Strings for 51 style Precision / Telecaster bass?

[GIBrat51]

I should have that style bass soon and am wondering "out loud" about strings.

Any experiences to share? Ideas?

Did John Paul Jones play a Tele on "Immigrant Song"? Was he using Roto66?

I could go flats or rounds. I'm open minded on this one.

Well... it pretty much depends on what you like/want/need to play on that bass - or any bass, for that matter. I have flats on all but 2 of my 23 basses - many different kinds and gauges of flats. since I have no real need for a "versatile" bass, most of mine are more or less a "One Trick Pony". But, several of them are versatile - by default, more than anything else. Those tend to have lighter gauge flats; a couple of them wear Fender 9050Ls for that reason - and, because I just like them...
For "Old School Thump"? La Bella DTF's - 45-105 or so - pretty much define that tone. And, they're on one of my basses. I also have very light gauge DTF's on a couple of Danelectros; for "that Dano Sound". But, I like my "OST" a little more... nuanced, maybe?.. than DTF's can give me. Several basses wear GHS Precision Flats for that reason. Particularly my '78 Fender P. I put Roto RS77LDs on it originally, and it wore those for several years. I liked them, but... not quite the sound I wanted. They were followed by a set of La Bella 760FLs. After a few years, they moved on to a different bass; they were close to what I wanted, but... no cigar. Tried a set of the Fender 9050Ls, but they weren't what I wanted from the P-Bass, either. I finally realized that what I wanted from the P-Bass, was what it would have sounded like in about 1959 - with it's original Squier-made factory flats, and the mute in the bridge cover. Since GHS Precision Flats are about as close to those strings as you can get? That's what it's worn for the last few years. And, now I'm happy...
So, the flats you choose - if you do want flats - will depend on what you want to hear from that bass. And, take it from a guy who's played all kinds of flats for the last 50+ years; they do not all sound the same. Which is why I currently have 13 different kinds and gauges of flats, on 21 different basses...
And, if you're curious about TI Jazz Flats? I have them on one of my basses - an Alembic Epic. For what I play, and how I play it, on that bass? They're marvelous strings. But, I have no intention of ever putting them on any of my other basses. They would work - sort of - for what I play on those basses, but... not well. If you're curious about how they'd sound? Try some Fender 9050Ls. They aren't quite as flexible as the TI's are, and they don't have quite the harmonics the TI's do - but, IME, they're awfully close. A whole lot less expensive, too...

 

[REV]

In my experience the bass picks the strings. It will tell you what works. this of course means that you will need to try a number of different sets and you may end up going back to a previous set in the end. This can also be educational. How else will you learn how different strings sound? Enjoy the journey.

 

[pbass2]

Never owned a SC P like that, but have always been intrigued. I did get to play a very mojo'd and very old Fender once at a gig for a few tunes, and it had the filthiest, crustiest, oooold nickel rounds (I think at least--hard to tell actually since they almost looked rusty). That thing sounded incredible. Funky, thumpy, and grindy all at once.

 

[Stewie]

Mine is fretless, but I use GHS Precision Flats 45-105. Only strings I've used since about 1985.

 

[jasper383]

Don't ignore rounds on these basses.

They sound great with Rotos or Hi Beams, too.

 

[PennyroyalWe]

I’ve got fender 9050l on my top loader CV50s, they sound great to my ears.
I’m my string through body humbucker telebass I have D’Addario chromes, and they also sound great. Very different basses, and different sounds, though.

 

[Yahboy]

Install a fresh pack of Ti flat on new bought indo CV50P..... sadly, i am still prefer LTF4A myself.
Maybe result may change after few I
months usage... who know ?

 

[bassrique]

The 51 Marcus Miller came in with GHS strings. How do I tell what type of GHS? They look, feel and sound like nickel. Balanced nickel? No silks or colors on ball ends.

They sound good.

The history of Leo shying away from the one pole piece per string in the 51 is his early speaker were taking a beating, no?

Modern speakers are past that. Therefore, I will go with the character of the strong attack and stick with rounds I suppose.

TI Jazz rounds? I've never tried them.

Edit: The balls on the existing GHS strings are gold(ish).

 

[michael_t]

The 51 Marcus Miller came in with GHS strings. How do I tell what type of GHS? They look, feel and sound like nickel. Balanced nickel? No silks or colors on ball ends.

GHS Bassics = Nickel-plated steel roundwound over stainless steel inner layers. No silk with brass ball ends.

Products - BASSICS™ - GHS Strings

 

[bassrique]

GHS Bassics = Nickel-plated steel roundwound over stainless steel inner layers. No silk with brass ball ends.

Products - BASSICS™ - GHS Strings

Thanks. That seems right.

I find it interesting that Balanced Nickels are less bright on the scale then PressureWounds.

 

[michael_t]

I find it interesting that Balanced Nickels are less bright on the scale then PressureWounds.
View attachment 5171696

Alloy 52's mid-forward character with its distinct "crunch" can be perceived as "brightness" compared to the smoother and warmer mids of the Balanced Nickels (pure nickel).

I once switched from the Pressurewounds to the hex-core Boomers on one of my basses without telling the sound tech at church. His reaction was, "how come your bass sounds darker than usual?" Brightness is all in one's perception.

 

[porterbass]

Install a fresh pack of Ti flat on new bought indo CV50P..... sadly, i am still prefer LTF4A myself.
Maybe result may change after few I
months usage... who know ?

View attachment 5171660

I've used TIJFs for a lot of years on various basses (and Sadowsky Black Label Flats on a few). TIJFs will mellow and change after they're on for a bit...becoming more thumpy in my opinion.

Your post caught my eye because you mentioned the LTF strings. I've seen others here referencing them and plan on trying a set soon on a split P or my Fender CS '54 style P (with dual single coil pickups).

 

[Yahboy]

I've used TIJFs for a lot of years on various basses (and Sadowsky Black Label Flats on a few). TIJFs will mellow and change after they're on for a bit...becoming more thumpy in my opinion.

Your post caught my eye because you mentioned the LTF strings. I've seen others here referencing them and plan on trying a set soon on a split P or my Fender CS '54 style P (with dual single coil pickups).

After a piece of mute foam and 60%~50% tone roll back, this CV50P sound pretty close to LTF4A but different low end range and brighter finger tip click voice. Wish she sound better in following day....

 

[marchone]

I should have that style bass soon and am wondering "out loud" about strings.

Any experiences to share? Ideas?

Did John Paul Jones play a Tele on "Immigrant Song"? Was he using Roto66?

I could go flats or rounds. I'm open minded on this one.

The answer, if you're trying to sound like the "original" P bass, is, of course, flats of some sort. But....that single pickup has more bandwidth than the split coil on later P's, so it can take advantage of a good set of rounds better than a split coil P. I know where I'd land (I find flats frustratingly dull on any bass), but ultimately it's your decision to either zing of thud.

The 1968 Fender Telecaster Bass is often considered the first Fender bass reissue because it was a near copy of the original 1951 Fender Precision Bass. All the other similar models from Fender and Squier follow it.

I always strung my 1969 Telecaster Bass with Rotosound 66s. Like Ron Wood did in The Jeff Beck Group. As did John Paul Jones on his 1953 Precision. That axe and a Marshall stack or SVT is a late 60s power trio British sound.

FWIW I’m also a fan of TI Jazz Flats and have them on my CS Jazz Bass and Sadowsky Will Lee. Although if I wanted a clean 50s tone from my Telecaster Bass I’d opt for La Bella DTFs. I have the Jamerson bridge cable La Bella 1954s on my Precision Bass.