Throw something at me: P bass

[Raman]

Spur of the moment thing:

I've had Fender steel flat strings on my P bass Squier CV since I bought it.
I suddenly, and quite unexpectedly, crave roundwounds! Something full/round spunding, something rich and deep.

Know what I mean?

 

[MrAB4003]

Do yourself a favor and get a set of D'Addario NYXLs. I have those on my MIA Precision and one of my Ric 4003s. They're my favorite roundwounds and they will give you long life, a plethora of tones, and everything you can want in a roundwound string.

 

[michael_t]

...crave roundwounds! Something full/round spunding, something rich and deep...

I just put SIT Power Wound Nickels on my Am Std P. I really like them so far. I've been going back and forth back and forth between pressurewounds and flats on my P for the last couple of years, then all of a sudden, I got a craving for rounds just like you!

 

[timmus]

I have a Sire P5R 5 string P bass. I read so much about putting flats on those basses that I did it without trying it first with RW strings on it (I think they are D'Addarios). Totally unsatisfied.

I took the flats off and put the RW's back on....Bliss. It's interesting how some basses work great with flats, others, not so much. I have a 1983 AVRI P bass that has flats on it and it sounds awesome. I tried RW's on it for sh!ts and giggles...nope.

 

[JRA]

Something full/round spunding, something rich and deep.

i get everything but "spunding" from TI jazz rounds (actually from any rounds i'm using: roto 66s, dogal-hellborg stranded cores).

IMO, a lot of what you're after comes from technique + onboard settings + amp settings.

good luck choosing a round wound set that you like!

 

[eriky4003]

"The string chooses the bass" is the wisdom spouted on this forum. I totally agree! I have a Yamaha BB300 which has pbass pickup configuration so glorious tones can be had. The string I have on this bass (and by now, most of my others) are DR LoRiders. If you want to mellow out the sound a bit, go with the Nickels otherwise be prepared for a Rotosound 66-like tone.

 

[maturanesa]

I like smooth rounds on a P, so i would choose any DR or Dunlop nickels. Aggresive steel strings on a P sounds so punk for me.

 

[Yahboy]

P bass with EB Cobalt flat !

 

[aero58]

GHS Pressure Wounds, GHS Balanced Nickels, or SIT Powerwound Nickels

 

[buldog5151bass]

Nickel Lo Riders or Sunbeams, depending on what tension you like.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Spur of the moment thing:

I've had Fender steel flat strings on my P bass Squier CV since I bought it.
I suddenly, and quite unexpectedly, crave roundwounds! Something full/round spunding, something rich and deep.

Know what I mean?

Yes, for almost 50 years. It’s a highly underrated combination. I’ve been covering mostly Motown and R&B music over these past decades. Nobody has ever complained about my tone or suggest me having flat wound strings.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Old guy old choice, Stainless Steel Rotosound Swingbass 66.

New choice Dunlop Stainkess Steel Super Bright Marcus Miller.

I roll with either myself

Having said that, I also run La Bella 1954 flats on at least one P bass but other lighter gauge La Bellas as well

 

[Raman]

I mean the

 

[DJ Bebop]

I mean the

Incorrect on the mute. On the Jamerson P the bridge cover had the sponge rubber mute above the strings under the bridge cover, as it came from the factory. He wouldn't have changed that. The only thing is did was change out the Fender flats for the La Bella heavier flats of 52-110.

That is why Carol put her mute on top as she went to not using a bridge cover or had basses that didn't come with a bridge cover.

The thing of foam under the strings also came from after folks stopped using the bridge cover but wanted the mute tone was under the strings. That was what Babbit did without the bridge cover as well, under the strings.

One of the thinkings was, as you go higher on the neck and pushing down the strings with the mute on top, it would release the tension on the mute. Allowing a little less muting in the higher octave. Underneath, it mutes more as you go up. Which with flats you would want less muting for higher note definition

PS The sponge rubber under the bridge cover that came originally is denser than the yellow foam most folks use under the strings

At least that is my story and I am sticking to it.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I mean the

Yes back in the early days of rounds, it was Rotosounds.They were the first to put out round wound strings with the instance of John Entwhistle. So the Who, Yes, Gentle Giant, The Clash. In fact, most bands pre mid-70s all used Rotosounds on those classic records for rounds until new bass string manufacturers came along to offer something else in round wound strings.

Freddy Washington also used Rotosounds on his P bass.

Nowadays these ars many brands of rounds made from different materials like stainless steel, nickel and combinations of the two as far as plating, different core wire vs wrap wire and so on.

(Dammit I hate it when old guys come in here and act like they know something, go sit down and leave the kids alone grandpa, you had your day )

 

[Bob_Ross]

Something full/round spunding, something rich and deep.

Aggresive steel strings on a P sounds so punk for me.

Yeah, take this with a grain of salt, because I'm generally not a fan of P Basses period; neither flats nor rounds on those instruments really float my boat...but if you're looking for something "full/round sounding...rich and deep" then I agree with @maturanesa that typical roundwounds aren't gonna give you the "rich and deep" thing you crave. Too much grind and throaty "spank"

Instead, I'd check out Ken Smith Slick Rounds, a ground roundwound nickel string that has some of the zing of traditional rounds, but also a thick, chewy punch that often gets lost in the twang of traditional rounds.