What flatwounds match well with Relentless J pups?

[groooooove]

The pickups do not care what brand of string you put on them. More likely, your old strings where just dead. I use La Bella flats, they have fat, meaty tone and are very smooth once you've broken them in for about a week. I guarantee you will not find pickups that don't "match"

I agree -

Pickups and strings have their individual character, but i don't particularly find it important that they are selected as pairs / matched with one another. i like a particular pickup, i will match it with a particular string that i like, and not give and specific consideration to the two as a match/set.

 

[FullumMusic]

The pickups do not care what brand of string you put on them. More likely, your old strings where just dead. I use La Bella flats, they have fat, meaty tone and are very smooth once you've broken them in for about a week. I guarantee you will not find pickups that don't "match"

I agree -

Pickups and strings have their individual character, but i don't particularly find it important that they are selected as pairs / matched with one another. i like a particular pickup, i will match it with a particular string that i like, and not give and specific consideration to the two as a match/set.

I dunno. I kinda think the opposite, even though the end decision is in the ear of the player.

I've gone on "String Hunts" where i just buy different sets of strings for a bass until i get a set that just sounds fantastic on that particular bass. I've done it with several different basses, and the fact that they don't all have the same strings means there's something about that Pickup + String combination that works better together than those same strings over different pickups, or different strings on the same pickups.

That said, those pairings are subjective to my ears.

I/We can't tell the OP that a certain set of strings is going to pair with a certain set of pickups like pairing colors on opposite sides of the color wheel. Tone is subjective and contextual. So the OP just has to try different strings until they find a set that, when put on their bass, sings to them.

 

[SharpCat]

I agree -

Pickups and strings have their individual character, but i don't particularly find it important that they are selected as pairs / matched with one another. i like a particular pickup, i will match it with a particular string that i like, and not give and specific consideration to the two as a match/set.

Disagree. SOME pickup and string pairings sound really bad. Mostly true, though.

 

[AK Bass Guy]

IMHO the pickups are only a piece of the equation. Pickup location, cab selection, and speakers also play as much of a role on string selection.

There's thousands of players posting up here. Your going to get thousand of different answers.

Start with the most popular flats you see people posting about up here and go from there. In the end, use your ears.

Totally understand that. That is why I tried to keep my inquiry more specific by asking players with the same exact pickups I’m using.

 

[AK Bass Guy]

Does your medium scale bass use long scale strings? My three Warmoth medium scales do not.

I use TI Jazz flats on the med scale P and med scale 'Ray fretless. The strings have great midrange presence.

On my Warmoth medium scale J I tried Model J pickups and did not like their muddy tone. Switched to Area J and was happier. That was with rounds. I can't imagine using flats on dark pickups like Model J.

I have a bridge that allows for top mount and string through, so I can use 32s or 34s (if the manufacturer says it ok).
As far as the pups I’m using the Relentless Js, they are basically the next generation of Model Js by Dimarzio, and IMO they have fixed some most of the things I didn’t like about the Model Js. Not muddy in the low mid area, clearer top end, and using neodymium instead of ceramic, so it does have the ceramic brittle sound. With rounds they sound great IMO.

 

[AK Bass Guy]

I dunno what a relentless j pickup is but I've got dimarzio model J's on my jazz and I love it with Daddario chromes

The Relentless Js are Dimarzio’s next generation Model J. They also have a new generation Area J, which are the 60s J.
Chromes sound intriguing, was going to put them on my Bronco Bass to experiment recently, but the local shop was trying to sell them for $70. That was a hard pass.

 

[AK Bass Guy]

Just clarifying, the EB Cobalts you mention are NOT Cobalt FLATS?


And the “regular EB flats” are not EB COBALT flats?

If I have it all correct, I would try EB Cobalt flats. They sound good on everything I’ve tried them on which is a variety of basses, long & short scale, single coils & humbuckers, single pickup & 2 pickup basses.

