Stretching Thomastik Flatwounds?

curt basner · #1 09-17-2011, 07:02 PM

Hi all,

I just purchased my very first set of flatwound strings, which also happen to be my very first set of Thomastik-Infeld strings. This is the JF344 set for my Fender Jazz Bass. I would just like to know if, like guitar strings, this type of string should be stretched when newly installed, or if their construction is such that stretching is either unnecessary or damaging.

Thanks for any thoughts, and sorry for what I'm sure is really dumb question.

Slowgypsy · #2 09-17-2011, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curt basner

Hi all,

I just purchased my very first set of flatwound strings, which also happen to be my very first set of Thomastik-Infeld strings. This is the JF344 set for my Fender Jazz Bass. I would just like to know if, like guitar strings, this type of string should be stretched when newly installed, or if their construction is such that stretching is either unnecessary or damaging.

Thanks for any thoughts, and sorry for what I'm sure is really dumb question.

Just put them on like you would any bass string. Myself, I string them up, bring them up to tune, then tug upward on them, then bring them back up to tune. All strings will do a natural stretching thing for a day or so and then settle in. TI Jazz Flats are no different.

JimmyM · #3 09-17-2011, 08:43 PM

Ya, I did it with mine when I had a set and they didn't go dead or anything...unfortunately.

musicon197 · #4 09-17-2011, 11:08 PM

+1 to slowgypsy.

Those TIs are now the only flats I'll use. Took me a while to finally suck it up on the cost and wish I had long ago, but for me there's no other.

tsverrir · #5 09-18-2011, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicon197

+1 to slowgypsy.

Those TIs are now the only flats I'll use. Took me a while to finally suck it up on the cost and wish I had long ago, but for me there's no other.

+1

TomB · #6 09-18-2011, 06:56 AM

Tug, but do it carefully. What you're really doing is seating the string's ball end in the bridge and around the tuning peg, pulling up any slack left from manufacturing and winding around the peg. TI's aren't any different from others, IME. One caution is to be especially careful if you have through body stringing. The wrap can stress where it crosses the bridge so you want to watch that spot when you tug. I tug and retune several times firmly but gently, until the string stays at pitch when you tug it. I'd also recommend tugging at about the mid-point of the string to even out the stress. It's always worked fine for me.

TI's seem always to be a string folks either love or hate. Good luck with 'em!

gidbass · #7 09-18-2011, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsverrir

+1

+2

brandau · #8 09-18-2011, 09:15 AM

I always fret the 1st fret and then tug the string... Reason being; I witnessed a friend bust his nut

while stretching new strings...

curt basner · #9 09-18-2011, 11:20 AM

Thanks for all the advice, folks. I will probably be re-stringing later today. We'll see how it goes. I had my choices narrowed down to these strings, or the La Bella Original 1954 Flatwound Deep Talkin' strings.

Mojo-Man · #10 09-18-2011, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicon197

+1 to slowgypsy.

Those TIs are now the only flats I'll use. Took me a while to finally suck it up on the cost and wish I had long ago, but for me there's no other.

Right on, don't worry about the price of these strings.
They last forever. I mean forever.
I have a set on my fretless P-Bass for over 5 years.
They sounds better now, than when I put them on.
They pay for them self, over time.

Pilgrim · #11 09-18-2011, 12:24 PM

Strings stretch themselves. You can also tug on them manually, but all you're doing is speeding up what happens naturally. Just tune as needed.

jasper383 · #12 09-18-2011, 12:31 PM

I don't tug, it seems like an unnatural thing to do to the string.

Anyway, after a few times tuning up, the strings settle in and are fine.

curt basner · #13 09-18-2011, 02:30 PM

Well, I have done it, put the new flatwounds on. I decided to do one gentle pull each and retuned, with very little adjustment needed.

I have got to say...I am floored with these strings! The feel of them, first off, is almost like playing a different instrument! Incredible! And, the sound is, well, nice. I don't hear a huge difference between the old roundwounds, other than maybe a bit more warmth, particularly in E and A strings, but even if the sound never changes as they wear in a bit, the difference in feel alone is worth the change. I'm thrilled I did it!

A few other comments. First off, the strings I removed were La Bella Super Steps. I had to make a huge adjustment in the string height at the bridge, from the height which accommodated the bare core wire of the La Bellas, to the full width of the flats. A bit of adjustment in intonation, but not a lot. And at least thus far, surprised at no need to adjust the truss rod. Maybe the neck will need some attention over time as it gets used to the string tension (but then, I don't know how different the tension is between the 2 sets). These strings just feel great. Some have commented that they feel 'loose' compared to other strings, but I don't get that feeling at all. They just feel 'good'.

JLS · #14 09-18-2011, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo-Man

Right on, don't worry about the price of these strings.
They last forever. I mean forever.
I have a set on my fretless P-Bass for over 5 years.
They sounds better now, than when I put them on.
They pay for them self, over time.

9 years, here.

Quote:

The feel of them, first off, is almost like playing a different instrument!

I agree. More like a bass, less like a guitar.

curt basner · #15 09-18-2011, 07:19 PM

Oh, just a curiosity question... It seems to me that flatwounds and Precision basses were pretty much hand in hand. Somehow, it seems that Jazz basses and roundwounds were a more 'normal' combination, but that's based on absolutely nothing. So my question is...when did roundwound bass strings first become available? I'm guessing that Jazz basses, when they were first made, had flatwounds. True? Basically (no pun intended), I'm wondering what kind of strings would a 1964 Jazz bass have had, straight out of the factory? The bass I've just put the flats on is a Fender Custom Shop '64 NOS Jazz Bass. My CS bass came with roundwounds, thus wondering if that aspect of the 'recreation' of the '64 was in fact, accurate.

JimmyM · #16 09-18-2011, 07:38 PM

No, it wasn't historically accurate. Fenders all came stock with flats until sometime in the 80's.

curt basner · #17 09-19-2011, 08:02 PM

Thanks for the info. I guess my bass is now happy because it's now set up the way it was supposed to be

curt basner · #18 10-17-2011, 07:07 PM

In case anyone cares, I've had my Thomastik flats on my Jazz for a month now, and I must say, I love them! They sound great, but even if it wasn't for that, the feel alone would be worth switching form roundwounds. I remain complete thrilled with these things. I have a new Fodera on the way, and when they asked me what kind of strings I'd like to put on it, my choices were only rounds (or at least I presumed so, never really asked about flats). I figure I'll give their strings a bit of a chance, but if I'm even a bit unhappy with them, my second set of flats (I bought 2 sets) will be going on the Yin Yang...