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Quarter Pounders + Half Wounds?

Discussion in 'Pickups & Electronics [BG]' started by BigLoopDuke, Jan 14, 2009.

  1. Jan 14, 2009 #1
    BigLoopDuke

    BigLoopDuke

    Jan 2, 2007
    DSM, IA
    So, I've got a set of Quarter Pounders for my 50th Anniversary P-bass. I know that they put out a lot of output, but I'm wondering about tonal qualities when mixed with either flatwound or half wound strings.

    I played Chromes on an old MIM p-bass and was just lost in the mix a couple years ago. At the time, I thought that was the nature of the p-bass, so I ended up switching to a jazz bass and keeping the Chromes.

    But now, I'm looking for that fat, classic bass sound. I dig Motown and reggae and I'm looking for deep, fat and rumbling bass tone.

    Right now, my 50th anni p-bass has a set of Ernie Ball slinky's on it. I dig it after they lose the brightness, which makes me think I should move back to half or flat wounds.
     
  2. Jan 14, 2009 #2
    khedspeth

    khedspeth

    Feb 9, 2008
    North Carolina
    I have chromes on my P bass along with quarter pounders. tone and volume cranked into a sansamp bddi with the treble/bass turned back just a little which gives a mid boost.
     
  3. Jan 14, 2009 #3
    Stereo Joe

    Stereo Joe

    Jun 29, 2007
    Ontario, Canada
    Personally, I never found that the Quarter Pound actually gives that 'classic' P-bass tone. I put one in a 80s Japanese Precision I had once and I ended up switching back to the stock pickup.
    The Quarter Pound is higher output and does sound 'deeper' to me, but in a mix, it didn't give the typical P sound IMO.
    However, If you like the QP sound overall, then experimenting with strings makes sense.
    Have you used D'addario half-rounds before? A lot of people (myself included) find that they feel 'sticky' at first and are not very pleasant on the fingers until they wear in.
    If you had the money, you might want to try a coated string like Elixir because they tend to be slightly less bright straight out of the package.
     
  4. Jan 14, 2009 #4
    Ukiah Bass

    Ukiah Bass Supporting Member

    May 10, 2006
    Do it. I use Status groundwounds on my Fender Aerodyne Jazz with SD quarter pounders. It's a P+J configuration. Genz Benz Shuttle 6 with a pair of GB NeoX112s. I have the P pup on ful,lthe J set to about 50%, and the bass knob almost full on. Tweeter on cabs almost set off. It's the tone you like; sounds fantastic. Dial in a bit of tube and you get more grit. The smooth groundwounds play like a dream. FWIW, I do not slap.
     
  5. Jan 14, 2009 #5
    BigLoopDuke

    BigLoopDuke

    Jan 2, 2007
    DSM, IA
    I've been working on my slap technique for a long time, but I tend to really beat the strings. I've never really learned the control to get that thud sound. Instead, my technique is mostly fingerstyle and I tend to double up my Jamerson "hook" with my index and middle fingers just off the neck. I've been doing this for some time, so I'm getting a lot faster.

    My main fear is that I'll lose the clarity altogether. I typically roll the tone knob off and when I a/b'd my 50th with my old HWY1 p-bass (that had Fralins), the HWY1 sounded like it was deeper or at least had more output.

    I play through an Eden WT-400 head and a DXLT 212 cab.
     
  6. Jan 14, 2009 #6
    JTE

    JTE Gold Supporting Member

    Mar 12, 2008
    Central Illinois, USA
    That exact combination (Duncan 1/4 pounder P PUPs and GHS Brite-Flats) was Abe Laboriel's set up for a long time on his modded cheapo bass. It sounded fine on all those movie and TV soundtracks he recorded wtih that set up (although he said the CHIPs TV show stuff was a Music Man Sabre or StingRay).

    jte
     
  7. Jan 14, 2009 #7
    62bass

    62bass Guest

    Apr 3, 2005
    I've been playing my P bass with Quarter Pounder for over 10 years now with flat wounds. I don't get lost in the mix. It records very nicely too. It sounds like a P bass. I wouldn't change anything on my bass. I play fingerstyle. Don't care for slapping.
     
  8. Jan 14, 2009 #8
    SanDiegoHarry

    SanDiegoHarry Inactive Supporting Member

    Aug 11, 2008
    San Diego, CA
    I used a '78 P bass with SD Quarter pounders for years - sounded fine and cut right through the mix. No, it wasn't 100% classic P bass sound, but it worked just fine for me.
     
  9. Jan 14, 2009 #9
    BigLoopDuke

    BigLoopDuke

    Jan 2, 2007
    DSM, IA
    Awesome. Thanks for the quick feedback. I'm moving ahead and will probably drop a set of Chromes on it.

    Whoo Hoo!