Correct, current strings on bass are EB Cobalt Rounds, the flats I have in stock are the generic EB flats. The generic EB flats (which were 2 months old, lightly played) sounded bad, (really bad)with the Relentless Js.
I think just trying the EB Cobalt Flats might be the safest experimentation, if the round version sounds good with my pups.

 

[AK Bass Guy]

Just clarifying, the EB Cobalts you mention are NOT Cobalt FLATS?


And the “regular EB flats” are not EB COBALT flats?

If I have it all correct, I would try EB Cobalt flats. They sound good on everything I’ve tried them on which is a variety of basses, long & short scale, single coils & humbuckers, single pickup & 2 pickup basses.

Correct, current strings on bass are EB Cobalt Rounds, the flats I have in stock are the generic EB flats. The generic EB flats (which were 2 months old, lightly played) sounded bad, (really bad)with the Relentless Js.
I think just trying the EB Cobalt Flats might be the safest experimentation, if the round version sounds good with my pups.

 

[AK Bass Guy]

I dunno. I kinda think the opposite, even though the end decision is in the ear of the player.

I've gone on "String Hunts" where i just buy different sets of strings for a bass until i get a set that just sounds fantastic on that particular bass. I've done it with several different basses, and the fact that they don't all have the same strings means there's something about that Pickup + String combination that works better together than those same strings over different pickups, or different strings on the same pickups.

That said, those pairings are subjective to my ears.

I/We can't tell the OP that a certain set of strings is going to pair with a certain set of pickups like pairing colors on opposite sides of the color wheel. Tone is subjective and contextual. So the OP just has to try different strings until they find a set that, when put on their bass, sings to them.

I agree. Anyone who says that there isn’t going to different interactions between different string types with different pickups is not taking into account all the different materials and wrapping techniques of strings, as well as how many different type of J pup are are there, let us count some of the way.
Single coil, humbucking split coil, humbucking stack coil, ceramic, alnico, neodymium, active, passive……

I also agree about the subjectivity of “what sounds good to me” which will be different to someone else. In the end it will be experimentation, and unfortunately not cheap.

 

[AK Bass Guy]

Another vote for Fender 9050Ls. Relentless pickups are their own thing, need some, um, curation to be tamed.

What a very, um, nice way to say it’s a pickup you hate. No offense taken, everyone has their own flavors they like. With rounds IMO they sound great. Cut thru the mix, tight and punchy.

I was contemplating rewire my bass to be able to make it less aggressive when needed, by just wiring both pups in series, then having a series parallel switch for each pickup, in theory this would allow me “tame” a pup by switch it to parallel.
Going to order some switches to experiment with that.

 

[AK Bass Guy]

Disagree. SOME pickup and string pairings sound really bad. Mostly true, though.

Absolutely. Especially when it comes to magnet material and humbucking type, stack vs split, or plane old single coil.

 

[HowieD72]

I haven't tried the Relentless Jazz pups, but loved the Relentless precision.

Anyway, I have found on my passive jazz, I use either Dunlop or DR Flats.

On my active jazz, the EB Cobalt Flats sound best on that.

In saying that, the active has roast maple neck, the passive a wenge neck. Both have Kent Armstrong Single Coil Lipsticks.

I tried several sets of rounds and Flats on both and the strings mentioned above work best on my J basses.

 

[FullumMusic]

I agree. Anyone who says that there isn’t going to different interactions between different string types with different pickups is not taking into account all the different materials and wrapping techniques of strings, as well as how many different type of J pup are are there, let us count some of the way.
Single coil, humbucking split coil, humbucking stack coil, ceramic, alnico, neodymium, active, passive……

I also agree about the subjectivity of “what sounds good to me” which will be different to someone else. In the end it will be experimentation, and unfortunately not cheap.

Exactly. If the pickups didn't care about the strings, i could just find a set of strings i like and put them on all my basses and they'd just sound good. But that's not the case at all.

