Bass strings for Jazz bass
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Bass strings for Jazz bass
I have a Fender Jazz bass. I strung it with those black coated strings hoping to get close to a Motown-like vibe, not much brightness, good mids and lows.
I noticed the current strings also put out an odd harmonic that the Tone pot can’t hide.
Time for new strings. I’m looking at flatwounds. Any suggestions appreciated.
I’m also learning that there are low tension strings which are good for people with weak hands or who don’t play that often. I’m leaning that way too.
My research is thinking GHS or La Bella might be the way to go.
I noticed the current strings also put out an odd harmonic that the Tone pot can’t hide.
Time for new strings. I’m looking at flatwounds. Any suggestions appreciated.
I’m also learning that there are low tension strings which are good for people with weak hands or who don’t play that often. I’m leaning that way too.
My research is thinking GHS or La Bella might be the way to go.
- ManFromGlass
Longtime Poster - Posts: 6904 Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2011 12:00 am Location: O Canada
Re: Bass strings for Jazz bass
I have LaBella flatwounds on my Precision and G&L short scale. I love them - the ones on the Precision have been there 9 years now!
When I had flats on the Jazz, they were Fender 9050 and I thought they were great too. Also much cheaper than the LaBella. Quite bright to begin with but they settle down nicely.
If you want low tension, I think the TI Jazz flats are much looser than the LaBellas.
I now have DR Sunbeam roundwounds on the Jazz - a great all round string I think, not overly bright, suits the Jazz great, and works for all styles.
When I had flats on the Jazz, they were Fender 9050 and I thought they were great too. Also much cheaper than the LaBella. Quite bright to begin with but they settle down nicely.
If you want low tension, I think the TI Jazz flats are much looser than the LaBellas.
I now have DR Sunbeam roundwounds on the Jazz - a great all round string I think, not overly bright, suits the Jazz great, and works for all styles.
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- Aled Hughes
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Re: Bass strings for Jazz bass
I too like DR strings, also D'Addario, who has a model that are half round.
- resistorman
Frequent Poster - Posts: 2758 Joined: Sun Nov 22, 2015 12:00 am Location: Asheville NC
"The Best" piece of gear is subjective.
Re: Bass strings for Jazz bass
Thomastik-Infeld (TI) Jazz Flat Wound strings are what I have on one of my precision basses and they’ve been on it for about 10 years now. I’ll probably never change them. Best flats I’ve ever tried. I use a foam mute with them too.
Re: Bass strings for Jazz bass
I tried a foam mute and it got me part way there. Some great suggestions here. The Motown vibe that caught my imagination most was the one that sounded like there was little hi frequency information, but it wasn’t as simple as rolling off the high end. It was like a really well played in string.
I have more homework to do.
I have more homework to do.
- ManFromGlass
Longtime Poster - Posts: 6904 Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2011 12:00 am Location: O Canada
Re: Bass strings for Jazz bass
It seems to me that when asked what strings were used, a famous player from that era replied “the ones that came on it”
Duck Dunn maybe? Could be just an apocryphal story…
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- resistorman
Frequent Poster - Posts: 2758 Joined: Sun Nov 22, 2015 12:00 am Location: Asheville NC
"The Best" piece of gear is subjective.
Re: Bass strings for Jazz bass
I have TI flats on an Ibanez SR500 and also on my fretless.
I love them, good tone, nice feel, and last very well.
(I also have a PJ with roundwounds because sometimes you have to have that sound, but the flats are lovely strings.)
BUT, they don't really deliver a Motown thump, I think you need a thicker string for that, I have some Dadarrio flats on a fretless p-bass and they are probably more 'Motowney'
James Jamerson is supposed to have used LaBella flats in a slightly heavier gauge, I have no direct experience of those string though.
I love them, good tone, nice feel, and last very well.
(I also have a PJ with roundwounds because sometimes you have to have that sound, but the flats are lovely strings.)
BUT, they don't really deliver a Motown thump, I think you need a thicker string for that, I have some Dadarrio flats on a fretless p-bass and they are probably more 'Motowney'
James Jamerson is supposed to have used LaBella flats in a slightly heavier gauge, I have no direct experience of those string though.
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- Random Guitarist
Frequent Poster - Posts: 1049 Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2008 12:00 am Location: West Sussex UK
I've never liked a solo violin, you need at least five for a proper fire.
Re: Bass strings for Jazz bass
resistorman wrote: ↑Fri May 27, 2022 6:23 pm It seems to me that when asked what strings were used, a famous player from that era replied “the ones that came on it”Duck Dunn maybe? Could be just an apocryphal story…
That was Bernard Edwards of Chic IIRC but it was possibly DD too
Re: Bass strings for Jazz bass
Random Guitarist wrote: ↑Fri May 27, 2022 6:57 pm James Jamerson is supposed to have used LaBella flats in a slightly heavier gauge, I have no direct experience of those string though.
I’ve tried them once and didn’t get on with them but yes, they are the authentic motown bass string as used by Jamerson. Guages are .052 - .110 so they’re definitely on the beefy side and the tension is such that you can really dig into them without them flapping about.
Re: Bass strings for Jazz bass
Dan LB wrote: ↑Fri May 27, 2022 7:27 pmRandom Guitarist wrote: ↑Fri May 27, 2022 6:57 pm James Jamerson is supposed to have used LaBella flats in a slightly heavier gauge, I have no direct experience of those string though.
I’ve tried them once and didn’t get on with them but yes, they are the authentic motown bass string as used by Jamerson. Guages are .052 - .110 so they’re definitely on the beefy side and the tension is such that you can really dig into them without them flapping about.
I have the slightly lighter set on the P, so still very heavy. They do give a proper ‘Motown’ sound.
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- Aled Hughes
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Re: Bass strings for Jazz bass
So a thicker string has more tension and thus you have to work harder?
- ManFromGlass
Longtime Poster - Posts: 6904 Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2011 12:00 am Location: O Canada
Re: Bass strings for Jazz bass
Back then, electric was often not recorded direct but through an amp and cab, and miced up. Then if the Motown drum tracks are any guide the tape could be heavily saturated. So there may be more going on on say Jameson's bass lines.
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- Tim Gillett
Frequent Poster - Posts: 2654 Joined: Wed Jan 30, 2013 12:00 am Location: Perth, Western Australia
Re: Bass strings for Jazz bass
Tim Gillett wrote: ↑Fri May 27, 2022 8:49 pm Back then, electric was often not recorded direct but through an amp and cab, and miced up. Then if the Motown drum tracks are any guide the tape could be heavily saturated. So there may be more going on on say Jameson's bass lines.
Most things I’ve read suggests that the bass was usually DI’d and an amp only used for monitoring.
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- Aled Hughes
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Re: Bass strings for Jazz bass
I have had the TI flatwounds on my ‘78 Fender Jazz for more than 10 years and they are fantastic. Great tone and easy to play. Expensive option but you can’t go wrong with TI’s if you are looking for lower tension strings.
On my Fender Precision I first tried GHS flatwounds but the tension was too high. Then I tried the La Bella low tension flats but the tone on one of the strings was funky. Ultimately I landed on DR Sunbeam roundwounds whch are low tension, easier to play and yet still have that great roundwound tone. A nice contrast with the Jazz bass.
On my Fender Precision I first tried GHS flatwounds but the tension was too high. Then I tried the La Bella low tension flats but the tone on one of the strings was funky. Ultimately I landed on DR Sunbeam roundwounds whch are low tension, easier to play and yet still have that great roundwound tone. A nice contrast with the Jazz bass.