T.I. Jazz flats

rymiraflores · #1 11-01-2010, 05:15 PM

I have been using the same set of TI flats for around 6 years now and they still seem to be as good as new...and no visible fret wear either. I would be really interested to know how long any of you have been using a set of TI´s without breaks or problems.

Alex E · #2 11-01-2010, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rymiraflores

I have been using the same set of TI flats for around 6 years now and they still seem to be as good as new...and no visible fret wear either. I would be really interested to know how long any of you have been using a set of TI´s without breaks or problems.

Great strings. I have had mine for 4 years. I recently let them soak in denatured alcohol for a few days and they absolutely look and sound like new.

In all honesty though, they looked just fine before the alcohol bath. I just did that because I let me DR High Beams soak, so I thought I might as well do the same for the TIs.

I really don't see any wear in the TIs. I think that's just the nature of flat wound strings in general: their design keeps the dirt out and they don't seem to get the fret notches that rounds get pretty quickly.

Jazzdogg · #3 11-01-2010, 10:52 PM

I have four electric basses strung with TI flats, and some have definitely been played more than others.

The set that's been played the most is on a fretted five-string with about 5 years of steady gigs and rehearsals. I own two of this particular make & model of bass (one was bought as a back-up), and although the well-worn TI jazzflats still sound good to my ear, the set on my back-up bass sounds "newer."

I haven't been pleased with the sound of TI Spirocores on DB until they've been played-in, but I've taken electric basses to gigs the same day I restrung them with TI Jazzflats, and never had a problem; they stayed in tune and sounded great right out of the box.

I'm not going to claim that well-played jazzflats sound just like a fresh set, but their sound changes so gradually that I've never noticed a deterioration of their sound. A good cleaning certainly couldn't hurt.

**TheEmptyCell** · #4 11-02-2010, 09:58 AM

I've had a set on my T-40 for nearly 3 years, and they sound awesome still. I will note that the newer set on my Fender P sound different acoustically, but the Peavey is a maple neck, heavy ash body, and string through, while the P is rosewood fingerboard, alder body, through bridge, so the composition of the basses probably has more effect on that than the age of the strings.

Marty Forrer · #5 11-05-2010, 03:55 AM

I've had mine on my P for either 10 or 12 years, I forget.

billbern · #6 11-05-2010, 05:24 AM

I've had the same set on a 4001 since 2004 and another set the same age that moves around from bass to bass. Still sound great.

rymiraflores · #7 11-10-2010, 10:21 AM

What´s the best price you have found for jazz flats for 5 string...I live in Peru now and buy them from uk..total including shipping , a touch under $100...I would love to find some cheaper.

Phaidrus · #8 11-10-2010, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rymiraflores

What´s the best price you have found for jazz flats for 5 string...I live in Peru now and buy them from uk..total including shipping , a touch under $100...I would love to find some cheaper.

try

http://www.saitenmarkt.com/

(click on the English flag icon for English).

Good prices and minimal postage costs.

Mojo-Man · #9 11-12-2010, 10:08 AM

I have a set on my fretless P-bass for 4 1/2 years.
They still sound great.

MoireBass · #10 11-12-2010, 04:43 PM

www.bassemporium.com - very competitive to U.S. pricing, close to www.saitenmarkt.com, cheapest might depend on the exchange rate that day.

A question for the gorup: How are T-I Flats for slapping/popping? How would they compare to something like Ken Smith Compressors?

rms2 · #11 11-12-2010, 04:54 PM

Try juststrings.com - great prices and fantastic service. I've been buying from them for years. Though as other people have said, the TI jazz flats don't need replacing very often. They sound great for years, perhaps part of the reason TI has to charge more for them?

these_go211 · #12 11-12-2010, 07:42 PM

i've had the same set on my p-bass for 6 years. though i am not in a band and i also play guitar. so they are not getting the kind of wear many of you other guys put on your strings.

fretlessguy · #13 11-14-2010, 06:49 PM

I've had them on my 54 P Bass reissue for three years and another set on my 96 Fretless P Bass for about two years or so. They still sound so cool. No problems.

sunbeast · #14 11-14-2010, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex E

Great strings. I have had mine for 4 years. I recently let them soak in denatured alcohol for a few days and they absolutely look and sound like new.

In all honesty though, they looked just fine before the alcohol bath. I just did that because I let me DR High Beams soak, so I thought I might as well do the same for the TIs.

I really don't see any wear in the TIs. I think that's just the nature of flat wound strings in general: their design keeps the dirt out and they don't seem to get the fret notches that rounds get pretty quickly.

Be careful with soaking the TI Jazz Flats and Jazz Rounds- they have a layer of silk in between the windings that can apparently react oddly to cleaning. I remember a thread a couple years back where someone either soaked or boiled their TI Flats and they ended up coiling up afterwards (it was probably boiling now that I think of it, but be careful anyway- these strings don't come cheap!).

Oh yeah- and I've had one set that has drifted from bass to bass for about 4 years now with no noticeable deterioration in tone. I just put them on my new to me 70s Ibanez P-bass clone and have fallen in love with them all over again!

Cutty · #15 11-15-2010, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rymiraflores

I have been using the same set of TI flats for around 6 years now and they still seem to be as good as new...and no visible fret wear either. I would be really interested to know how long any of you have been using a set of TI´s without breaks or problems.

They will last a lifetime,15yrs for me!!and still as new sounding.

Shoewreck · #16 11-30-2010, 02:39 PM

I have installed a set yesterday and they felt a bit strange - A and E are somewhat brighter than G and D. Will that even out with time?

**lowendfriend** · #17 11-30-2010, 04:30 PM

How do they feel on a Warwick, Shoewreck?

jallenbass · #18 11-30-2010, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shoewreck

I have installed a set yesterday and they felt a bit strange - A and E are somewhat brighter than G and D. Will that even out with time?

They will even out most of the way but you'll still notice it if you pay close attention. I don't really notice it after 9 months or so.

warnergt · #19 11-30-2010, 08:24 PM

I'm afraid to change my TI Jazz flats (been using them about two years now).
I replaced the G string once with a new TI Jazz flat and hated it (too much zing).
I put the old TI Jazz flat back on. I'm still using it and don't intend to
change it any time soon.

Shoewreck · #20 11-30-2010, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowendfriend

How do they feel on a Warwick, Shoewreck?

Hard to tell yet. I strung my new '88 Streamer with these, and still consider it a crime, since the bass is great for roundwound type of sounds. I have yet to try the combination with band to see if flats fit our music. From what I hear in headphones, the growl is there and the low end must be thunderous.