Members mrcrow Posted December 30, 2005 Members Posted December 30, 2005 Originally posted by seraphim7s Options? Opinions? imho you need to go further than just strings..the whole chain. i think:p but the jamerson issue strings might be a starting point...was it d'ad's
Members seraphim7s Posted December 30, 2005 Author Members Posted December 30, 2005 Oh, well, I've already done research into the other factors strings are just one link in the chain, of course, but I want it to be the right link!
Members Thumper Posted December 30, 2005 Members Posted December 30, 2005 La Bella James Jamerson flats---tho' not cheap @ $45 a set. Fender stainless flats might be a good alternative at one-thrid the price of the La Bellas.
Members beam Posted December 30, 2005 Members Posted December 30, 2005 Labella gets my vote.Deep Talkin' Flats are good stuff
Members Cortfan Posted December 30, 2005 Members Posted December 30, 2005 GHS flats on a P, or J , (even a clone) and a little technique will get you there. I read that he only changed strings, when they broke. Sorry, I haven't had much luck with Rotosounds (made in U.K.) ymmv.
Members SpaceGhost Posted December 30, 2005 Members Posted December 30, 2005 Originally posted by beam Labella gets my vote.Deep Talkin' Flats are good stuff +1Rotosound Jazz flats are a tad too bright.
Members bassplayer7770 Posted December 30, 2005 Members Posted December 30, 2005 Originally posted by Thumper La Bella James Jamerson flats---tho' not cheap @ $45 a set. Not a big deal if you never change 'em, though...
Members seraphim7s Posted December 30, 2005 Author Members Posted December 30, 2005 It's a shame the LaBellas come in such odd gauges. I'd like something equivalent to D'Addarios 45-100 (soft) gauge. I think it may well be damn hard to find GHS flatwounds in the UK. A 'net search came up with nuthin'.
Members pbass_groovin Posted December 30, 2005 Members Posted December 30, 2005 the Fender flats work for me along with a P & an ampeg
Members illidian Posted December 30, 2005 Members Posted December 30, 2005 TI Jazz Flats are supposed to be amazing. You can get them for $42 shipped from Steve "The Dude" Barr before the 2006 price increase hits.
Members Emprov Posted December 30, 2005 Members Posted December 30, 2005 Originally posted by Thumper La Bella James Jamerson flats---tho' not cheap @ $45 a set. Ya, but if you're only changing them once every three years...
Members bassment zombie Posted December 30, 2005 Members Posted December 30, 2005 Originally posted by seraphim7s It's a shame the LaBellas come in such odd gauges. I'd like something equivalent to D'Addarios 45-100 (soft) gauge. 43-104 for the LaBella lights... My 2 cents: I use Fender flats, LaBellas and other flats on different basses and I like them both. I don't notice anything 'odd' about the LaBellas or the gauges, and I currently have 2 basses strung with LaBellas.
Members Adrenochrome Posted December 30, 2005 Members Posted December 30, 2005 I'd go with the LaBellas, I have the 43-128 set on my 5. I use Roto flats on most of my basses precisely because they are very bright for flats. I've been getting my strings from the US [from TomBowersBassguitars via e-bay] and after shipping they are still cheaper than from here.
Members Johnny Duart Posted December 31, 2005 Members Posted December 31, 2005 There is ONLY ONE choice when it comes to flatwounds for the MOTOWN sound::::::::Thomastick TI Jazz Flatwounds. They are expensive, but I know people who have had them on their axes for 7 years. They actually get better with age. Mine have been on for 4 years and sound great!! So you will actually be saving money in the long run. If you mute properly, they sound awesome with a hard pick, too.
Members Jazz Ad Posted December 31, 2005 Members Posted December 31, 2005 Originally posted by Johnny Duart There is ONLY ONE choice when it comes to flatwounds for the MOTOWN sound::::::::Thomastick TI Jazz Flatwounds. Must be why Jamerson played LaBella.
Members seraphim7s Posted December 31, 2005 Author Members Posted December 31, 2005 TIs are not that much more expensive than LaBellas here to be honest, 30 quid compared to 25. D'addarios are about 30 quid. GHS flats I can't find for love nor money.
Members Johnny Duart Posted December 31, 2005 Members Posted December 31, 2005 Very true Jazz Ad, but Jamerson wasn't the only bass player Motown used. Also, the person asked about getting that real Motown sound which nowadays you can't get unless you are lucky enough to own Jamerson's Fender w/ the LaBelles on it from the Detroit sessions or Carol Kaye's Fender from the LA recording dates. The closest you can get to the OLD Motown sound I've heard these days is to buy an Ibanez srx 700 and put TIs on it. I have heard that that is the closest sound you can get to the old Fenders. Just my humble opinion.
Members seraphim7s Posted December 31, 2005 Author Members Posted December 31, 2005 Seymour Duncan pups are meant to be good as well.
Members Tim in WV Posted December 31, 2005 Members Posted December 31, 2005 also dont forget to install the mute. Jamersons bass had a big thick block of foam rubber under the bridge on and if you want his sound you should too. I once had the closest setup I could afford to J's - a 1957 american reissue with la bellas into a original B-15 - I wanted the maple neck - He also used a blue tuck and roll Kustom setup for larger venues. I guess my point is that you dont need his gear to sound like him. Almost any bass with flats can be dialed in to make that tone, I know my Ampeg can. Just a few clicks and switches and a adjustment on the bass and I cant tell the diifference. I use the intro of "I'm Going To Make You Love Me" by the Supremes where he pedals the intro to match tone becuase it's in the clear for the first few bars. my SX has TI flats and they sound just as good as la bellas but they simply dont go bad or dull like la bellas. I could never go over 3 years with la bellas but I'm over that now with the TI's and they sound just as good as the day I put them on the bass. I'm not a big fan of hero worship. I guess it's a part of getting where you need to be becuase everyone takes somebodys noise and sticks it in a blender to come out with your own sound but to totally try to sound like another bassist is bad. Always remember that Jamerson was Jamerson becuase he was James Jamerson, not becuase he used any type of special magical gear. You can go just as high with a good setup SX bass. Nobody but other bass players EVER GIVE A SHIT what you play.
Members seraphim7s Posted December 31, 2005 Author Members Posted December 31, 2005 Well, I love his tone and all, but having the mutes on the bridge really limits the variety of the bass. I'd have to be constantly taking it off, putting it back on - and I don't have the money for two P-bass', so I suppose I'm gonna have to syncopate and mute etc... to get the feel rather than the precise effect. Jamerson is just one of my many bass heroes btw
Members CoolHandDan Posted January 2, 2006 Members Posted January 2, 2006 I haven't tried the LaBella's, but I love the TI Jazz Flats. Good mwah on my frankenstien fretless.
Members zenfascist Posted January 2, 2006 Members Posted January 2, 2006 Originally posted by Emprov Ya, but if you're only changing them once every three years... "The dirt keeps the funk". The great thing about flats is that you can buy an expensive set, but it's okay because you can have that same set on your bass for a LONG time and they'll still sound good. I saw this bizzare Ovation (electric) at a music store the other day that had a bridge with a built-in mute that you could flip up and down. You may want to keep an eye out.
Members bassman1956 Posted January 2, 2006 Members Posted January 2, 2006 Check out the mute on the bridge, guys. Oh, and Rotosound RS-77M's. Have worked fine for me.
Members Tim in WV Posted January 2, 2006 Members Posted January 2, 2006 personally, I think the mute kept a lot of that funk.
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