TI flats aren't working for me. Am I crazy?

[black lake]

You are not crazy at all. I have used TI flats on a couple of my basses on and off over the last couple of years. Most of the time, I love the sound and feel, but occasionally my ear longs for something else. I keep trying other strings, but keep coming back to the TI flats on my main fretless. I keep my backup fretless strung with rounds for those times my ears don't love the sound of the flats. Keep trying strings until you find what you are looking for.

[sigmafloyd]

Some may disagree, but I'm a big believer in certain basses 'wanting' certain strings. I bought a set of TIs for my main bass (MIA P) and just couldn't get into them. I felt like I was constantly setting up the bass, adjusting my technique, etc. I was thinking way too much about the strings and not about what I was playing.

Ended up putting them on my backup jazz and loved them on it. They felt less loose on the jazz for some reason.

[Chazinroch]

Personally I love them and have them on 6 of my basses. I recently tried the Sadowsky flats and like them quite a bit as well, mostly due to lower cost and the tension is a bit stiffer. I have Labellas on another bass and for me they are too stiff. It's all a matter of personal choice.

[PWRL]

I use light gauge Chromes on mine. Very happy with them.

[warnergt]

Originally Posted by Espresto

I meant the E string sounds odd, other than that the sound is great.

I've found TI Jazz Flat E strings tend to be inconsistent. The
A, D and G strings are great but the E string can be good or bad.
Luckily, you can buy individual E strings to find a good one:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001631NI8/...3C_ST1_3p_dp_1

It sucks having to find a good string by trial and error (and
expense). The last time I replaced one, I had to go through
two or three before I found a good one. But once you find it,
it sounds great and lasts a long, long time.

I'm hooked on TI Jazz Flats for my P Bass. They feel good
and don't zing like most other strings.

[Rip Topaz]

I haven't tried TIs myself, but I'm pretty sure they wet work for me, either.
I prefer a higher tension, so I go with light gauge Chromes, strung through the body.
TIs may be a great string, but for me they just aren't a good match.

[Espresto]

I've decided that, though I may give TI's another chance somewhere down the road, I'm going to give rounds a try. They may or may not give the exact tone I want, but I figure I'll learn something either way. Do you guys think DR Sunbeams (lightest gauges) would be suitable and not do too much damage to the fingerboard (it's not much harder than rosewood)?

I'm glad I'm not alone regarding TIJF's. They're great strings, but in this instance they aren't working out. Though, the inconsistent E-string thing would explain a lot.

[Marial]

Jason at bassstringsonline recommended Sadowsky flats after I mentioned in an email exchange that Chromes had too high a tension and TIs too low. He was spot on, and after a recording session they're the best feeling and sounding flat I've tried yet. They're very warm but they're not all thump. On my Jazz they provide warmth with clarity, which is my ideal.

[bassbully]

No your not crazy cuz those darn strings almost drove me nuts. I bought a set years ago and put them on at least 5 different P basses trying to get the sound and feel I wanted. I loves the feel but the tone was weird on each bass and I could not handle it.

I finally put them on one P bass and they have been home there for at least 4 years and are staying. I have never heard or felt another string like them and they have a place with a wonderful tone unlike any other but not my everyday tone ...that's for sure.

[Root 5]

Originally Posted by Espresto

Do the Chromes have much thump to them? I'd like to avoid that if possible.

Then avoid flats altogether. Try a set of D'Addario Half Rounds or GHS Brite Flats.

[phat5]

I've been a TI flat user for 10 years, love the "noodle" like tension and round tone they produce. Pulled them off my P bass after 7 years and installed a lightly used set of Fender 9050-ML's (.050-.100)...........holy bocci balls! They sound huge through my Pandora box and phones, can't wait to play them through my rig; sounds like they'll punch holes in the walls. Very percussive and deep, but the tension is much stiffer than the TI's..........I'll give them a couple of weeks, if I can't get used to them it's back to Chromes.

