Jazz Bass With Flats

[spongebob]

I'm always reading about a P with flats being 'the' sound....and, now doing it myself, can agree that there is something about it.

I never read the same level of praise for a Jazz with flats. Looked on YouTube and it sounds pretty good to my ears!

Don't know why the J and flats isn't a more widely used combo, after all when it was designed that's all there was!

Can't think of many recorded examples of the sound either, unlike it's P counterpart.

When I grab my next Jazz, I'll be sticking some flats on for sure. Maybe it's just me!

[Len_derby]

I have flats on my American Special Jazz. It gives a nice smooth sound that suits the folk dance band I play with.

[Paul S]

I'm pretty sure 'Is She really Going Out With Him' is a Jazz with flats. It is in this live version.

http://youtu.be/Y5BaurXMmMU

I really like the sound.

[BassBus]

Scott Devine uses flats on his jazz most of the time. Hang around a bit and I'm sure wateroftyne of these parts will be along with his views. He's a great fan of flats.

[EssentialTension]

Joe Osborn, Jazz bass with flats - lots of Simon and Garfunkel, 5th Dimension, and other West Coast sixties pop.

Lots of sixties Uk pop with John Paul Jones on Jazz with flats.

Check out earlly Scott Walker albums.

Etc etc and often with a pick.

[KiOgon]

Flats on everything for me - TI Jazz flats on a Jazz bass = made for the job I reckon they're the perfect gauges for a li'l ol' jazz neck

[Buzzy]

Jazz + flats is all I use. D'Addario Chromes on a MIJ 75 reissue...love it

[EssentialTension]

I don't have a Jazz at present but when I have had and if i did again it would definitely have flats on it.

Hear this from about 2.30 ...

http://youtu.be/06X5HYynP5E

[EssentialTension]

http://youtu.be/xZDDDFNHApI

[Raslee]

Labella flats on my 74 jazz, fantastic for reggae...still keep rounds on my P however

[miles'tone]

When I owned an Am Standard Jazz it never sounded better than when I had D'addario Chromes on there. Made for each other.

[steve-bbb]

Nay nay and thrice nay

hope this helps

[geoham]

I had flats on my jazz for a while, very nice indeed. I put rounds back on because I missed the their sound. Now, I may well go back again!
Been really tough trying to convince the wife I need two Ps and two Js so I can cover all bases at all times!

[Lw.]

Isn't it just assumed that people will put flats on a jazz so it's not worth mentioning?

The question is; why don't they come with flats on?

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='Lw.' timestamp='1418587734' post='2631508']
The question is; why don't they come with flats on?
[/quote]
They did until the late 1970s.

[sblueplanet]

I have two J basses. One strung with rounds and one with flats. I like to switch between depending on the feel I have in my head for a tune.They both get outings to rehearsals. I prefer rounds on my P bass with the tone rolled back.

[interpol52]

I've just got a Squier VM Jazz and it has flats on it, sounds amazing! Why haven't I tried this before?!

To my ears the flats give each pickup more character when solo'd.

[Gottastopbuyinggear]

I have a P with flats and a J with rounds. Been gassing for a while for another P to put rounds on, but also been gassing for a Squier VM Jazz (in natural, blocks and bound). Had absolutely no way to try and justify a second J, even to myself, and then you come along and resurrect this thread that I've not seen before...

[interpol52]

[quote name='Gottastopbuyinggear' timestamp='1460922050' post='3029846']
I have a P with flats and a J with rounds. Been gassing for a while for another P to put rounds on, but also been gassing for a Squier VM Jazz (in natural, blocks and bound). Had absolutely no way to try and justify a second J, even to myself, and then you come along and resurrect this thread that I've not seen before...
[/quote]

Sorry! Its a natural,blocks and bound one too. I cant put it down!

[booboo]

J with ti flats, p with zingy dr rw's for me. Can't think of much I can't cover between them.

[paul_5]

https://youtu.be/yirMSLeV3f0

Jazz with flats. Granted, it's no national anthem…

[project_c]

Listen to these tapewounds on a jazz, I have them on 2 p's and assumed they would sound bad on a j. But I think I'm going to give them a shot on my jazz too, that tone is pretty magnificent.

http://youtu.be/Y6JfR_ReGuw

[Wonky2]

Flats forever !

The association of certain strings for certain basses is a funny thing....
I had for a long time just gone with the autonomous format of flats on me jazz and rounds on me music man, i guess even more to the point, flats on me passive bass and rounds on me active....

What a silly boy i had been.
Id just always, for no good reason, used rounds on my music man sterling or stingrays, just did ???
I had flats on my passive jazz and loved them but one day the penny dropped, what if i put flats on my sterling ?
Oh my god, i will never go back.

I know many if the greats used stingrays with flats on but the yjought just never crossed my mind because id been doing it a certain way fir so long.

My sterling with flats is just the best playing bass ive ever owned. Never shall we be parted !!!

Never tried tapes though?

Edited April 17, 2016 by Wonky2

[bubinga5]

just my OP but a Jazz bass especially a 70's jazz doesn't sound like a 70's jazz without steel round wounds . but then again I'm not a fan of the sound of flats on a bass in any music.dont like DB either I do prefer the highs and low mid bass punch and crispness to a bass tone. Flats just sound dull to me.but WTF do i know.

Edited April 18, 2016 by bubinga5

[discreet]

I do like the growl and harmonic shenanigans of rounds on a Jazz, or any twin-pickup bass really, but the best live sound I ever got was with an active Jazz and Fender 9050ML flats.

My current Jazz GAS involves a Jazz body, a P neck and La Bella 760FS flats. And possibly a good Pre of some sort.