New strings for my P-bass

[Rib 13]

I’ve got a 2014 American Standard P-bass that I bought new. Finally changed out the original rounds with some Fender tapewounds. They’re okay but aside from some RF interference depending on the location I’m playing I don’t love the finger burn I get when sliding around. I’m kinda thinking about either trying a set of flatwounds or going back to a new set of rounds. What’s a good go-to set of flats? I was looking at the Labella 760FL’s. Reviewers said they nail the James Jameson tone (love that) and because they’re light the string tension’s not too far off from rounds. Would these be good for Larry Graham tone too? And rocknroll?

To nail each: Jamerson and Larry Graham are far ends of the tonal spectrum and require two different string types and newness/freshness (Im not talking early Larry Graham)....

To approximate each: Can be done with one string type. My personal rule of thumb is "Roundwounds first and foremost". Why? Because its easier to take out high end crispness with tone or EQ than try to add it in if it isnt there to begin with. But thats just me - YMMV and all dat

 

[Bassamatic]

My all-time favorites are DR Sunbeams for rounds - so rich and mellow and long lasting, and T.I. Jazz flats - they are just incredible flats and last forever. If they didn't exist it would be LaBella 760s. That Motown sound. Have them on a P for the last 12 years for Classic Rock.

 

[J-Mags]

Strings I've enjoyed on my P-Bass

GHS Precision Flats 45-105. I've lowered the string action and the tension doesn't bother me at all. They have a biggo middy old-school sound that differs from LaBellas in that they have more mids and upper-mids, and a little less low mid and high end. They can cut through a rock mix while still sounding very old school. I found that the 40-96 set didn't have as much kick, but a lot of people like them.

Dunlop Flats 40-100. They start out nice and clicky, with very even string-to-string response. They get thumpy over time. I like them when they still have a little high end left, but lots of people like them for the duration. I replace them every six months or so, which gets expensive (but not by the standards of people who like fresh rounds). I like the smaller gauge in these.

GHS Boomers 45-105. My favorite dead rounds. They sound slightly lacking when new compared to a lot of round wound strings, but I love em dead. They have just the right amount of lower mids to give definition to your too-bassy sounds. Great for reggae.

Fender 9050L Flats (ML are good too) These things are underrated! I have em on my PJ. They have a different feel and sound from the thumpers above. I can't really put my finger on it. They have more sustain and high end than some flats, and the mids and lows aren't as cranky or thumpy. Apparently they lose their high end, but at 3-months, they still seem to me as though they have it.

LaBella 760 FL. These are nice, but for my purposes, I preferred the feel and the sound of the GHS. If I were playing music with a lot of room for the bass to be heard, I might prefer these, because they have a lovely sound and attack, but I prefer the more rough-and-ready feel and tone of GHS flats.

 

[GTHintz]

I think you might like sadowski blue label stainless strings. They are roundwound. They are really smooth and we're awesome on my fingers when I played them. Not too bright and the will bring out the mids and the fundimental tone is great. They are fairly flexible and high quality strings. They would probably go great on your bass for what you're trying to do.

 

[Bruiser Stone]

Rounds:
- Dean Markley Blue Steels if you can find them, regular and Helix varieties
- D’Addario Pro Steels EPS 300
- Rotosound Swing Bass 66 (of course)

Flats:
- La Bella DTF’s, and the 760FS set is my favorite for old school thump
- Rotosound Jazz Bass 77 SM is a good gauge for these modern, mid-focused strings
- Fender 9050L for in between the other two sets tension and tone-wise

I used to enjoy nickel rounds, but I’ve resolved I like the opposite ends of the spectrum of both the smooth feel and sound of flats and the grind of steel rounds that can age well and mellow out with time. My goal is to always have at least two P’s so I can have a set of each.

 

[Geddaric]

I wish I had 2 P basses so I could string one with rounds and one with flats.

There`s too many homeless basses out there that need some lovin~.

 

[michael_t]

I’ve got a 2014 American Standard P-bass that I bought new...

Would you have a pic of your bass you can post?

 

[Matty Koff]

Right now my American Special P-bass is sporting Ti Jazz Flats.. and I both love and hate them. No really they feel SO good to play once you get used to the way they feel.. but that bass has become SO picky about what I play it through or how I EQ it since I put them on.

Before that I had a set of Rotosound 77 Jazz flats.. .045-.105. After a year of those being on those things sounded amazing no matter what I plugged that bass into, even direct into my interface with no EQ options.

out of everything I own my Avatar b410 is the only cabinet where I plugged it in and without touching any knobs was like "MAN THAT SOUNDS GOOD" since putting on the Ti-Flats. Some of the warmer sounding cab simulations in my Pod Go beef it up a bit (SVT 810 sim yum) .. and in a band setting it might not honestly matter as much.

