Question about TI Jazz Flats

OriginalCrash · #1 11-04-2008, 10:50 AM

I know there's a lot to be said about 'em on this forum, but I don't remember seeing this specifically... so I apologize if it's been answered already. I'm considering getting a fretless bass. Wanting some serious "mwah" (the link is just an example of a fretless tone I really like, not necessarily "the sound" I want), can I get that with the Jazz Flats (I believe the general consensus is that they're far less "thumpy" than a lot of other flatwounds)? I know technique and other gear are also gonna play heavily; I'm just wondering if the flatwounds are still gonna be capable of a good, warm, even aggressive mwah sound... Or if I'd need to look more to roundwounds for that. Anyway, thanks for your help!

Brian

fretlessman71 · #2 11-04-2008, 10:53 AM

Gonna watch this. Curious about the same thing, really.

billbern · #3 11-04-2008, 11:27 AM

You won't get that "zing" as in the vid.

Ti Flats, BTB1005 fretless, soundcard, bridge pickup favored 60/40

hi-fi URL: http://www.soundclick.com/util/getpl...d=2483861&q=hi

BluesWalker · #4 11-04-2008, 11:33 AM

The mwah is not only string dependent, it is also dependent upon your fretless bass so YMMV if you go to TI flats (which are very expensive). FYI, I have always used round wound on my fretless basses: I get great mwah on my Gary Willis Ibanez fretless, not so great on my Steinberger (same strings, TI Jazz Rounds). The rounds chew up the fretboard a bit faster, but it is worth it. Most of the players I know use rounds on their fretless as the sound is more alive and not the dull thump reminiscent of an upright (unless that is what you are looking for)

Mastermold · #5 11-04-2008, 11:42 AM

I've got TI flats on my fretless and find them to have really nice, responsive feel. The tone is right for me, but you won't know if it's your tone until you try.

daveman50 · #6 11-04-2008, 12:08 PM

I find TI flats to be unforgiving in terms of right hand technique. You can't get the best from them without a light touch. That's been my experience; you have to coax the sound out of them... then they're brilliant.

FenderP · #7 11-04-2008, 02:00 PM

For someone like me, who is more of a "digger", the tension is too light and the strings are not stiff enough. While I do and can play with a subtle touch, the T-Is don't work for me. Then they have their wacky gauges ...

OriginalCrash · #8 11-04-2008, 03:06 PM

Dang, I hadn't noticed how different the guages were on those before (43-56-70-100). Not to mention, I like to dig in a lot (that said, I have no idea whether or not I would on a fretless...?) and really like a good mwah sound... So I'm thinking some kind of roundwounds might still be the best for me...

Brian

57pbass · #9 11-04-2008, 03:19 PM

TI makes great strings...
since I dig in when I play these strings dont work for me..
they dont give me the tension or the bounce I need I like and need...
I have a few friends who use them and they sound great...

I prefer the LaBella flats....

the low one · #10 11-05-2008, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 57pbass

TI makes great strings...
since I dig in when I play these strings dont work for me..
they dont give me the tension or the bounce I need I like and need...
I have a few friends who use them and they sound great...

I prefer the LaBella flats....

I had the same experience, great strings but not for me. I use Elites flats which are made by GHS I believe.

Jim Carr · #11 11-05-2008, 04:57 AM

Plenty of Mwah. I have TI Jazz flats on my Valenti and use them on my P-bass when I have the fretless neck on it. At times, I dig in, though I agree they are lighter and certainly more flexible feeling. That last quality works very well on fretless, IMHO. The action you can achieve will spoil you forever, IMHO.

gbarchus · #12 11-05-2008, 05:10 AM

I have TI flats on my fretless '66 PBass, fretless AVS '62 Jazz bass and my fretless, 5 string F-Bass. I'm also a bass player that destroys frets because of how hard I dig in. It's the reason my '66 PBass is now fretless. The fingerboard is so scalloped it won't take frets anymore without replacing the beautiful Brazilian rosewood board.

Believe me: the Mwahhhhh is definitely there. ...and I love the rebound of TI flats.

1954bassman · #13 11-05-2008, 06:20 AM

I use Ti Jazz Flats on my G&L L2500. some mawh, but nothing like roundwounds. There is a learning curve on the TI's due to the low tension, and I agree, digging in hard does not suit them.

Mark

OriginalCrash · #14 11-07-2008, 09:41 PM

Just thought I'd throw out that I got to play a Conklin Groove Tools fretless at GC yesterday wound with flats (don't know what kind, though)... It definitely still had some good mwah...

Brian

Grateful · #15 11-07-2008, 09:49 PM

I have TI's on my 5 string SX fretless. They are indeed lower tension, but I tend to have a light touch on the fretless. They seem to have more Mwah than the Chromes I used to have. They feel and sound great, but they don't work for everyone in all situations. I put higher tension LaBella on my 35" 6 string fretted, as I tend to go after that one more, and I don't think I would like the TI's on that bass.

peakdesign · #16 11-10-2008, 07:30 PM

I have TIs on a 63 P and a short scale SX SJMB fretless. They change tone a lot in the first month of playing and maybe I'm not ready to form a final opinion. They sound very good on the fretless if I set the action low to bring out the mwah, and there's no shortage of it. They are medium to low tension, on a short scale they feel great, very expressive. On a long scale the high strings (especially) are a bit stiff for me, but they are certainly softer than Fenders, feel great on your fingers. As they break in they quickly lose a lot of the initial zing. I would really prefer they kept it, though most people seem to prefer the more muted tone they settle into and that they say lasts for years. When you consider that Carol Kaye keeps a foam rubber mute at the bridge for the first few months of a set's life, which strikes me as absurd, it gives you an idea of what some people shoot for! They do have a richer, more complex, timbre than most flatwounds, reminiscent of an upright when it's singing and not just thumping. On the P they sounded fantastic at first, but as they settle in, I'm slowly starting to wonder if maybe I need to go back to something with a little more zing and growl. These strings have a complex, unusual tone and feel, and everybody who plays lighter than harder should probably give them a try at some point.

Kael · #17 11-10-2008, 07:58 PM

I've used TI flats and rounds on my fretless J. I know how to set an instrument up for optimum mwah, and have done so for both strings. While you can get a little mwah out of TI's (and I do mean a little), it is pretty minimal compared to what you can get out of rounds. That doesn't mean that TI's aren't a good string choice, just that if you want a strong mwah tone there are better choices out there. The TI's do mwah more than any other flats I've ever touched.

IME obviously.

PS: Over the top mwah is usually a bad thing. TI's might just give you all the mwah you need.

Deacon_Blues · #18 11-11-2008, 06:54 AM

Try Elixirs. I've heard a Fender fretless J with elixirs and it sounded amazing. The owner of that bass, a great local pro, was surprised how good that combination sounded, and I couldn't but agree with him on that.

Lots of mwah, easier on the fretboard than regular rounds and easy to play on too.

I have TI's on my Squier VM fretless, but whether I get the mwah or not depends a lot on my plucking style. Unfortunately my bass don't allow me to lower my action s much as I'd like to get as much mwah out of it as possible, but the mwah I do get when I pluck softly with my thumb especially around the 7th fret, is great.