John Paul Jones strings?

[JMacBass65]

Which LaBella set? I really enjoyed the 43-104 760FL set for a couple years. Eventually I started looking for something a bit meatier... I find LaBellas to be really scooped and bright, at least as far as classic flats go.

Highly, highly, recommend GHS Precision flats if you get a chance... had the 55-105 set on my Jazz for a over a year now, and it’s like downtown Jonesville. The extra stiffness in the upper strings is really nice when you dig in and rake across power chords.

Well, that's the thing, I have no idea which set they were. The were on a fretless P I bought a few years back, the fine people here ID'd them as LaBellas. I left them on there for about two years and liked them just fine. Then I decided to put TIs on it (and they sing!) and set them aside. I tried them on my Rick for like a day, and hated them on it. Took them off and either tossed them or misplaced them.

Thanks for the suggestion of the GHSs, but not sure I'll bother. I really could not be more pleased with the TIs on there now, was just bored after being holed up in the house for five days with the flu, so it was something I got in my head that I would do today just "because". But without any actual strings to put on there....the feeling will likely pass.

I dunno.

 

[SasquatchDude]

Well, that's the thing, I have no idea which set they were. The were on a fretless P I bought a few years back, the fine people here ID'd them as LaBellas. I left them on there for about two years and liked them just fine. Then I decided to put TIs on it (and they sing!) and set them aside. I tried them on my Rick for like a day, and hated them on it. Took them off and either tossed them or misplaced them.

Thanks for the suggestion of the GHSs, but not sure I'll bother. I really could not be more pleased with the TIs on there now, was just bored after being holed up in the house for five days with the flu, so it was something I got in my head that I would do today just "because". But without any actual strings to put on there....the feeling will likely pass.

I dunno.

Ahhh... I didn’t actually see your comment about misplacing them until after I posted my last reply. That’s a drag, man.

 

[keith1r]

Looks like red silks. Trying to determine if they are flats on the jazz. Obviously rounds on the 51 Precision. And if they’re flats are they Labella, Fender or Rotosound flats or did he switch at different times

 

[JMacBass65]

Looks like red silks. Trying to determine if they are flats on the jazz. Obviously rounds on the 51 Precision. And if they’re flats are they Labella, Fender or Rotosound flats or did he switch at different timesView attachment 2886895

The bottom picture is from 1975, unlike some of the others in this thread, which are from much earlier.

I am inclined to think at some point he switched brands (but never to rounds on the jazz).

In an interview he gave in 1977 he stated that he used Rotosound flats on the jazz, so that would be my assumption regarding the picture here from '75.

 

[SasquatchDude]

Here's a couple more... first one's from the same time as the '75 posted above, the other one looks about '73.

In both, there's a glaring lack of the extended black silks at the bridge as visible in the '70 Royal Albert Hall closeup on the previous page. Now the headstock is overexposed in the first photo, but in the second pic, I'd swear I'm seeing symmetrical full-length silks at the headstock. That would furthermore rule out the old Fenders, which had staggered silks to match the positions of the in-line tuner pegs.

Also, neither photo seems to have that characteristic glossy sheen like flats give off... I'll go out on a limb here and say the Jazz had Roto rounds from 73-ish on?

 

[SasquatchDude]

Then again... Roto flats are fairly rough-textured as far as flats go, so I wouldn't bank on roundwounds solely because of that visual. Also, here's another '73 shot with no Fender silks in sight.

So with a very high degree of probability, he was using Rotosounds at this point... quite possibly flats, based on the interview @JMacBass65 referred to.

I'm pretty sure I can add "Forensic Music Historian" to my resume now

 

[JMacBass65]

Here's a couple more... first one's from the same time as the '75 posted above, the other one looks about '73.

In both, there's a glaring lack of the extended black silks at the bridge as visible in the '70 Royal Albert Hall closeup on the previous page. Now the headstock is overexposed in the first photo, but in the second pic, I'd swear I'm seeing symmetrical full-length silks at the headstock. That would furthermore rule out the old Fenders, which had staggered silks to match the positions of the in-line tuner pegs.

Also, neither photo seems to have that characteristic glossy sheen like flats give off... I'll go out on a limb here and say the Jazz had Roto rounds from 73-ish on?

View attachment 2887092 View attachment 2887093

Then again... Roto flats are fairly rough-textured as far as flats go, so I wouldn't bank on roundwounds solely because of that visual. Also, here's another '73 shot with no Fender silks in sight.

