TI flats and breakage

mrufino1 · #1 06-13-2009, 01:38 AM

So I got my new Stingray 5 today, and started to string it with my TI flats, same set has been on 4 different basses now since I got them. The D string broke in the tuner, which also happened on a Ken Smith, when i was stretching it. Has anyone had a similar experience? Could be a coincidence that it was the D both times, but it is a little weird. I have a new set coming this week, so if it happens again, then I will really wonder (and wouldn't use them again). Just curious if anyone has a similar experience.

fretlessguy · #2 06-13-2009, 07:14 AM

Nope. I have them on a couple of body thru bridges. On one bass the string itself has wrapped about half-way around the tuner, which I know is a no-no, but I have played these basses often without any problems.

4Mal · #3 06-13-2009, 12:13 PM

only time I've broken a TI was when I loaded the D into the G string tuner and that was all she wrote. The dealer replaced the string for me gratic even after I owned up to being a bonehead. If the string has kinked in multiple places as a result of slightly different lengths among the 4 basses that set had previously been on, then I can see where a break could happen.

king_biscuit · #4 06-13-2009, 12:22 PM

Some tuners seem to have very sharp leading edges which will strip the winding off of a flat and ruin it. I have had a lot of trouble with EBMM tuners doing this, and no problems with Fender tuners.

unclekebm · #5 06-13-2009, 12:23 PM

I broke 2 G strings on my Stingray at the tuner (Chromes)
didn't dare try TI's too expensive...

Now the Stingray has nickel rounds
and my P's get the TI's

kirkm24 · #6 06-27-2009, 07:43 PM

I've had this problem happen to me three times with Ernie Ball Flatwounds (Chromes). The G kept coming untuned and it was because the edge of the tuning peg stripped the silk wrap so that just the lead wire was exposed. Ernie Ball sent me a whole new set at no cost but it happened again. I guess these basses were meant for rounds.

mrufino1 · #7 06-28-2009, 12:28 AM

I have a new set of TI's on my Stingray 5 now, since my original post. I was in a rush and those strings were used on 4 different basses previously. There was no problem with them breaking this time. However, I also have a new set of GHS flats that I want to try with this bass, see how those are as well. At some point I may get some hipshot ultralights for this bass anyway, and hipshots never gave me this problem.

strozey · #8 06-28-2009, 12:35 AM

I just put on a set of TIs on a Cort that has a 2 and 2 headstock, and the G string has like 6-7 windings and is about a half turn on bare metal, I don't know that I would get TIs again for a non-Fender because of this, however I love the strings themselves

dmusic148 · #9 06-28-2009, 12:48 AM

Sometimes flats will break if the non-wrapped(flat) part goes around the tuner. Best way to avoid this is to run the string through the bridge, and just hold it tight next to it's tuner. If it looks like the flat part will wrap, you can fix it with ball-ends from old strings- just thread one or two onto the string, and run it through the bridge again. This will pull the whole string backwards toward the bridge, so that only the silk part will wrap. For example, see how my Ti G was gonna wrap on the post?

Solution:

Jefenator · #10 06-28-2009, 02:33 AM

IME the windings on TI flats unravel very easily. (I found this out the hard way, trying to install a set on my Steinberger with the string adapter. $40 down the toilet, just like that.

)

I love the way they play & sound. But I guess it's not all gravy.

With a bit of caution they seem to hold up okay. Removing and reinstalling them, that could be asking for trouble. Definitely avoid cutting them!

netbot · #11 06-28-2009, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jefenator

Removing and reinstalling them, that could be asking for trouble. Definitely avoid cutting them!

It happens to me once, when i switched the strings from my jb to p bass. it broke at the tuner while i strung it.

btw: what do mean by not cutting them? if i don0t cut them they are way too long. please, explain me. thank you!

Bernie P. · #12 06-28-2009, 06:55 AM

I've had them on one bass or another for several years now without a single break.

Jazzdogg · #13 06-28-2009, 11:08 AM

I have TI flats on all of my electric basses and I've never experienced a problem, but I put 'em on and leave 'em on; I've never had a reason to swap strings back and forth.

DogBone · #14 06-29-2009, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrufino1

I have a new set of TI's on my Stingray 5 now, since my original post. I was in a rush and those strings were used on 4 different basses previously. There was no problem with them breaking this time. However, I also have a new set of GHS flats that I want to try with this bass, see how those are as well. At some point I may get some hipshot ultralights for this bass anyway, and hipshots never gave me this problem.

Glad your new set is working out.

I've had the same set of TI's on my P bass since 2004, and usually pull them off at least once a year to clean the bass.

Never had a problem w/ them breaking, but then they go back on the same bass every time.

GlennW · #15 06-29-2009, 10:01 PM

I've broken a few strings in the same place, and it was always on strings that have been swapped around. I think the sharp bend weakens the metal (metal will break if you twist it back and forth enough) and repeated stress causes the string to break. It's happened with me on TI's and LaBellas, but I don't blame the strings; they weren't made to endure such punishment.

lmfreeman9 · #16 06-30-2009, 03:17 AM

I have had the same problem with Tapewounds but not TI's. I was warned by my Luthier that windings can come loose, especially on E and B strings and you may not always see it. You can hear it however. The solution is not to swap strings as much. For me, with TI's once the go on, they usually stay on.