Thomastik Infeld strings seem awfully expensive

jacoby75 · #1 03-19-2010, 01:09 PM

Is it worth it?

I know that you get what you pay for, but $122 for a set of 5-string flatwounds?

I have been a roundwound player my whole life, but have recently discovered that flatwounds might actually be the key to the sound I have been looking for out of my P and J passes but have never quite been able to find. A bass that I bought came with a used set of LaBella flats on it, and I like it. However, everyone and their brother recommends TI's.

Is the high price tag really worth it? Do they really last as long as people say they do? I saw people on youtube that said they put a set of flats on and don't change them for years. That seems sort of crazy to me. I'm in a contemporary country band, and I change my rounds about 1x/mo or so, but I have been unhappy with the overall sound. I used to use DR low riders on my active basses, but they don't sound quite right on my jazz and p bass. I'm thinking flats might be the way to go. At least that's what everyone seems to think. But to make up for the price difference, I'd have to get at least 6 months or so out of a $122 set of strings.

What do you think?

Thanks

Lukejt · #2 03-19-2010, 01:15 PM

If you just want to try them out, no way I'd pay that kind of scratch. Keep your eye out for a flat thread that's all about sending flats out other users so you can try them out and get a feel for them. There are a lot of nice sets of strings out there for less $$. Even if you just try 4 of the 5 strings at first, you'll get a feel for the tone and can buy the 5th string later if you dig them.

I like flats too. I've tried a lot of the different round wound strings folks recomdend and enjoy, but they're not for me. I've tried two different sets of flats, and they're on each of my two basses.

toomanybasses · #3 03-19-2010, 01:19 PM

Ti's are all that I use...I love them.

Try this place for a better price

http://www.juststrings.com/thomastik...flatwound.html

reedo35 · #4 03-19-2010, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacoby75

But to make up for the price difference, I'd have to get at least 6 months or so out of a $122 set of strings.

What do you think?

Thanks

I think you should get 6 years, not six months,out of a set of TI Flats.

mccartneyman · #5 03-19-2010, 01:24 PM

I've had TIs on my 55-94 for three years -- same set. Not a lot of loss of highs and they aren't even close to dead. In fact, I recorded a CD with them and the engineer called, raving about the bass sound. I paid around $65 for the set, So that's about $22 a year. Not bad. Looks like the price is up to near $90 now. Make sure that if you're going through body on a 35" scale set you get Super Long.

lowb1970 · #6 03-19-2010, 01:27 PM

You can get them for a lot cheaper than that. I've seen them for $89 at a few places. Also, with these strings they IMO are worth the money. I've been using their roundwounds in the desert and they work great in this environment so I would think under normal circumstances you should get lots of life out of them.

testing1two · #7 03-19-2010, 01:27 PM

Well, first off you can find them cheaper than $122. http://www.bassemporium.com/item.php?sku=JF345

Secondly, if you've never used flats I would suggest starting with a more moderately priced set, something like Sadowsky flats ($48 for a 5 string set and they are top notch). The TI flats are fantastic but until you've made up your mind that flats are right for you in general I wouldn't spend the extra money.

Lukejt · #8 03-19-2010, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mccartneyman

I've had TIs on my 55-94 for three years -- same set. Not a lot of loss of highs and they aren't even close to dead. In fact, I recorded a CD with them and the engineer called, raving about the bass sound. I paid around $65 for the set, So that's about $22 a year. Not bad.

Good point.

I'm looking for another flat to try in place of my GHS Precisions, they're really close to what I want, but maybe a tad high tension, and I swear the G string is a bit tinny, maybe not.

I really like my EB flats.

Back to the OP, this place has five string sets of generic flats for $22;

http://www.webstrings.com/flatwound_bass_strings.html

REAPER52 · #9 03-19-2010, 01:36 PM

They are IMO worth the extra cost. And they last forever. Trying a different brand is sort of ok - but they are all different .you might not like the brand and then you would not really know that you would have loved T.I.s

fish slapper · #10 03-19-2010, 01:39 PM

worth the dough and they do last forever.

In six months you'll just have them broken in.

kenfxj · #11 03-19-2010, 01:46 PM

I've had them on one of my fretted Jazzes for a couple years now. I was reluctant to lay out the cash at first but it turns out they were worth every penny.

