Need help picking flats for this '71 Pbass

[funkmasterron]

I am setting up and doing some minor restoration on this '71 Pbass for a friend.

I want to put some flatwound strings on it. What flatwound set do you recommend?

 

[Jazzdogg]

I've had mine strung with TI Jazz Flats for more than twenty years and love 'em!

 

[Marty Forrer]

I've been a TI fanboy for 20 years, but now use LaBella LTFs for a deeper sound. I also like EB Slinky Cobalt flats for a more modern sound.

 

[Krizz]

TI Jazz flats or Fender 9050’s

 

[Pilgrim]

The answer for any P-bass is Labella Deep Talkin' flats. Proven for 60 years by all lovers of P-bass with flats.

I like the 760FL light gauge set myself.

 

[bherman]

Agree with most above - all good options, however my new fave flatwounds are LaBella Olinto Flats. I've had them on my bass for a few weeks now and love them - very balanced set, more definition and high end tone (when desired) than typical DTF. I will say that I am not a fan of TI's - too floppy for me, they sound great but never could get used to the low tension.

 

[MynameisMe]

Labella deep talkin flats are pretty awesome!

 

[buldog5151bass]

Precision flats are probably the closest thing to what it originally had.

 

[Yahboy]

Get the la Bella LTF4A, Ti flat and cobalt flat 2814 for experience.

Recommended above set because those are my favourite flatwound bass string. From old school vibe, woody modern and round wound-ist tone.

 

[pbass2]

Labellas for the classic sound, hands down. Something more modern? Chromes would be at that end of the spectrum for sure.

 

[ADHD librarian]

I'm another vote for the LaBella. Although, I would go for the tapewounds I've moved a set of 760N onto whichever bass is my main player for a couple of years, with a set of 760FS on my #2. Before that I had Ernie Ball flats and I loved them (until I put the La Bellas on).

I've currently got a set of La Bella 750G Gold White Nylon on their way to me. The trouble with only having one music shop within 1400km is a lack of choice, so I went mail order. So far they have been enroute for six weeks. Nine days to get from the US to Australia 30 days of "Qantas Freight system failure – significant delays expected" and now "in transit to next facility"

That's a long way of saying I can't reccoment Gold White Nylon (yet) But I have high hopes!

 

[Phaidrus]

Precision flats are probably the closest thing to what it originally had.

It's just that these extra long 38 scale strings look awkward on a Pbass...

I don't get why GHS make them only that long although they explicitly mention how well they sound on a Pbass.

 

[Jason Sypher]

Labella

 

[krfoss]

Labella if you want the old school Motown thump. TIs otherwise. Chromes are garbage (my opinion, but I’m right).

 

[75Ric]

LaBella Deep Talking flats give the classic pbass sound. 760FS are on my Lull P4 and sound terrific. For lighter tension, the 760FLs are a great choice. TIs have a great tone, but I found them too floppy to play. My fingers often got caught underneath the string. You can overcome that with practice. I choose not to develop the skill because my other basses are higher tension and I’ve always played with higher tension strings, so that would be a significant change for me.

 

[roller]

+1 on TI flats. They're the best flats I've ever played. Yes, they're worth the money... especially seeing that one set will remain on your bass for many moons... no make that DECADES.

Also, +1 on La Bella Deep Talkin' Bass. I've had a set of 760FLs on a 5-string and they're sweet. But given the choice, TI flats for the feel -- something about them is just superb.

While I like D'Addario NYXL for rounds, Chromes have never done anything for me either. YMMV.

 

[pbass2]

Labella if you want the old school Motown thump. TIs otherwise. Chromes are garbage (my opinion, but I’m right).

Funny you say that, because I suggested Chromes if one wants a "modern" flat (for lack of a better term), but yeah, they're really not great. They don't age well like Labellas for example. They start out clanky and harsh, then a brief period where they're pretty good, but then just get kind of lifeless and "meh" as they age. Labellas (and some others I haven't tried I'm sure) actually get better with age.

 

[mikeswals]

Dunlop Flats. For me they feel like the most tension-like to rounds, I dont have to change my playing technique

 

[shadven]

I ‘be been through them all. All my basses with flats have Rotosound 77s.
Labella’s take weeks/months to start sounding good. Ti’s are weirdly low tension.

 

[brianc91764]

Played these at a student's house tonight. Great sounding old school flats. Dad had no idea what the strings were. Anyone recognize the silk? Bass sounded fabulous, by the way.