• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

New strings for my P-bass

#41
Mo Boogs said:
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?
Click to expand...
A "good go-to set of flats" would be Fender 9050Ls. I have them on a couple of my basses, and I've had them on a couple of others. I call them "Goldilocks" flats; not too dark; not too bright; not too stiff. They're...just right. With flats, unless you get outright bridge cables - like Roto SH77s or the "Jamerson" flats from La Bella - what you need to be concerned with is simple stiffness. And, yes, pretty much all flats are pretty stiff. The Fenders, however, are not real stiff. Not as flexible as TI Jazz Flats, but not as stiff as "normal" gauge La Bellas, either. If you want to try flats, the Fenders are an excellent place to start...:whistle:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mo Boogs, andare, Phaidrus and 1 other person
#42
No rounds on my P Basses. I use Dunlop flats 45-100 on my SX P, and LaBella 760FL on my Squier CV 60's P. For the music my band plays, they do the job perfectly. EB Cobalt flats and D'Addario Chromes are good too. I use them on 2 of my other non Precision basses. But on my Precisions, Dunlop and LaBella work the best for me.
 
#44
J-Mags said:
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.
Click to expand...

Interesting that out of all these flats you recommend a set of rounds for reggae.
 
  • Like
Reactions: J-Mags
#46
GIBrat51 said:
A "good go-to set of flats" would be Fender 9050Ls. I have them on a couple of my basses, and I've had them on a couple of others. I call them "Goldilocks" flats; not too dark; not too bright; not too stiff. They're...just right. With flats, unless you get outright bridge cables - like Roto SH77s or the "Jamerson" flats from La Bella - what you need to be concerned with is simple stiffness. And, yes, pretty much all flats are pretty stiff. The Fenders, however, are not real stiff. Not as flexible as TI Jazz Flats, but not as stiff as "normal" gauge La Bellas, either. If you want to try flats, the Fenders are an excellent place to start...:whistle:
Click to expand...
Agree on the Fender 9050s. Goldilocks is an apt description.
Depending on your particular pickup/amp combination, however, their midrange might be a little too much on a P bass (though EQ is very effective).
They are definitely a better match for a Jazz bass IMO because they fill the midrange scoop.
They are obnoxiously clacky when new. They need a couple of months of daily playing to mellow out but it really pays off.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Phaidrus
#47
Mo Boogs said:
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?
Click to expand...
 
#48
Labelka Deep Talkin' Flats have a Jamerson like set of strings 54 Originals I believe E string is 110.
I prefer 760FM,s for my P,s fat old school thumpy and great warm low mids....the set your mentioning with the 105 E is good as well...but if your looking way down in the Deep stuff try the 760fms
 
#49
andare said:
Agree on the Fender 9050s. Goldilocks is an apt description.
Depending on your particular pickup/amp combination, however, their midrange might be a little too much on a P bass (though EQ is very effective).
They are definitely a better match for a Jazz bass IMO because they fill the midrange scoop.
They are obnoxiously clacky when new. They need a couple of months of daily playing to mellow out but it really pays off.
Click to expand...

It's so odd, man. I don't see myself jumping to flats long term. But I'm really starting to enjoy the things that flats do. That click clack works great in a heavy track, eg, Steve Harris. I'd love to "break" someone's flats in for them so I can get that clack for a bit haha.
 
#50
Moving Pictures said:
I use Hi Beams, Pure Blues or Lo Riders on my Precision. @michael_t suggestion of PressureWound is a really good one if you don’t like finger noise.

Flats that worked really well on a Precision for me are TIJFs, LaBella DTF 760FL, LaBella LTF, and Sadowsky Blue Label Flats. However @tindrum is also correct about flats when playing rock. You should give that some consideration when deciding on strings.
Click to expand...

I just bought some LaBella LTFs for my MIM 1999 P-Bass ... my first flats. LaBella told me the long scale was the right size. Got them today, threaded the E and ran it up the fretboard, and the metal end touches the halfway point of the tuning machine peg. Not yet wrapped. Confused me because LB is adamant that "only the silk portion of the string should wrap around the tuning post or else the string will break." I pinged LB and they say it's ok "as long as a big portion of the string does not wrap around the tuner." What's your experience? Should I keep and string them or send back?
 
#51
Virwill7 said:
I just bought some LaBella LTFs for my MIM 1999 P-Bass ... my first flats. LaBella told me the long scale was the right size. Got them today, threaded the E and ran it up the fretboard, and the metal end touches the halfway point of the tuning machine peg. Not yet wrapped. Confused me because LB is adamant that "only the silk portion of the string should wrap around the tuning post or else the string will break." I pinged LB and they say it's ok "as long as a big portion of the string does not wrap around the tuner." What's your experience? Should I keep and string them or send back?
Click to expand...
I think you should be fine.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Virwill7

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back