Flatwound vs roundwound strings on a Fender Jazz Bass
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- Опубликовано: 19 авг 2015
- This video is a comparison between flatwound and roundwound bass strings on Jazz Bass. The strings compared are LaBella 760FL flatwounds and D'Addario XL roundwounds. Both sets are brand new. The bass used is an all stock Fender JB62-75US, a japanese made Jazz Bass. The tone control on the bass is all the way up. I have rolled back the bridge volume a little bit to get rid of the mid scoop when I play pick- and fingerstyle, for slapstyle both pickups are on full. The bass is recorded through a good studio preamp and a little bit of compression is added. There is a transcription of the first groove in this video on my website:
anakronfilm.com
My website with music, transcriptions and films:
www.anakronfilm.com
My store on Gumroad (Transcriptions, books and film streaming):
anakronfilm.gumroad.com/
Me on Spotify:
open.spotify.com/artist/6H73g...
Me on Apple Music:
/ andreas-brink 
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Flatwounds played with a pick is the most underrated type of bass tone IMO.
I came for the comparison, but stayed for the grooves.
Great job!
Thanks!
Lol me too.
Same here
One thing is consistent no matter which set of strings are used here - the tone is superb! Nice work.
Thanks!
This was a few years ago but they sound pretty new to me.
Flatwound love confirmed! Thanks for the vid!
Yeah.. I love that little extra punch flat wound gives, but I think slap style sounded better with the round wound - just the difference in the way the strings slap against the frets.
Andreas, thank you for making videos with varied styles of playing. I am almost entirely a fingerstyle jazzman, so hearing a video with 100% slap is useless to me. keep up the great vids.
Thanks for your support! I agree that there are way too much slapping in many videos.
I feel you man, I play mostly jazz with a pick and finding jazz comparisons with pick playing is not easy
One of the best examples of a JAZZ Bass with flats is the entire sole BLIND FAITH record. Ric Grech plays a Jazz bass often muted and gets such a great tone on that album. "Do What You Like" has a kinda weird jazzy bass solo on it.
You're a bass player you'd want in a band.
Thank you!
Just came to check out some string comparisons, but got so much more.. Gonna be working on that first groove! :) So funky and rhythmic. Thanks for sharing
I very much like the flatwound sounds.
Thank you. This is the way a comparison video should be. Also, I think I need two Jazz basses now.
I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
Fantastic video that illustrates the sonic differences between flats and rounds. I know which I prefer. Thanks for taking the time to make and post this video!
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
That's a really helpful comparison, thanks for uploading this.
Great comparison video. Really nice playing and production. Thanks for posting.
Glad you liked it!
I have always thought of flats with a P bass and thought it should stay that way but I'm kinda thinking about trying them on my Jazz after this thanks for your time in doing this test
Nice chops too
the bottom end and mid-range richness/growl of those La Bellas is amazing
Thank you for the demo
>Beautiful video
I especially love the close up pictures the picture of Bob Dylan w/ Jazz Bass on your wall that comes at the end ;) !
Thanks a lot! Bob is one of my favorite bass players...
The flatwounds sounded absolutely great! I recently did put Thomastik Infeld flatwounds on my Rickenbacker 4003S. Love it!
LaBella kicked it out! That's the next strings I'll put on my next PJ Bass!!
Switched to LaBella flats a few years ago and never looked back. Very smooth and deep sounding. Can't stand playing a bass anymore strung with round wounds.
I'm convinced that round rounds are just temporary place holders on all guitars.
@@hnholdings7776 You're damn right. When I'm done comparing flatwounds, my new bass is losing the stock rounds forever 😆
Very interesting comparison for me. I also play Jazz basses and yesterday I played my very first gig with flats.It was a Latin gig and I expected them to work well for that, but I also slapped on some tunes and while I don't really like the slap sound of flats on their own... In the band context they worked way better than I had expected. You video also shows that you don't really need the zingy fresh strings to make slapping work.
I'm glad you found the comparison useful! Flats really emphasize the fundamentals of the notes which make them stand out in a mix or a band context.
Excellent comparison video. They both sound great!
Thanks Ron!
I was on the fence if I wanted to try flats, this totally sold me. Thanks for taking the time to share
You're welcome, thanks for watching!
What song is this you are playing? Or just a groove you made up?
It's just something I made up for this video.
Nice. Sounds cool, I transcribed it lol
Could you share ? I like the first riff but I cannot figure it out. If you have a transcription you could share... I would be thanksfull.
Man that's some beautiful bass playing. Very helpful video too, thanks.
Thanks a lot for watching and commenting!
This is so helpful! I'm a guitar player who has played a little bass before and had a bass years ago. I just recently got one again. It's a Yamaha and I love it but it's got roundwound strings on it. Thinking back to the bass I had before, it had flatwound strings and that's really the sound I love and your video confirmed that it was not just all in my head. For what I want to do, flatwound is definitely the way to go. Thanks. Great playing, by the way!
