Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Which strings do you use/like/prefer on your P Bass?
- Thread starter vindibona1
- Start date
D
Honestly, I can't think of any flats that would actually sound "bad" on a P-Bass.
I don't really disagree with you. P-bass + flats = CLASSIC!
For me there are a couple of exceptions though.
Personally I don't like certain types of "modern" flats with a strong upper mid presence on P-basses. The mid forward nature of P-basses isn't ideal with certain types of "modern" flats IMO. One example would be TI Jazz Flats (which I absolutely LOVE on most other basses, but I find then a bit "clacky" in the upper mids on P-basses). Another example would be D'Addario Chromes (which are too "clanky" sounding for my taste on ANY basses, and even more so on P-basses).
These things will obviously be a matter of personal taste though.
My favorite flats on a P-bass? Probably Roto 77s or LeBella DTFs, depensing on what kind of tone I'm looking for. Optima Chromes are really nice too, and sort of in-between Rotos/LaBellas.
My favourite overall strings on a P-bass? I like mellow sounding roundwounds so either a broken in set of Roto 66s or Pyramid Pure Nickels. For a brighter P-bass tone I prefer TI Superalloys (they also have the benefit of staying bright for a VERY long time, unlike Rotos).
But ask me again in a year and I might have changed my mind!
Ernie Ball regular slinky's are my favs hands down on all my jazz basses and the Ernie Ball regular slinky flatwounds. I'm still trying to find a good acoustic string I can feel the same about. I'm currently using D'addario phosphor bronze strings on my Fender Kingsman. They're ok but I would like to find an acoustic string that I would like a little better. Any suggestions on a better or should I say more liked acoustic string?
I apologize for posting about my jazz basses here. I do have a '83 Fender P bass that I have Ernie Ball slinky flats on
I'm really liking Chromes on my P-bass right now. They're only a few weeks old and still fairly bright, but I appreciate that with these strings I can roll off tone for a more old-school sound, or turn it up if I want some high-end bite.
Darker, thumpier flats are great, too, and in a perfect world I'd have a whole 'nother P-bass with a set of those on it - La Bella's, or maybe GHS. But for now I'm looking for something more versatile. Fender flats are next on my list to try, but I want to give the Chromes at least a few months and see where they end up.
Darker, thumpier flats are great, too, and in a perfect world I'd have a whole 'nother P-bass with a set of those on it - La Bella's, or maybe GHS. But for now I'm looking for something more versatile. Fender flats are next on my list to try, but I want to give the Chromes at least a few months and see where they end up.
There are lots of strings that I rotate onto my P Basses depending on what tones I want to achieve, but some favorites are:
- Darker / Smoother Traditional Flats: La Bella LTF, GHS P Flats, Dogal Traditional, Pyramid Gold
- Rounds: DR Sunbeams, Pyramid Pure Nickel, Gabriel Tenorio Pure Nickel
- Tapewounds: Pyramid black tapes (… I especially love a custom set I had them make me which uses pure nickel strings beneath the nylon top wrap
)
- Darker / Smoother Traditional Flats: La Bella LTF, GHS P Flats, Dogal Traditional, Pyramid Gold
- Rounds: DR Sunbeams, Pyramid Pure Nickel, Gabriel Tenorio Pure Nickel
- Tapewounds: Pyramid black tapes (… I especially love a custom set I had them make me which uses pure nickel strings beneath the nylon top wrap
)Loving the Dunlop flat 40-100 I’ve had the last couples of weeks. More modern flat tone with tone knob all the way up but old school goodness when rolled back.
Just to follow up on my earlier post, I still love Hi Beams on a Precision however I have strung a few Precisions with different strings just to change things up.
Right now I have the Hi Beams on 2 Precisions (Sandblasted Precision and my Am Pro II). They sound awesome on these basses.
Labella LTF on the Vintera II 50s Precision. Not really sure I like these on this bass.
Labella DTF 760FL on the 60s AVII.
I’m going to swap out the LTFs on the 50s Precision for either Dunlop SB Nickels or DR Pure Blues. I need to think on that. I did determine that it prefer the DTFs to the LTFs sound wise. Plus a single Precision with flats is enough for my needs.
Right now I have the Hi Beams on 2 Precisions (Sandblasted Precision and my Am Pro II). They sound awesome on these basses.
Labella LTF on the Vintera II 50s Precision. Not really sure I like these on this bass.
Labella DTF 760FL on the 60s AVII.
I’m going to swap out the LTFs on the 50s Precision for either Dunlop SB Nickels or DR Pure Blues. I need to think on that. I did determine that it prefer the DTFs to the LTFs sound wise. Plus a single Precision with flats is enough for my needs.
This is interesting! If you've used both, how do these differ from the standard Pyramid tapes?- Tapewounds: Pyramid black tapes (… I especially love a custom set I had them make me which uses pure nickel strings beneath the nylon top wrap
I guess with tapes there's no stopping the buzz as they break the grounding, right?There are lots of strings that I rotate onto my P Basses depending on what tones I want to achieve, but some favorites are:
- Darker / Smoother Traditional Flats: La Bella LTF, GHS P Flats, Dogal Traditional, Pyramid Gold
- Rounds: DR Sunbeams, Pyramid Pure Nickel, Gabriel Tenorio Pure Nickel
- Tapewounds: Pyramid black tapes (… I especially love a custom set I had them make me which uses pure nickel strings beneath the nylon top wrap
The Pyramid nickel tapes have a slightly mellower attack, whereas the standard (steel) tapes are a little more “up front” and pronounced on the attack of the note.
The nickels are also just a touch lower in amplified output due to differences in magnetic properties. Not massive differences, but I like the overall character of the custom nickel Tapes a lot. The standard Pyramid tapes with steel under-windings are terrific too, though.
All of my basses are thoroughly shielded with adhesive copper tape, and I can run tapes on all of them with zero buzz!
GHS Pressurewound Bronze for Acoustic Bass: feel great and very low string noise and no loss of acoustic output
I have 5 Fender Precisions, all have had different strings at various times. Currently, one has LaBella DTFs, one has LaBella LTFs, two have D’Addario Chromes, and one has Fender flats. I find with strings you need to experiment until finding a good match because each bass is unique in how it responds.
