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what do blues players perfer?

#4
I use flats for all the blues stuff I do. Currently TIs, formerly Roto RS77s.

Every once in a while, I want to use rounds....say for some more modern blues stuff like Joe Bonamassa. If I had my way I'd have two Jazz basses, one stung with each, but that ain't the case right now.

You can go to my bands site (in my profile) to hear my jazz with the roto flats, DI to the board.
 
#5
i've worked with blues guys who liked flats and amps with all the tone knobs turned off except the bass, i've worked with blues guys who like active neck-throughs and bright rounds. just do whatever you like and let your playing be the thing they remember.
 
#10
i use d'addario chromes but if you're looking for the thuddiest strings out there, i'd say get a set of fenders and wait 3-4 months. the chromes are great but they take longer to get thuddy. but as it turns out i don't like flats that get quite as thuddy as the fenders, so the chromes are working out well. everything else is just way too expensive for me to even consider.
 
#13
60's Bluesman said:
what i like is the dull sounding strings for blues songs so it kind of sounds like a upright. flats would do that right?
Click to expand...

Um, sort of. Personally for upright imitation I use my Carvin Semi-hollow body acoustic with nylon wrapped strings (its fretless) and a piece of foam shoved under the strings near the bridge.

I also use it without the foam in brighter modes as well. Excellent traditional blues bass.

My main blues bass is (or should I say are) G&L L-2500. I have fretted and fretless with D'addario half rounds on both. Drives most any blues band like a hammer! At first I was using my Fender Jazz for blues (it has flats) and then one day I was at a blues jam and the backing band bassist was playing a G&L L-2500 like mine. AND IT KILLED! I just HAD to see what his setup was and now mine is like that too. So now it's the G&Ls for blues and the Jazz sits home. In raunchy environments I take the SX Jazz with rounds instead of the expensive G&L or Fender Basses. That works very well too. The added series switch gives a nice deep thump and the tone control rounds off the bright edge as much as you need.

The bottom line is just experiment and try things and trust your ears. Don't be afraid to try various basses and various strings and setups. Some won't work, but some will.
 
#15
60's Bluesman said:
what i like is the dull sounding strings for blues songs so it kind of sounds like a upright. flats would do that right?
Click to expand...

Don't let the other side get to read this - upright = dull?:hiding:

I find that I can get a decent 'upright-like' tone with TI's and some equalizing - so I disagree with Jimmy here.

For dull -sturdy -thumpy - muddy blues lows I would rely on La Bella 760M.

Also see my thread 'Yet another comparison of flats'.

Good luck
 
#16
Rocky said:
playing with your thumb while muting with the palm on your right hand gets a good upright like sound.
Click to expand...

now ppl have discouraged me from doing this, it comes natural to me for some reason. ive tried to model my playing style after (my hero) paul mccartney he uses his thumb and a pick in every song ive seen him do, usualy the thumb tho. 95% of bassist ive talked to on here and from my part of the world say that using your thumb is very inaffective and slow. you may not be able to do a jaco bassline with it but the thumb ive found can be used in alot of songs that are of a slower speed.
 

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