- I have La Bella Copper White Tapes on an old Ibanez with late-90s active EMG PJs. Sounds FANTASTIC.
- Same strings on my Sire P5 5 string with Nordstrand Power Blades sounds alright, but i'm probably gonna change strings at some point because it just doesn't sound as good as with the Ibanez's pickups.

- Have Gold Whites on my Fretless with Delano XTenders. Sound great.
- Had those same strings on an 1996 Carvin LB76 with Carvin's humbucking Js. Sounded brittle. Put Gold Flats on and it was big and growling.

- La Bella Olinto Flats on a Squier J with stock pickups sounded lifeless and dead. Put Nordstrand Big J Blades. Sounds MASSIVE.

- Different Squier J with Nordstrand NJ4s. Went through a bunch of different strings that all sounded either weak or twangy or too bright, until i landed on the La Bella Superpolished. Something about those strings over those pickups makes a sound my ear wants to hear more than the other strings.

There's something about those String + Pickup combos that hit my ear just right.

And they all sound different. It's not like i'm trying to get the exact same sound out of every bass.

If pickups "didn't care" what strings were over them, all strings would sound the same on any given bass. It's literally why changing strings changes tone so much.

Again though, like we've both said, the magic String + Pickup combos are gonna be different for everyone because tone is subjective and contextual. But when you land on a killer String + Pickup combo, it just makes you want to play that bass A LOT.

 

[pie_man_25]

The Relentless Js are Dimarzio’s next generation Model J. They also have a new generation Area J, which are the 60s J.
Chromes sound intriguing, was going to put them on my Bronco Bass to experiment recently, but the local shop was trying to sell them for $70. That was a hard pass.

I'd pass on $70 chromes, but then again, I haven't changed them in at least seven years so ten bucks a year ain't bad

Thanks for the info though, I figured it was either a specific pickup or just a description of a jazz pickup sounding very jazzy

 

[SharpCat]

What a very, um, nice way to say it’s a pickup you hate. No offense taken, everyone has their own flavors they like. With rounds IMO they sound great. Cut thru the mix, tight and punchy.

I was contemplating rewire my bass to be able to make it less aggressive when needed, by just wiring both pups in series, then having a series parallel switch for each pickup, in theory this would allow me “tame” a pup by switch it to parallel.
Going to order some switches to experiment with that.

I don't hate them. Dimarzio Sixties are some of my favorite, and I think the Relentless are not as good. I am thinking of selling the bass I have Relentless in.

 

[SharpCat]

I'd pass on $70 chromes, but then again, I haven't changed them in at least seven years so ten bucks a year ain't bad

Thanks for the info though, I figured it was either a specific pickup or just a description of a jazz pickup sounding very jazzy

I did not like Chromes with the Delano JMVC pickups, but moved the Chromes over to another Jazz, and they've lived there happily for a while. That bass has GuitarMadness rails in it. The JMVCs are happy with 9050s.

 

[AK Bass Guy]

I don't hate them. Dimarzio Sixties are some of my favorite, and I think the Relentless are not as good. I am thinking of selling the bass I have Relentless in.

Have you tried them in parallel instead of series yet, see if that makes them less aggressive when soloing pups? I personally haven’t yet myself.
With rounds I like the aggressive upper mids and punchy bass response.
This is that wiring concept I thinking, started a separate thread for discussion.

 

[SharpCat]

Have you tried them in parallel instead of series yet, see if that makes them less aggressive when soloing pups? I personally haven’t yet myself.
With rounds I like the aggressive upper mids and punchy bass response.
This is that wiring concept I thinking, started a separate thread for discussion.
View attachment 7058114

Interesting. Will go find other thread.

 

[Yahboy]

What fo you think the model J sound on third part ?

Fresh from pack EB Cobalt flat 45-100 + Model PJ . 500K volume / MN250K blend / 250K tone ( .47uf cap )

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[Yahboy]

Another vote for Fender 9050Ls. Relentless pickups are their own thing, need some, um, curation to be tamed.

+ 9050L

Has little fuller tone on bridge J pup , slightly less crisp as Cobalt flat.