** Yeah I'm stickin' with these; why a .100 with a .050, don't know but it works well.**

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by phat5

I've been a TI flat user for 10 years, love the "noodle" like tension and round tone they produce. Pulled them off my P bass after 7 years and installed a lightly used set of Fender 9050-CL's (.045-.105)...........holy bocci balls! They sound huge through my Pandora box and phones, can't wait to play them through my rig; sounds like they'll punch holes in the walls. Very percussive and deep, but the tension is much stiffer than the TI's..........I'll give them a couple of weeks, if I can't get used to them it's back to Chromes.

This is why only one of my basses has TI's on it. The tone is not my go to tone and I use it here and there for gigs where I want that dub,woody tone TI's give me.

Chromes are on all of my other basses I have and they blow the door's off TI's for volume and a more aggressive sound.

[Mastermold]

Originally Posted by warnergt

I'm hooked on TI Jazz Flats for my P Bass. They feel good
and don't zing like most other strings.

Yeah in my experience TI flats sound fantastic on my P-basses, but I've never liked them on my Jazz basses. Something about the P-bass low/mid tone mates well with the TI's. My Jazz basses wear LaBella flats, FL760.

I also liked TI's on my G&L L-2000 but went back to rounds with that bass, none of the flats I tried sounded right on that bass.

I've also got TI's on my Ric 4003. I'm okay with them on this bass but not thrilled with the tone like on my P-basses.

[Mastermold]

Originally Posted by bassbully

This is why only one of my basses has TI's on it. The tone is not my go to tone and I use it here and there for gigs where I want that dub,woody tone TI's give me.

Chromes are on all of my other basses I have and they blow the door's off TI's for volume and a more aggressive sound.

Chromes are great all around strings IMO.

[phat5]

Originally Posted by bassbully

This is why only one of my basses has TI's on it. The tone is not my go to tone and I use it here and there for gigs where I want that dub,woody tone TI's give me.

Chromes are on all of my other basses I have and they blow the door's off TI's for volume and a more aggressive sound.

I've tried the Chromes .105-.050 set, but they were a bit stiff for me last year; only had them on for 2 weeks. Think I may try them again and leave them on for a couple of months, then decide if they work for me.

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by phat5

I've tried the Chromes .105-.050 set, but they were a bit stiff for me last year; only had them on for 2 weeks. Think I may try them again and leave them on for a couple of months, then decide if they work for me.

Trust me two weeks is not near enough time fro Chromes to work in. They will never feel like TI's but give them time and they settle in real nice.

[Marty Forrer]

I've used TI Flats for ever. I keep trying other brands, but always take them off in disgust and go back to the TIs. I've tried Fenders, LaBellas, GHS, DÁddarios and dislike them all. I guess what suits one person does not suit another. I absolutely love the low tension (I play fairly lightly) and the incredibly low action I can get. Expensive? Not when they've lasted me over 12 years and there's no sign of them giving up yet.
I'm not trying to convince anyone to use them, strings are an individual taste, same as basses, amps etc.

[Kael]

TI flats felt way too low tension for me also. I had to keep my hand rooted near the bridge too much. IMO, a string that makes you change your technique isn't worth it. I want gear that works with me not against.


Honestly, I got over the fear of roundwounds on bare wood and have moved back to rounds on fretless. D'Addario XL's have more tension than TI flats by a good bit. Then again, I've epoxied several fingerboards and know from past experience that if this board gets chewed up, I can always epoxy it and you'd never know it had had issues.

[fearceol]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

The TI lovers can make you think you're crazy for not liking them, but I absolutely hated them, and no amount of them trying to talk me into liking them could change my mind.

They are not for everyone, but far from trying to talk you into liking them, I'm sure most people could n't care less one way or the other.

I love them, and I'm not going to lose any sleep because you dont.

[tjh]

.. everybody comments on how smooth the TI's are and every time I have tried them (at least 3-4x) they were one of the stickiest strings I have every played .. I tried both new and used .. perhaps something to do with the nickel content and my skin reacting ... I dunno, but I have had no problem with Chromes, DR, Labella, Sadowsky, GHS, EB, Pyramid Gold, or Dean Markley flats and being sticky ...

... it has been awhile though, so I am almost ready to try them again if I find a used set come up that haven't been STB .. I have a project bass with a bad neck and need light tension, but still want a flatwound ..