Which Fender should get the flats

[Tim Skaggs]

Whichever of the three is more mellow / has less high end. You don't want to put flats on the brightest one, even though it might sound great, because you will be losing a tool.

 

[TTPbass1]

I should've stated the pickups.

50s lacquered has EMG GZRs, 58 AV has the stock Pure Vintage 58s, and the Road Worn has Pure Vintage 63s.

Leave the 50s laquered with rounds and put flats on the other 2

 

[franklindayala]

I have never had flats on a bass until I received my 58 AV that came with them already installed. I play in a tribute band and also at church and only use rounds. So I pulled off the flats and put them away in the case. Since all three basses are essentially the same, with different pickups, I was wanting to put flats on one of these basses.

So I ask TB, which bass would you put them on and why? Whichever gets the most votes I will install them on. All of these basses play and sound great.

From left to right
50's lacquer, 58 AV, Road Worn. Thanks.
View attachment 5195522

The black one. A la "Black beauty" P bass that James Jamerson had.

 

[J-Bass RMR]

all three basses are essentially the same, with different pickups

My experience with my Ps is different.
Maybe in the end - meaning FOH - it doesn't really matter as much - they fundamentally sound the same, but each of my Ps has a slightly different voice / personality that I hear when I play them.

IME: You really have to try them on each.
The bass (and your ears) will tell you which one is the best fit.

 

[SLO Surfer]

I would try the flats on each bass to decide. I've found that out of my two p basses, one prefers flats and the other prefers rounds. (2012 American Standard with Fender custom shop '62 pickup prefers rounds and 2018 Moollon P with a more vintage voiced pickup sounds better with flats, to my ears).

 

[tb-player]

On the red one, put rounds on the E & A strings. Flats on the D & G strings. Then, detune the entire bass to DGCF and have some fun.

 

[Grinderman]

Whichever of the three is more mellow / has less high end. You don't want to put flats on the brightest one, even though it might sound great, because you will be losing a tool.

At first, I put flats on one P bass for a while. Then I surrendered to putting flats on my Jazz bass and my other P bass, the brightest. The mellow P wears GHS P flats. The brightest bass--the other P bass--wears Rotosound 77 Jazz monel flats.

How bright or mellow they are I modulate with tone controls and whether or not I have foam mute the strings or to what degree.

The bright one with the Rotos, unmuted, with the tone dimed is as bright as I would prefer rounds to sound anyway.

From trying flats to begin with I realized prefer stiffer strings. Plus, no more need for frequent string set changes and I get more consistency.

It works.

 

[fjbass78]

Which ever one you choose to swap the pick guard to tort will require the flats
I'm sure any of those beauties would sound awesome with flats! 58 AV would be my choice.

 

[lermgalieu]

All of them, obvs

 

[Jefenator]

I might keep rounds on one.

 

[Slevage]

I've been playing bass over 50 years--- to me they are all the same except for color.

 

[HowieD72]

I voted '58, but maybe consider letting the bass decide. Get a set of flats and string one up, doesn't matter which, rehearse with the band. Swap the flats onto the next bass and rehearse. Rinse and repeat. You should know which bass likes flats after the third rehearsal. Or if they all pretty much sound great with flats, which imo P basses tend to do, buy two more sets and say g'day to rounds completely.

+1