Round wounds vs. flats on a "J"

[logdrum]

Flats are great on a J. If you multiple J's - have one with flats. Also get a vinatage stryle pickup like a Lollar or I was told some Fralins to go with it. I personally like them better on Js than on Ps. As always I favor the bridge pickup and they sound awesome with flats that way. Of course I prefer Js and rounds more, and that is why I have 2 J basses

 

[djmay]

These are the four with TI Jazz Flats.

 

[tothemax]

I had flats on my J the last few years and it did not get used much. I like them but I felt it got lost in the mix too much. I just went back to rounds, it sounds killer, and we will see how I use it.

What is funny, is that when I used my "J" with the band the consensus was that it didn't punch through the way my "P" did. Could have been my playing style as well trying to mute out the string noise and it being "newer" to me. From what I know this "J" is completely stock, I really haven't verified anything... just tend to live by the "if it's not broken don't fix it" mantra

LD,
I have set of Fralin's on my "P", it was a MF FSR (MIM) 50's reissue... the guitar was great, electronics meh... Love the Fralin's...

 

[buldog5151bass]

All depends on the tone you want, simple as that.

 

[Gervais Cote]

These are the four with TI Jazz Flats.

My goodness, these are serious instruments !

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I have a "P" with flats with a foam damper (under the bridge) and love the tone I get from this guitar. It's pretty much my number 1 and "go to" for band work. I also have a nice "J" with round wounds on it, that's what came on it when I purchased a few years ago. I broke it out yesterday to practice with and while I love the feel and playability really didn't like the tones I was getting. I had an old under bridge size piece of medium firm foam and that improved it significantly, but there was a bit of "thud" sound from the higher strings. My thoughts are to trim the foam down until there is a consistent tone across the strings (and keep the round wounds on the "J").

I do have another SS "Frankenbass" with flats, so it seems a good practice to keep one bass with round wounds. My preference is more of a Motown thumpy tone, so replacing the strings on the "J" for a brighter sound does not make much sense, not to mention being spoiled by the quiet fretting with flats. The "J" was trade in from a decent store and had been setup before it went on display, so the strings are probably good quality.

Any thoughts...

Do you use the same amp EQ for both the PB & JB? You will probably still need to use the foam for that dead as a doornail thuck.

 

[Yahboy]

I have a "P" with flats with a foam damper (under the bridge) and love the tone I get from this guitar. It's pretty much my number 1 and "go to" for band work. I also have a nice "J" with round wounds on it, that's what came on it when I purchased a few years ago. I broke it out yesterday to practice with and while I love the feel and playability really didn't like the tones I was getting. I had an old under bridge size piece of medium firm foam and that improved it significantly, but there was a bit of "thud" sound from the higher strings. My thoughts are to trim the foam down until there is a consistent tone across the strings (and keep the round wounds on the "J").

I do have another SS "Frankenbass" with flats, so it seems a good practice to keep one bass with round wounds. My preference is more of a Motown thumpy tone, so replacing the strings on the "J" for a brighter sound does not make much sense, not to mention being spoiled by the quiet fretting with flats. The "J" was trade in from a decent store and had been setup before it went on display, so the strings are probably good quality.

Any thoughts...

EB cobalt flat 2814 on my Bacchus J. This is the bright, growl and juicy sound flatwound on any dual pickup bass I own.

The best part on this flatwound are the E string keep the health sound and clarity lasting without thuddysnd dull sound like Chrome and 9050.

Another suggestion are dry sounding EB group flat if you feel cobalt flat sound too bright and airly to your taste.

 

[hipknowsis]

After I tried flatwounds I've used only flatwounds or tapewounds. No round for me, Flat matches how I like my tone. And they're just subjectively... better.

 

[tothemax]

The EQ gets a tweek after changing guitars, usually not a lot. I play predominantly finger style, with a pick on rare occasions, no slap (would love to, but not something that works for me).

Appreciate the helpful feedback...

 

[Forrest27]

... there seems to be a "flats" revolution going on these days

Personally loved the sound of flats forever. From what memory serves me I think I had the same set on an EB3 for at least ten years probably longer.

The major advantage I found for "traditional finger style" playing is the fingertip blister reduction factor = - when you find yourself playing extra passionately at a sweaty gig or jam.

Roundwounds end up feeling like you are playing sandpaper !

 

[JMacBass65]

Yes

 

[micguy]

What is funny, is that when I used my "J" with the band the consensus was that it didn't punch through the way my "P" did.

Not funny (or unexpected) at all. J's have a scoop in the low mids that P's don't have - combining spaced pickups does that. So, if there's a hole in the band's spectrum in the low mids, the P has a place to "cut through" spectrally.

 

[poochiecheeks]

These are the four with TI Jazz Flats.

What do you think of the C string in that set compared to the rest of the set? Is it fairly balanced tension and sound wise overall?

I am using a mixed up low tension set of chromes with a .028 guitar string for the c, that seems to balance the best with those

 

[djmay]

Yes, the C is balanced.

 

[tothemax]

Well,

Made the jump last Monday and it's fine, a little more tension than my P but these are also heavier gauge strings. For some reason just lost the love for wound strings on bass, really like the smooth action and thump of flats. I did have to tighten the truss rod a little, lower the bridge for the G string, and reset the intonation (significantly for the E string). Took it to practice on Wed. and it played great. The difference between the P and the J cutting through the mix was noticeable and I ended up tilting my amp so I could hear it better. There are always trade offs, the comfort and fast neck on the J made up for having to play around with the tone (can't beat the single tone and volume on a P).

Anyway, thanks for all the good feedback... successful upgrade

 

[AndyZurek]

I have put LaBella Deep talking 760 FS thru-body on my Fender 5 string J few days ago for serious studio recording session. I love how they sound in the mix as well as the feel. However, I’d say their tension is significantly bigger than the regular Fender 8250 roundwounds so neck setup is needed.

 

[Paul New]

I play TI flats on my Jazz. I think they emphasize a lowish mid frequency that jazz basses need more of. Not sure what freq that is. I like them better on my jazz than on my p basses, but use them on one p bass too.

 

[4StringDave]

Well,

Made the jump last Monday and it's fine, a little more tension than my P but these are also heavier gauge strings. For some reason just lost the love for wound strings on bass, really like the smooth action and thump of flats. I did have to tighten the truss rod a little, lower the bridge for the G string, and reset the intonation (significantly for the E string). Took it to practice on Wed. and it played great. The difference between the P and the J cutting through the mix was noticeable and I ended up tilting my amp so I could hear it better. There are always trade offs, the comfort and fast neck on the J made up for having to play around with the tone (can't beat the single tone and volume on a P).

Anyway, thanks for all the good feedback... successful upgrade

Try playing the jazz with only the neck pickup on, and roll the tone off about a quarter turn, if you haven't already tried it.

 

[Membo]

i've got thomastiks on my jazz.

best strings ever.

such a great tone.

I broke down and bought a set and put them on my Jazz after years of using rw and occasionally using flats for short periods. The tone and playability make the price worth it. I like them better than the LaBellas on my GL.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I’ve been thinking of flats going on my Jazz for a while after one of my P basses has them, as well because of Joe Osborn and Miss Laura Lee…