What strings were used on 1951 P-bass ??

[keyboardguy]

Hi all,

Just wondering; when Leo Fender invented the Precision bass in 1951, what strings did he use?
Did he already have a string maker to make strings specifically for the P-Bass?

And what were the gauges of the original strings? Flatwound or Roundwound?

Inquiring minds want to know ........




Mike

 

[Baird6869]

I am pretty sure that rounds weren't invented until the mid-60's.

Of course, I wasn't even alive then but I am sure I read this somewhere recently.

 

[Paul New]

I`ve read, if i remember correctly, that Fender had to have strings manufactured specifically for the bass.

The goal for that first bass was to reproduce the sound of an upright as closely as possible. Hence the bridge mutes, and you would think flat wound strings, but they may have been round wound actually, as the strings were I think supplied by a piano string company.

Maybe someone that really knows will contribute.

 

[gomez hacienda]

The round-wounds were 1st. The Fender 7150 pure nickel are a re-issue of those strings. I just put a set of those on yesterday btw, and they are really nice strings. They will get a whole lot nicer in a week or so, I've been told.

 

[david fitch]

Sorry, but Flats were first.When Leo Fender created the Precision Bass in 1951 he had V.C. Squier Co. make Flatwound Bass strings for his new Bass. Fender started making Nickel Roundwounds in 1960's.

 

[knuckle_head]

First were gut strings with wire wrapped just above the magnetic pickups....

First gauges mimicked those used on uprights.

 

[david fitch]

Knuckle Head,True on the prototype but not the prodution model.

 

[keyboardguy]

Thanks folks. This is getting interesting .......

Calling Chief Inspector Clouseau !!!


Mike

 

[GreyBeard]

First were gut strings with wire wrapped just above the magnetic pickups....

First gauges mimicked those used on uprights.

I'd like to hear what this would sound like.

 

[knuckle_head]

Knuckle Head,True on the prototype but not the prodution model.

You be right.

VC Squire got tapped and made flats as a production string because the dubby/upright thing is what seemed to fly best. VC Squier was known as a violin string maker prior to expanding into electric modern instruments.

Flats were not Leo's preference - roundwounds (as an extension of the just-over-the-pups prototype) were his preference but they were too 'twangy' to have caught on initially.

There is a blurb about this stuff in the Fender book.