Papabull Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 I'm really not trying to sound stoopid (or play Devil's advocate) but would appreciate your thoughts regarding putting flats on a jazz bass. 1.Is this taboo? 2.Can it work? 3.Does it make any sense? 4. Most importantly can i get that burpy sound from the the bridge pick up using flats? Your thoughts would be VERY welcome best wishes to all paul h Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 In order; 1 - No, it's a classic sound that's on many great records 2 - Yes, see 1. 3 - Again, yes 4 - Sort of. You can get a tight, punchy, middy tone that's very recognisably a jazz bridge pickup, though it stops slightly short of the full Jaco "parp". I prefer the flats version, personally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 Wouldn't the first Jazz basses have come with flats as standard? Jazz Bass 1960, roundwounds 1966 from the quickest bit of Googling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 It's definitely worth a try. Get a cheap set of flats like fenders own and give it a go. I used to when I was playing with a guitarist who played acoustic only, worked great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 Louis Johnson used flats on his Musicman to start with. If that can work then flats on a Jazz will sound fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 Both my Jazz bases have flats on them (Chromes), I find it gets rid of the twangyness, which is a good thing from my point of view. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papabull Posted March 18, 2017 Author Share Posted March 18, 2017 Thanks all, really useful...... Going to give it a go. Not sure about string gauge but not too heavy. I tried a friends P bass strung with flats really liked the feel of them. That might sound daft but I think sometimes that kind of thing can affect how you play! Anyway thanks for your help..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 [quote name='ThePapabull' timestamp='1489834677' post='3260169']That might sound daft but I think sometimes that kind of thing can affect how you play! [/quote] Not daft at all. If you are confident in your sound then you'll be happy. A happy bass player is [i]always[/i] a better bass player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krispn Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 Flats sound great on a jazz. Remember your amp has a treble control so you can dial back in the top end but flats will give you a different version on that back pick up burp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerley Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 Just got my first jazz bass (used). Came with flats on it so I got some bright round wounds to put on. Within a day the flats were back on it as they sounded better (and I always prefer the feel of them). For me the bridge pickup sound was better with flats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luulox Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 I had chromes on mine and it sounded fantastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 Dunlop 45 to 105 flats on my fretless Jazz. Love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiOgon Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 100% yes you can, they're great on a Jazz, personally I love the TI Jazz flats matched with a Jazz neck, to me they suit it perfectly. I wouldn't like the feel of my favourite P-bass flats on a skinny neck, horses for courses & all that. GHS Precision flats on a P with 1 3/4" nut = perfect, TI's on a Jazz = perfect. Just my twopenneth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 Chromes work very well on my Jazz and have plenty of midrange growl when needed. I find rounds too clanky on a Jazz, which is already quite bright sounding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubinga5 Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 I actually think flats sound better on a Jazz Bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M@23 Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 Joe Osborn was a Jazz/La Bella guy, I think. I'm thinking of putting flats on an active 5 string jazz. Keen to give the Dunlops a go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bikenbass Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 Didn't John Paul Jones string his jazz with flats? Seemed to work out alright for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 I had flats on mine and it sounded great. I put them on a Rickenbacker too. We need to stop having rules for music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papabull Posted March 20, 2017 Author Share Posted March 20, 2017 THATS IT !!!! I'm doing it. Big thanks for everyones contribution here....... I've said it before but BASSCHAT is such am awesome community.. LOVE IT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 Let us know how this goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 http://youtu.be/RlC6zZvXMnE http://youtu.be/_cp-NUVhg2k http://youtu.be/mtZYmdNAVvc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovetheblues Posted March 21, 2017 Share Posted March 21, 2017 (edited) [quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1489784467' post='3259918'] In order; 1 - No, it's a classic sound that's on many great records 2 - Yes, see 1. 3 - Again, yes 4 - Sort of. You can get a tight, punchy, middy tone that's very recognisably a jazz bridge pickup, though it stops slightly short of the full Jaco "parp". I prefer the flats version, personally. [/quote] Yes! What he said... Edited March 21, 2017 by lovetheblues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misdee Posted March 21, 2017 Share Posted March 21, 2017 TI Jazz Flats sound wicked on a Jazz Bass. Yes, they can affect the way you think and play but that is not a bad thing by any means. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted March 21, 2017 Share Posted March 21, 2017 I haven't put flats on my passive Jazz, yet, but I have been playing my active Lakland 55-94 with flats for a little while and although it sounds pretty good, I think I prefer the "livelier" sound of a good set of rounds on an active bass. The flats give the 55-94 the typical thump and fuller fatter sound, but the P bass does that even better. I guess that's down to it's pickup design and location. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlloyd Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 I thought I had posted in this thread... where has it gone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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