String recommendation needed

[Deleted member 271037]

This may sound a bit counter-intuitive but I would recommend Thomastik Jazz Rounds (yes, they're roundwounds) and roll of the tone to taste. They're EXTREMELY light gauge but they have a very unique orchestral vibe with a very nice "bounce" if you can handle the low tension. They are completely different to ANY other roundwound and have no zing or metallic upper mids whatsoever. At least not after they're broken in which takes about 5 minutes. Lovely strings!

 

[-Asdfgh-]

For my 'upright' sound on a fretless ABG (yes, a different beast to the OP's) I am using my oldest set of TI flats. I did try a pair of Rotosound TruBass 88, but there was something weird about the A string, maybe a bad string, and I found the old TIs to be acceptable. That way I can always cycle the oldest TIs in for a bit of extra life.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Jazz musician and upright bass player here. I just bought a Squier Affinity Jazz bass as a cheap emergency backup bass. And I’m looking for flat wounds that will get me as close as possible to the sound of my upright. I understand I can’t really get there from here. Nevertheless, I’m hoping someone will suggest a string (Rotosound, Lebella,…) that might sound sweetest with modern jazz piano trio music. Anyone gigging like this with an electric? Got a good recommendation?

Is that a fretted Jazz Bass? I am surprised you picked that rather than something like the cheaper (e.g. Stagg) electric upright basses. I am interested in building a short scale (34") EUB I can bow as a Stagg would be of little use to me because of the change of scale length, and I would have thought going to a short scale from an UB would be tricky.

 

[Pop C]

One thing to consider is a string mute. I use a Nordy Mute and have had great success getting close to that upright thump.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

Pretty much any tapewound or GHS Precision Flats. The Precision Flats are probably the smoothest flat I have ever played and the sound/tone is pure Motown.

 

[DCCat]

The strings that can get you closest to an upright sound are the Rotosound TruBass, black nylon tapewounds. There are tapewounds made by different companies, but the TruBass strings are a bit different and have that thump and 'woodiness' to them.

Tru Bass 88 • Rotosound Music Strings

I haven't tried the Rotos, but the closest to upright sound that I've found are the Pyramid tapes. I didn't mention them in my post above because they're a larger gauge that might not fit the OP's nut (I had to widen mine), even though they're not as big as the Rotos.

 

[REV]

As much as we as bass players would like to have a string to make our slab bodied electric basses sound like upright basses, a big part of the equation is how we play. An upright requires us to play a certain way that a slab bass does not. I think we can get close to an upright like tone by changing the way we approach the slab bass. James Jamerson used very high action on his bass to try an emulate the action on his upright bass. He used his right hand on the electric in a way that was similar to his upright. I once went to a church service in NYC and I could have sworn that the bass in the band was an upright. After the service I went to talk to the bass player only to find that he was playing a slab bodied Warwick bass. When I complemented him on his upright like tone he showed me how he used his right hand to play in such a way to make his bass sound like an upright. He played directly over the fingerboard and only used his index finger but he backed up his index finger with his middle finger. He had a great tone and this showed me that an upright like tone is totally possible on a slab bodied bass.

 

[fasternak]

Is that a fretted Jazz Bass? I am surprised you picked that rather than something like the cheaper (e.g. Stagg) electric upright basses. I am interested in building a short scale (34") EUB I can bow as a Stagg would be of little use to me because of the change of scale length, and I would have thought going to a short scale from an UB would be tricky.

Why frets? There are several reasons. I have an Alembic fretless. And I’m struggling with intonation via the move from 3/4 upright to fretless guitar. It follows, I want to train on the fretted Squier. Also, I am continually rebuilding my mental conception of the fingerboard. I can use a fretboard to work things out more clearly visually. I sold my Stagg years ago. Didn’t enjoy playing it. Didn’t like the side arm. And I can’t play the Stagg in bed. I’ve got the night watch syndrome. And I’m in the shed at 3AM most mornings working on my reading skills. Finally, I can passably gig on a fretboard. Where as, I sound pretty bad on the fretless Alembic - for the moment at any rate. Bet you’re sorry you asked. BTW, don’t ask me which strings are on the Alembic. I didn’t buy em and I have no idea. They’re flat and that’s all I’ve got.

 

[Eddie Jones]

Since you mentioned the TI's were too much, the Fender flats are cheap and I love the sound I got on my Jazz bass. I moved them to a PJ and put TI's on the Jazz but the Fender, for the price, are awesome and feel great

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Why frets? There are several reasons. I have an Alembic fretless. And I’m struggling with intonation via the move from 3/4 upright to fretless guitar.

