Flats with slightly more tension than TI's?

KK Jale · #1 11-04-2010, 05:29 PM

I love Thomastiks. They're much nicer for my style than the Labella light flats I used to use. But my bass (1982 JV Precision) just doesn't have enough neck relief for the low tension, even with the truss rod slackened right off. Buzz buzz buzz.

What will give me that slinky looseness but with just enough extra pull to bring my neck into shape? One online source says Pyramids have just 10lbs more, and I'm not sure that'll be enough. Any other contenders? Any help much appreciated!

krovx · #2 11-04-2010, 05:37 PM

Sorry to hear that. I know when I use TIs I really have to loosen the relief.

Caca de Kick · #3 11-04-2010, 05:49 PM

Sadowskys are a little more tension nickel flats, very flexible.

My MIA '82 Precision was the same way with too much flat/back bow, yup even with the truss rod totally loosened the TI flats wouldn't pull the neck forward at all, too whimpy.

MarkusBass · #4 11-04-2010, 05:50 PM

light gauge chromes?
.045 | .065 | .080 | .100

jasper383 · #5 11-04-2010, 06:17 PM

When you say "Light La Bella Flats", what do you mean?

La Bella makes a 760FX set that is little known, and they are as close to TI Jazz Flats as any other flat, in my experience.

The Lightest GHS Precison Flats are also pretty close in stiffness and feel.

Marton · #6 11-04-2010, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasper383

The Lightest GHS Precison Flats are also pretty close in stiffness and feel.

+1

Classickbass · #7 11-04-2010, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkusBass

light gauge chromes?
.045 | .065 | .080 | .100

This

KK Jale · #8 11-04-2010, 06:59 PM

Thanks so much for the suggestions for the Chromes, Sadowskis and GHS. I'll get busy and try to track down the tensions for those sets. Might take an email or two. Good info for a forum search too (this is my first post)...

jasper383, to my shame I cannot recall my old Labella gauges. It was years ago (and I used them for five years). As I recall, my local store sold only three - light, medium and Jamerson. Chances are they were 760FL 43-60-82-104. The FX 39-56-77-96 set is now on my list to check out too. Thanks!

jasper383 · #9 11-04-2010, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KK Jale

Thanks so much for the suggestions for the Chromes, Sadowskis and GHS. I'll get busy and try to track down the tensions for those sets. Might take an email or two. Good info for a forum search too (this is my first post)...

jasper383, to my shame I cannot recall my old Labella gauges. It was years ago (and I used them for five years). As I recall, my local store sold only three - light, medium and Jamerson. Chances are they were 760FL 43-60-82-104. The FX 39-56-77-96 set is now on my list to check out too. Thanks!

Yes, your store most likely carried the 760FL set, and got heavier from there. Excellent strings, but not what you're looking for, according to your post.

Very few know of the 760FX set. They are as close to the TIs as you're going to get.

In my opinion, the lightest Chromes aren't going to give you "slinky looseness".

Ben Clarke · #10 11-04-2010, 07:20 PM

I have TI on my G&L SB-1 and my MM SR5. I just put Pyramid Golds on my SR4 and there's enough of a difference that I think they'll do the trick for you. They sure sound great. I loved the sound of the TI but wanted more tension for rock so I can dig in a bit more.

Rumblin' Man · #11 11-05-2010, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KK Jale

I love Thomastiks. They're much nicer for my style than the Labella light flats I used to use. But my bass (1982 JV Precision) just doesn't have enough neck relief for the low tension, even with the truss rod slackened right off.

I ran into that exact situation a few times with TIs. I found that D'Addario Chrome 105s worked best for me.

KK Jale · #12 11-05-2010, 08:51 AM

Well, with the help of all the above and after wading through a long string of archived TB threads, mp3 clips and websites, the decision is...

Chromes aren't for me. Just a semi-educated-but-pretty-sure guess.
Sadowskis: they sound cool. But I live in a land, far, far away.
Labella 760FX: not a single set to be found. See above.
GHS: possible. But….

I'm going with Pyramids. I need that old-school warmth and flexibility and thump. Duck Dunn and Carol Kaye are the touchstones and my band plays soul, country, blues and languorous rock'n'roll. So the old P-bass had better get its neck in shape with these, or I'm going to give it a severe talking to and threaten it with a fingerboard shoot and a refret. That'll make it sit up.

markanini · #13 11-05-2010, 11:07 AM

Optima Chrome: http://www.box.net/shared/sa2ng5xgu6
Closer in to TIs than any LaBella I'd say.

krovx · #14 11-05-2010, 12:02 PM

KK Jale,

Have you tried the washer trick on your truss rod? Perhaps that could help...

KK Jale · #15 11-05-2010, 12:08 PM

Gosh, I would have thought the washer trick was for bent-forwards necks that need help straightening out, not necks that are too straight and have the nut slackened right off. Tell me more.

ironrat · #16 11-05-2010, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkusBass

light gauge chromes?
.045 | .065 | .080 | .100

^what he said

markanini · #17 11-05-2010, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KK Jale

Gosh, I would have thought the washer trick was for bent-forwards necks that need help straightening out, not necks that are too straight and have the nut slackened right off. Tell me more.

+1

Before considering a refret put on a high tensioned set of strings that you leave on for a couple of days with the truss rod nut completely loose. If you don't have the heavy strings at hand you can use some clamps and pieces of wood to gently apply pressure in the middle of the neck.

KK Jale · #18 12-23-2010, 03:42 PM

Well, it took me a while... but I went with the Pyramids.

VERY happy so far. Totally old-school, very very smooth, right up my street. They seem to drive the bass much more acoustically than the TI's. They have just the right amount of tension for a touch of forward bow on my P-Bass with the trussrod slackened right off (thanks Ben Clarke for your advice).

Jury is out until the next gig on Sunday but I think I may have the right strings for this bass.

major10th · #19 12-23-2010, 03:59 PM

A few questions about switching from round-wounds to flats. I have a 2010 4-string Fender American Standard Precision, well I will by Christmas morning

When stringing through the bridge what becomes of the ferrules? That is, are they attached to the body or free floating and fall out?
It seems that, without altering the nut geometry, you would want to re-string with gauges that are the same, or very similar to the gauges being replaced. How much variability can you get away with in gauge size without having the new strings sit too deep or too shallow in the nut slots?

Marty Forrer · #20 12-23-2010, 04:25 PM

Ferrules should not fall out.
Shouldn't be any problem with changing gauges. Try it and see. If a string looks as if it's not sitting in the nut slot properly it's a simple matter to rectify. If you're a bit unsure, a guitar repairer will charge very little to open up the slots.