Since we are in the midst of the Great Pause, I've been experimenting with strings. Lately I've been liking Labella 760FX. They are very light gauge but they have a certain growl that I really like. One P bass I have has a EMG Geezer that I really like and I recently installed a David Allen P bass pickup in another P. Pretty soon I'll have to compare the Geezer and the Allen. They may sound too much like each other. I've always liked the sound of the Fender Roadworn pickups.
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Your favourite flatwounds + p pickup combo?
- Thread starter Sir Toby
- Start date
I'm all TI strings all the time.
I have a bass with the EMG Geezer pickup in it that I never really dug with rounds, so I put the Jazz Flats on and it came to life!
I've used it for church gigs, rock gigs, and some country.
It's not a strictly old school sound, fyi. It's got some midrange aggression in there that just makes me happy, and a touch of the tone knob gets you into Motown mode.
I have a bass with the EMG Geezer pickup in it that I never really dug with rounds, so I put the Jazz Flats on and it came to life!
I've used it for church gigs, rock gigs, and some country.
It's not a strictly old school sound, fyi. It's got some midrange aggression in there that just makes me happy, and a touch of the tone knob gets you into Motown mode.
That’s the pairing I have, and I love it. I kept the pickup the stock CV70’s p pickup though. Just the right level of old school thump and new school growl.
D
My P is a '75 Greco from Japan with its original pickup, so I can't tell you the exact model or specs, just that it's, well, from the 70s and from Japan and that it's just right for the bass. I pair it with a set of LaBella 760FL's!
I claim a pretty decent hearing, yet to me any P with any flats sounds just like that, a P with flats.
I can differenciate between brand new flats and well seasoned flats but that's about it.
I can differenciate between brand new flats and well seasoned flats but that's about it.
I prefer flats though in general, I definitely prefer brighter flats and P pickups are my preference.
I currently have a Spector Legend with Dunlop flats, a Vintage Vibe with a Tone Rider TRP1 with Fender 9050s, an '89 Korean P with an Alnico Wilkinson WPB with Chromes and a P+J with a Dimarzio Model P with Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats.
I really like them all, but I'd put them in that order. I'd say the Spector and Vintage Vibe are a step above the other two but they are all very good but definitely a more modern and less vintage/extra thumpy vibe unless that sound is dialed in.
I also really like the Labella Low Tension Flats but I don't have that set at the moment.
I currently have a Spector Legend with Dunlop flats, a Vintage Vibe with a Tone Rider TRP1 with Fender 9050s, an '89 Korean P with an Alnico Wilkinson WPB with Chromes and a P+J with a Dimarzio Model P with Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats.
I really like them all, but I'd put them in that order. I'd say the Spector and Vintage Vibe are a step above the other two but they are all very good but definitely a more modern and less vintage/extra thumpy vibe unless that sound is dialed in.
I also really like the Labella Low Tension Flats but I don't have that set at the moment.
It would be easier to list the ones I don’t like LOL! I’ve tried many and there were some great attributes to most. Currently the Sadowsky Blue flats on my stock 1974 P is really making heads bob. Another P with GZRs sounds great with DTFs so I have not felt the need to experiment. My P5 crushes with a Nordstrand NP5v and TIs, and also with Cobalt Flats. Precision Flats thump great with just about every bass I’ve had them on too.
Quarter Pounders get labelled as a ‘scooped / modern / rock’ pickup, but with flats or especially tapes, and with a bit of tone roll-off they have a really good weighty / thumpy vintage tone. I used them for jazz, I love those pickups.
Fender Original P pup or 5% underwound p pickups + Broken-In Labella DTF760L / LTF4A + .1uf/.068uf cap.
I’m 100% onboard with this. My main P-bass has this combo and it sounds incredibly smooth and full.
Labella LTF on my Nash loaded with Lollar pickups work for for me. My favorite flats were the Sadowsky Black Labels. They were perfect for me. I really wish they'd start making them again.
I haven't experimented with a bunch of combinations, as I just stopped when I found something I liked. My 2012 American Standard came with the Fender Custom Shop 60's pickup, and I strung it with TI Flats in March 2015. That same set of strings is still on the bass to this day, and the sound, for me, is pure magic. I have yet to find a tone that I like more than that.
Aguilar 4P-60 pickup and Pyramid Gold flatwounds - meaty low mid punch that sits great in a mix with the kick drum. Tone is pretty much old school, but it's great for vintage R&B/soul, 1970s classic rock/country rock vibe I like.
