String Options for Squier P Bass

[Heavy Blue]

So I bought a CV60’s P a while back, almost immediately put a set of GHS Precision Flats on it, and sat back and proceeded to love that smooth but dark, thumpy, and bumpy tone.

However, I recently picked up a Player Jazz and decided that it was time for the flats, as they’ve been on every passive bass I owned, to do their tour of duty on the new Jazz. Glad I did as they sound even more amazing on the Jazz than they did on the Precision if such a thing is possible. I did notice a slight drop in output but no big deal at all.

So then I put the stock rounds back on and they are ok but I’d like more clarity and less zing. I don’t like that sound like the rounds are overdriving themselves on the top end that I often hear.

So for options on hand, I have new sets of 45-105 Elixers, 44-102 GHS Pressurewounds that I originally bought with the Jazz in mind (I still have the VM Jazz I could put them on though), and a set of D’Addario ENR71 Half Rounds that I got gratis when I bought the Player Jazz.

I want better clarity, lo mids, and harmonics but I’m starting the think this is more a limitation of the stock pup than strings. I was liking the flats very much but a little more clarity would’ve been nice. I believe the Pressurewounds have a mid bump that probably better suits a Jazz than a Precision so I’m leaning towards the Half Rounds. Idk if the Elixers would work here but I’m thinking maybe not in this case. I was thinking more of the Stingray for the Elixers or any of the sets of rounds that I have.

Opinions, experiences?

What say ye?

 

[michael_t]

I want better clarity, lo mids, and harmonics ....

I was liking the flats very much but a little more clarity would’ve been nice. I believe the Pressurewounds have a mid bump that probably better suits a Jazz than a Precision so I’m leaning towards the Half Rounds.

I don't have any personal experience with the D'A Half Rounds (pure nickel groundwound), but I've tried the GHS Brite Flats (Alloy 52 groundwound) on my P bass earlier this year, hoping to get some extra bite and clarity I wasn't getting with the GHS Precision Flats that were on it two years ago while retaining some of the flatwound goodness. Those BFs ended up coming off after only three weeks.

My P bass has now been reunited with the Pressurewounds as of Dec 1 and I couldn't be happier.

 

[Heavy Blue]

I don't have any personal experience with the D'A Half Rounds (pure nickel groundwound), but I've tried the GHS Brite Flats (Alloy 52 groundwound) on my P bass earlier this year, hoping to get some extra bite and clarity I wasn't getting with the GHS Precision Flats that were on it two years ago while retaining some of the flatwound goodness. Those BFs ended up coming off after only three weeks.

My P bass has now been reunited with the Pressurewounds as of Dec 1 and I couldn't be happier.

Thanks Michael. That’s one for the Pressurewounds. As I’m usually a GHS fan I would’ve normally gone for the BF’s but there weren’t any there at the time so I took the D’Addario’s as they were the only non-flat, non-round option there at the time.

Darn! Should’ve put up a poll. Carrotwounds could’ve been an option lol.

 

[eriky4003]

DR Lo-Riders will give you clarity, low-mids and harmonics.

 

[Heavy Blue]

I don't have any personal experience with the D'A Half Rounds (pure nickel groundwound), but I've tried the GHS Brite Flats (Alloy 52 groundwound) on my P bass earlier this year, hoping to get some extra bite and clarity I wasn't getting with the GHS Precision Flats that were on it two years ago while retaining some of the flatwound goodness. Those BFs ended up coming off after only three weeks.

My P bass has now been reunited with the Pressurewounds as of Dec 1 and I couldn't be happier.

Thanks Michael. It isn’t too middy though now is it? I don’t want it to sound brassy or even particularly bitey or crunchy, just nice, clear, and punchy. Sort of like a P bass version of what I have going on with my Player Jazz which have the Precision Flats that used to be on this P but with better clarity than what I had on this P with those flats on it.

I have the understanding that the Brite Flats are a bit of a niche product that only work well on a relatively few instruments. A lot of folks on here seem to use them for a short time then change to something else. That’s why I picked up the Half Rounds instead. Well that and it was a case of getting a pack of free strings among what was in limited stock for non-roundwounds at that time. To maybe get the clarity but with the flat feel. Maybe I should get some 9050’s or Chrome’s instead. Not looking for clank either though. Maybe the clarity issue is more the stock pup than the strings...

