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

[MarkusBass]

Rounds on both and then get a '51 for flats!

 

[J. Crawford]

IMO, flats on both.

Amen.

 

[chuck norriss]

or several :

Whoa.

 

[chuck norriss]

The correct answer is: one of each!

People have this thing about a P with flats, but a Jazz with a set of chromes is amazing to!
This is why i had to do this: Darkstared have rounds, standards have flats!

You win! Unfortunately, I'm not you.

 

[jb63]

Here are my Jazz and Precision. Guess which one strung is with flats?

 

[Jeff K]

IMO, flats on both.

^ Definitely this...

 

[Highfox]

I had a set of flats on both my P and J basses and was happy with the sound I was getting with the band. I liked the P for the extra thump.. and then when I take the jazz I find the thiner neck can open up my playing and sometimes find I do a bit more when in the right mood.

Anyway I had a new set of Hi-Beams sitting around doing nothing and strapped them on the Jazz last week and took it to rehearsal yesterday and it felt and sounded like all the thud and thump I had been used to had gone from my sound I was constantly trying to eq what I felt was missing back into my sound, with no luck... The La Bella flats will go straight back on and the Hi-Beams will be put aside till the love for roundwounds comes back to me.
So flats on everything for now

Edit for spelling lol.

 

[chuck norriss]

Old thread: @Highfox I prefer LaBella's as well but truth be told my decision is usually based on what I can afford at that time, or what's on sale.
I find myself missing the rounds on the jazz & I'm eager to hear the (Rotosound) flats on the Precision (Sting) so I'll experiment that route without having to buy a new set of flats. Seems appropriate; besides I'll have two less-similar instruments. Thanks all.

 

[chuck norriss]

Rounds on both and then get a '51 for flats!

Not exactly a 51, but a Sting model.

 

[Lichtaffen]

Has anyone else ever noticed this:

Precisions sound fine when practicing solo, but in a band context they fit into the mix perfectly (blues band and Americana/Roots band).

Jazzes sound awesome when practicing solo, but in a band context they sound okay. Not as meaty as a Precision.

I have Labella flats on my P and DR Fat Beams on the Jazz. I've got a few sets of Chromes lying around, should I try those on the Jazz to see if that makes a difference? Or am I destined to just be a P guy?

 

[punkinfantry]

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.

he also used brand new strings for every show and uh...well...he's steve harris

 

[Reaper Man]

While I do love the jazz with flats, ....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).

this is pretty much the conclusion I've come to just recently (though I'll be getting another "p-type" to string with rounds)

 

[Internet Police]

He also changes his strings before every show. Which means his flats never settle into that thumpy type of tone that flats are known for. IOW, if you leave your flats on for 1-2 weeks, that Steve Harris tone will be impossible to attain. You would be better served to get THAT tone from nickel rounds...you will get some of the warmth of the flats, but keep the "clank" for much longer than you would be able to with flats.

I found this out the hard and expensive way. The tonality of the strings are uneven as well

 

[Paraietta]

Rounds on the Jazz, flats on the Precision, then sell the Precision with flats on and buy another Jazz and put rounds on that too.

Yup.

 

[Waldo19]

Flats on the Jazz. Rounds or Flats on the P.

 

[klejst]

I have roundwounds on my Precision, love 'em!

 

[chuck norriss]

Has anyone else ever noticed this:

Precisions sound fine when practicing solo, but in a band context they fit into the mix perfectly (blues band and Americana/Roots band).

Jazzes sound awesome when practicing solo, but in a band context they sound okay. Not as meaty as a Precision.

I have Labella flats on my P and DR Fat Beams on the Jazz. I've got a few sets of Chromes lying around, should I try those on the Jazz to see if that makes a difference? Or am I destined to just be a P guy?

I agree re: P's & J's in solitude vs. with a band, especially with a loud drummer or a loud band, the jazz gets lost.

I attached a low quality picture of the Sting with flats. It's not going to win any beauty contests but the feel & sound of this bass with flats is a destiny fulfilled. The jazz has rounds on it again.

 

[JonahTheAmazing]

I'm not a flats guy. Roundwounds on the jazz. Flats on the P.

 

[Bassmunnky]

Since it wouldn't be a permanent change to the Bass...Try each one.

But try it in a Band Context.

I love Flats and Rounds..but Live...FLATS have a width and depth I need when I go up the neck..yeah....above the 5th fret.

Try it..this is a good problem to have to figure out

 

[chuck norriss]

@Bassmunnky I have & that's wise to apply context. With the wider C neck, it was easier on my left hand to go with flatwounds on the P. It sounds like an oldies rock & roll 50's bass. I love it. And rounds on the J is appropriate for me. It's nice to have the diversity.