Thanks! Yes, rounds or flat makes a big difference in both the sound and the feel of a bass.
I love the sound of the DTF played fingerstyle I use D'Addario Chrome flats on my Thunderbird and play it fingerstyle, great tone and sustain.
nice chops man! interestingly the difference as barely noticeable when playing with fingers, but slapped and especially picked there was a huge one. Can't even say I prefer one sound. Just depends on what is about to be recorded.
Super useful video. Good grooves too. Thanks mang!
Thank you!
The LaBella strings played slap were honestly maximum Seinfeld.
ewwwww916 midi sounding slap
Man, I wold never guess that the flats would ever sound like that!! Amazing. All Hail RUclips!!!
Never go maximum Seinfeld :D
@@jackkovar7806 What a Soup Naziest comment.
Very useful video and nice playing. Thanks!
Thank you!
The pick-style playing was impressive. Generally though, I'm having such trouble finding out the differences in the sound from all of these videos, except for slap style. I own a 4-string jazz with stock pups and roundwounds and a 5-string ibanez vtv with flats and a bartolini active set. The only thing I can say for absolutely sure is that if you're gonna play a 4-hour gig, you'll have a much easier time with flats. But if you're gonna slap, put GHS Boomers on that bass.
Solid playing, sir!
Thanks!
Great comparison video! Thanks for sharing! Flats more more body to the tone and warmer! :)
Thanks! Yes, flats are definitely warmer and have more fundamental.
Great sound and solid time!
Thanks!
Very good video! I prefer roundwound for my jazz bass
Thank you for the video it was really helpful. Superb playing too. Have used GHS flats on my 2006 Fender Jag bass for last 2 years and love the sound of the flats. I was thinking about what brand of flats to check out next. The La Bellas sound great on this video was also considering buying XL chrome flats or Ernie Ball Cobalt slinky flats too.
Damn dude, your technique is really good! I was impressed with the precision in your picking especially. Nice work!
Thanks, I appreciate it!
I started playing guitar and bass when I was 9 years old, I’ll be 61 in April. Whenever I play bass, I won’t go onstage unless it’s a Fender J bass with flat wound strings. That’s the only combo that gives me the pop I’m looking for. Round wounds are okay, but that’s the best I can say about them.
Thanks a LOT for this comparison. I have a Squier Classic Vibe Precision, & a MIM Fender Jazz (both with roundwounds)...I'd been wanting to replace my old LTD 5-string with a P or J 5 for the sound and string spacing, but it took forever to finally decide on the Jazz. Now I'd been debating do I want to put flatwounds on the Jazz V for a somewhat different sound, figuring I wouldn't be slapping all that much on it anyway and it would be mainly for finger play.
This video was an eye-opener, flatwounds should take a little of the high-end edge off of a J, but I really dig the slap sound with the flats. I think I'll have the best of 3 worlds.
Thanks for watching, I'm glad you found the video useful. Flats sounds great on a j, especially in a mix I think. And those Classic Vibe Ps, I have one too and it has become my main bass.
Great demo! Thanks! I think I will stick with the round wounds.
Thank you!
Great riffs
Thanks!
Nice DRI shirt :) Also great vid. Thank you
Thanks!
Trying to make this same decision for a nice 2002 Peavey Cirrus 5 bass I just traded for.
BTW, I like your Revox A77 Mkiv you have in the background. I have the same machine with Dolby and spent last summer rebuilding and calibrating it. It is a super reel to reel machine, as you already know.
very nice video bass playing is superb
Thanks Mark!
The video is very helpful! thanks!
I'm glad you like it!
yep, totally soled to flatwounds, also, cool grooves man!
Thanks!
I have Daddario XL45-105 on my US jazz right now but I'm going to put a set of Roto Jazz 77's on it soon
those flats deffo have more soul. great vid ty :)
Awesome shirt man
Thanks, DRI is the shit!
Thanks man, great comparison 3 different play styles but keep the same riff for both string types so it's easy to listen to the different sound produced by just the string. Ps great playing style!
Thanks, I'm glad you found the video useful!
great video and sweet DRI shirt
Thank you! D.R.I. was a great band.
Nice funky picking pattern you got there. That's what I think turns a lot of people off from picking, when they only see the boring up down picking pattern
Thanks! I really like the clear, exact tone you get with a pick.
I love those flats. I have d'addario flats on my basses and they feel and sound great, but I may buy the labellas you've got on there for my next bass, a fender american fretless
The LaBellas are great if you want that old school thumpy sound.
+Andreas Brink yeah and they still seem to maintain that jazz bass growl, which I love.
Flatwounds sound great on a JB!
It depends on the style of song and style that is being played. I like both.
