P v. P, flats v. rounds

[buldog5151bass]

I have a Lull P4 (Fralin pickup) and a '51 P build (Rio Grande Muy Grande pickup). I play the Lull more, but both are good instruments. I would like to have one "classic P with flats - blues/Motown" and one "brighter rock P" instrument. I want to string one with Precision Flats and one with Nickel Lo Riders, since I am in a blues band and a rock band. I'm thinking the better move is to put flats on the Lull. Thoughts?

 

[Luckydog]

I prefer flats on Ps mostly. But def not GHS. I much prefer Labella 760FL, Sadowsky old style black label flats, or TI flats. All of these can reach your goals with most music. In my hands, a P with rounds gets more lost in a loud rock mix.

 

[alack]

Your plan can work. The nice thing is you can always swap the strings on each bass to be sure.

I personally prefer flats, so five of my basses sport Chromes. I have a Jazz bass that just does not get on with flats. She wears rounds.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I prefer flats on Ps mostly. But def not GHS. I much prefer Labella 760FL, Sadowsky old style black label flats, or TI flats. All of these can reach your goals with most music. In my hands, a P with rounds gets more lost in a loud rock mix.

I've been using the Lull with either he Lo Riders or Roto Swing Nickels for over a decade. But after 30 years playing rounds, I want to give flats a try.

 

[MynameisMe]

I have flats on three basses. The two P basses, one has Ernie Ball cobalt flats and the other has la Bella low tension flats. The Cobalt flats are a little zingy higher end than most flats but I think I will leave them there.
The low tension la Bella flats are old school thump but did not work out on my American Standard PBass so I moved them to the made in Mexico and they sound better.
I prefer flats on P basses, but that's just me why not give it a try?
Edit: The other bass with flats is a jack cassady.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

How about trying both options?

 

[buldog5151bass]

How about trying both options?

I intend to. Just wanted some feedback (I'd rather spend my time playing than fiddling around the workbench.

FWIW, I have two other basses:
- a fretless jazz, strung with half wounds that I use to play jazz
- a fretted jazz that I've had for 35 years, strung with Rotosound swings.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

I intend to. Just wanted some feedback (I'd rather spend my time playing than fiddling around the workbench.

FWIW, I have two other basses:
- a fretless jazz, strung with half wounds that I use to play jazz
- a fretted jazz that I've had for 35 years, strung with Rotosound swings.

My old school funk grease machine is an old 70's Yamaha pulsar Pbass copy. It sounds freakin amazing and has the regular fralin Pbass pickup.

 

[buldog5151bass]

My old school funk grease machine is an old 70's Yamaha pulsar Pbass copy. It sounds freakin amazing and has the regular fralin Pbass pickup.
View attachment 3642932

What strings?

 

[bwildt]

I agree with flats on the Lull and rounds on the '51. SCPB's can have a wide frequency response. Take advantage of it with rounds. There's your rock bass right there.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

What strings?

About 10-12 years Chromes killed dead with eucerine cream treatment. Sounds awesome in a mix.

I murdered a couple high end models in the studio with it. So, I got tangible proof it's a good one.

 

[Pbassmanca]

I have a Lull P4 (Fralin pickup) and a '51 P build (Rio Grande Muy Grande pickup). I play the Lull more, but both are good instruments. I would like to have one "classic P with flats - blues/Motown" and one "brighter rock P" instrument. I want to string one with Precision Flats and one with Nickel Lo Riders, since I am in a blues band and a rock band. I'm thinking the better move is to put flats on the Lull. Thoughts?

I've played dozens of live shows with a P bass strung with both the Labella 760FL and GHS Precision flats and the winner goes to the Precision flats IMHO. They have a softer top end but the mid range spectrum seems to allow them to be more clearly heard on stage. I generally just boost mids to between 1:00 and 2:30 on my Mesa M9 Carbine and those strings just nail that thick , hollow , thump that can be heard all over the stage. Most useful and old school sounding flats that I've tried.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I've never really liked flats and have tried TI's, Chromes, Coblat flats and a ton of others that I've long since forgotten. On a whim I tried these on my 30" Alien Audio and really, really like the results. Lower tension without being floppy, no string noise, lots of fundamental and a little bit of bite.

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Dunlop/Flatwound-Bass-Strings-1500000006877.gc

 

[GM60466]

D'Addario chromes on all of them.

 

[singlemalt]

I’d buy TI jazz flats and try them on both basses. If you have two “four in line” headstocks and similar scale and string lengths, you should be able to swap the strings back and forth.

Keep in mind TIs take many, many hours to break in. They just keep getting better and better, but the initial install sound is very bright. Over the months, they will sound very different, and you’ll discover the huge range of dynamics they deliver. From super smooth warm, to nasty sneeze, and woody upright like sounds.

I also use DR Pure Blues .040’s for rounds. These and the TI flat swap back and forth with very little fiddling around with setup. They feel is pretty close as well.

I’ve had sets of TI flats go from bass to bass over years of playing. The price tag looks expensive, but the bang for the buck over years of play is awesome.

Sometimes you can find used sets in the classifieds.

 

[Double E]

My old school funk grease machine is an old 70's Yamaha pulsar Pbass copy. It sounds freakin amazing and has the regular fralin Pbass pickup.
View attachment 3642932

Love them old Yammies and that's a bueaty.

On topic, I have my traditional P bass strung with TI jazz flats and my PJ strung with DR Pure Blues rounds. I do occasionally wish I had them swapped but for the most part, I am happy to grab the bass with the appropriate strings for the gig.

 

[WillyW]

I have settled in to flats on fretted basses, and roundwounds on fretless.

I dislike the feel of rounds on fretted, and dislike the sound of flats on fretless.

pyramid golds are my favorite flats, but they are expensive, Ernie Ball cobalts are 75% as good but at half the price.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Just popped the Precision Flats on the Lull. I think I'm gonna like, especially after they settle in. Assuming I keep these, I'll put the Lo Riders on the '51.

 

[Gizmot]

For what I like to hear and feel, in my opinion, nothing beats T-I Jazz Flats if you want flats. I used Chromes and a few other brands and I thought they were all usable and okay. When I first tried Jazz Flats many years ago, they blew my mind because I've never heard a flat that didn't sound dead.

 

[buldog5151bass]

For what I like to hear and feel, in my opinion, nothing beats T-I Jazz Flats if you want flats. I used Chromes and a few other brands and I thought they were all usable and okay. When I first tried Jazz Flats many years ago, they blew my mind because I've never heard a flat that didn't sound dead.

The issue is tension/stiffness. I don't like floppy strings. For ear, I loved the sound of Sunbeams, but they were too floppy.