I've decided that ICBM was right.

fretmeister · September 2023

Flats on a Jazz and Rounds on a Precision is the way forward.

I've had flats on both for many years and was already sold on flats on a jazz - as long as it's the right flats. But over the weekend I went back to rounds on my 30 inch shortie precision as I felt I needed a little more bite. I also went up a gauge to 50-110 Hi-Beams which allowed me to get a lower action too.

Hi Beams are too bright when new so I did the handcream thing before fitting them to just take the edge off.

Just have to decide which bass to take to rehearsals when they restart in 2 weeks time.

stickyfiddle · September 2023

Flats on everything. There isn't a single situation in life that can't be improved by removing a rogue bassist's ability to slap.

prowla · September 2023

I have flats on a fretless Jazz.

All others are roundwounds.

fretmeister · September 2023

stickyfiddle said:

Flats on everything. There isn't a single situation in life that can't be improved by removing a rogue bassist's ability to slap.

Early disco and funk was slapping with Flats. I think it sounds way better than rounds. Flat slapping has a more sort of guttural sound to it rather than twang. I love it!

ICBM · September 2023

fretmeister said:

I've decided that ICBM was right.

Well, given how much I post it had to happen eventually just by the law of averages...

Schnozz · September 2023

I have flats on a fretless jazz and rounds on my precision, as that is what came as stock. I agree though, as a precision benefits from the growl and sustain. A jazz sounds a bit anaemic with rounds and I don't slap, so I don't need the 'zing'.

GoFish · September 2023

It's probably cause I'm a lazy so-and-so but I do quite like old rounds on a P. They've got a grippiness and low growl I dig. Flats on everything is great of course.

My problem with Jazzes are less with the sounds than with the narrow rounded neck. I've decided I like wide and flattish neck and fretboard - No one needs encouragement to play more notes when fewer will do.

stickyfiddle · September 2023

fretmeister said:

stickyfiddle said:

Flats on everything. There isn't a single situation in life that can't be improved by removing a rogue bassist's ability to slap.

Early disco and funk was slapping with Flats. I think it sounds way better than rounds. Flat slapping has a more sort of guttural sound to it rather than twang. I love it!

That's fair. It's the Wooten/Miller that really drives me up the wall

thermionic · September 2023

So what are the right flats for a Jazz? I’ve always had Jazz basses (usually Squiers and currently an older CV) and am intrigued.

munckee · September 2023

ICBM said:

fretmeister said:

I've decided that ICBM was right.

It's a bit like when your mate's wife is an absolute hotty who you can't help lusting after, you know it, she knows it and he knows it, no-one has to say it out loud!

fretmeister · September 2023

thermionic said:

So what are the right flats for a Jazz? I’ve always had Jazz basses (usually Squiers and currently an older CV) and am intrigued.

After trying way too many sets and spending far too much money, for me it is the Ernie Ball Group iv Flats.
Not the cobalt flats - they are trying to be rounds.

The Group iv flats are stainless steel like old trad flats but they have a bit more top than La Bellas do. They are bite-y enough when just using the bridge pickup and lovely and full on the neck. La Bella's can get horribly sticky in warm weather - I find them very difficult to play if my hands are even slightly sweaty. No problems with the EBs at all.

They are a bit bright when brand new but they settle down in a couple of weeks, or you can do what I do - slather them with E45 cream for 10 mins. Give them a bit of a rub down to get rid of any excess and then fit them. That speeds up the process quite a bit. I think the cream gets into the tiny gaps in the wrap and gums it up a bit just like skin oil and skin flakes / dirt does. Just a bit less icky.

Once they have reached their played in tone they stay consistent for years.

As far as flats go, they are reasonably priced too.

thermionic · September 2023

Thanks for the useful advice @fretmeister, I will definitely try them soon.

guitarfishbay · September 2023

I’ve had a set of flats I’ve been meaning to put on my Precision for a while, but every time I dig in with rounds and get that piano tone with growl on the attack I realise the answer is probably a second P bass just for that set of strings. But that seems a little OTT so they’re still in the packet

stickyfiddle · September 2023

I haven't tried the EBs but I love TI Flats and consistently get comments on how great my bass sound is when I play out

fretmeister · September 2023

guitarfishbay said:

I’ve had a set of flats I’ve been meaning to put on my Precision for a while, but every time I dig in with rounds and get that piano tone with growl on the attack I realise the answer is probably a second P bass just for that set of strings. But that seems a little OTT so they’re still in the packet

More basses is always the answer.

stickyfiddle said:

I haven't tried the EBs but I love TI Flats and consistently get comments on how great my bass sound is when I play out

I really like them too, but my nickel allergy means I can't use them anymore. That being said, I didn't really like the Ti on a jazz. Lovely on a precision though.

stickyfiddle · September 2023

I have a new P build in the works, so I'll give the EBs a trial. They sound really bright for flats based on YouTube, which actually might be quite nice for the stuff I think we'll be adding to the set

Sporky · September 2023

Stingray.

fretmeister · September 2023

Sporky said:

Stingray.

