5-string decision - Sadowsky Flats or TI Jazz Flats (or something else)?

fourstringbliss · #1 09-03-2006, 08:52 PM

I have an Ibanez BTB555, which has a 35" scale. The EQ has bass, treble, and mids with a concentric mid-frequency control.

I have rounds on it now, but I want to go with something smooth feeling and more vintage/warm sounding. I want a tight B-string, and I want clarity. Some overtones would be nice as well.

I had half-rounds on my bass before this one, and I liked them a lot. That bass was passive, though, and my sound got lost because of no mid control. Now that I've got all the mid control I could ask for I'd like to go back to something more flat and thumpy.

What should I choose? Sadowsky Flats? TI Jazz Flats? Something else?

Thanks!

dcr · #2 09-03-2006, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fourstringbliss

I have an Ibanez BTB555, which has a 35" scale. The EQ has bass, treble, and mids with a concentric mid-frequency control.

I have rounds on it now, but I want to go with something smooth feeling and more vintage/warm sounding. I want a tight B-string, and I want clarity. Some overtones would be nice as well.

I had half-rounds on my bass before this one, and I liked them a lot. That bass was passive, though, and my sound got lost because of no mid control. Now that I've got all the mid control I could ask for I'd like to go back to something more flat and thumpy.

What should I choose? Sadowsky Flats? TI Jazz Flats? Something else?

Thanks!

Bought TI Jazz Flats (2x) -- hated 'em both times.

Sad flats came on a bass I bought -- LOVE 'EM!

My $0.02

dcr

fourstringbliss · #3 09-03-2006, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcr

Bought TI Jazz Flats (2x) -- hated 'em both times.

Sad flats came on a bass I bought -- LOVE 'EM!

My $0.02

dcr

What do you like so much about the Sadowsky Flats? I'm leaning that way because they would be $40 while the TI's would be $66.

dcr · #4 09-03-2006, 09:44 PM

It's not so much what I like about the Sadowsky flats (but I do like them), it's much more about what I dislike about the TI's.

The TI's are extremely low tension, and feel "floppy" to me. Required a new set-up and a learning curve to get used to them. Had an okay sound on my fretless, but just okay to me.

The Sads OTOH, sound like nice, broken in strings. Punchy and defined and had some "bite" to them. Not rounds, of course, but enough top end to sit right into the mix or above it if needed. Feels great too; tension and gauge about right for me. Certainly not floppy or loose like the TI's. Just all-over good strings. On a passive P-bass for me they were tone Nirvana. I'm an old-school guy, and I don't think I'd even consider anything else. I like a bit of clarity and top end, as opposed to Jamerson-esque "thump", and the Sadowskys do it for me to a "T". I used to use GHS Brite Flats, but the gauge was a bit big and tension a tad higher than I liked. Sound is similar, IIRC.

I must say that when I tried TI's they were on a 4-string. The Sads are/were on a fiver. IMHO, I'd never even consider TI's for a 5. Just too loose.

dcr

James Hart · #5 09-03-2006, 09:47 PM

Ive got a set of these on my 5 string

LaBella Deep Talkin Bass

Medium Guage

fourstringbliss · #6 09-03-2006, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcr

It's not so much what I like about the Sadowsky flats (but I do like them), it's much more about what I dislike about the TI's.

The TI's are extremely low tension, and feel "floppy" to me. Required a new set-up and a learning curve to get used to them. Had an okay sound on my fretless, but just okay to me.

The Sads OTOH, sound like nice, broken in strings. Punchy and defined and had some "bite" to them. Not rounds, of course, but enough top end to sit right into the mix or above it if needed. Feels great too; tension and gauge about right for me. Certainly not floppy or loose like the TI's. Just all-over good strings. On a passive P-bass for me they were tone Nirvana. I'm an old-school guy, and I don't think I'd even consider anything else. I like a bit of clarity and top end, as opposed to Jamerson-esque "thump", and the Sadowskys do it for me to a "T". I used to use GHS Brite Flats, but the gauge was a bit big and tension a tad higher than I liked. Sound is similar, IIRC.

I must say that when I tried TI's they were on a 4-string. The Sads are/were on a fiver. IMHO, I'd never even consider TI's for a 5. Just too loose.

dcr

That sounds good! I want medium to high tension and I do want clarity. Another vote for the Sadowsky's.

fourstringbliss · #7 09-03-2006, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Hart

Ive got a set of these on my 5 string

LaBella Deep Talkin Bass

Medium Guage

Is it active? How does it sound?

KeiBau · #8 09-03-2006, 10:28 PM

I've used both the TI Jazz Flats and the Sadowsky Flats and would agree with an earlier post that the Sadowsky's have a tighter feel to them. The TI's are a good string, but I've had the Sadowsky's on my Brice fretless for about a year and like them the best of anything I've had on it. Also, I have LaBella Deep Talkin' Flats on my BTB405. The LaBella's and the Sadowsky's share the same characteristics, seem similar enough to be the same string. The Sadowsky flats and the LaBella flats have a smoother feel compared to the TI flats.

fourstringbliss · #9 09-03-2006, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeiBau

I've used both the TI Jazz Flats and the Sadowsky Flats and would agree with an earlier post that the Sadowsky's have a tighter feel to them. The TI's are a good string, but I've had the Sadowsky's on my Brice fretless for about a year and like them the best of anything I've had on it. Also, I have LaBella Deep Talkin' Flats on my BTB405. The LaBella's and the Sadowsky's share the same characteristics, seem similar enough to be the same string. The Sadowsky flats and the LaBella flats have a smoother feel compared to the TI flats.

