EssentialTension

Did I mention that when I had one of these it sounded huge with EB Cobalt flats?

Yes, Fender basses were factory-fitted with flats from the beginning until the late 1970s.

It's been about twenty years of flats for me too. Two factors among others in the increase in use of flats are: 1) The internet has allowed the growth of bass forums, such as Basschat and Talkbass, where strings get discussed and people are encouraged to try new things e.g. flats. 2) The growth of the internet has also led to great and easy availability of a wide range of strings, ready to be purchased at the press of a button, whereas the old shops stocked a very limited range of strings and mostly not flats. Some might want to call it a fad, but flats are not going away.

ET: 'Shall I put some music on?' Mrs ET: 'OK, but not Captain Beefheart.'

So are you saying lower tension or higher tension?

Good luck with the GAS!

It was a fretless Takamine B10. It was no problem and made the bass sound even more like an upright.

I think that these basses got Christened 'Cowpoke' by someone at the old Dudepit bass forum and, for some reason, the nick-name stuck.

I don't have a Jazz bass right now but usually used GHS Precision Flats when I did.

I'd guess it probably looks cooler than it sounds.

Tear Gas were picked up by Harvey to become SAHB.

On acoustics I've used La Bella 760FS, 760FL, 760N, Rotosound 88, Thomastik Jazz, and D'Addario black nylons. They all worked but just sounded different.

? and the Mysterians

Another one I think:

I've always had flats on acoustics.

But the name Wilson was also used ... see here: http://www.watkinsguitars.co.uk/ "In the late 60's the decision was made to split the guitars away from the amps as a separate company and the name Wilson was adopted. Wilson was the maiden name of the brothers' mother." Wilson Rapier Bass:

Plug in, volume up, roll off the treble, good to go.

[quote] A Message from Andy McCluskey of OMD (previously Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark ) Andy recently wrote to me about his experiences with his first guitar, a Wilson Rapier Bass : " Hi Reg, I have just visited your fantastic website. Don't know why I never checked it out before. I was having a discussion today with someone in my studio about why I play bass with the strings upside down even though I am right handed. I told them that it was because my first bass was a left handed Wilson Rapier that I bought in a second hand shop in Birkenhead in 1975. It was the only one I could afford ( I was 16 at the time). It cost me £32. I was trying to describe it.. Bright red/ long scale/ giant headstock looking unlike any modern bass. I typed Wilson Rapier into a search engine and there was your site! My bass looked like a red version of the black one at the bottom of your bass page. I played it for four years, recorded my first single with it. "Electricity" on Factory records. I was in "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark' (later called OMD). And then at our first gig in London in 1979 at the Aklam Hall some bugger stole it from the dressing room. I could not find another like it so I've played a Fender Jazz (right hand strung upside down) ever since.. I guess I liked it because it's narrow neck reminded me of the Rapier. Maybe one day I will find another one for sale. ( he did - I sold him one of mine!!...) Keep up the good work. All the best.. Andy McCluskey " http://www.watkinsguitars.co.uk/mp3downloads.htm [/quote]

Should be a band name.

Quite a few ...