TI Jazz Flat Strings

JOME77 · #1 08-26-2010, 10:13 AM

I orignally planned on purchasing a set of TI Jazz Flat Strings to but on my Gecko fretless (in an attempt to have another cool fretless sound) but after having to pay $97.00

for them I'm considering putting them on the Roscoe fretless first.
They're both 35" scale with a 3+2 headstock so they should transplant OK but I'd rather but 'em on a bass and leave 'em (mostly due to having to modify the bass set-up).

I installed a set on my first Roscoe fretless 30-40 years ago but can't really remember how they sounded (or why I took them off).

Anyone out there using the TI Jazz flats on a Roscoe fretless?
If so, how do they compare to the nickel RW? Less growl and mwah?

Darkstrike · #2 08-26-2010, 10:16 AM

$97!

Yeeesh! Thats practically upright string price!

JOME77 · #3 08-26-2010, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

$97!

Yeeesh! Thats practically upright string price!

That's what I said Bill.

They would have been a bit cheaper but I bought the 36" scale (super long) just to make sure the winding extending past the nut.

I almost tried the D'Addario chrome flats (around ~$40) but all that I remember is that the TI's sounded very unique and unlike typical flats.

RocketMusic · #4 08-26-2010, 10:29 AM

I tried flats on my Roscoe fretless pretty soon after I got it. I think they were Ernie Ball flats... anyway, they lasted about 15 minutes before I went right back to my favorite SIT roundwound strings. New, the flats sounded worse than really dead roundwounds, I didn't care for it at all. Of course, I like a LOT of mwahh, and that just wasn't happening with the flats I tried.

If you're going for more of an thuddy upright sort of tone, then they might be the ticket.

Darkstrike · #5 08-26-2010, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOME77

That's what I said Bill.

They would have been a bit cheaper but I bought the 36" scale (super long) just to make sure the winding extending past the nut.

I almost tried the D'Addario chrome flats (around ~$40) but all that I remember is that the TI's sounded very unique and unlike typical flats.

Ahhhh, super long 5er's, no wonder.

Wish I had an answer to your question though, I've had Roto flats, and Chromes on my fretless, but no TI's, and Chromes on my fretted too, and liked the results.

I keep returning to that same set of SIT's though, heh, closing in on a year on that one set.

I do have TI's on a non Roscoe fretless, but naturally that dosen't help at all.

JOME77 · #6 08-26-2010, 01:57 PM

I think based on both of your comments I'm going ahead with the original plan and install them on the Gecko fretless. It's not getting much playing time and I'm much more likely to leave them on the Gecko if I'm not crazy about them. At least it'll give me another sound to chose from for recordings.

Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised.....

Darkstrike · #7 08-26-2010, 02:27 PM

TI's will mwahh, but definatly not as well as rounds.

They have a high mid tone, almost a honk, I dunno would that work well with a Roscoe or not, espcially a diamondwood board. Could be too much of a good thing, as Jerry says.

They're not gonna do the upright thump either, without some eq-ing, as they're very bright.

What is your Gecko like?

**Freddels** · #8 08-26-2010, 05:38 PM

I had TI Jazz flats on most of my fretted basses in the recent past. I've tried them on fretless basses and I don't think they sound as good on a fretless. I prefer round wound on fretless. Maybe you should try the TI Jazz Rounds.

And . . . $97 is way too much for a set of TI Jazz Flats. I think I got 3 sets for that price (I know at least two sets for sure).

JOME77 · #9 08-26-2010, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

TI's will mwahh, but definatly not as well as rounds.

They have a high mid tone, almost a honk, I dunno would that work well with a Roscoe or not, espcially a diamondwood board. Could be too much of a good thing, as Jerry says.

They're not gonna do the upright thump either, without some eq-ing, as they're very bright.

What is your Gecko like?

