John Paul Jones tone

edski · Post by **edski** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 4:16 pm

obviously wrong!

That's a cool site!

stts64 · Post by **stts64** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 7:52 pm

Yes, I use Rotosound Flats on my Jazz and it sounds just like JPJ

henry5 · Post by **henry5** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 8:14 am

When asked about strings, he said in a relatively recent interview in a UK magazine that he used rounds all the way through Zeppelin...

rickfan63 · Post by **rickfan63** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 11:13 am

Not likely IMHO. I think his memory is fading a bit like Maccas with time. The very early Fender Zeppelin bass tones scream flatwounds. Although he did switch later with the Alembic, and the more high end stuff he started using in 1975. He's used rounds ever since then I believe.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 1:39 pm

I saw them in the summer of 1969 at the Boston Tea Party and They used Rickenbacker Transonics, I'm not sure if he used them although I think he did. He used Jazz basses. No way could you get the sound he got on the early albums with RW's. His sound got brighter a few years later when everyone else was switching to them. He was technically excellent along with having a great sound and playing pleasing memorable lines. I don't think people realize just how good he was until they start to try to play some of those old lines, very complicated and fast but sound deceptively easy which is the mark of a great player.
360's sounded good in big rooms, they're like playing through PA scoops, they throw the sound, up close they sound very anemic.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 1:41 pm

Anybody got a pic of him with a 4005? I remember seeing one years ago.

karl_teten · Post by **karl_teten** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 7:07 pm

I have a photo of Jones playing a 4005 from the late 60's. Grainy but it's there. Don't now how to post here.

toastie · Post by **toastie** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 4:56 am

Seen footage of him using Orange as well. Pretty sure he used swing bass. In fact I remember a Roto ad with him. Listen to Houses of the Holy (the track) and The Crunge and you'll hear roundwounds.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 6:19 am

A really crummy pic, but probably the only one:

The 4005's pickguard can be clearly seen.

toastie · Post by **toastie** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 8:23 am

I have a feeling that's the King's Theatre in Edinburgh!!

thx1955 · Post by **thx1955** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 8:39 am

The Kings did have big gold curtains.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 5:23 pm

I'm sure he switched to Rots somewhere during the early 70's as many bass players did, you can hear it on their later albums. In 1969-70 when they did their first two classic albums 99.9% of bass players were still using flatwounds, I never even knew they existed until 1972.

toastie · Post by **toastie** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 1:08 am

Bob,
I know, same here! I used Roto black tapewound on my first bass and RS77 flats thereafter That was until I lent the bass to an older guy and it came back with rounds on it and that was that.

jon · Post by **jon** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 3:36 am

Early stuff probably is flats, but the BBC session from '71 sure sounds like roundwounds to me.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 8:35 pm

I don't even remember what kind I used to buy, either Fender or Gibsons. Long shiny things.