3) Flexible/responsive to tone knob...(Patsy to Bad Company).
I have Medium Boomers on it now, they sound fine good, but the tension is a tad high and they go from good to dull fairly quickly. Ive also tried Pressurewound, but IMO those work better on a Jazz.
I was thinking about trying: GHS Balanced Nickel, DR Pure Blues, Sunbeams?

D'D Chromes - 40-100 . They feel like TI's but they're cheaper and sound "rounder", IMHO.

 

[FantasticFour]

I'd go with Fender Pure Nickels or worn in D'Addario Half-Rounds (they do take time to settle down and give their best).

 

[Dragan]

Chromes 45-100 by all means.. sounds right, tension is very nice, with time sound and playability gets even better.

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

I was gonna suggest TI Super Alloys, but then you said you didn’t like super low tension.
For me, the SuperAlloys don’t die like other strings.
They mellow and last a long time.
I get ~300-350 gigs on a single set of SuperAlloys.

 

[Jack Butler]

Lots of good suggestions here, but this situation seems to just scream TI jazz flats. Especially since you mention lower tension. I use them on my P across all kinds of situations. The main complaint some folks have is the low tension. I have to admit I had to lighten my touch with them.

 

[Jeff K]

I don't gig much anymore, but the guys I play with do a lot of country, country rock, and flat out rock. I've been strictly a flats guy for a long, long time. I have Jazzes and P's, but generally play a P-Bass when playing with people. Never had a problem with the flats being heard. Granted, I'm almost 100% fingerstyle, and not a slapper. A good amp certainly helps!

Chromes are probably the brightest, although they do mellow out after about a month (but still sound good). LaBella Deep Talkin' Flats and GHS Precision Flats both sound great right out of the box, whereas to ME, the Chromes are TOO bright until they break in. Fender flats seem to fall between the Chromes and the other two. I have never tried the Ernie Ball Cobalts.

 

[ruju]

Chromes 100%. I usually change mine once a year on my p bass. They sound and feel great.