I was a bit skeptical initially when I saw the plectrum but you've got some nice chops brother.
Thank you! Playing with a pick is as much of an art as playing fingerstyle. Of course it's also every bit as valid.
@@AndreasBrink Yeah, I also play guitar and I find myself preferring fingers over plectrum in general. Plectrum has a place for me still, such as when I need my acoustic guitar to be louder than my fingers could sustain for long. Both are great, because I get to play music XD
Flats RULE!!!
Finally , a demo of the La Bella's slap style , I knew they could do it, and do it well.
You still have the deep mellow tone as well. I thinking this gauge on a USA Precision w/maple neck might work really good ? What do you think ?
Yes, the LaBellas work great for slapping, especially if you like the more old school slap sound. I'm sure these strings would sound great on a maple P.
+Andreas Brink Everything I play is old school anyway, some light slap, but most important is that deep low down bottom where a bass sounds like a real bass. Got some of those LaBella's same gauge as you got there, ordered today. Thanks man !
Good for you! Just let them break in for a couple of months and I'm sure you'll love them.
+Andreas Brink
Got them on there today, and love em. The DRs that were on this bass when I got it last week, were loose and rattling, unplayable.
These tighten everything up, plenty bright, and the low bottom, perfect !
I still would have ordered the wrong strings or gauge if you would not have posted this demo.
Thanks again !
Thank you sir!!!
+Ball Belmont You're most welcome!
Appreciate your help! :) Now I know I don't have to try flat ones because I had the impression the round wounds sound a bit brighter, at least when slapped.
Rounds sounds a lot brighter. In this video the both sets are new, so the flats you hear are as bright as they are ever gonna get. You play flats for the thump and fatness, certainly not for brightness.
I'm sorry, I didn't know. I am only learning on my own. @@AndreasBrink
I didn't mean to lecture you! I'm more than happy if my videos are of use to someone learning about bass, beginners and pros alike.
@@AndreasBrink Oh, all right. :-)
That's some amazing playing. Funky! Yeah!
Thanks a lot!
Yeaah those bellas will do
I'm feelin those Labella's too. Just exploring that vintage Motown sound. Think I might try them on my Fender Aerodyne Japan Jazz Bass and throw on some Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounders too. That should bottom me out fairly well. By the way....nice technique Homie....Think I'll probably put Fodera Round Wounds on my LTD ESP B-1006.
Thanks for watching! You can't go wrong with LaBellas.
Love the sound !! Custom shop pickups?? Great video !!
Thanks, they are stock pickups.
So I'm looking at nickel D'Addario strings for slap bass... they don't mess up the board or fingertips, do they?
Nice!
Thanks!
Everything in the universe blends together and I lose all sense of time when I'm playing my jazz bass with flats using a pick.
How old were the Daddarios as you played them in this video?
Help! I can’t decide! I love the “thump” of the flats, because I love playing fingerstyle, but when I’m in a different mood (or when I play with my band) I use a pick to get an aggressive growl out of my old roundwounds...
It’s so difficult to choose the right one for me!
Fortunately you are allowed to own two basses, one with flats and one with rounds. It sounds like that is what you need.
@@AndreasBrink yes, I think you're right :D
unfortunately, I just bought a guitar, so I prefer to save some money... That's the problem ahahaha
If you want to fall in love with the sound of a Jazz bass with flatwounds listen to the one great album by Blind Faith and the first two Blue Cheer records.
craigdamage Listen to John Mayers album “Room For Squares”.
I thought it was a P bass for years. Nope, a Jazz all the way.
@Greg Elchert YOU'RE KIDDING
@Greg Elchert DAAAAAAMN
Blind Faith ♥️
Might have to look into some LaBellas. I currently have some Fender flats on my Jazz, but the LaBellas sound like they have a little more high response.
They have a bit of high end in this video because they're new. When they have been played for a while they have more "thump" than anything else.
How do you like the Fender flats otherwise? I recently put a set on my Squier '51 Precision. I absolutely love the sound and feel of the E, A and the D is OK but the G barks and howls and accenutates the dead spot on the 5th fret.
flats for slap and pick.
rounds for fingerpicking
You are an exquisite bassist, sir. Would you mind referring me to your source for drum tracks?
Thank you! The drums in this video are from the built in drummer function in Logic Pro.
Anyone know if flat wounds are easier on frets?
you have strong control and tone in your hands. i don't say that too easily.
Thank you!
Nice, the ReVox A77 Mk. IV in the background...
What would you recommend for a fretless? Flat or round?
Yeah, old Revox stuff is nice. Rounds on a fretless will give a more "typical" fretless sound (more growl) but rounds will also cause more wear on the fretboard. Flats will sound a bit more mellow and be nicer to the fretboard. There are also options in between round and flats, like groundwounds or halfrounds which are viable options on a fretless. I don't play fretless anymore, but when I did I used rounds for a more growly sound.
