Where do I look for that dark, deep tone?

[mojomike001]

I moved from talking about amps to talking about basses there, maybe it was unclear. How come it's not about long wavelengths?

You can prove that it's not about long wavelengths if you think about set of good headphones or earphones. They have no problem producing fundamental tones way down to the limit of hearing, and yet there is virtually no room for the long wavelengths to propagate.

Where long wavelengths do become a factor is when you go about eq'ing a room and you have deal with nodes, modes, and standing waves.

 

[Semion N.]

So while trying to understand what the hell Tapewound is, I ran into this:



This is very very close to what I want. And the answer is in the video: P Bass with Flatwounds.

After I get my strings in the mail I'm going to look into the Amp problem. Which brand did you guys recommend for Flats? And which thickness should I get?

 

[mojomike001]

So while trying to understand what the hell Tapewound is, I ran into this:



This is very very close to what I want. And the answer is in the video: P Bass with Flatwounds.

After I get my strings in the mail I'm going to look into the Amp problem. Which brand did you guys recommend for Flats? And which thickness should I get?

You are definitely on to something there. Flats = deep and dark. Labellas are wonderful at almost any gauge.

 

[Semion N.]

You are definitely on to something there. Flats = deep and dark. Labellas are wonderful at almost any gauge.

My question was more along the lines of which gauge I should look for, but I just found some guide that says that I should experiment with them. I'll get thicker strings this time and see what happens.

A question about La Bella though: Some eBay sellers say it "Does not fit a guitar bridge where strings go through the guitar's body". Why is that? Am I cursed to never use La Bella ever?

 

[mpdd]

my projects require me to play with another bass player or a baritone guitar, therefore i like to play really dark and deep

pedal nerd setup:
sb-2 strung with AC label La Bella flatwounds into a density hulk sub pedal into a fx 90 delay

keep it simple:
vintage L2000 with deadish dunlop nickel rounds

 

[mojomike001]

In my opinion, stringing through the body is overrated.

Typically, larger strings tend to give a deeper sound, but all Labella flats sound deep. Also be aware that really large gauges may require filing the nut.

 

[One Drop]

In my opinion, stringing through the body is overrated.

Typically, larger strings tend to give a deeper sound, but all Labella flats sound deep. Also be aware that really large gauges may require filing the nut.

The FL760 set are are a great middle ground between thump, mids and highs, and are a nice tension.

 

[Semion N.]

Okay then, I'm all set for now.

Will update in a month or so.

Thank you!

 

[bassfacer22]

hope you didn't order those la bellas yet.. because just so you know, I also tried the flatwounds higher gauge and it broke the nut on my American Deluxe Jazz V bass.. so better be careful there.. and get the lower gauge.. you need to know your measurements of your nuts..

.80 .105 .125 etc...

 

[Phe]

You can prove that it's not about long wavelengths if you think about set of good headphones or earphones. They have no problem producing fundamental tones way down to the limit of hearing, and yet there is virtually no room for the long wavelengths to propagate.

Where long wavelengths do become a factor is when you go about eq'ing a room and you have deal with nodes, modes, and standing waves.

Yes, of course! Dumb me. Makes me feel a little like this:

 

[JustForSport]

Low notes played need excursion. Same with strings as with speakers.
This can come from heavier strings that travel farther (due to higher mass), or from flexible strings that move farther (due to lower tension). String your bass BEAD. Or lower, with the appropriate string gauges.
If the strings generate the signal, and the amp/cab cannot reproduce it, it won't be heard- only the harmonics. The speakers need to have excursion to reproduce the lower frequency.
This takes a lot more power to move the cone at the fundamental than at higher frequencies.
Pickup placement is also an important factor- the closer to the bridge (mid-position or farther back) the higher, tighter the sound will be because the strings have less excursion in those positions.
P's are more known for the mids they produce compared to jazz neck pickups in large part because of the pickup placement. MM 'sweet-spot' and jazz bridge pickups have a more middy and higher sound mostly because of placement.