That makes sense.

I sold my Stagg years ago. Didn’t enjoy playing it. Didn’t like the side arm.

Fair enough. I tried one once, and the whole thing was a bit weird. A luthier friend built himself an EUB that was better. But then he's a top notch luthier.

And I can’t play the Stagg in bed.

No comment!

Bet you’re sorry you asked.

Only with respect to going to bed with your bass!

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Since you mentioned the TI's were too much, the Fender flats are cheap

The last set of TIs I got in the UK were only a hair more than the Fenders here. But then I got a good deal on the TIs and normally the TIs are a lot more. I'd use the Fender ones (I tried a set of rounds once and liked them reasonably) if they were like the TIs. Except I have four or five sets of TIs flats and two sets of TI rounds stashed away.

 

[fasternak]

Only with respect to going to bed with your bass![/QUOTE]

I take it you your bass sleep in separate beds. This is kind of sad. But probably better for your relationship over the long run.

 

[fasternak]

I think I’m going buy the fret file and the Trubass 88s after all. Hopefully I won’t need the Youtube truss bar clinic, too. Thanks for your help.

 

[oren]

I used to have Spiro Weichs on my upright and I second the recommendation of TI Jazz Flats as being the closest analog. The Fender 9050 is also a good choice, as might be the LaBella Low Tension Flats.

 

[fasternak]

I used to have Spiro Weichs on my upright and I second the recommendation of TI Jazz Flats as being the closest analog. The Fender 9050 is also a good choice, as might be the LaBella Low Tension Flats.

TI Flats - I’m kicking it around. Thanks Oren.

 

[fasternak]

Only with respect to going to bed with your bass!

I take it you your bass sleep in separate beds. This is kind of sad. But probably better for your relationship over the long run.[/QUOTE]
— It occurs to me I might actually to make it clear that my my very early morning relationship with my bass is purely platonic.

 

[fasternak]

I bought the TI Flats. At the top of this thread I asked for guitar strings that might get me close to an upright sound. At $93, TIs cost half as much as the bass did. But money well spent. They sound great. And I now have an cheap emergency backup for my upright.Thank you all for the thoughtful and helpful advice.

 

[GIBrat51]

Take it from someone who also used Spiro Weich 3885 when I played jazz band double bass: Fender 9050L. Nobody else posting on this thread will have used the same combination and can directly compare the tones of the Spiros with the tone of any particular brand and model of flatwound pork chop strings. Look on the DB side for my Spiro threads from years ago, comparing all the different sets: S42, 3885, solo, fifths, etc.

What everybody forgets is that Spiros, unlike guts, any of the Pirastro offerings, or Bel Cantos, for example, actually have a sustain and mwah or growl tonal characteristic which is why we all play them for jazz pizz. So most of the pork chop flats and tapes are actually too mellow compared to the Spiros, especially the Roto tapes, which strive to be the electric version of gut. And just like Spiros, Fender 9050L's take about a year to actually seat in to get optimum tone.

So the actual strings that are closest to the ethos of Spiros are Fender 9050L flats. And remember: everything goes with a dead Spiro E string.

While I can't speak to the upright's strings (can't play one, myself), I will second iipope's recommendation re the Fender 9050Ls. I've had them on a Gen1 MIK Danelectro DC59Pro for many years. While it wasn't my intention to try to imitate an upright - so much as to just not sound too much like a Danelectro, - it does, indeed, do a very credible job of doing the "upright bass" thing - providing I use the right playing style. Which is not the approved electric bass playing style. Short of putting the 9050's on a hollow body electric, and playing it like an upright? Doing the same thing with your new Jazz Bass will get you pretty close...

 

[fasternak]

Thanks for the input. I may give the Fender’s a shot down the road. I’m satisfied with the TI Flats for the moment. The TIs do not sound exactly like my Wiechs. However, the TI’s do agree with the piano trio. So I’m set.

If you like a distinct fundamental note with sustain, try light gauge GHS Brite Flats for easy tension.

TI Flats - I’m kicking it around. Thanks Oren.

While I can't speak to the upright's strings (can't play one, myself), I will second iipope's recommendation re the Fender 9050Ls. I've had them on a Gen1 MIK Danelectro DC59Pro for many years. While it wasn't my intention to try to imitate an upright - so much as to just not sound too much like a Danelectro, it does, indeed, do a very credible job of doing the "upright bass" thing - providing I use the right playing style. Which is not the approved electric bass playing style. Short of putting the 9050's on a hollow body electric, and plating it like an upright? Doing the same thing with your new bass will get you pretty close...