spongebob Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len_derby Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 I have flats on my American Special Jazz. It gives a nice smooth sound that suits the folk dance band I play with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBus Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiOgon Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzzy Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Jazz + flats is all I use. D'Addario Chromes on a MIJ 75 reissue...love it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 http://youtu.be/xZDDDFNHApI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raslee Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Labella flats on my 74 jazz, fantastic for reggae...still keep rounds on my P however Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles'tone Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 When I owned an Am Standard Jazz it never sounded better than when I had D'addario Chromes on there. Made for each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-bbb Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Nay nay and thrice nay hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoham Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lw. Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 [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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblueplanet Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
interpol52 Posted April 17, 2016 Share Posted April 17, 2016 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gottastopbuyinggear Posted April 17, 2016 Share Posted April 17, 2016 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
interpol52 Posted April 17, 2016 Share Posted April 17, 2016 [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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
booboo Posted April 17, 2016 Share Posted April 17, 2016 J with ti flats, p with zingy dr rw's for me. Can't think of much I can't cover between them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted April 17, 2016 Share Posted April 17, 2016 https://youtu.be/yirMSLeV3f0 Jazz with flats. Granted, it's no national anthem… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
project_c Posted April 17, 2016 Share Posted April 17, 2016 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wonky2 Posted April 17, 2016 Share Posted April 17, 2016 (edited) 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubinga5 Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 (edited) 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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