So with a very high degree of probability, he was using Rotosounds at this point... quite possibly flats, based on the interview @JMacBass65 referred to.

I'm pretty sure I can add "Forensic Music Historian" to my resume now

View attachment 2887108

I am thinking Roto Flats. Listen to this soundboard from 1975.



Skip Rock and Roll and go to the second song, Sick Again - listen from the solo on (about 6:35 in). That's flats with a pick if you ask me.

Too bad this has Over the Hill deleted due to copyright, as the solo section again reveals a very flats sounding tone (the whole concert does, but I'm looking for when it really jumps out).

I think it's the most obvious to me when he is using a pick - flats and a pick just sound certain way. So Sick Again, The Song Remains the Same, Whole Lotta Love and Black Dog are the ones where it really stands out to me.

There used to be a bass/drums only of Celebration Day from The Song Remains the Same on Youtube - it's gone now but it was another one where he uses a pick, and the flats are plain as day to me.

 

[JMacBass65]

Ah - I found the Celebration Day video, but the audio has been removed. Oddly though, Over the Hills has not had it removed.

So here is Over the Hills with the guitar removed, so not pure isolation - but it does help to hear his tone more clearly, and also what he's up to.

 

[SasquatchDude]

I am thinking Roto Flats. Listen to this soundboard from 1975.



Skip Rock and Roll and go to the second song, Sick Again - listen from the solo on (about 6:35 in). That's flats with a pick if you ask me.

Too bad this has Over the Hill deleted due to copyright, as the solo section again reveals a very flats sounding tone (the whole concert does, but I'm looking for when it really jumps out).

I think it's the most obvious to me when he is using a pick - flats and a pick just sound certain way. So Sick Again, The Song Remains the Same, Whole Lotta Love and Black Dog are the ones where it really stands out to me.

There used to be a bass/drums only of Celebration Day from The Song Remains the Same on Youtube - it's gone now but it was another one where he uses a pick, and the flats are plain as day to me.

I remember that Celebration Day track... bummer.

Listening to the vid above, I'd totally agree on Roto flats. They have a noticeably more articulate "zing" to them than the old Fenders – especially pronounced in the higher notes... but definitely flats in any case.

 

[SasquatchDude]

Ah - I found the Celebration Day video, but the audio has been removed. Oddly though, Over the Hills has not had it removed.

So here is Over the Hills with the guitar removed, so not pure isolation - but it does help to hear his tone more clearly, and also what he's up to.

Oooh, them's flats alright.

Now if only the cameraman paid JPJ half the attention he did Page's hands... or Plant's junk...

 

[southpaw723]

He never used rounds on his jazz in zeppelin.

 

[JMacBass65]

Oooh, them's flats alright.

Now if only the cameraman paid JPJ half the attention he did Page's hands... or Plant's junk...

He never used rounds on his jazz in zeppelin.

 

[keith1r]

Ah - I found the Celebration Day video, but the audio has been removed. Oddly though, Over the Hills has not had it removed.

So here is Over the Hills with the guitar removed, so not pure isolation - but it does help to hear his tone more clearly, and also what he's up to.

Hard to tell if flats or rounds. Playing through an Acoustic 18 cab even though that may be direct will eliminate much of the treble of rounds

 

[keith1r]

2 shots from 73. Looks like red silk on top and black on bottom

 

[JMacBass65]

I am actually surprised at how difficult it is to get a good view of the silks on his strings.

 

[shoulderpet]

Ah - I found the Celebration Day video, but the audio has been removed. Oddly though, Over the Hills has not had it removed.

So here is Over the Hills with the guitar removed, so not pure isolation - but it does help to hear his tone more clearly, and also what he's up to.

definitely flats without a shadow of a doubt

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

There's a couple of bass isolated Zeppelin tracks on YouTube. His tone on the isolated tracks I've listened to definitely sound like flats to me.

 

[leegreenman]

I don't think JPJ knows what strings JPJ plays...

 

[michael_t]

I don't think JPJ knows what strings JPJ plays...

Or at least he does appear to be dazed and confused about his gear in the early Zeppelin years.

 

[JMacBass65]

definitely flats without a shadow of a doubt

There's a couple of bass isolated Zeppelin tracks on YouTube. His tone on the isolated tracks I've listened to definitely sound like flats to me.

I agree!

Or at least he does appear to be dazed and confused about his gear in the early Zeppelin years.

Yeah, no doubt. He can be forgiven though, considering the time period.