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What kind of strings do you use and what gauges?
I don't know how many of the bass players here use
flatwound strings compared to the guitar players but I
would imagine about half do. When I had flats on my
bass I used Labella Deep Talkin' flats in the MH gauge
(.49 to .109 I think) and Rotosound flats in .50 to
.110. Now I've got Ernie Ball Slinky medium
roundwounds on but when they're fresh they're really
"zingy." I like them most after they get pretty dead.
Richard
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I haven't been keeping up too well lately so I don't know if I'm
coming in to this thread at an appropriate time, but there are so few
posts regarding surf bass that I have to put my 2 cents in. I use
rotosound flats on my burns bison it is the only way that I think that
bass sounds good, it's way to boingy with roundwounds. I have used
them from time to time on other basses like a Jazz Bass Deluxe that I
used to have (way to heavy) and I have a 51 precision reissue that
I've experimented with flats but i think sound better with rounds. I
think that either can sound good and appropriate. I play with my
fingers about 98 percent of the time and obviously the flats sound way
more vintage.
Jon Z.
The Exotics
The Nelsonics
--- In , Richard <errant_jedi@y...> wrote:
>
> I don't know how many of the bass players here use
> flatwound strings compared to the guitar players but I
> would imagine about half do. When I had flats on my
> bass I used Labella Deep Talkin' flats in the MH gauge
> (.49 to .109 I think) and Rotosound flats in .50 to
> .110. Now I've got Ernie Ball Slinky medium
> roundwounds on but when they're fresh they're really
> "zingy." I like them most after they get pretty dead.
>
> Richard
>
>
>
> ____________________________________________________
> Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page
>
I like Rotosound round wound (RS66) i believe they are
"medium guage" (110)...
your man on bass,
-dp
--- reddsoxx72 <> wrote:
> What kind of strings do you use and what gauges?
>
>
>
>
>
>
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--- johnnywreckingball <> wrote:
"...it is the only way that I think that bass sounds good,
it's way to boingy with roundwounds. I
have used them from time to time on other basses like a
Jazz Bass Deluxe that I used to have (way to heavy) and I
have a 51 precision reissue that I've experimented with
flats but i think sound better with rounds."
I play a 1951 Fender Precision MIJ reissue also. I like
the somewhat "boing-y' and "rumble-y" sound of the heavier
Rotosound Roundwounds. I also enjoy the "treble-y" and
"piano-y" tibre of the RS66's. The Rotosound flatwounds
sound too much like The Ventures bass (dead thud fart) tone
for my liking.
I play the Fender Bass both fingerstyle and with a
plectrum.
I guess "beauty is in the ears of the beholder" on this
one,
-dp
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To be honest, this is a never-ending experiment in tone. You gotta try
'em all if you can. I have never found a "best" brand, but I generally
prefer roundwounds based on what I play in rock, surf, swing and
electric blues.
Currently, I just restrung my Peavey Accelerator with D'Addarios 50-105
Nickel Roundwounds. Yep, like other roundwounds, you do get an initial
"boing-y", even guitar-like sound. I'm not one who religiously cleans
the strings, so this dies away after a little time with the instrument.
I went to the 50 gauge G to see if I could get more muscle and "sound"
than a 45. The jury is still out.
I've tried Ernie, Roto, D'Adds and I like the "balls-y" tone I get from
rounds when combined with my Eden head. That works for me. GHS Boomers I
stay away from, I guess because of a bad experience way back. But, flats
work great for particular styles of music and even for some Surf. I
think vintage P-Basses (esp 50s) sound great with them. Very full-bodied
warm tone.
On my acoustic bass guitar, I use Elixers or factory Martins. Nothing
but high marks for these strings.
bIG wAvE Dave Becker
Bass, The Tube Sharks, The Aquamarines
And even for some surf?!? Although I'm no bassist, I would say
flatwound bass strings is a must for surf music. Roundwounds on the
other hand might work for "surf rock" ;-)
/ Klas
--- In , "Dave Becker" <novapup@i...>
wrote:
But, flats work great for particular styles of music and even for some
Surf.
Klas:
Although many "trad" surf bands utilized flatwound bass
strings (ventures and lively ones, in particular), many
others utilized roundwounds on their "fender" electric
basses (notably, Dick Dale and Deltones, Challengers, and
many modern 2nd and 3rd wave surf bassists).
back in the early days, flatwound and tapewound bass
strings were quite common...but, on Fender did offer
roundwounds on their Precision and Jazz basses.
your man on bass,
-dp
--- Klas Fjellgren <> wrote:
> And even for some surf?!? Although I'm no bassist, I
> would say
> flatwound bass strings is a must for surf music.
> Roundwounds on the
> other hand might work for "surf rock" ;-)
>
> / Klas
>
>
> --- In , "Dave Becker"
> <novapup@i...>
> wrote:
>
> But, flats work great for particular styles of music and
> even for some
> Surf.
>
>
>
>
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> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make
> Yahoo! your home page
>
>
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->
>
>
> .
> Visit for
> archived messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
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Thanks to everyone for their input. I decided to go with the
Rotosound flatwounds. (ordered online) Hopefully they give the
sound I'm looking for!
--- In , "Dave Becker" <novapup@i...>
wrote:
> To be honest, this is a never-ending experiment in tone. You gotta
try
> 'em all if you can. I have never found a "best" brand, but I
generally
> prefer roundwounds based on what I play in rock, surf, swing and
> electric blues.
>
> Currently, I just restrung my Peavey Accelerator with D'Addarios
50-105
> Nickel Roundwounds. Yep, like other roundwounds, you do get an
initial
> "boing-y", even guitar-like sound. I'm not one who religiously
cleans
> the strings, so this dies away after a little time with the
instrument.
> I went to the 50 gauge G to see if I could get more muscle
and "sound"
> than a 45. The jury is still out.
>
> I've tried Ernie, Roto, D'Adds and I like the "balls-y" tone I get
from
> rounds when combined with my Eden head. That works for me. GHS
Boomers I
> stay away from, I guess because of a bad experience way back. But,
flats
> work great for particular styles of music and even for some Surf. I
> think vintage P-Basses (esp 50s) sound great with them. Very full-
bodied
> warm tone.
>
> On my acoustic bass guitar, I use Elixers or factory Martins.
Nothing
> but high marks for these strings.
>
> bIG wAvE Dave Becker
> Bass, The Tube Sharks, The Aquamarines