Bill,
The Gecko has a thick ebony FB, maple neck, alder body, quilt maple top & Bart 3-band w/Bart CB p/u's. It actually plays really nice & has a good bit of growl & mwah but is a bit neck heavy (thanks to the steel in lieu of graphite that Warmoth uses to stiffen their necks).

Well here goes nothing!

.....

Darkstrike · #10 08-27-2010, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOME77

Bill,
The Gecko has a thick ebony FB, maple neck, alder body, quilt maple top & Bart 3-band w/Bart CB p/u's. It actually plays really nice & has a good bit of growl & mwah but is a bit neck heavy (thanks to the steel in lieu of graphite that Warmoth uses to stiffen their necks).

Well here goes nothing!

.....

Sounds sweet, I have a feeling the TI's will match up great with that setup!

JOME77 · #11 08-27-2010, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Sounds sweet, I have a feeling the TI's will match up great with that setup!

Billy,
They actually have more growl and mwah than I anticipated. Quite a bit warmer tone than the Roscoe fretless, which was the case even with the nickel roundwounds installed. Probably due more to the ebony verses Diamondwood fingerboard.
I've got to get use to the slick feel of the string too. Your fingers have a tendancy to keep sliding a bit more than with the roundwounds.
They actually recorded real well too. I doubt that I'll get a set for the Roscoe fretless but maybe it'll get the Gecko back in the rotation a bit more.

I do wonder how they would sound on the Roscoe Diamondwood finger board. May be a transplant yet!

Darkstrike · #12 08-27-2010, 05:10 AM

I'm guessing they might get a bit honky with the diamondwood board, but then again, I have them on an ebanol board and like them just fine, so I could be completly wrong.

It must be worth the time spent to swap them to the Roscoe for a trial.

Glad to hear they're working well on the Gecko, though!

The slippery feel gets me too sometimes.

JOME77 · #13 08-30-2010, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddels

I had TI Jazz flats on most of my fretted basses in the recent past. I've tried them on fretless basses and I don't think they sound as good on a fretless. I prefer round wound on fretless. Maybe you should try the TI Jazz Rounds.

And . . . $97 is way too much for a set of TI Jazz Flats. I think I got 3 sets for that price (I know at least two sets for sure).

Fred,
Let me know where you bought at that price because at Juststrings.com just the 4 strings are $50-55. The 5 string sets are ~$68 and the super long 5 string sets are $89 (plus shipping).

And as an update to the thread, the more that I play and record with the TI flats the more impressed that I am with them. They really sound nice. Different than the rounds but very warm and nice under my fingers. They actually change my playing or maybe how/what I play. You might say that they kind of nudge me in a different direction.
And as far as the price goes, even if they just last a year, I figure at $20 a set for the D'Addario nickels RW X4-5 per year, that makes them as economical to use as the D'Addario nickels RW.
Curiosity is getting the better of me.
I may just have to perform a transplant from lizard to a Little Girl this weekend!

**Freddels** · #14 08-30-2010, 09:18 PM

This is where I usually buy my strings. http://www.bassguitarstrings.us/

I only bought 4 string sets. I also get an additional discount for being a member of the BadAssBassPlayers forum. The prices seem to be a little higher than when I last bought them but even so . . .

JOME77 · #15 08-31-2010, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddels

This is where I usually buy my strings. http://www.bassguitarstrings.us/

I only bought 4 string sets. I also get an additional discount for being a member of the BadAssBassPlayers forum. The prices seem to be a little higher than when I last bought them but even so . . .

It looks like I would have saved $5 from them ($85.95). Still highway robbery! ...but if you want 'em you gotta pay the man!

But they do sound and feel cool. That counts for something.

**Freddels** · #16 08-31-2010, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOME77

It looks like I would have saved $5 from them ($85.95). Still highway robbery! ...but if you want 'em you gotta pay the man!

But they do sound and feel cool. That counts for something.

Plus, I think I get a 15% discount for being a registered member and I believe that orders over $75 get free shipping. So, you would have saved a bit more.