I just bought a MIM P.Bass and am very happy with it, the thing is amazing, the first bass i've had that you can really feel. I've been playing only a year, and have been through a few basses in that time, but this is the best yet, easy to play, and i just love the thump! It is a bit of a one trick pony and i would like a bit more tonal range, but long term i'm thinking more SD quarter pounders. In the meantime though i was wondering about string options. I've only ever used roundwounds, as i'm fairly new to this game, and as i've only had to change a couple sets in the short time i've been playing I have no opinion on what I like or dislike. It's usually a case of whatever the local shop supplies me with.
I'd like to be a bit more educated on my choice of string, to know what type does what, what sound i will acheive with nickels, SS, Flatwounds, Groundwounds, etc etc.
Having had a bit of a search through the forum i have seen people rave about flatwounds on a P.Bass. One poster wrote "Flatwounds on a P.Bass are like a pair of high heels on a fine set of legs" ! In particular some people mention Chrome flatwounds, others say groundwounds.
Now, I know what flatwounds are, but i've never played them, and have always assumed they are for mellow basslines, reggae etc, where you just want to lay a warm bed of bass, spreading the low end rather than punching it. But the way some of the guys were talking made me think they could easily be used for any kind of music, and that they really just complement a P Bass endlessly. Also i don't understand the tension issue, are they looser or tighter? would tighter mean i could set the action slightly lower? I like a low action, and my bass is set up with the lowest action i could have without fret buzz.
Well times being what they are I really don't want to fork out £30 on a set of Flatwounds to find they'll be useless to me. the strings on my bass are nearly ready to be changed, and i want to explore my options before I fork out, or just go to the local music store wallet in hand and come away with another set of SS Elite's.
I play in a Folk/Rock band, although it is more Rock than Folk. I need a certain amount of clarity to my bass playing, not too much, but i need to be able to hear the notes clearly, rather than just filling my ears with wool (as was the effect from the rickenbacker 4003 i used to borrow).
I don't like twangy and thin, i never play slap so i don't need that funky feel at all.
What I really like about the P Bass is that thump. That real punchy low end that makes you feel like someone is hitting you in the chest with an invisible pillow. Along with that i like the clarity, i always play with the tone knob open all the way, and usually have the high's on my amp's EQ fairly high up, although not far enough up to make the bass sound 'trebely' and thin, if that makes any sense, i just like it clear.
Right now the P Bass is still using the strings it came with, stock fender strings, and these are not terrible, they're ok, but seeing as these are the only strings i've used with this guitar I don't really have any opinion about them, they're all i've known! I do quite often fiddle around with the EQ though, so that tells me I might have better results if I experimented.
If any of you guys out there can recommend a few types of string (as well as brands) that might compliment the sound i'm after, as well as complimenting the P Bass, i'd be very grateful.
I'd like to be a bit more educated on my choice of string, to know what type does what, what sound i will acheive with nickels, SS, Flatwounds, Groundwounds, etc etc.
Having had a bit of a search through the forum i have seen people rave about flatwounds on a P.Bass. One poster wrote "Flatwounds on a P.Bass are like a pair of high heels on a fine set of legs" ! In particular some people mention Chrome flatwounds, others say groundwounds.
Now, I know what flatwounds are, but i've never played them, and have always assumed they are for mellow basslines, reggae etc, where you just want to lay a warm bed of bass, spreading the low end rather than punching it. But the way some of the guys were talking made me think they could easily be used for any kind of music, and that they really just complement a P Bass endlessly. Also i don't understand the tension issue, are they looser or tighter? would tighter mean i could set the action slightly lower? I like a low action, and my bass is set up with the lowest action i could have without fret buzz.
Well times being what they are I really don't want to fork out £30 on a set of Flatwounds to find they'll be useless to me. the strings on my bass are nearly ready to be changed, and i want to explore my options before I fork out, or just go to the local music store wallet in hand and come away with another set of SS Elite's.
I play in a Folk/Rock band, although it is more Rock than Folk. I need a certain amount of clarity to my bass playing, not too much, but i need to be able to hear the notes clearly, rather than just filling my ears with wool (as was the effect from the rickenbacker 4003 i used to borrow).
I don't like twangy and thin, i never play slap so i don't need that funky feel at all.
What I really like about the P Bass is that thump. That real punchy low end that makes you feel like someone is hitting you in the chest with an invisible pillow. Along with that i like the clarity, i always play with the tone knob open all the way, and usually have the high's on my amp's EQ fairly high up, although not far enough up to make the bass sound 'trebely' and thin, if that makes any sense, i just like it clear.
Right now the P Bass is still using the strings it came with, stock fender strings, and these are not terrible, they're ok, but seeing as these are the only strings i've used with this guitar I don't really have any opinion about them, they're all i've known! I do quite often fiddle around with the EQ though, so that tells me I might have better results if I experimented.
If any of you guys out there can recommend a few types of string (as well as brands) that might compliment the sound i'm after, as well as complimenting the P Bass, i'd be very grateful.
