Your thoughts re: Flats on a Jazz bass?

[Papabull]

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

[Beer of the Bass]

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.

[Mykesbass]

Wouldn't the first Jazz basses have come with flats as standard? Jazz Bass 1960, roundwounds 1966 from the quickest bit of Googling.

[uk_lefty]

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.

[chris_b]

Louis Johnson used flats on his Musicman to start with. If that can work then flats on a Jazz will sound fine.

[FinnDave]

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.

[Papabull]

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.....

[chris_b]

[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.

[krispn]

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.

[kerley]

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.

[Luulox]

I had chromes on mine and it sounded fantastic.

[paul_5]

Dunlop 45 to 105 flats on my fretless Jazz. Love it.

[KiOgon]

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

[Dan Dare]

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.

[bubinga5]

I actually think flats sound better on a Jazz Bass.

[M@23]

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.

[Bikenbass]

Didn't John Paul Jones string his jazz with flats? Seemed to work out alright for him.

[Cat Burrito]

I had flats on mine and it sounded great. I put them on a Rickenbacker too. We need to stop having rules for music.

[Papabull]

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

[chris_b]

Let us know how this goes.

[Funky Dunky]

http://youtu.be/RlC6zZvXMnE

http://youtu.be/_cp-NUVhg2k


http://youtu.be/mtZYmdNAVvc

[lovetheblues]

[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

[Misdee]

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.

[chris_b]

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.

[dlloyd]

I thought I had posted in this thread... where has it gone?