Lukejt · #12 03-19-2010, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenfxj

I've had them on one of my fretted Jazzes for a couple years now. I was reluctant to lay out the cash at first but it turns out they were worth every penny.

Which set?

Johnny Alien · #13 03-19-2010, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacoby75

Is it worth it?

I know that you get what you pay for, but $122 for a set of 5-string flatwounds?

I have been a roundwound player my whole life, but have recently discovered that flatwounds might actually be the key to the sound I have been looking for out of my P and J passes but have never quite been able to find. A bass that I bought came with a used set of LaBella flats on it, and I like it. However, everyone and their brother recommends TI's.

Is the high price tag really worth it? Do they really last as long as people say they do? I saw people on youtube that said they put a set of flats on and don't change them for years. That seems sort of crazy to me. I'm in a contemporary country band, and I change my rounds about 1x/mo or so, but I have been unhappy with the overall sound. I used to use DR low riders on my active basses, but they don't sound quite right on my jazz and p bass. I'm thinking flats might be the way to go. At least that's what everyone seems to think. But to make up for the price difference, I'd have to get at least 6 months or so out of a $122 set of strings.

What do you think?

Thanks

$122 is high. I may know a place to get them for half of that.

PM me if you are interested.

That aside....TI's last forever. Years. So the price does work out over time. I go through rounds about the same rate as you but I never change flats when I put them on. TI's get better with age IMO.

But does that mean it will be worth it for you? Hard to say. I love TI's but not everyone does. There are lots of strings and lots of tones out there.

Krispy · #14 03-19-2010, 02:00 PM

TI's are the best strings (overall) I've used and I've dumped too many $$ setting up four basses trying to get my sound. Only my Alembic is bitchy about TI's (bad wolf tones on the B-string) so it wears OE Alembics. I use Jazz Flats on the Precision, Jazz Rounds on the Stingray and Power-Bass on my G&L 2500. They last, have great feel (especially the flats) and make tone up the ying-yang. Worth every penny IMO.

Try these guys for competitive pricing: http://www.bassguitarstrings.us/store/home.php

**StrangerDanger** · #15 03-19-2010, 02:25 PM

TI Jazz Flats are $55. Whoever is selling them for $122 is probably selling standard Fenders for $800 too.

Johnny Alien · #16 03-19-2010, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrangerDanger

TI Jazz Flats are $55. Whoever is selling them for $122 is probably selling standard Fenders for $800 too.

That is the typical cost for the 4 string set. He is talking about the 5 string set which typically sells for $70-$90.

lmfreeman9 · #17 03-19-2010, 02:42 PM

TI are the best, but agree that you should start with something less expensive like. Chromes, DR's, Ernie Balls are good too. You should also keep an eye on the Accessories Classifieds here. I experiment alot and buy most of my strings here. If I don't like them I sell them there, too.

markorbit · #18 03-19-2010, 02:51 PM

I'd be a little wary of TIs if you like Labellas. IMO TIs are very different. They are a lot more supple, light and springy whereas I've found Labellas to be pure old school. The vibe is quite different to me.

Personally I've not had much joy with other brands and these two stand out - but the problem with trying to evaluate flats is that they are best when well-broken in which is hard if you don't get on with them initially.

Both are lovely strings but I wouldn't consider them similar.

jacoby75 · #19 03-19-2010, 02:58 PM

I love you guys! This place is the best. Thanks for all of the quick responses. Very helpful indeed. Being new to the whole flatwound world, we'll see how tonight goes. I put some LaBella Deep Talkin' Flats on my jazz bass V (though they came used with another bass that I bought. long story). The immediate sound to me is incredible. Totally the vibe that I have been looking for out of my P and J. I think that I previously just thought I wanted one thing when I just didn't know that all along I really just needed to try flats. We'll see.

I noticed that I definitely had to adjust the truss rod when going from my DR HiBeams to the LaBella flats, though. My neck caved a little. Seems to be holding up okay, though. I have read elsewhere that a lot of flats are higher tension than roundwound strings.

We'll see how tonight goes. For now, though, I have a feeling that the world of flatwound bass strings might have just won over another player!

SC Bassboy · #20 03-19-2010, 03:03 PM

Can you boil flats in a pot of water like rounds to clean them? I typically went through a set of strings every few shows until I started boiling/cleaning & re-using them several times. Seems to me that if flats last for years anyway, you could clean them periodically and keep them forever.