What strings for a Rick sound from a P-Bass?

[51PRI]

I know there are a lot of threads about strings so I apologize in advance.

I recently bought a '99 Precision Special. It has a Precision body, both P and J pickups and a J sized neck. Perfect bass, really but I would like to get more highs out of it.

I have D'Addario Half Round strings on it now. Would a string change help me get more of a Rick sound?

What strings?

Thanks!

 

[Deleted member 271037]

No strings can make a Precision (or PJ) sound like a Rick. Not even close, no chance, just forget about it.

However, if you want to get closer to the tone of a specific Rick player you can take a small step in the right direction with the right choice of strings, like Roto 66 for Chris Squire. Maybe Optima RB flats for McCartney? Or did he use Pyramid Golds on his Rick? It still won't sound even remotely like a Rick but at least somewhat closer to the signature tone of that particular bass player (although stuff like amps/cabs will also matter of course).

But if you want the tone of a Rick you will need to buy a Rick. A PJ-bass will never sound like a Rick. Sorry.

If you simply want "more highs" from your Precision there are LOTS of strings that will be brighter than the ones you are currently using. Half rounds are somewhat mellow by design. Practically ANY roundwounds will be brighter. It's really just a matter of how bright you wanna go...

 

[51PRI]

No strings can make a Precision (or PJ) sound like a Rick. Not even close, no chance, just forget about it.

However, if you want to get closer to the tone of a specific Rick player you can take a small step in the right direction with the right choice of strings, like Roto 66 for Chris Squire. Maybe Optima RB flats for McCartney? Or did he use Pyramid Golds on his Rick? It still won't sound even remotely like a Rick but at least somewhat closer to the signature tone of that particular bass player (although stuff like amps/cabs will also matter of course).

But if you want the tone of a Rick you will need to buy a Rick. A PJ-bass will never sound like a Rick. Sorry.

If you simply want "more highs" from your Precision there are LOTS of strings that will be brighter than the ones you are currently using. Half rounds are somewhat mellow by design. Practically ANY roundwounds will be brighter. It's really just a matter of how bright you wanna go...

Thanks! While I realize that a simple change of strings won't make a P-bass sound like a Rick, but what makes a Rick sound like a Rick? Pickups, set neck construction, body materials, all of the above?

I've decided to boil the old set of strings, round would, that were on the bass when I bought it cause I have them and why not? That should give me some answers as to whether new strings are in order of if the bass itself just had a dull sound

Thanks again!

 

[Lammchop93]

It won’t get you 100% there, but rotosound swing 66 is a pretty common string a lot of Rick players use. I’d give that a try.

 

[shoulderpet]

You need to ditch the half rounds, those strings are closer to flats than rounds, any roundwounds will be brighter

 

[iiipopes]

Thanks! While I realize that a simple change of strings won't make a P-bass sound like a Rick, but what makes a Rick sound like a Rick? Pickups, set neck construction, body materials, all of the above?

I've decided to boil the old set of strings, round would, that were on the bass when I bought it cause I have them and why not? That should give me some answers as to whether new strings are in order of if the bass itself just had a dull sound

Thanks again!

All the above. Knowing that a P can never sound like a Rick, if you want something approaching the mellow Macca tone, get Optima RB flats. If you want something approaching Chris Squier clank, get Rotosound Swingbass.

 

[51PRI]

All the above. Knowing that a P can never sound like a Rick, if you want something approaching the mellow Macca tone, get Optima RB flats. If you want something approaching Chris Squier clank, get Rotosound Swingbass.

Aren't Rotosounds the strings that chew up frets (and hands)? If so, what is a second choice?

 

[iiipopes]

Aren't Rotosounds the strings that chew up frets (and hands)? If so, what is a second choice?

Rickenbacker many years ago changed to a slightly harder fret wire. That said, I prefer GHS Super Steels as a little smoother in both tactile feel and tone.

 

[GIBrat51]

Aren't Rotosounds the strings that chew up frets (and hands)? If so, what is a second choice?