I have severe gas for a ray. But unfortunately they are too heavy for me by a long way. Even the supposedly lightweight Specials have gone up in weight a lot due to an infestation problem in the woods they wanted to use - affecting most US forests.

I would settle for the Joe Dart signature though. Smaller body, slimmer neck. Passive. It really only does one sound but it is such a good sound. Probably my favourite bass sound over the last few years.

stickyfiddle · September 2023

Stingrays sound good with flats... But still not as good as P basses

fretmeister · September 2023

I like Marcus Miller in small doses but that ice-pick top end gets annoying very fast.
I bet it would sound a lot better if he just attenuated the tweeters in his cabs.

Funnily enough I never left the tweeters on when I was using rounds on a jazz, but now that I'm on flats I do turn the tweeters on a little.

monquixote · September 2023

Should we have a generic "ICBM was right thread" like the "boils my piss" one?

I think it would save a lot of time.

fretmeister · September 2023

Do you know what boils my piss?

Hotel room kettles.

Cranky · September 2023

1-Flats are slappable.

2-Are there any rounds that don’t make that awful finger scraping noise? If so, what are they? If not, I say flats on everything.

3-I have a PJ bass. So what’s the appropriate strings for that according to the canon?

GoFish · September 2023

Cranky said:

1-Flats are slappable.

2-Are there any rounds that don’t make that awful finger scraping noise? If so, what are they? If not, I say flats on everything.

3-I have a PJ bass. So what’s the appropriate strings for that according to the canon?

2 - Tapewounds I think.

3 - Half and Half! Not half rounds, any fool can do that - bottom two strings with flats and the top two with roto 66s.

In all seriousness, either flats or 66s for the zing.

stickyfiddle · September 2023

@cranky I mean.. it’s a bass and you’re not a monster, so flats!!

ICBM · September 2023

Cranky said:

I have a PJ bass. So what’s the appropriate strings for that according to the canon?

Since a PJ is just a P with an extra pickup you never use, the answer is the same as for a P

.

fretmeister · September 2023

I really like Duff McKagan's PJ tone - and he's definitely using both.

Albeit with a 3 way switch to avoid all that insertion loss crap.

Secret_Sam · September 2023

I had flatwounds on a fretless, so they didn't gouge the fingerboard. On everything else, I find that a couple of weeks of finger grease and dead skin sort out any noisiness.

Actually, eeuuwww.

TeleMaster · September 2023

He's a good lad, our ICBM.

thisisguitar · September 2023

fretmeister said:

Sporky said:

Stingray.

I have severe gas for a ray. But unfortunately they are too heavy for me by a long way. Even the supposedly lightweight Specials have gone up in weight a lot due to an infestation problem in the woods they wanted to use - affecting most US forests.

I would settle for the Joe Dart signature though. Smaller body, slimmer neck. Passive. It really only does one sound but it is such a good sound. Probably my favourite bass sound over the last few years.

Early 2000s Sterling could be a better choice then. I think they are a bit smaller bodied and can be picked up at reasonable money.

fretmeister · September 2023

thisisguitar said:

fretmeister said:

Sporky said:

Stingray.

I have severe gas for a ray. But unfortunately they are too heavy for me by a long way. Even the supposedly lightweight Specials have gone up in weight a lot due to an infestation problem in the woods they wanted to use - affecting most US forests.

I would settle for the Joe Dart signature though. Smaller body, slimmer neck. Passive. It really only does one sound but it is such a good sound. Probably my favourite bass sound over the last few years.

Early 2000s Sterling could be a better choice then. I think they are a bit smaller bodied and can be picked up at reasonable money.

Alas, they are far too heavy.

The Joe Dart's are often about 7.5lb. The old Sterlings are often hitting 10lb.

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I've decided that ICBM was right.

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