TI Flats - Question For Heavy Finger Style Players

[Groover]

I have somewhat of a heavy pluck on my finger style playing, and I've noticed that this may not be ideal for TI Flats.

Are you guys raising the action on your basses when using TI Flats?

Seems as if the way I play is causing the strings to stop vibrating abruptly because the strings hit the upper frets, making kind of a slap type sound, but not as crisp (or useful)

I sort of like that a little because it gives a nice growl, but it seems as if I lose the notes I play while in the mix that way.

Has anyone else noticed this?

Just trying to get some opinions before I start messing with action and relief and all the good stuff where I'll spend hours getting the intonation dialed in again....

Any opinions or tips on this are much appreciated (I know I should probably work on lightening my touch a little).

Thanks!

[LoveThatBass]

I found with TI Jazz Flats I had to raise the action of the E (somewhat) and A (slightly) to give it more room for the string to vibrate.

[dunamis]

Besides raising the action and/or changing your technique, not really. The B string on TI's is pretty thick (like a lot flats, I think), so 5'ers may have even more fret contact.

I do find that TI's give me as much or maybe even a bit more volume and thump when I don't dig in too hard. Since I've started using them I've begun to focus on contacting the string more with the very tips of my plucking fingers rather than digginin with the 'pad' part of the finger.

I have a bass with a ramp, and it really helps with this aspect of plucking techinique. If you want to keep the TI's you might consider a ramp.

[Brass Nut]

I love the TI's because everything about them is light.
I play light. Light on the fretboad, light on the pluck. And for that TI's really shine.
Think If I was a heavy handed sort I'd be looking for strings with a bit more tension,, no?

[gbarchus]

I've learned to play lighter which is a good thing. I can still "dig in" for effect, but find that I prefer playing with a lighter touch. It's probably better for my hands too! I tried some Sadowsky flats on my PBass and discovered I don't like the higher tension anymore. I can get the same sounds with the TIs.

[fearceol]

I agree with the above two posts. I have a light touch and I find the TI flats produce a good sound without the need to dig in.

[Groover]

Ok, I've been practicing on lightening my touch, but I just had to raise the action just a little bit... Maybe I gave in too soon, but I really feel the need to dig-in just a little.

The bass is more thumpy with the higher action, but I lost that nice grind that you get from subtle fret buzz - I still get it if I really dig in.