Match strings to the bass…

[Dark Horse]

Getting ready to try a couple sets of flats…..

I have ….

Thomastiks
Ernie Ball Group 3
Labella LTF’s

FENDER AVRI 58 Precision Bass
FENDER GEDDY LEE JAZZ (with DiMarzio Model Js)
FENDER ROAD WORN 50’s PRECISION


Which flats would you try out on which bass? Match em up and help me get a good feel for these flats

Do it fast, or I’ll just throw em on and hope for the best !

 

[HaphAsSard]

Getting ready to try a couple sets of flats…..

I have ….

Thomastiks
Ernie Ball Group 3
Labella LTF’s

FENDER AVRI 58 Precision Bass
FENDER GEDDY LEE JAZZ (with DiMarzio Model Js)
FENDER ROAD WORN 50’s PRECISION


Which flats would you try out on which bass? Match em up and help me get a good feel for these flats

Do it fast, or I’ll just throw em on and hope for the best !

In before the "TI Jazz Flats on the Jazz Bass" crowd. Nothing against you guys nor the idea, but 1) I've heard videos and testimonies of TIJF working like gangbusters on P basses, and 2) my suggestion expands on it. Namely,

Thomastiks on whichever P is the growliest (because there is such a thing as a punky flatwound P tone)
Ernie Ball...Groupies on the Ged (because Joe Osborn, but with a wider range)
LTFs on the other P (because pure wood).

My 2 Eurocents.

 

[Dark Horse]

In before the "TI Jazz Flats on the Jazz Bass" crowd. Nothing against you guys nor the idea, but 1) I've heard videos and testimonies of TIJF working like gangbusters on P basses, and 2) my suggestion expands on it. Namely,

Thomastiks on whichever P is the growliest (because there is such a thing as a punky flatwound P tone)
Ernie Ball...Groupies on the Ged (because Joe Osborn, but with a wider range)
LTFs on the other P (because pure wood).

My 2 Eurocents.

Thanks, i appreciate the opinion ! I’m gonna wait for some other people to chime in, but that was honestly kind of what I was thinking… But I haven’t tried any of these, I’ve usually played either the regular LaBella DTB , the Chromes, or things like that…. So this is my opportunity to try a few new things.

 

[Dark Horse]

In before the "TI Jazz Flats on the Jazz Bass" crowd. Nothing against you guys nor the idea, but 1) I've heard videos and testimonies of TIJF working like gangbusters on P basses, and 2) my suggestion expands on it. Namely,

Thomastiks on whichever P is the growliest (because there is such a thing as a punky flatwound P tone)
Ernie Ball...Groupies on the Ged (because Joe Osborn, but with a wider range)
LTFs on the other P (because pure wood).

My 2 Eurocents.

I put the Ernie Group 3s on the Jazz

The LTF’s on the AVRI 58

Kept the Chromes (so far) on the Road Worn

I have GHS Flats on my 53 P


Thomastiks are still in the box… I haven’t decided what to try them on yet. Going to let them settle in overnight and then set up the basses.

But this will give me some nice comparisons… thanks again.

 

[PBandJazzBass]

I’ll just throw out there that La Bella LTF’s on a J bass is a really underrated combo.

 

[rooster]

I have had chromes ECB82's the 50-105 on my 50's Roadworn for the last 6 years.....Then i bought the Thomastik JF344 's and put them on....They sound fantastic but.....I will tell you this...You have to play with a lot more restraint or lighter touch.

 

[J-Bass RMR]

I put the Ernie Group 3s on the Jazz

The LTF’s on the AVRI 58

Kept the Chromes (so far) on the Road Worn

I have GHS Flats on my 53 P


Thomastiks are still in the box… I haven’t decided what to try them on yet. Going to let them settle in overnight and then set up the basses.

But this will give me some nice comparisons… thanks again.


View attachment 6980325

More and more, I'm finding TIs are MAGIC on a Jazz Bass.

You might want to try the LaBellas on the RW P, well, because everyone need a P w/LaBellas. (I have GHS Flats on my '58 "tribute" P")
(@PBandJazzBass - I need to revisit LTFs on a Jazz)

I've used the EBG3s, but they always seem to have a "clank" to them - more so than Chromes, but the are a good fit on my '78.
Again, just depends on the specific Bass.

 

[mrjim123]

Only you can decide what sounds and feels best. Don't let a handful of personal opinions sway you. For example, the previous poster loves TI flats on a jazz bass. I did NOT like this combination and never went back to it. As I said, it's purely personal opinion.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

I’ve tried two of the three string sets listed on my Jazz and didn’t like either one. On the other hand, I’ve tried two of the three string sets on my PBass and liked them both. The strings I’ve never tried are the EB group 3s. If you had EB cobalts listed, they would definitely be my choice for the Jazz.

 

[Pyrrho Epoche]

The thing with flats is; you can take them off and try on all the basses---just do it carefully, as to not shred the silks. Don't think you are stuck with them on a certain bass.

So, my vote is, take some time, if it is a whole day or weeks and try all of them.

