Other Lower Tension Flats besides TI's

okc-zee · #1 11-14-2012, 02:01 AM

I currently string my basses with TI flats...looking to try something different... Any good suggestions for some others that are lower tension as well ? I did do a search but I'd like to hear what some of you guys are using at the moment...Thanks in advance..

bigswifty1 · #2 11-14-2012, 02:36 AM

Definitely *not* roto 77's

Basshoofd · #3 11-14-2012, 02:45 AM

You could go for any flat, but in a lighter gauge than you would normally use.

jasper383 · #4 11-14-2012, 03:42 AM

La Bella 760FX set.
D'Addario Chromes 40-95 set.
GHS Precision 45-95 set.

All close to the TI set, but very different sounding.

IMO, the La Bella 760FX set is the one for you to try, if you want something "different".

Joe Smithberger · #5 11-14-2012, 05:36 AM

Maybe something like the D'Addario Tapes?

Modern Growl · #6 11-14-2012, 06:07 AM

TI Jazz Rounds - they are like a ground wound / half round. Very "dubby" sounding like a flat wound.

PBnJBassist · #7 11-14-2012, 06:07 AM

If you're looking for flats with same or lower tension than TI's, I'd say look to Nylon Tapewounds instead. I run a set of custom GHS flats 35.55.75.95 and they have an almost scary-exact feel of tension as my Fender Stainless Steel rounds that are 45.65.85.105.

However, tapewounds are thick, flexible, and never die. I'd seriously recommend looking into them as they are a blessing to the world of bass strings!

MojoRizin · #8 11-14-2012, 07:21 AM

RCCollins · #9 11-14-2012, 07:27 AM

You'll want to check out some tapewounds (as others have said) or ground rounds, as there aren't any flatwounds as low tension as TI's

Quote:

Originally Posted by MojoRizin

I said that DONT LIKE the TI, I dont like there extremely low tension !

So stop to propose me this brand please !

And I said that I dont want "pure" flatwounds too...

But thx anyway...

:s

Do you have yourself confused with the OP?

iiipopes · #10 11-14-2012, 07:32 AM

Then what you want are GHS Pressurewounds.

MojoRizin · #11 11-14-2012, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCCollins

You'll want to check out some tapewounds (as others have said) or ground rounds, as there aren't any flatwounds as low tension as TI's

Do you have yourself confused with the OP?

OMG

woodyng · #12 11-14-2012, 03:06 PM

I also have used and like ghs flatwounds and pressurewounds in the light gauges. I have heard good things about Optima flatwounds being a good low-tension string set,that are not as loose feeling as the TI's. the optimas are about $50,the ghs $25-30 set. The optimas were described by one user on ricresource as feeling like a well broken in set of the old (discontinued) ric/maxima flatwounds,which are fantastic strings,but very hard to find and $$$. I think i am gonna order a set before long....

JB36 · #13 11-14-2012, 07:34 PM

Sadowsky Flats....stiffer than TIs, but not too stiff.

**lmfreeman9** · #14 11-15-2012, 06:14 PM

Love TI's and predict you will go back to them.
Pyramid Gold are nice but medium tension.
Also like the Sadowsky flats and LaBella FL's.
Would love to try the FXs and TI Jazz rounds.

I tired the Optimas and do not recommend them.

lc12345678 · #15 11-16-2012, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCCollins

You'll want to check out some tapewounds (as others have said) or ground rounds, as there aren't any flatwounds as low tension as TI's

Do you have yourself confused with the OP?

I read this yesterday but had to come back to it again. hilarious

I think I will randomly do this in other threads.

I use TI's on all my basses (Ripper, Grabber, Jazz) but I think The GHS Pressurewounds would be a nice change for my Jazz.

woodyng · #16 11-16-2012, 09:25 AM

So,imfreeman9, you tried the flatwound optima's and don't recommend them. Can you tell us what you didn't like about them? And/or what some of the characteristics of the string set were? For example,i have read a lot of opinions about how great daddario chromes are ,but i've tried 2 sets on different basses and just don't find them to my liking. (I prefer my flatwounds to not sound too "metallic". ) when i play flats,i pretty much want a '60's bass sound,smooth and thumpy,with minimal clang.

thatbasskid597 · #17 11-16-2012, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JB36

Sadowsky Flats....stiffer than TIs, but not too stiff.

+1

The Black Labels are amazing, great tone and even better feel.

mccartneyman · #18 11-16-2012, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thatbasskid597

+1

The Black Labels are amazing, great tone and even better feel.

Yes, Sadowskys are a good compromise if you find the TIs too flabby, but they don't sound quite as warm as the TIs. They record great, though, and have nice snap live.

**lmfreeman9** · #19 11-17-2012, 07:27 AM

i bought some Optima Gold on the classifieds here and hated them so much, I only had them for a minute and cannot remember specifics except they were very different. Did not like sound or feel.

soulman969 · #20 11-17-2012, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lc12345678

I read this yesterday but had to come back to it again. hilarious

I think I will randomly do this in other threads.

I use TI's on all my basses (Ripper, Grabber, Jazz) but I think The GHS Pressurewounds would be a nice change for my Jazz.

I've been using them on my Jazz for over a year and IMHO they're the best strings I've ever played on a Jazz Bass. Punchy without too much top end or zing like a roundwound and very tonally expressive. Nice feel and even tension as well.