Pls Help TI lovers! what do we do for variety?

[peakdesign]

OK, I love TI flats. I love the TI light tension, the softness, the rich timbre. So I started putting them on various basses, and my P bass now sounds AT LOT like my shortscale fretless !?#$! What's the point of having several (GASing towards MANY) basses and they ALL have that one Thomastik sound? Yes, I know, they do bring out each instrument's virtues, but I can still usually spot that Thomastik voice at 1000 yards!

So, what can I put on my long scale (through the bridge) fretless, what's a string that's got many of the Thomastik's pluses, but not identical, for variety? D"Addarios are allegedly all the same length and they are 1/4 inch too short, or i would try half-rounds, or just get another set of Chromes in a pinch, which is what's on there now (very stiff but they do sound good). I love roundwounds, but not on a fretles, too much finger (zipper) noise, too much stiction. My most unfavorite strings are Fender Flats, those pre-deceased tree-trunks of Dump (Dump? that's Thump without any high end)! Who (else) makes an interesting sounding, bright flat-wound? Someone said the Rotosound flat monels are very very stiff and high tension.

So I'm looking for:

Strings in a generous 34" scale or (preferably) a super long, avail in a set of 6, without breaking the bank. At $79 TI Flats are the limit.

A flat or semi-flat wrap, with a rich tone

Not outrageously heavy tension. Chromes or lighter

Ideas? thanks!

[ghiadub]

Smith ground wounds. Probibly more highs than you might want, but less than rounds.

I like them and I am a hardcore TI guy. I like TI superalloys as well for rounds.

[ljazz]

TI Jazz Rounds may fill the bill.

I love the SA's on my G&L L2000.

[fretlessguy]

I like TIs too, but like a variety of tones and do not want anything sounding exactly the same. GHS Precision Flats come in one length and fit everything up to 36 inch scale. While similar to TIs, they still have their own voice. I get them in light gauge (.40-.95) to lessen the stiffness.

[ezrs]

ken smith slick rounds may help you out

[anyonefortennis]

Maybe give half-rounds a shot?

[peakdesign]

Thanks for the suggestions. The problem with a lot of strings is they are a hair too short for this bass. TI JF344 work, they measure 37" from ball to first silk, but e.g. D'Addarios long scale are 36", 1/4" too short, the silk (and taper) are in the nut. I will check Ken Smiths, ghiadub, I don't see "ground wounds", did you mean "slick rounds" or "compressors"?

[ljazz]

I didn't catch that it was a fretless when I first read this.....

I've gotta say the TI Jazz Round again...... very low tension, with a similar feel to the JF's...... with the round, you might get some nice mwah.

Ljazz