Oh the rabbit hole looms...

 

[Heavy Blue]

DR Lo-Riders will give you clarity, low-mids and harmonics.

I worry that being uncoated rounds that they’ll have that what I call that overdriven treble sound (zingyness?) that wrecks clarity but I’m going to research these in case I want to try them as I actually haven’t tried stainless rounds of any type yet but I like the fact that they won’t get the fingerboard dirty via reacting with my fingers like nickel does. Always good to keep one’s options open, thank you.

 

[Bent77]

I’ve developed a strong preference to the SIT powerwounds on my CV-P

 

[michael_t]

It isn’t too middy though now is it? I don’t want it to sound brassy or even particularly bitey or crunchy, just nice, clear, and punchy.

The Presssurewounds can be a bit more "forward" in the mids due to the extra responsiveness of Alloy 52. "Crunchy" is exactly the word I use to describe their tonal character. If that's too much for you, I would suggest something like DR Nickel Lo-Riders, which are still punchy but with smoother (more refined?) mids and somewhat subdued (ie non-zingy) top end.

I have the understanding that the Brite Flats are a bit of a niche product that only work well on a relatively few instruments... That’s why I picked up the Half Rounds instead. To maybe get the clarity but with the flat feel. Maybe I should’ve gotten some 9050’s or Chrome’s instead.

Half-rounds (ie groundwound) tend to get mixed reviews due to their "halfway in-between" character both in tone and feel. But they can be just the right thing depending on the bass and your tonal goals.

Fender 9050 flats are another one that I've enjoyed in the past. In fact, the Brite Flats, once broken in, reminded me of the 9050s. If you want to "get the clarity but with the flat feel", D'A HRs and Fender 9050 would be better choices than the Pressurewounds, which are more roundwound-ish both in tone and feel.

 

[michael_t]

Maybe I should get some 9050’s or Chrome’s instead.

My first encounter with flats was with D'A Chromes ECB84 (40-60-80-100) on my Fender J. Then a few years later, the day I discovered Fender 9050L (45-60-80-100) was the day I said good-bye to the Chromes.

The very first time I played my J with the 9050 in church, the senior sound tech there commented on my bass tone by describing it as being "nice and full-bodied, yet punchy and clear at the same time".

 

[Heavy Blue]

The Presssurewounds can be a bit more "forward" in the mids due to the extra responsiveness of Alloy 52. "Crunchy" is exactly the word I use to describe their tonal character. If that's too much for you, I would suggest something like DR Nickel Lo-Riders, which are still punchy but with smoother (more refined?) mids and somewhat subdued (ie non-zingy) top end.



Half-rounds (ie groundwound) tend to get mixed reviews due to their "halfway in-between" character both in tone and feel. But they can be just the right thing depending on the bass and your tonal goals.

Fender 9050 flats are another one that I've enjoyed in the past. In fact, the Brite Flats, once broken in, reminded me of the 9050s. If you want to "get the clarity but with the flat feel", D'A HRs and Fender 9050 would be better choices than the Pressurewounds, which are more roundwound-ish both in tone and feel.

Well maybe I’ll go with the HR’s for the P as I love the flat feel. I was thinking of the VM Jazz for the PW’s as it was.

The P Flats that are now sounding unearthly great on the Player Jazz didn’t sound anywhere near the same when they were in the VM Jazz. Funny eh?

Irt 9050’s. Does the tone change much with gauge?

 

[Heavy Blue]

I’ve developed a strong preference to the SIT powerwounds on my CV-P

I’ll check them out. Ty!

 

[Heavy Blue]

My first encounter with flats was with D'A Chromes ECB84 (40-60-80-100) on my Fender J. Then a few years later, the day I discovered Fender 9050L (45-60-80-100) was the day I said good-bye to the Chromes.

The very first time I played my J with the 9050 in church, the senior sound tech there commented on my bass tone by describing it as being "nice and full-bodied, yet punchy and clear at the same time".

That to me is how the Player J now sounds. I’m just trying to put the same take on a P with its brawnier sound. Not trying to make it sound like a J though.

If I decide to try another kind of flats, it’ll be the Fenders.

