Paul Turner Sound, dead roundwounds?

[gimmeagig]

I'm not sure if this is the right place for this question. I my main basses are all 70s position active Marcus Miller type of basses. I love the way they sound. But what irritates me is the fact, that the Bass I get the most compliments on is my 60s position Moon JB5 with a Bartolini NTBT preamp. It is a great bass. It is lively and bright and really cut through and at the same time it sits in the mix well especially with my 10 piece horn band. But when I slap on that bass it is too harsh for my taste which is probably why I don't take it out that much, even though I play finger style more than slapping.
So maybe I need to change the strings. I use D'Addario prosteels on all my basses for the last 20 years at least.I change them a lot. Great for the Marcus tone. Maybe not so good for the 60s style Moon. Here is how my question relates to Paul Turner.
Paul mentioned in an interview that the strings he uses on his Stenback Bass are pretty old and dead. He doesn't slap that much but his finger style sound is great. So now "m wondering should I change to Nickel Rounds for that sound, or some type of half round? I don't want to go to Flats. If I want the Jamerson tone I do the Rocco type muting or I use foam under the strings That's close enough for me. But Paul Turners sound is kind of dull but it is not dead sounding. Kind of like "The Whispers The Beat goes on" or Thelma Houston Don't Leave me this way.. and of course the Jamiroquai stuff with Paul.Alex Al also said that his strings are pretty dead. What kind of strings might be best for me?

 

[trothwell]

Paul and Alex Al have both been known to use DR Hi Beams, so starting there might be a good plan.

But on the other hand, other than calling out those two players' names, for the sound you seem to be describing, I think Rotosound 66 stainless steel roundwounds mellow into a very nice rich sound that approaches some flatwound tonalities.

 

[DWBass]

I can't do Steels. Way way way to bright for my taste. Nickel Rounds all day every day sound great when worn in a little. D'Addario XL's are my go to strings. Turning down the treble and boosting the bass just a tad gives me that R&B thump I need. I play nothing but R&B and Funk in my bands.

 

[gimmeagig]

I play R&B Funk and Latin Jazz/Salsa.The 60s location seems to be better for the Latin stuff than the 70. My favorite guy for that is Rodner Padilla. And for the Funk stuff Marcus has always been my main guy but my band plays more EW&F ,Tower,Chaka Khan and my perfect sounding Sire V7 Vintage doesn't sit in the mix as well as the Moon with the 60s location. I wish that wasn't so. I just don't like the 60s slap sound that much with the Prosteels. I might try nickels or even halfrounds

 

[Just Wrong]

Paul now uses Dunlop Super Bright nickels on his 1966 Fender Jazz and white Stenback. They don't sound all that dead in the video he did for Dunlop. The 1977 Jazz has DR Fat Beams. More info here: Basses – Paul Turner

 

[gimmeagig]

Great links perfect. Thank you. I have only ever used Stainless strings in the last 20 years. I might buy a set of nickels. I had several bad experiences with Dunlops. Defective strings. They are too unreliable for me. I'll probably stay with D'Addarios.

 

[Just Wrong]

The Dunlop ad is probably not a good reference regarding new vs. dead strings, though. He's probably using new strings for marketing purposes.

Also look at DR Sunbeams (round core) or Nickel Lo-Riders (hex core). I prefer them to D'Addarios and Dunlops.

You could also try messaging Paul. I messaged him about his tone on Runaway and he responded, but this was years ago, before Rock Dust Light Star (2010)!

 

[GTHintz]

If you like pro steels you're probably going to enjoy rotosound especially after you play on them and they settle. Another string thats stiffer and not so bright are Warwick black label strings. They were similar in stiffness to pro steels and less bright. I played them right before pro steel so it was fresh in my mind comparing.