Small tube combo and Felt Picks

imnoone · Post by **imnoone** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 10:06 am

To follow up on the tone I'm going for, I read it described as a "pillowy" sound (again like Paul Simonon got early on) before switching to P Basses.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 5:16 pm

then get a SB-12 and run it thru the board...

imnoone · Post by **imnoone** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 4:22 am

Niiice amp, Jared! Ok, here's another bass newbie question: might switching from DR Sunbeams to a good flatwound help me get that muffled sound? I've never played flatwounds and though I'm digging the DRs, they are still pretty noisy on the frets when I play notey passages. Or maybe I should be a better set of hands while I'm at it!

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 5:12 am

Yes. The flatwounds will have a more muffled sound. More of a "thud" and less fret noise. More of a Paul McCartney, less of a Chris Squire! Some of the forum favorites are:

Thomastik Infeld Jazz Flats(low tension)
Pyramids (high tension)
D'Addario Chromes

juststrings.com should have them all in stock.

Since you mentioned that you like the DR Sunbeams and they are a low tension round-core string, I'd go with the TI's.

jps · Post by **jps** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 5:54 am

Chromes will still give you much of the characteristic RIC tone without the fret noise.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 8:22 am

ask Rath about which flatwounds to buy!

billy_sacco · Post by **billy_sacco** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 4:08 pm

Dude yeah for that sound get the Thomastik Infelds Jazz flats. They are nickel plated and have that flat wound sound but still bright enough to really rock. I have some on my Gibson Ripper and they really brought that bass to life. Can't say enough good things about them.

imnoone · Post by **imnoone** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 5:37 pm

OK, I switched out to TI Jazzes this afternoon and WOW, got much closer to the tone I was after. Here's another knuckledheaded newbie question: can I use a regular pick on flatwounds without tearing them up? Seems like it would be OK, but that'd be the mistake I'd make, ha.

rickfan63 · Post by **rickfan63** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 5:18 am

Yes, you can use any pick you like. I prefer to use heavy picks on flats, and lighter ones on the rounds. I have Chromes on my V63, and alternate between them and DR nickel Lo-Riders on my C64. Although, with the lighter tension of the TI's, a lighter pick might do the trick.

jps · Post by **jps** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 10:46 am

"a lighter pick might do the trick"

Would that be a Trick Of The Picks?

rickfan63 · Post by **rickfan63** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 2:16 pm

Try saying that three times fast!!

imnoone · Post by **imnoone** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 3:45 am

Thanks for all your help, fellahs. I'm really digging the flatwound action and she's playing easier than ever.

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 4:41 am

You're welcome, Lee.

Thats what this great forum is here for!