They have that reputation, yes. And, while they did chew up the frets on my '78 P-Bass - to the point that I had to replace them; in their defense? The bass was 10 years old when I bought it; the original owner had always used Roto 66s; he had a very active band; and the bass got played a LOT. And, yes, they did chew up my fingers - for the short time I left them on the bass. But, again in their defense; I hadn't played a bass - or anything else - in several years. And, my job at the time required pretty sensitive, callus-free fingers, so... yeah, they did feel like I was running my gingers up and down a wood rasp. But, I have to admit - they did sound good. I wouldn't say they sounded "Rickish"on a P-Bass, though. I learned to play bass in 1968, on a friend's '68 4001 - with the original factory Maxima Flats on it. Trust me; the P-Bass did not sound anything like that Rick... I'll second iipope's recommendation about the Optima RB flats; Optima bought the Maxima company years ago, and, using their original specs, duplicated those factory strings with the RBs. I have them on my '01 4003...
In any case; no, a P-Bass, with one split-coil humbucker, is never going to sound much like a multi-ply, neck-thru bass with 2 sometimes noisy single coil pickups. But, if you really want to try? Either the Roto 66s, or the Optima RBs, are a good string choice. As for a 2nd choice for rounds? I really couldn't say; I don't much care for rounds - at all. I only have one bass - out of 24 - with rounds, and they're TI's "short scale" Jazz Rounds, on my hollow body Gretsch Broadkaster. You could try those, I guess; they are pretty bright; they probably aren't nearly as abrasive as the Rotos; and they certainly make my fingers as happy as roundwounds can. For rounds, they are rather expensive, though... the only reason I bought them is because I was in a hurry, and thought they were TI Jazz Flats. A fortuitous mistake, as it turned out, but... a mistake nonetheless...

 

[MattZilla]

Someone posted on here a vid of them playing a P loaded with a Tonestyler and, IIRC, it was Roundabout that they played and it sounded dead-on like CS’ Ric. Beautiful, stellar snarl.

 

[Bobbadfinger]

This one ?


No Rick expert or even owner, but sounds pretty good to me, so I guess with some eq and proper technique, you can emulate anything "close 'nuff".

 

[Lo-E]

D’Addario XL nickel rounds are fairly bright strings and they’ll be much smoother on your fingers than Roto 66s and much brighter than your half rounds. They’re also fairly inexpensive so why not start there and see where you want to go from there?

We’ve already established that your P-bass special won’t sound like a Ric but the XLs will give you bright upper mids to work with and then you can decide where you want to go after that.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

I actually sold my 4003 because I thought my P got “close enough” while being hum free and way more comfortable and ergonomic. That video exemplifies the point pretty well.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

Thanks! While I realize that a simple change of strings won't make a P-bass sound like a Rick, but what makes a Rick sound like a Rick? Pickups, set neck construction, body materials, all of the above?

Thanks again!

I’m going to say all of the above. And as a longtime owner of a Rickenbacker 4001, and a one time longtime Jazz Bass owner, IMHO, a Jazz Bass can sound very much like a Rickenbacker. And my guess is it’s because both basses have dual single coil pickups.

I’ll echo what other folks have already stated: A P-Bass sounding identical to a Rickenbacker is a very tall order. But as a rabid Precision Bass fan, IMHO, a P-Bass can punch through the mix as well as a Rickenbacker, by using stainless steel roundwounds. My first suggestion would be Rotosound Swing Bass 66’s.

Listen to John Entwistle’s incredible tone on The Who’s “Live at Leeds” album.

Aren't Rotosounds the strings that chew up frets (and hands)? If so, what is a second choice?

I would say “yes” to this a few decades ago. The Swing Bass sets that I used in the late 70’s/early 80’s were a dull gray color, and they indeed had a rough texture to the touch, but I bought a set of Swing Bass 66’s in 2020 and I put them on my P-Bass. Their outer surface now looks shiny, and their texture is much smoother, and more uniform.

And, I only noticed excessive fret wear on my Rickenbacker. Back then, Rickenbacker used soft, narrow frets. The P-Bass that I playing back then was on a steady diet of Rotosounds, and it’s jumbo frets held up to that rougher surface without a single problem

And with today’s smoother surface, I wouldn’t even worry one bit.

I highly recommend Swing Bass 66’s for “That” tone. IMO D’Addario Pro Steels are also great. I have a set of GHS Super Steels on deck, but these Rotosounds still sound killer, so I’ll keep rocking them until they sound dead.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

This one ?


No Rick expert or even owner, but sounds pretty good to me, so I guess with some eq and proper technique, you can emulate anything "close 'nuff".

I took a look in the details given in the caption – the strings are Lo-Riders 45-105. It's a great sound

Is some of the grit in there to do with how the pick is interacting with the surface of the SS strings, plucking at an angle to grind against the texture?

 

[51PRI]

Okay, so I boiled the strings that were on the bass when I bought it (used) and put them back on. Definitely an improvement over the half rounds for punch.