 

[michael_t]

Irt 9050’s. Does the tone change much with gauge?

I've only tried the L (45-100), which are nicely balanced across all four strings. I would imagine larger gauges would give you thumpier tones and stiffer feels.

What I liked about the Fender 9050s was they were full-bodied and punchy with decent sustain instead of the thump and thud of more traditional flats.

 

[GTHintz]

I would say try some rotosound solo bass or maybe dr black beauty strings would work.

 

[Nighttrain1127]

I have a Squier CV P-Bass and it wears GHS P Wounds and they growl but I would not call them crunchy They have more punch than crunch IMHO. They are Nice and smooth in the highs and upper mids and Nice and thick but defined in the low mids and lows. I have been playing these for over 15 years and just about every bass had them at one time or another. Right now they are on my Fender American Ultra Jazz, American Ultra P American Precision Pro II and my Squier CV.

 

[Yahboy]

EB cobalt flat not only make Jazz bass sound juicy meaty, meanwhile increase output too.
Highly recommend.

 

[Yahboy]

I have a Squier CV P-Bass and it wears GHS P Wounds and they growl but I would not call them crunchy They have more punch than crunch IMHO. They are Nice and smooth in the highs and upper mids and Nice and thick but defined in the low mids and lows. I have been playing these for over 15 years and just about every bass had them at one time or another. Right now they are on my Fender American Ultra Jazz, American Ultra P American Precision Pro II and my Squier CV.

On my previous opinion, GHS PW could sound crunchy with bright sounding p bass pickups like Fender Original P pup and Area P.

 

[Nighttrain1127]

Just to be clear I was not saying anyone's opinion was wrong . Hence the IMHO. Everyone hears different . But I will say that EB Cobalt flats are a very good suggestion they do sound Juicy and meaty.

 

[Killing Floor]

Opinions are like shoes, I've got about 100 pair!

For flats on a J try LaBella DTB flats. Or pony up for the TI Jazz flats, they're remarkable but may take a few days to get used to the way they feel. I also like the Roto 77 flats for a more easy to get set.

 

[Heavy Blue]

So over the last couple of days I first switched over to the D’Addario Half Rounds. Kind of an abrasive sound imo to go with the slightly abrasive feel. I get the feeling they would be great in the right bass and the right genre but it isn’t this one for the music I normally play.

So then I put the PW’s on. A little stiff as they are the ML set but muuuch better.

I have a Squier CV P-Bass and it wears GHS P Wounds and they growl but I would not call them crunchy They have more punch than crunch IMHO. They are Nice and smooth in the highs and upper mids and Nice and thick but defined in the low mids and lows. I have been playing these for over 15 years and just about every bass had them at one time or another. Right now they are on my Fender American Ultra Jazz, American Ultra P American Precision Pro II and my Squier CV.

Yes, I would concur. More growl and punch than crunch. It sounds deadly through the old Yorkville and Peavey 115. Big, strong, and punchy. It could still use a little more clarity but I’m starting to think that it’s the pup. It also sounds better loud then at polite volumes where it seems kind of blanketed.

Is your CV P Chinese or Indo? Mine’s Indo Cort. It had some minor QC issues irt hardware but made for a good negotiation with the dealer.

EB cobalt flat not only make Jazz bass sound juicy meaty, meanwhile increase output too.
Highly recommend.

Sounds like another good option but one question. Do they clank? Like the increased output.

Opinions are like shoes, I've got about 100 pair!

For flats on a J try LaBella DTB flats. Or pony up for the TI Jazz flats, they're remarkable but may take a few days to get used to the way they feel. I also like the Roto 77 flats for a more easy to get set.

Isn’t the LaBella’s E string noted for its deadness? Or is that another type of LaBella? As they are notably used by many of the famous artists back in the day I’d like to give LaBellas a try sometime. No one around here stocks them.

As for Roto 77’s. They’re pretty pricey around here and I hear they’re rough to the touch and go dead quickly.

And I bought a set of TI JF once only to have the E string’s ball end snap off on me upon installation. Never played a note and as it was a couple of years after I bought them, I no longer had the sales slip. Either way, won’t be doing that expensive mistake again. Savage disappointment cause they do sound great.