Recommened flats on a jazz bass

[One Drop]

My main J has Sadowskys on her, and they nail the Motown sound (albeit with a bit less thump than Labellas), and can also sound a bit more modern and can cop more growl.

Splendid expressive flats, and I would swear they keep sounding better without sacrificing clarity. They also sound as good on every other bass I've put them on.

 

[DavePlaysBass]

Adam,

Do the Sadowskies do the P thing as well as the J IYO? Do you prefer Labellas on a P?

 

[basspro]

Dosen't LaBella make the Sadowsky strings?

 

[tmax]

the Thomastik Flats are great. They sound huge, are soft and easy on the hands, and nail the motown thing. They are not that similar to the TI rounds. I found the rounds to be TOO low tension for me. IMHO.

 

[TheMutt]

I've tried Chromes, Dr. High Beam Flats, and currently have Rotosound Jazz Bass 77's strung on it. Each has their own tonal characteristics. To me, Chromes are the brightest sounding, the High Beams are mellow and smooth, and the 77's have a lot of bite and growl. This is with the bridge pup soloed or blended with the neck pup. They all sound very similar through the neck pup in my bass (extremely hot output humbucking single coil).

 

[nortonrider]

another guy here who likes Chromes.

 

[ajn]

Yet another vote for Chromes. I have 45-100s on my Jazz bass. I love 'em, and everybody I play with (3 bands) love the way they sound, too.

 

[Captain Bob]

TI JF344's go on my Fender C/S '64 Jazz, and my USA Laklands. Otherwise, Pyramid Gold Flats.
Be sure to wipe both brands of these flatwounds down with paper towel and naptha (lighter fluid) to clean them prior to placing them on your bass.

 

[One Drop]

Adam,

Do the Sadowskies do the P thing as well as the J IYO? Do you prefer Labellas on a P?

They do both just great- same as Labellas sound great on both. I'm using Labellas on two of my Ps at the moment, FL 760s and Jamersons, but it's more due to me having the strings at hand already than a choice. I also find a P with LaBellas sounds defined enough in a mix live, while a J can get lost a bit without the extra growl and definition of the Sadowskys, so I'll probably not swap.

Labella does make them for Sadowsky, to his design specs. They are very much in keeping with what I see as his philosophy, modern takes on classic sounds, designed for today's musical situations.

 

[basspro]

the Thomastik Flats are great. They sound huge, are soft and easy on the hands, and nail the motown thing. They are not that similar to the TI rounds. I found the rounds to be TOO low tension for me. IMHO.

I did notice the TI Jazz rounds were pretty low tension compared to what im use to.

 

[lonote]

I use either Chromes or Fender 9050ML's on my Jazz Basses.

 

[XXL]

I dont always put flats on my J, but when I do, I prefer Chromes.

 

[REAPER52]

T I flats get my vote.absoultly love them...................

 

[debassr]

I dont always put flats on my J, but when I do, I prefer Chromes.

You sponsored by Dos Equis or something?

 

[JohnnyB53]

...Are the TI flats similar? I don't think they come in .45-105 though.

Don't let that stop you. The guys at TI know what they're doing. As it is, the 34" TI Flats may have more bottom E than you need, depending on the pickups and your setup. You can always lower the bass end of the pickup (I did). A full 105 would have been too much.

 

[bass_living]

The factory strings that came with my Standard Fretless, Fender 9050m, seem fine to me. I wouldn't mind trying some of those you all have mentioned, but these are slightly more affordable than most & seem to do the trick.

 

[JohnnyB53]

I have been using Chromes for a couple years...and I have a love for it on some basses and not so much on others. Right now I just got a '75 Reissue and they sound amazing. It seems like at first my hands get stuck on them...like I have to wear them in and grease them up. Like they slow me down. It's odd...wonder if anyone else has that issue.

I was getting that same thing with TI Flats. I thought it was due to the softness of the pure nickel wrap, but given your similar experience I guess it's something else. Anyway, the easy solution is to give the strings a good wipedown after about every hour of play. Works for me.

 

[WoodyG3]

... Anyway, the easy solution is to give the strings a good wipedown after about every hour of play. Works for me.

NOOOOO! You don't want clean strings! The funk comes from the dirt!

 

[debassr]

Anyway, the easy solution is to give the strings a good wipedown after about every hour of play. Works for me.

Whenever I change strings I wipe down the bare fretboard with some lemon oil. I let it sit a little while and then wipe it off with a clean cloth. Then I put the strings on and use the now somewhat clean cloth that I used on the fretboard to put a really light coat on the strings. Then I wipe that off with the cleanest side of the cloth.

Long story short, makes my chromes just slick enough to feel broken in.

 

[XXL]

You sponsored by Dos Equis or something?

HAH! Not yet.