John W. Posted December 20, 2003 Share Posted December 20, 2003 I recently bought a 2003 Fender Highway 1 P-Bass. It sounded horrible with the stock roundwounds (horrible because I was searching for the "old-school" Tommy Cogbill, Jamerson thump.) I put some TI flats on it, much better, although the g at 3rd fret was a bit weak on my home amp, ok on my gigging amp. The Thomastics are loose feeling strings, so I put a set of Lakland Joe Osborn's--a bit thicker and thumpier and boom!--low g is right there where it should be, and all the notes down in the business zone sound pretty even. The bass now takes me to the place I wanted to go--think Cogbill with King Curtis on the original "Memphis Soul Stew", or Jamerson with the Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band "90 Day Cycle People"--damn I'm having fun!--gotta go... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g. Posted December 20, 2003 Share Posted December 20, 2003 Was that Cogbill with King Curtis? Wow, I always liked that a LOT back when I was a horn player. Cool that you found the right type of string for the tunes. TI "flats" are really a hybrid design; in many ways they shouldn't even get discussed with standard traditional-design flatwounds. But then, a lot of people don't know what do do with ground-wound or compressed-wound strings either. I guess two categories max are about all the market can bear ; } . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted December 20, 2003 Share Posted December 20, 2003 Great going, JW! Pretty soon you'll be taking away all my funk gigs! I'll call you in January. Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John W. Posted December 20, 2003 Author Share Posted December 20, 2003 >>"Was that Cogbill with King Curtis?<< Yeah, on the mellower original studio cut. The amped-up, "Purdified" live at Fillmore version has Jerry Jemmott on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g. Posted December 20, 2003 Share Posted December 20, 2003 Yeah I have the Fillmore West one - or did - before some of my vinyl was taken in a storage unit hiest. Now I just have a tape I made way back when to listen to in the van. But I thought that was jumpin' Jerry Jemmott, whose style I really like too. I recall that King Curtis was murdered a week or two after the Fillmore West Live album was released. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassdrummer Posted December 21, 2003 Share Posted December 21, 2003 I was just wondering about this same topic -- string changing -- as I just received a used MIM P-bass via eBay. I too am wanting the "Jamerson thump" and am wondering what brand/type of strings I should go with. I've never bought bass strings and am very bewildered about it all! Not sure if this is on topic, but I noticed that when I play a C on the G string (5th fret) it sounds really weak compared to other notes on that same string. Is this a string issue or a neck issue or what? "All the world's indeed a stage, and we are merely players..." --Rush, "Limelight" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John W. Posted December 21, 2003 Author Share Posted December 21, 2003 JeremyC writes, "Pretty soon you'll be taking away all my funk gigs." Ha ha--NOT!! Seriously, Jeremy, I've been in the string bass only, jazz gig, backing singers worlds for so long, I'd have to do a long apprenticeship in R&B, soul, pop, rock, funk, etc , as well as learn how to play the instrument adequately, before my phone starts ringing for the bass guitar. I'm looking forward to the hang in January. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted December 21, 2003 Share Posted December 21, 2003 Originally posted by bassdrummer: Not sure if this is on topic, but I noticed that when I play a C on the G string (5th fret) it sounds really weak compared to other notes on that same string. Is this a string issue or a neck issue or what?Ah, the infamous deadspot... It's a product of the resonant frequency of the headstock/neck/strings/neck-joint system being very close to one/some of the dominant harmonics (possibly the fundamental) of the notes around that area; i.e. the vibrations in the neck cancel out some of the vibrations in the string. Most basses suffer from deadspots somewhere, usually in this C on the G-string area. Changing strings can help reduce or move the deadspot, as can adjusting the trussrod or adding some mass to the headstock. Alex Barefaced Ltd - ultra lightweight, high ouput, toneful bass cabs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John W. Posted December 21, 2003 Author Share Posted December 21, 2003 Reply to Bassdrummer, This is a hot topic on another board right now; quite a few folks claimed they attained this sound on their P-Bass using the GHS Flatwounds. My new-found success comes with Lakland Joe Osborn light gauge Flats (which feel substantially heavier than my previous Thomastic Infeld Flats.) I hear that GHS manufactures the Joe Osborns and that they are similar--this I don't know for sure. I do know that this change of string strengthened a weak note at 3rd fret on the E string. Your G string situation is one I've heard is common to Fender Basses, but I'm ignorant on the subject. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Martin Posted December 21, 2003 Share Posted December 21, 2003 I'm also a fan of the Joe Osborne strings. Dave Martin Java Jive Studio Nashville, TN www.javajivestudio.com Cuppa Joe Records www.cuppajoerecords.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassdrummer Posted December 21, 2003 Share Posted December 21, 2003 Here is where I just found the Lakland Joe Osbourn strings on the net: Joe Osbourn signature strings Thanks for the tip, guys. Next question: light or medium gauge? Light: 40,60,80,102. Medium: 45, 65,85,106 What does that mean -- how thick the strings are, right? How do they compare in sound and feel? "All the world's indeed a stage, and we are merely players..." --Rush, "Limelight" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicklab Posted December 21, 2003 Share Posted December 21, 2003 Thanks for the tips guys! I'm gonna order a set of Joe Osborn's now. I've always been a fan of his sound, and I'm gonna give these a try. I have a set of Fender flatwounds on one of my jazz basses, and they're just too darn bright. Hopefully these will sound better. Obligatory Social Media Link "My concern is, and I have to, uh, check with my accountant, that this might bump me into a higher, uh, tax..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Martin Posted December 21, 2003 Share Posted December 21, 2003 I prefer the mediums, and I'd probably try heavy strings if they were available. But really, the folks at Lakland gave me a set at their booth last year at NAMM, so I've not really worried about experimentation... Dave Martin Java Jive Studio Nashville, TN www.javajivestudio.com Cuppa Joe Records www.cuppajoerecords.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.