Praise for my new T.I. Flats!!

Bassamatic · #1 05-26-2011, 06:20 PM

I just have to give some credit where credit is due -

I just received the T.I. Jazz Flats I ordered with the coupon for testing the new Elixir strings. Strung them up on my MIM Jazz with SCN noiseless pups - and WOW! I think I have found the Holy Grail ! I can't wait to try them on a gig and compare to my P with LaBellas.

Incredibly punch and fat, without lo end mud and without any of the zinginess of rounds and no finger noise! Because of the added bridge pup, there are a little more mids than the P. This would be an incredibly recordable sound.

I don't find the low tension a problem at all, just had to back off my truss rod a little, and the strings are just sooo smooooth! The E string is taking a while to settle in, and has gotten better over the last couple of hours.

Kudos, T.I. !

markjazzbassist · #2 05-26-2011, 07:47 PM

yes my brotha, punch, clarity, low end girth, and yet still some hi mid bite.

they are my favorites

KUNGfuSHERIFF · #3 05-26-2011, 07:55 PM

One of the best recorded tones I ever got on an electric bass was old, played-in TI Jazz Flats on a short-scale Alembic Series 2. Awesome strings.

JLS · #4 05-26-2011, 08:14 PM

Nothing like them, nothing...when you use a pick, and mute with the ball of your thumb, it's all those 60s hits...

Craig_S · #5 05-26-2011, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLS

when you use a pick, and mute with the ball of your thumb, it's all those 60s hits...

...that were recorded using LaBella's

carlos840 · #6 05-27-2011, 05:27 AM

Just bought a set for my Ric, cant wait for them to arrive!

I would have put my usual Chromes on it but it has weak truss rods and i know it wont deal with it well!

Surly · #7 05-27-2011, 08:22 AM

What guage are the popular T.I.'s?

JLS · #8 05-27-2011, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig_S

...that were recorded using LaBella's

Carol Kaye?

Bassamatic · #9 05-27-2011, 08:52 AM

Size - JR344 4 Strings Long Scale 34" = 43 51 68 89

I agree that all the old hits were made with LaBellas and I love them on my P, However -
1. The TIs were not available then
2, The engineer will have to work a lot less hard with the TIs.

With everything flat, the sound is near perfect on the Jazz bass. I still can't believe it. There may not be the same effect on the P bass with TIs. I don't have any experience with this. My other set of TIs is on my Hofner Club Bass and the effect is totally different - they are huge sounding on the Hofner, probably due to the pickup placement.

mstott25 · #10 05-27-2011, 09:14 AM

I have them on my P-Bass and they aren't coming off, maybe ever. Love these strings.

**nutdog** · #11 05-27-2011, 09:16 AM

After buying a used P that was pre-strung with TI flats I really liked the feel and tone. It took a little getting used to after a lifetime of rounds.

My 11 year old daughter is playing a little bass and liked the way it felt so I put a set on my active P lyte for her. I liked the way it sounded so much I finally decided to try them on my jazz last week.

Yesterday I practiced with my rock/blues/country band and I think they are going to stay on for a while. So now I have rounds on the P lyte. I'm considering trying Labellas or the Lakland JO set just to see if I'm missing out on something else.

For those that say there is a tone sacrifice with flats, I just don't get it. I love the tone that's coming out. Not dull and lifeless at all. Thick, juicy, warm and full come to mind. It seems more like a recorded tone, not just classic recordings, but the kind of bass you hear when listening to a recording on a stereo. That may not make any sense to anyone else.

Surly · #12 05-27-2011, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gio S

Size - JR344 4 Strings Long Scale 34" = 43 51 68 89
.

Wow that's a light guage, no wonder people say they're floppy. Not that there's anything wrong with that, I'm sure they're supposed to be that way.

CapnSev · #13 05-27-2011, 01:05 PM

Yeah, they're pretty much the king of awesome in the strings world.

salcott · #14 05-27-2011, 01:09 PM

They're not as floppy as one might think, and they are so well made the difference (at least to me) is immediately apparent.

k31bassman · #15 05-27-2011, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gio S

Size - JR344 4 Strings Long Scale 34" = 43 51 68 89

That's their roundwound set gauges. The flats should be JF 344 43 56 70 100. Which did you get?

scottbass · #16 05-27-2011, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstott25

I have them on my P-Bass and they aren't coming off, maybe ever. Love these strings.

Me too. Also on my P. Also will be there in perpetuity.

JB36 · #17 05-27-2011, 07:55 PM

I picked up a used MIJ RI P not long ago that came with TIs. The first time I've ever played flats and I love them. I'm thinking of stringing one of my passive jazzes with flats and I'm trying to decide on a new set of TIs or or something else. I'm considering GHS precisions, Sadowskys, or Pyramids.

johndough247 · #18 05-27-2011, 08:16 PM

Also a huge TI flats fan, have them on a fretless Lakland Jerry Scheff, dropped some foam in by the bridge and this thing now kills on jazz and ballads! playing it in a college jazz concert tomorrow night, can't wait! (one song is a pretty nice big band arrangement of Giant Steps, gonna see if I can sneak a recording of it)

chadhargis · #19 05-27-2011, 08:31 PM

Add me to the TI Flat fan club. They are awesome on my G&L L-2500. I love the sound and the feel of the strings as well as how easy they are to play.

mark107 · #20 05-28-2011, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gio S

Size - JR344 4 Strings Long Scale 34" = 43 51 68 89

I agree that all the old hits were made with LaBellas and I love them on my P, However -
1. The TIs were not available then
2, The engineer will have to work a lot less hard with the TIs.
.

Many of the studio pros at the time used Fenders. Carol Kaye used the medium set (F90's I think). Chuck Rainey also used Fenders. Probably many others as well. LeBella was far from being the exclusive string.