 

[One Drop]

hope you didn't order those la bellas yet.. because just so you know, I also tried the flatwounds higher gauge and it broke the nut on my American Deluxe Jazz V bass.. so better be careful there.. and get the lower gauge.. you need to know your measurements of your nuts..

.80 .105 .125 etc...

I've never had to recut a nut for a .104 or .105 flatwound E string.

 

[bassfacer22]

I've never had to recut a nut for a .104 or .105 flatwound E string.

Go put on La Bella flatwounds B-string highest gauge.. how do your nuts hold up then?

 

[One Drop]

The OP plays a 4 string and I recommended a medium light guage.

Anyway, when you installed the LaBellas did you not check to see that the strings seated properly in the nut?

 

[bassfacer22]

Look, All I'm saying is since nobody knows the size your nut was cut originally you'll have to go to a respected luthier setup guy and have him use a tool that measures your correct nut slot sizes.. then you know what size strings to buy.. I for example have a .80 string slot instead of a .85.. but I'm ok cause I have a Graphite nut..and of course it's such a small tiny change..

the OP may have a cheap plastic nut for example and the possibility is there to crack/break.. thats all..

especially with La Bella Strings..

Also I can't remember if La Bella strings are hand-made like Fodera strings or maybe DR..

 

[One Drop]

Look, All I'm saying is since nobody knows the size your nut was cut originally you'll have to go to a respected luthier setup guy and have him use a tool that measures your correct nut slot sizes.. then you know what size strings to buy.. I for example have a .80 string slot instead of a .85.. but I'm ok cause I have a Graphite nut..and of course it's such a small tiny change..

the OP may have a cheap plastic nut for example and the possibility is there to crack/break.. thats all..

especially with La Bella Strings..

Also I can't remember if La Bella strings are hand-made like Fodera strings or maybe DR..

Or he can put the nut in the slot and if it is too big he can gently file it or take it to someone to do it for him. There is absolutely no reason to go to a respected luthier to measure a nut - you put the string in it and if the width allows the string to be seated, and it sits with about half of the string above the surface of the nut and half below, you are good. If it binds r sits above the nut slot it needs to be widened or deepened, and if it sits too low you can easily build it up with baking soda and super glue, or get the nut replaced.

But in reality I think we are just confusing him- Most basses ship with a nut cut to easily take a .105 E string.

What does hand-made have to do with it? The core and wrap wires are still machine made and are consistent whether the wire is fed by hand or not, not sure what this has to do with nuts.

 

[Semion N.]

Yeah, I bought light (goes up to .104), because of the through-body warnings. And I'll be careful not to force the string into the nut

 

[One Drop]

Yeah, I bought light (goes up to .104), because of the through-body warnings. And I'll be careful not to force the string into the nut

LaBella also makes flats for string-through installation but I can't say if there are any tonal differences having never heard them.

 

[ZenG]

So I'm watching this vid on YouTube. It's a solid body Kala U-bass.

As I listen to it I realize that everything posted on Talkbass about tonewoods, strings and pickups combined with plucking style has to be 100% bullsh*t.

This bass has more low end than you can shake a stick at. Could smoke a lot of uprights.

Pickup:- when you look at it , there's no pickup in the "standard" area.
Strings:- doesn't use any conventional bass string
Body:- very small...wood would make no difference to tone.
Scale length:- short......defies the "longscales' have better bottom end myth.

I'll copy the vid and post it.....

 

[One Drop]

So I'm watching this vid on YouTube. It's a solid body Kala U-bass.

As I listen to it I realize that everything posted on Talkbass about tonewoods, strings and pickups combined with plucking style has to be 100% bullsh*t.

This bass has more low end than you can shake a stick at. Could smoke a lot of uprights.

Pickup:- when you look at it , there's no pickup in the "standard" area.
Strings:- doesn't use any conventional bass string
Body:- very small...wood would make no difference to tone.
Scale length:- short......defies the "longscales' have better bottom end myth.

I'll copy the vid and post it.....

You do realize that the strings and PUP are in fact special designs meant to give that fat sound, right?

The trade off is a lack of harmonics and detail in the mids.

Maybe on that bass your plucking position makes no difference but the way I play mine sure makes a difference.