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Jazz Bass String Choice - help

Mike Vee

Mike Vee

Inactive
Oct 8, 2012
3,718
8,234
Los Angeles
#1
I have an American Original 70s Jazz Bass. I usually play a P with LaBella flats but I want my Jazz to pop a little more. I don't want to go full round and I like reasonably low tension strings, espcially on a 70s jazz where the pickup is so close to the bridge (where I anchor). I play a lot of indie rock / old dusty hip-hop, vintagey sounding stuff.

IMG-5448.jpg


I am having a little trouble finding the right String. So far I have tried (or am familiar with):

TI flats: This has been the best so far, and what's on there now. But they are just a little too tame. I just wish they were brighter with more growl. I really wish the D & G had the same wrapping gaps as the E & A strings, then I would consider them perfect. But the bottom 2 strings are too smooth like LaBella flats and in this scenario they are lacking.

GHS Pressurewounds: Feel great, don't like the tone. These would be perfect feel-wise if I liked the tone, but I don't.

Roto 66 Nickle: I REALLY love the tone and feel of these but hate the sliding/finger noise.

TI Rounds: Too smooth, kind of plain sounding.

Cobalt Flats: Didn't like the tone on a Jazz, love them on a Stingray.

Chromes: Haven't tried and don't want to. Too stiff for me and too flat-like.

Brite-flats: too stiff, too rough (maybe I need to revisit?)

GHS Precision: not for me, not a fan, too old school

What I am considering trying:

Roto 55s

Rotos 77s

Alembic CX-3

Suggestions?
 
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#5
From your list of strings to consider, I actually really like Rotosound 77s on my Jazz Bass. I'm not sure I'm going to stick with them forever, as I can miss the extra openness of roundwound strings, but they do sound quite good.

I personally don't find the 55s to be very smooth feeling at all. If you didn't like the string noise on the Rotosound 66 nickel, I'm guessing you won't like the 55s either.

Not on your list, maybe to consider, would be GHS Balanced Nickels and GHS Round Core Bass Boomers, both very smooth feeling, even though roundwound.
 
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#6
trothwell said:
From your list of strings to consider, I actually really like Rotosound 77s on my Jazz Bass. I'm not sure I'm going to stick with them forever, as I can miss the extra openness of roundwound strings, but they do sound quite good.

I personally don't find the 55s to be very smooth feeling at all. If you didn't like the string noise on the Rotosound 66 nickel, I'm guessing you won't like the 55s either.

Not on your list, maybe to consider, would be GHS Balanced Nickels and GHS Round Core Bass Boomers, both very smooth feeling, even though roundwound.
Click to expand...
how's the finger noise on those?
 
#7
Mike Vee said:
I have an American Original 70s Jazz Bass. I usually play a P with LaBella flats but I want my Jazz to pop a little more. I don't want to go full round and I like reasonably low tension strings,

GHS Pressurewounds: Feel great, don't like the tone. These would be perfect feel-wise if I liked the tone, but I don't.



Suggestions?
Click to expand...

I came here to suggest GHS Brite Flats but, if you dont like the tone, I really don't think theres a whole lot within that narrow range. Best of luck
 
#12
onda'bass said:
I’d look at chromes, they are nice and can get them in any gauge light to cables. Chromes and jazz bass are quite nice imho. A close second is fender 9050’s

as a roundwound defector, you need to learn how to make any string sound like you despite the inherit tone. I feel i lost nothing but it took time
Click to expand...
i really want a round sound without playing full rounds haha, or at least any that make finger noise.
 
#14
Mike Vee said:
I have an American Original 70s Jazz Bass. I usually play a P with LaBella flats but I want my Jazz to pop a little more. I don't want to go full round and I like reasonably low tension strings, espcially on a 70s jazz where the pickup is so close to the bridge (where I anchor). I play a lot of indie rock / old dusty hip-hop, vintagey sounding stuff.

View attachment 5224718

I am having a little trouble finding the right String. So far I have tried (or am familiar with):

TI flats: This has been the best so far, and what's on there now. But they are just a little too tame. I just wish they were brighter with more growl. I really wish the D & G had the same wrapping gaps as the E & A strings, then I would consider them perfect. But the bottom 2 strings are too smooth like LaBella flats and in this scenario they are lacking.

GHS Pressurewounds: Feel great, don't like the tone. These would be perfect feel-wise if I liked the tone, but I don't.

Roto 66 Nickle: I REALLY love the tone and feel of these but hate the sliding/finger noise.

TI Rounds: Too smooth, kind of plain sounding.

Cobalt Flats: Didn't like the tone on a Jazz, love them on a Stingray.

Chromes: Haven't tried and don't want to. Too stiff for me and too flat-like.

Brite-flats: too stiff, too rough (maybe I need to revisit?)

GHS Precision: not for me, not a fan, too old school

What I am considering trying:

Roto 55s

Rotos 77s

Alembic CX-3

Suggestions?
Click to expand...

labella has some that are called super steps that are supposed to bring out overtones, but I’m not sure how smooth they are.

The brightest labella tapewounds (white gold iirc) is close in tone to your description. I’ve got white tapes on a p, and they sound like broken in nickel rounds without noise.

if you watch the labella roadie website sometimes they do limited run stuff. A few months back they had super polished nickel rounds. I’d assume they’d be smooth.

that’s all the ideas I have…
 

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