After that, buy some Markbass vintage flats, Dogal flats and Magma flats

 

[Gervais Cote]

TI : jazz (won’t be aggressive though)

Labella : 58 precision (Motown sound and will cut in the mix)

EB : 50 precision (will turn it into a jack of all trades bass)

 

[Dark Horse]

Only you can decide what sounds and feels best. Don't let a handful of personal opinions sway you. For example, the previous poster loves TI flats on a jazz bass. I did NOT like this combination and never went back to it. As I said, it's purely personal opinion.

Not looking for “sway”… just wondering if there’s a “better” starting point than just throwing them on and then swapping over and over. I obviously know it’s all personal opinions, but that’s what I’m asking for is “opinion”.

Anyway, as mentioned earlier, I put the LTFs and Ernie 3’s on basses, haven’t put the thomastiks on yet.

 

[Dark Horse]

The thing with flats is; you can take them off and try on all the basses---just do it carefully, as to not shred the silks. Don't think you are stuck with them on a certain bass.

So, my vote is, take some time, if it is a whole day or weeks and try all of them.

After that, buy some Markbass vintage flats, Dogal flats and Magma flats

Yeah, I was just looking for a starting point…which I got. I’ll swap as needed, but was hoping to possibly save a little time as well as wear and tear on strings …

 

[funkinbottom]

I think I would start here. Why?? Not really sure, but just my opinion.

Thomastiks - Geddy
Ernie Ball - 58 P
Labella LTF’s - Road Worn

 

[Prodigus Filius]

Yeah, I was just looking for a starting point…which I got. I’ll swap as needed, but was hoping to possibly save a little time as well as wear and tear on strings …

Have you thought of trying a string from each set on the same bass. Compare apples with apples. Get some kind of idea how the strings sound and feel. Without wearing out silks of all the string sets chopping and changing. I've done it to get some kind of idea if they agree with the bass or not.

 

[Dark Horse]

Have you thought of trying a string from each set on the same bass. Compare apples with apples. Get some kind of idea how the strings sound and feel. Without wearing out silks of all the string sets chopping and changing. I've done it to get some idea if they agree with the bass or not.

I honestly don’t know if I could get used to that feel overall, different strings on the same bass…. Though I totally understand your idea and the concept. Interesting thought for sure

BTW - So far I’m liking the Ernie Ball Group 3 strings more than I expected. They few like a versatile string with a lower tension that I like, and a pretty nice even sound. I’m thinking these could replace the Chromes on a few basses. The Low Tension Flats I need to get some more time on before forming an opinion. And I haven’t put on the Thomastiks yet….. I’m wondering if it’ll be hard for them to live up to my expectations….

 

[Prodigus Filius]

I honestly don’t know if I could get used to that feel overall, different strings on the same bass…. Though I totally understand your idea and the concept. Interesting thought for sure

BTW - So far I’m liking the Ernie Ball Group 3 strings more than I expected. They few like a versatile string with a lower tension that I like, and a pretty nice even sound. I’m thinking these could replace the Chromes on a few basses. The Low Tension Flats I need to get some more time on before forming an opinion. And I haven’t put on the Thomastiks yet….. I’m wondering if it’ll be hard for them to live up to my expectations….

I didn't mean leave the differerent branded strings on. Although I have done that. What I was getting at is if you liked the way the TI single string sounded and felt but didn't much like the EB or LTF single, than it's a good bet the other 3 TI's would be at home on the bass. Or if you liked the EB single better. And so on

 

[Dark Horse]

I didn't mean leave the differerent branded strings on. Although I have done that. What I was getting at is if you liked the way the TI single string sounded and felt but didn't much like the EB or LTF single, than it's a good bet the other 3 TI's would be at home on the bass. Or if you liked the EB single better. And so on

Ahh, ok … I misunderstood

I gotcha. That makes sense.

 

[GIBrat51]

I'm... not sure, to be honest. But... here goes;
- TI Jazz Flats. I don't much care for Jazz Basses - for reasons that don't matter here - but, if I had one? Of the 3 strings you've listed, I'd put the TIJF's on it. For the simple reason that, here on TB, an awful lot of people like Fender 9050L's on a JB - and to my ears? Except for the abundant harmonics, TIJF's sound an awful lot like the Fenders. I use them both; the TI's on an active bass that I can really use the TI's harmonics on; and the Fender's on a couple of basses that I don't need them on. I like them both - a lot...
- La Bella DTFs. Put them on whichever P-Bass you want "old school thump" from. Personally? I only have one P-Bass. A lefty '78, with the optional "A-spec" neck. It's set up to look - and sound - like a P-Bass from the early/mid 1960's; both covers - with a mute in the bridge cover - and with flats that are close copies of the original Squier-made factory flats; GHS Precision Flats... I have DTF's on several basses, and... I like them on those basses...
- EB Group III Flats. Put them on whichever P-Bass you'd prefer to be at least a little versatile. As someone said; good "journeyman" flats. I don't use the Group III's, but I do have the Group IV's on my Schecter Stiletto Studio lined fretless. On that bass? They are definitely the cat's ass...

 

[Yahboy]

Ti on 58P, the mid fill the 58 scoop pickups voice,.
Group flat on Geedy lee, make this bass keep growl whole day long....
LTF4A on Roadworn P, fatten up the stock pickup voice.