Flats or tapes on a B50?

[Spangled]

The new acquisition - a 1976 B50

Enormous relative to the little M20 !

Has anyone had luck with flat or tapewounds on these? It has rounds at the moment and I'd like it to be less squeaky but not lose volume...

My other two basses are a Steinberger Q4, early version, and a Les Paul Signature semi, both with flats.

 

[fronobulax]

Congrats. I've got what the seller left on my B-50. I think they are DR strings but I'm not sure and don't have the bass at hand. Definitely in the bronze roundwound category, however. Grot and Smithfield Fair may have been more adventurous in their string choices.

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Since my B-50 is sans electronics and therefore totally acoustic, I have round wound bronze "acoustic" strings on mine.

I would think that with tapes or flats you are going to lose a lot of volume acoustically.

I don't really mind the squeak since it is an acoustic and that's part of an acoustic's sound. I do try to reduce the squeaking by picking my fingers up further off the strings as seen here!

 

[Spangled]

Nice work! is that you?

I think you may be right, although I had a helpful reply from Rob Green at Status who suggested halfwounds, as he thought flats would give a very dull tone.

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Nice work! is that you?

Yes that is me. (With half dead strings I might add)

If you try the "half" or "ground" wounds I'd be interested in how they sound. I think you can only get them in nickel and maybe stainless though. I have a set on an electric bass and they sound like a cross between round and flat wounds.

Now phosphor bronze ground wounds, that's what we need!

 

[Sats]

That was so cool!

 

[marcellis]

Wow! It's damned hard to play a tough bass line & sing a different melody line.
Congratulations Grot. You sound great.

How much volume would you lose playing finger-style on that?
And are you using a felt pick?

I always wanted a B50. But I play finger-style. I'm too sloppy for the fast attack/decay of a pick.

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

How much volume would you lose playing finger-style on that?

Well you lose the pick attack for sure, It would just be a mellower sound. As a converted guitarist I play with a pick about 90% of the time. (Hey its a bass guitar!) I do play with my fingers on some of the slower tunes that the band does.

And are you using a felt pick?

Nope, using a yellow Jim Dunlop. (The same as my guitarist uses so I can bum picks off him! :wink: ) That, and they never break, they just wear away. Felt picks last about three songs!