How are the Sadowsky's in terms of brightness or clarity?

seebee · #10 09-03-2006, 10:52 PM

I just strung my Sadowsky 24 5 with Sadowsky flats (light gauge) about an hour ago for the first time. Very smooth feel warm sound and sound great slapping.

fourstringbliss · #11 09-03-2006, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seebee

I just strung my Sadowsky 24 5 with Sadowsky flats (light gauge) about an hour ago for the first time. Very smooth feel warm sound and sound great slapping.

How are they for clarity and depth of sound?

BenHack · #12 09-03-2006, 11:05 PM

Hey Guys

I don't want to derail the thread but I'm also interested in Sadowsky flats on my Sadowsky 24f. I'm just wondering which gauge will feel most like my current strings (Bootzilla 45, 65, 85, 105, 125). I haven't played flats before but I'm wanting a warmer more vinatge sound for my current project but would like to retain the playbility of the bootzillas for some of the fusion type stuff I do. Cheers, no back to the original program

Ben

seebee · #13 09-03-2006, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fourstringbliss

How are they for clarity and depth of sound?

To me the clarity is there and the depth. Very versatile. Soloing the front pup on my Bass with the treble backed off and the Vintage Tone control rolled back gives me a sort of a P-Bass quality. With the treble at my normal position and both pup's even gives me a another thing that rounds wont give me. All in all I think the Sad flats are great the B is tight and full. I think I will use these flats exclusively on this Bass.

seebee · #14 09-03-2006, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenHack

Hey Guys

I don't want to derail the thread but I'm also interested in Sadowsky flats on my Sadowsky 24f. I'm just wondering which gauge will feel most like my current strings (Bootzilla 45, 65, 85, 105, 125). I haven't played flats before but I'm wanting a warmer more vinatge sound for my current project but would like to retain the playbility of the bootzillas for some of the fusion type stuff I do. Cheers, no back to the original program

Ben

The Sadowsky flats I just put on are 40 60 80 100 125T. I've never tried the Bootzilla's so I can't compare. For me 45's always feel too heavy in any brand of string.

fourstringbliss · #15 09-04-2006, 12:59 AM

I just ordered myself the Sadowsky's. I'll post soundclips when they come in.

BenHack · #16 09-04-2006, 01:34 AM

Thanks Seebee

I guess if you haven't played the bootzilla's it's hard to compare. For what it's worth they're a great sounding string which feel similar to other DR's with the same gauge.

Out of interest how do the Sadowsky flats compare to the feel of other rounds you've played with a similar gauge.

Thanks again and fourstringbliss I'm looking forward to the sound clips. C-Ya

Ben

seebee · #17 09-04-2006, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenHack

Thanks Seebee

I guess if you haven't played the bootzilla's it's hard to compare. For what it's worth they're a great sounding string which feel similar to other DR's with the same gauge.

Out of interest how do the Sadowsky flats compare to the feel of other rounds you've played with a similar gauge.

Thanks again and fourstringbliss I'm looking forward to the sound clips. C-Ya

Ben

It's been a while since I've experimented with different brands and it's been a while since I've used flats but when I did I used GHS Flats.
For me the Sad flats in the 40 gauge feel great compared to other rounds in the same gauge.First thing I noticed was the smoothness with the Sad's and the clarity. I like the 125T with the Sad 40's. some brands have a 130 with 40's but over the years I prefer the 125 or even 120.
Good luck with the string quest It can be a long process finding what you really dig.

KeiBau · #18 09-04-2006, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fourstringbliss

How are the Sadowsky's in terms of brightness or clarity?

Well, this is a bit difficult for me because people tend to describe tone in different ways (we're each our own unique selves, right?). One person's "warm" is another's "mud" and "brightness" can be "twang" and so on.... Anyway, the Sadowsky flats, to me, are a very full sounding string compared to the other flats I've used (TI Jazz flats and DA Chrome flats, which are also good strings). I use flatwound strings exclusively and, therefore, am not a good one to make a comparison to rounds. I just know that whenever I've "test drove" a knew bass, the rounds that came on it didn't give me the sound and feel I'm looking for. With that said, Sadowsky flats give me the "warm" full sounding "thump" that I'm looking for and still "cut through" the mix. Also, these strings are extremely smooth. The Sadowsky's that I'm currently using are the SBF45B (45-65-85-105-130).

Bassist4Life · #19 09-04-2006, 09:39 AM

I never tried the Sadowsky, but I love the TI Jazz Flats. I love them so much that I will probably never actually try the Sadowsky's. I have the TI's on my P-Bass. I am thinking about putting them on my Yamaha TRB1006 too.

Joe

fourstringbliss · #20 09-04-2006, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeiBau

Sadowsky flats give me the "warm" full sounding "thump" that I'm looking for and still "cut through" the mix. Also, these strings are extremely smooth. The Sadowsky's that I'm currently using are the SBF45B (45-65-85-105-130).

That sounds great! That's the set I ordered, except mine are the XL's (35" scale). I figure, whatever highs I lose because they're flats I can put back with the active EQ on my bass.