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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »
What is your favorite Fender bass for surf?
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Joined: Mar 12, 2008 Posts: 1237 Bay Area 
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Posted on Jun 16 2011 01:28 AM
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Joined: Feb 09, 2007 Posts: 917 Brew City
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Posted on Jun 16 2011 08:35 AM
Flatwound strings are great. I have used them since I started playing as a teenager. They aren't for everyone nor are they appropriate for all styles of playing, but they definately sound great and are easy on your fingertips and frets. —The Exotics 1994-Current |
Joined: Feb 19, 2010 Posts: 98 Seattle,Wa
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Posted on Jun 16 2011 07:51 PM
Gheez Abe, tell your dad to put some shoes on already |
Joined: Mar 15, 2011 Posts: 8528 Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up. 
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Posted on Jun 16 2011 08:51 PM
Thanks to Abe, I've found my bass. I already have the broom handle and washtub. What size string do you recommend? Braided or straight-wound, coated or uncoated? Natural fiber or nylon, or a blend? Would it sound better going through a reverb tank or should I just use a bigger tub? also, do you think I need the long broom-handle or will the shorter broom-handle suffice? Thanks. —This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got. Last edited: Jun 16, 2011 21:10:40 |
Joined: Nov 02, 2010 Posts: 97 Austin, TX 
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Posted on Jun 16 2011 10:23 PM
Nick_The_Grip wrote:
+1 for flatwound bass strings! I like Pyramid flatwounds the best, although they now cost an arm and a leg (probably due to the rising cost of nickel) |
Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle 
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Posted on Jun 16 2011 10:43 PM
Nick_The_Grip wrote:
Flatwounds can be great. You can't play like a wimp with them though or it sounds really neutered. |
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Joined: Feb 19, 2010 Posts: 98 Seattle,Wa
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Posted on Jun 20 2011 08:04 PM
I've played on flatwounds for bass guitar many times, and of course I have flatwounds on my uprights, but for bass guitar, I just don't see the appeal. It's got a dull feel (both in fingering and attack) and sound IMO. If I were to do more fingering I could probably get into it a little more, but I play bass guitar on the harder side. Maybe its just me but I see lots of surf bassists, especially those who have started playing the instrument specifically for the genre tending to go the flatwound route perhaps heavily due to the guitarists in their band using flatwounds. All in all, it doesn't matter much as long as people are out there playing. Try both and just pick what you like best. Can't put up much of an argument against personal preference. |
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Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle
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Posted on Jun 20 2011 08:54 PM
I bet most of the bassists back in the day used flatwounds, if John Entwistle is to be believed, the only way you could get roundwounds was to actually buy a Dan Electro bass. Granted England vs. the US could be the reason. And Nick, I think you are dead on when you suggest that most bassists play flatwounds because it is what the guitarists in their band plays. You just can't get the same attack with flatwounds unless you are a really aggressive player, which leads to some pretty dull bass work. And to me, that describes a good number of surf bands. |
Joined: Apr 15, 2008 Posts: 1281
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Posted on Jun 20 2011 10:11 PM
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Joined: Apr 15, 2008 Posts: 1281
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Posted on Jun 20 2011 10:20 PM
Johnny_Z wrote:
I'm pretty sure Jet Harris used flats. And those aren't rounds I'm hearing on Nitzsche's The Lonely Surfer. Just sayin. — |
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Joined: Feb 09, 2007 Posts: 917 Brew City
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Posted on Jun 21 2011 08:41 AM
When I started out as a teenager my first bass came with flatwounds. I was unaware until a few years later that there were other kinds of strings. For the last 15-20 years or so I have used rounds, flats, groundwound and pressure wound. It all depends on the bass and the style of music. I think that if you want a truly vintage sound then flats are the way to go. That being said I have never used anything but rounds on my main bass, a 91 Jerry Jones Longhorn. However I keep them on until I fear they may break. I just changed them a few weeks ago and realized that they have been on for at least 6 years. They pretty much sounded and felt like flatwounds. —The Exotics 1994-Current |
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Joined: Mar 15, 2011 Posts: 8528 Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Jun 21 2011 09:06 AM
Any last words of wisdom before I select a used bass? The choices are Squier Standard P & J basses and Squier Vintage Modified P & J basses. I prefer the Vintage Modified versions but am undecided between the P/J versions. I am recommended both of them (of course). I just can't quite justify the cost of the Classic Vibe versions, but they sure seem nice. There is also a blond Austin P-Bass for a very low price, but I know nothing of them and they seem not to be made anymore. I will be making a choice late this week or early next week, so please chime in if you think I'm about to make a mistake (like maybe taking the Austin P-Bass to save a hundred bucks). Thanks. —This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got. |
Joined: Jun 12, 2011 Posts: 5 |
Posted on Jun 21 2011 11:33 AM
I personally like p basses best. It's a good, simple design. |
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Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle
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Posted on Jun 21 2011 12:22 PM
Thirtydirtybirds wrote:
And because of how they sound right? I know you wouldn't recommend an instrument to somebody just because of how it looks, right? |
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Joined: Jun 12, 2011 Posts: 5 |
Posted on Jun 23 2011 06:45 AM
Of course! I was more referring to the electronic simplicity. There is nothing more than the minimum the instrument needs, and nothing to slow the signal. I've played bass in bands much more than guitar and have tried alot of different basses with more pickups, active electronics, and special features but have always gone back to my p-bass. It is comfortable to play (which I understand is subjective) and always makes excellent tone, no matter what type of music I'm playing. It has plenty of boom and thunder, and always stays in tune. I probably should have elaborated in my first post. |
Joined: Apr 05, 2006 Posts: 1547 Bethlehem, GA
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Posted on Jun 23 2011 09:26 AM
^ ^ ^ ^ Noel, to answer your question the Squier Classic Vibes are GREAT value for money. If one of those is in your budget, that's what I would recommend. The CV's Precisions rock...especially the Fiesta Red version! Jack Booth The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005), 2025 Last edited: Jun 24, 2011 13:14:28 |
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Joined: Sep 06, 2011 Posts: 53 Maricopa, AZ
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Posted on Mar 08 2013 10:10 PM
This will be my next bass purchase. Squier Jaguar Bass. Has a great sound and look! |
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Joined: Mar 15, 2011 Posts: 8528 Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Sep 05 2014 12:36 PM
I found this old thread so I thought I'd post a picture of my complete bass outfit here. Squier Vintage Modified J-Bass with Fender chrome covers. Peavey Century 120 Amp Head, Kustom Deep End 4X10 bass cabinet. The Squier just got a set of RotoSound 45-105 Jazz Flats to get it ready for October. Yummy! I'm very interested in a user manual and pedals for this amp. It has jacks for Footswitch and Booster.
This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got. |
Joined: Oct 05, 2011 Posts: 744 France
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Posted on Sep 05 2014 04:07 PM
Have a look there If I understand correctly the "booster" jack is just a line level out. —Old punks never die... They just become surf rockers. |
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Joined: Mar 15, 2011 Posts: 8528 Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Sep 05 2014 05:34 PM
LeeVanCleef wrote:
That's it! Thanks very much. —This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got. |
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