I use my A77 on a daily basis, it simply sounds great...
Yes, I have noticed wear of the fretboard quite quickly. My fretless bass is homemade, it used to be fretted. The sound is already very good, but I intend to get it even more "woody", if you like. Rounds could help with that, don't you think?
Yes, I think they would. You could also try to cover the fretboard in epoxy or some other hard stuff to keep it from wearing as fast.
OK, I'll try that, thx...
Black Nylon coated strings on a fretless. Even with a treated fretboard. Gives a more upright bass feel and sound.
I didn't expect the La Bella's to hold up so well in the slap area. With the other styles I thought they made your Jazz sound like a P Bass.
They work for slap when they're new, after that you've got 20 years of fat thump left in them.
Nice richie blackmore headstock mod.
Hallo Andreas, danke für deine Demo!
Welche Drumsounds bzw. -files verwendest du in Deinem Demo?
Danke im Voraus für deine Antwort!
I'm using the Drummer function in Logic Pro X.
Thank you for sharing your work with us. I am considering a walnut body bass guitar with maple neck and either ebony or birds-eye maple fretboard. The flatwound strings sound the best to me. As one commentator already mentioned, I would have liked to know more about your pickups of choice. Otherwise, this was exacly the comparison I was looking for. 😎👍🏻
Thanks for watching and commenting! What you hear in this video are the stock pickups from the Fender factory.
Flatwounds have that initial thud sound when the string is struck. Like the old school tone they have.
....what hurts the fingers more after several hours of playing? What's more likely to produce those dreaded finger-blisters?
I can’t recall ever getting full-fledged finger blisters (develop those calluses!), but both can make your skin sore after a lengthy jam or gig. Flatwounds generally have much more tension, but a smoother surface feel. Roundwounds generally have much less tension (i.e., slinky) and a rougher surface feel. If you are slapping, roundwounds are the obvious choice because the slinkiness is easier on your popping fingers (they are also brighter/cleaner sounding). If you like to play with dangerously low action, you can perhaps offset flatwounds’ natural tension. But, seriously, work on intentionally developing calluses before you start playing in longer jam sessions.
Great demo. Ordered some flats and busy practiing now. Are you willing to reveal the name of this song?
Thanks! This is actually not a particular song but something I made up just for this demo.
Still more admiration!
Is this a custom Japanese fender? I've never seen this color before. Looks like a combo of Penny and Autumn Blaze Metallic.
Burgundy Mist is a standard color. I don't now how common it is though.
Hey man do you give lessons? I want to play like you.
Thanks! Unless you live in Sweden lessons may be a problem... I haven't gotten in to Skype lessons and and more hi tech stuff like that yet, but maybe I will in the future. For now you'll have to steal my licks from videos!
Got the same DRI shirt 😀
I got mine at a concert in 1990. I remember they started really late because the drummer was completely wasted.
What is the color of that jazz bass called? I don’t think I’ve ever seen one in that color before...
It's called Burgundy Mist.
Andreas Brink huh, I thought burgundy mist was a light purple..either way it’s a beautiful bass. Great demo too. 😎🎸🎶
what series jazz is that? and whats the finish called? it looks great...
I'm glad you like it! It's a Japan made model called JB62-75US, which means it's a kind of 62 reissue with American made pickups. The finish is called Burgundy Mist.
you remind me of bobby vega!
I'll take that as a BIG compliment!
That bass is easily one of the sexiest ever. You guys make a cute couple
Thanks, unfortunately she left me for someone else.
I'd like to hear it without the drum track, or at least reduced volume on the drums? The snare and occasionally cymbals were hiding a lot of the punch from the bass. Great playing, though!
That’s lmy dream bass!!! Whats it called and where can I get my hands on a similar one? What a beaut
It's a Fender JB62 Jazz Bass made in Japan. The colour is called burgundy mist I think. If you're lucky you'll fins one on Ebay, Reverb etc.
Thank you!! I'll keep my eye out :))
I believe roundwounds sound, but I'll stick with the Flatwounds for awhile.
it'd be great if you shared your own opinion in words. great job thnx
Is it wrong that I prefer the sound of the round wounds?
No it's not
Got the same DRI Tshirt.
I bought mine at a concert in 1990!
+Andreas Brink haha I didn't. I was 5 then
man im gonna go buy some flat wounds now haha
The difference should be bigger than what we hear. The tone and the technique are great, but the information is somehow lost in the recording, or the LaBellas were not broken in yet. Never compare new flatwounds, if you're not Steve Harris.
Wow! What are the basslines?
It's stuff I made up for this video.
"I Don't Need Society" with Labella Flatwounds
Yes! Followed by "I'd rather be sleeping" played as a bossa nova (on flats with a felt pick).
Slapstyle XThumbstyle O