I haven't gone back to the Roto's yet and I could probably leave the Ti flats on it for a long long time and them still be what they are.. but man that bass sounded special with the Rotosounds.

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

One Pbass wears Thomastik SuperAlloys. They last a looong time for me (~300 gigs). They just continue to mellow as they go, and don’t get that “dead and unwieldy” roundwound sound when they go.

The other Pbass wears TI Jazz Flats.
The strings are around 5 years old, but have only been on this bass for 2.

 

[SixtyCycleHum]

Yeah I definitely want something where I cut thru. I’ll probably just go back to rounds. Maybe try a good set of DR’s. I’ve got DR’s on my shorty bass and they sound great.

Flatwounds are great if you want to sound like JJ! But if want to punch through, it's rounds you be wanting. My recommendations are if you want punch and wanna stay there and keep that for a good long while, DR High Beams are nice for that. Sunbeams have this delicious midrange when they break in a little and they stay fresh too.
If you want an even longer life and high end bite, I think that Elixir lights are fantastic. Haven't tried the other gauges yet. YMMV.

 

[sxaxsx]

I have Fender 9050L flats on both my Jazz and P. Maybe not as thumpy as Labella's maybe a good middle ground. I like them.

 

[KevinDBassist]

Rock and my P bass with flats ? Chromes are or for me , heavy attack just below the pickup with a pick . They are very versatile otherwise as well with different playing positions and techniques ( finger style ) .

 

[oren]

I’ve had the same set of TI Jazz Flats on my ‘78 P bass for over ten years and they still sound and feel great! I’ve got Fender 9050 ML on my PJ and I’m liking those too - more aggressive in the mids than the TIs. For rounds on a P bass I still like Boomers - they have a nice balance and last a decently long time.

 

[shoulderpet]

I’ve got a 2014 American Standard P-bass that I bought new. Finally changed out the original rounds with some Fender tapewounds. They’re okay but aside from some RF interference depending on the location I’m playing I don’t love the finger burn I get when sliding around. I’m kinda thinking about either trying a set of flatwounds or going back to a new set of rounds. What’s a good go-to set of flats? I was looking at the Labella 760FL’s. Reviewers said they nail the James Jameson tone (love that) and because they’re light the string tension’s not too far off from rounds. Would these be good for Larry Graham tone too? And rocknroll?

Dont be fooled, the 760FL despite being billed as a light set by Labella are not particularly low tension, unfortunately Labella's next step down in tension is the 760fx set which are quite a bit lower in tension.
Personally I tried the 760fl and found them a bit too stiff for me

 

[wncBass]

La Bella low tension flats are my favorite flats. Motown sound but really easy to play. DR sunbeams are my favorite rounds, great strings and also easy on the fingers.

 

[Clecoguy]

These made me fall in love with my 66 Pbass all over again - Ernie Ball Cobalt Slinky Flatwounds (45-65-80-100).

 

[SteveC]

I've tried a few but came back to TI on my P bass.
I just got a new 5 string P that has GHS flats on it. Not sure I like them as much. I may just go rounds with the 5 so I have a P with flats and P with rounds thing going. If I use the B string it'd be for more 80's and 90's rock stuff anyway which may sound better with rounds. I'm torn as everyone loves the TII's on my 4 so I may end up stringing the 5 with those as well.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

I've tried a few but came back to TI on my P bass.
I just got a new 5 string P that has GHS flats on it. Not sure I like them as much. I may just go rounds with the 5 so I have a P with flats and P with rounds thing going. If I use the B string it'd be for more 80's and 90's rock stuff anyway which may sound better with rounds. I'm torn as everyone loves the TII's on my 4 so I may end up stringing the 5 with those as well.

If you are looking for a good "hybrid" set of strings that are smooth to the touch but have plenty of clarity and bite, try EB Cobalt Flats. The best of both worlds. Also, GHS Pressurewounds may float your boat.

 

[Texaspandj]

This is my first foray into the Bike Chain Oil of Basses.
To the OP, if you've only had the same strings on the same bass and have been happy, just get the same ones.
I get how reading everyone's praises on there choice would make you try others or maybe just want to see why some choose flats.
I recently purchased a bass from a TB member and it already had flats installed. I should mention that I've always used rounds. So here's my impressions.
The tension was more than I was used to and at 58 I really don't want to work my tendons more.
They were relatively slippery and I had no idea that I prefer more gripping of my fingers.
Not much tone which also seems to contribute to a lower volume.

The funny part is that I prefer less string noise and zing and more boom and thump. But since I run volume and tone full on, I like getting that out of my amp not my bass/strings.
All my Basses have different brand strings and I have no real preference as long as they're not Flats.
I can see where one might prefer them though. Easy on your fingers, less string noise, no new string sound, and since they're already flat, no need to change strings when they get flat from fret wear.

 

[petergales]

I use TI Jazz flats on my P bass. Can't see me ever changing to any other string.