Thomastik Infeld Jazz Flats - outer wrap material?

[Santraginus]

I purchased some TI Jazz flats because I read (somewhere here on talkbass) that the outer wrap consists of nickel instead of stainless steel. I was looking for a very smooth surface to minimize fret wear on my main practicing bass.

However, after unpacking the strings it seems that the outer wrap looks more like stainless steel, and is a lot rougher than I expected.
So before I put them on my bass, I'd like to ask if anybody here knows what the outer wrap of these strings is *really* made of. Steel or nickel? Or some alloy?
Thanks in advance for your help!!!

[lmfreeman9]

Nickel and let me know if you want to trade them away.

[Johnny Alien]

They are nickel flatwounds with a round core. "Rough" is not something I here them described as often. They feel like any other flat to me (winding-wise).

[kai_ski]

The smoothest flats I have ever played are DR Hi-beam Flats, and they are stainless IIRC.

[JustOpenYourMind]

Ti's are a little rougher felling than other flats because because there more space between the windings than normal flats.

The space between the windings is what makes flat seem rough or not, more than the material they are made of.

You shouldn't worry aboyt fretwear with flats, especially with ti's, first, they are flats so fretwear is practicly non-existent, then they are so low tension that it's almost impossible to dig in with them.

[jasper383]

I believe the little bit of extra space between the windings aids in lowering the stiffness, as well.

[Deep]

Originally Posted by kai_ski

The smoothest flats I have ever played are DR Hi-beam Flats, and they are stainless IIRC.

How do you like DR flats? Likes, dislikes if any?

[john-boro]

like most flats they also feel particularly sticky due to the coating that gets on them during manufacture, this could be helping to make them feel rough? I always wipe them down with a tiny bit of alcohol to get rid of this.

[lmfreeman9]

I have used the DR Flats which are somewhat like the Sadowskys. Great lows and very good highs. Both have slightly more tension than I like. I prefer the TI's and Pyramids for tension, nickelness and purity of tone.

[Santraginus]

Thanks for your replies, folks.

I wondered because colour-wise, the material looks more like steel than like nickel. It's more like a grayish-metal colour instead of silverish, shiny, as I'd expect from nickel.

However, I think I'd put them on to find out how they siut me...

[Santraginus]

Originally Posted by lmfreeman9

Nickel and let me know if you want to trade them away.

I was thinking about sending them back for a refund. But after reading the numerous posts, I will give them a try.

[Johnny Alien]

Originally Posted by Santraginus

Thanks for your replies, folks.

I wondered because colour-wise, the material looks more like steel than like nickel. It's more like a grayish-metal colour instead of silverish, shiny, as I'd expect from nickel.

However, I think I'd put them on to find out how they siut me...

I always think of the darker grey as nickel and the shinier is steel. My nickel wound strings are usually less shiny than the steel ones.

[Mr. BassmanPT]

Originally Posted by Santraginus

I was thinking about sending them back for a refund. But after reading the numerous posts, I will give them a try.

you will not regret it

[air_leech]

Originally Posted by Johnny Alien

I always think of the darker grey as nickel and the shinier is steel. My nickel wound strings are usually less shiny than the steel ones.

+1

stainless seems to have a white-ish kind of shine to them, almost like white gold while the TIs have a reflective dark chrome look going on.
however GHS Brite Flats have a dull grey-metallic colour and they are supposed to be stainless.

[4-string]

Also, you might consider swapping those plastic frets for some nickel or steel ones.