One Jazz, One P. Which one gets the roundwounds; which gets the flats?

[chuck norriss]

I'm thinking keep the flats on the jazz & put/keep rounds on the (forthcoming) P.
What are your opinions for/against? Thanks.

 

[kaiuk]

Flats on the P or go home

 

[JTE]

That's kind of different from what most people seem to do, but it's intriguing. You already like the Jazz with flats, and a P with rounds is a great rock 'n' roll bass sound (cue up anything from "Live At Leeds"). Me, I'd go with flats on the Precision and rounds on the Jazz. That's partly because I've had the same set of flats on my Precision for at least five years. And partly because I do like how a Jazz with rounds works for some slapping and other things.

Of course the ideal world is two Jazzes and two Precisions, so you can have rounds and flats on both... and then of course two fretless basses, etc. etc. etc.

Now, what does G.A.S. mean again?

John

 

[tdub0199]

I would go with flats on the P....

 

[ronned2tm]

I do not currently own a precision, though I plan to soon be a proud owner of a '62 RI. I currently have my beloved MIA Jazz 70's FSR strung with flats. I had Chromes on it, now using Fender 9050 they seem to be the same strings (or very very similar) aftershave Fender outsourcet their string-production. While I do love the jazz with flats, I find it more to be because flats fits the music use the jazz for the best. I recently changed strings on the jazz, and discovered that I totally had forgotten what a mean and growly beast that Jazz actually is, so I have come to realize that I feel it's a bit of waste to have it strung with flats because, while I love the sound of flats, I feel I can have a very nice flats sound with a Precision and have the Jazz strung with rounds (DR LoRiders or something like that). Precisions in general (not all of them of course) have in my opinion a more metallic and sterile sound with rounds than most jazzes do, and I think that if you're aftershave that buttersweet fat thumpy flats sound, a P would be the way to go. I am very traditional in that aspect. I would of course prefer to have at least two of each strung with flats and rounds. GAS?

 

[johnk_10]

IMO, flats on both.

 

[schecter5string]

yup flats on the P bass, Stevie Harris from Iron Maiden used this set up if you want to go to you tube and listen.

 

[nocontrols]

I think it's weird that people cite Steve Harris as an example of what flats on a P sounds like. True, he did play flats on a P but he got a really cutting, super defined rock tone that is really unique and not the best example of the way that setup sounds for most people.

If you want to hear the absolute definition of flats on a P, listen to Jamerson. It's warm, vintage thump. It's undeniably cool but if you're in a hard rock setting and attempting to cut through the mix as the guitarists layer a giant wall of distorted guitar on you, you'll probably want something more zingy and modern, in which case you should go with rounds.

 

[nocontrols]

To answer the original question: It would seem that a P's natural tone characteristics would be better for flats and a J's would be better for rounds but you should experiment and go with whatever suits you.

 

[chuck norriss]

Crap I think I need two Precisions.
I'll try both strings on each bass.

 

[bassbombs84]

flats on the jazz (glory) and rounds on the P (best rock tone ever)

 

[ExaltBass]

IMO, flats on both.

 

[portlandguy]

Jazz

 

[chuck norriss]

flats on the jazz (glory) and rounds on the P (best rock tone ever)

I agree. Wait, I love the Motown sound too.

So isolating the neck pup on the Jazz (w/ flats) comes pretty close to a P with flats does it not?

 

[johnk_10]

I agree. Wait, I love the Motown sound too.

So isolating the neck pup on the Jazz (w/ flats) comes pretty close to a P with flats does it not?

IME, a j with flats and the neck pickup solo'd sounds closer to mid 50's single coil p bass than a split pickup p.

 

[bassbombs84]

If you want big and thumpy, a jazz with flats with the neck pup full up will definitely do the trick (see Family Man). For true Motown you will need a P though.

 

[nocontrols]

A Jazz can do A LOT of things... pretty much every genre is attainable with a Jazz. But if a soloed J neck pickup was EXACTLY the same as a P, it would eliminate the need for anyone to buy a P ever again. I love the way a split-coil P pickup sounds and I wouldn't try to replace that.

 

[chuck norriss]

A Jazz can do A LOT of things... pretty much every genre is attainable with a Jazz. But if a soloed J neck pickup was EXACTLY the same as a P, it would eliminate the need for anyone to buy a P ever again. I love the way a split-coil P pickup sounds and I wouldn't try to replace that.

Yes I love the split P sounds too unfortunately I can't have more than one Precision. I'm looking at 51 reissue or Sting model (less likely due to $ restrictions), and the most likely is a standard, or a Squier 50s CV (single coil) which I've owned before and loved but gave away now I'm replacing it because I'm an idiot.

 

[nocontrols]

Here's the standard TB answer when asked this question:

How dare you even consider playing rounds on anything?

Why next you'll tell me you bought an aftermarket pickguard that WASN'T tort!!

 

[chuck norriss]

Here's the standard TB answer when asked this question:

How dare you even consider playing rounds on anything?

Why next you'll tell me you bought an aftermarket pickguard that WASN'T tort!!

I bought an aftermarket pg--quilted maple veneer.