Your favorite flats for a jazz?

[Gervais Cote]

TI flats for me as well.
I tried the Fender stainless flats and my jazz bass was kind of dead.
I then tried the EB cobalt, was a tad better but not lively enough.
(The cobalt ended on my lightweight p bass and magic happened though with a punchy and sweet sound !)
And when I installed the TI flats, WOW ! My jazz bass came to life. Lots of everything and surprisingly good for slapping and popping for a funky sound. In fact, I never thought some flats could be so funky on a jazz bass. They sound sweet and "buttery" when you take it easy but they can rock when you push them hard although they don’t seem to be made for aggressive playing. And they are low tension so not for everyone.
I have to say my jazz bass is on the heavyweight side for me so it may influence the results.

 

[bubinga5]

I couldn’t imagine using any kind of flats for alt rock.

I couldn't imagine any type of flats on a Jazz. Totally takes away the tonal character of the bass.... imo

 

[ShawnG]

I have EB Colbalt flats on my USA Geddy and that bass sounds GIANT with them. I’m wanting to try TI Jazz flats on my Sadowsky RV4 (currently w/ Sunbeams), but haven’t pulled the trigger yet.

 

[Peter - Oregon]

Labellas or ghs precision flats. They give me that old school snakey john paul jones tone.

I play a lot of Zep, and love JPJ. This idea is intriguing to me!

 

[Peter - Oregon]

Blown away by the great response on this thread already!

 

[michael_t]

I play a lot of Zep, and love JPJ. This idea is intriguing to me!

Keep in mind JPJ played Rotosound Jazz 77 Flats on his Jazz.

 

[Pocket Dave]

Chromes, 45-100, for a hair of added zing on the top with my fretless Jazz.

 

[brianrost]

TI Jazz Flats for me

 

[Drzejzi]

I've tried only Rotosound 77 and they are ok.

 

[Peter - Oregon]

TI flats for me as well.
I tried the Fender stainless flats and my jazz bass was kind of dead.
I then tried the EB cobalt, was a tad better but not lively enough.
(The cobalt ended on my lightweight p bass and magic happened though with a punchy and sweet sound !)
And when I installed the TI flats, WOW ! My jazz bass came to life. Lots of everything and surprisingly good for slapping and popping for a funky sound. In fact, I never thought some flats could be so funky on a jazz bass. They sound sweet and "buttery" when you take it easy but they can rock when you push them hard although they don’t seem to be made for aggressive playing. And they are low tension so not for everyone.
I have to say my jazz bass is on the heavyweight side for me so it may influence the results.

TI flats for me as well.
I tried the Fender stainless flats and my jazz bass was kind of dead.
I then tried the EB cobalt, was a tad better but not lively enough.
(The cobalt ended on my lightweight p bass and magic happened though with a punchy and sweet sound !)
And when I installed the TI flats, WOW ! My jazz bass came to life. Lots of everything and surprisingly good for slapping and popping for a funky sound. In fact, I never thought some flats could be so funky on a jazz bass. They sound sweet and "buttery" when you take it easy but they can rock when you push them hard although they don’t seem to be made for aggressive playing. And they are low tension so not for everyone.
I have to say my jazz bass is on the heavyweight side for me so it may influence the results.

It sounds like you've done your homework. I hear a lot of good things about the TIs. They are spendy (I believe this set is $75?). Always wondered why. Low production volume maybe? I play pretty aggressively a lot, so maybe not best for me?

 

[ELG60]

1. T.I. Jazz Flats
2. Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats but T.I.'s by a significant margin.

 

[jmlee]

How’s the feel on the Group IV’s? I tried the EB Cobalts and couldn’t stand how grabby and rough they were.

Very smooth indeed. Smoother to my feeling than are the TI's. The Ernie Ball Cobalts are downright sticky and to my feeling, never really lose the higher friction, even after extended use. The GHS Precision Flats are perhaps the smoothest, quite glassy right out of the package, but I'd never recommend them for a Jazz Bass.

 

[lunarpollen]

I don't like how they feel but I imagine Rotosound flats would give closest to the late 1960's British sounds that I love so much... I would probably end up going with Chromes, myself, and getting a rather heavy set and having it set up properly with low action.

 

[meatwad]

Chromes, or LaBella Deep Talkin Bass, depending on what you’re looking for. Chromes feel very stiff, and are almost as zingy as nickel rounds, for a while anyway. The LaBellas are a little more subdued right out of the pack, and feel more comfortable.

 

[Peter - Oregon]

I have been playing for around three years. As mentioned above, I currently have D'ddario nickel wounds on my J, and also on my Stingray. The Fender flats are on my P, and I have Black Beauties on my Epiphone Thunderbird. That is pretty much my string experience. When people mention the low tension, on the TIs for example, I don't believe I have experienced that. I imagine it is a bit of an acquired taste, no?

 

[tb-player]

I tried TI Jazz Flats and they felt nice but I hated the red silk wraps. Does that make me shallow?? I ended up becoming a fan of Labella 760FS flats. Black silks, and they feel/sound wonderful.

 

[jmlee]

Chromes, or LaBella Deep Talkin Bass, depending on what you’re looking for. Chromes feel very stiff, and are almost as zingy as nickel rounds, for a while anyway...

The thing about Chromes or indeed the Ernie Ball Group strings is that you need to play them until the initial zingyness disappears. After that they're stable for a very long time with a lovely, slightly punchy flatwound character.

 

[vcs700s]

Flats on a Ric - yes
Flats on a P-bass ... oh yeah
Flats on an L1000 ... it doesn't get much better
Flats on a Jazz bass ..... that's like peanut butter and mayonnaise.

I was raised eating PB and mayo sandwiches. It was my brothers go to.

I tended to lean toward PB and mustard. Variety is good.

Yes I like flats on a jazz bass as apparently many others do too.

Oh, for variety PB and bologna is good too!

 

[Guiseppe]

Thomastik Infeld jazz flats. Expensive but so worth it.

 

[Guiseppe]

I tried the Fender 9050L both on my P and J several years ago and decided they sounded better on the J. That's what's on my Highway One J right now.

Meanwhile, my P is wearing the Ernie Ball Group IV Stainless Steel Flats (NOT Cobalt) and I'm very happy with them.

I have a 2011 Highway One, waiting on it to come back from paint right not but it's going to have TI Jazz Flats and a new set of Lindy Fralin noiseless split jazz pups w/ 5% overwind. Glad to see others enjoying their Highway Ones. Did you know they have graphite stiffening rods? (The 2011's did, anyway...)