TI Flats vs GHS flats

[mrufino1]

I had my stingray 5 strung with TI flats, which I love. I recently got a set of GHS flats, the light set (45-95) with a single B, hoping to come close to the tension of the TI's but with a more traditional sound. I changed to the GHS last night just to check them out, will be using them on a gig tonight. We'll see, I'll give details when I can.

[snyderz]

Brites or Precisions?

[mrufino1]

precisions. FIrst report, obviously more tension than TI's but because of the lighter gauge they still feel pretty good. Very balanced, more so than the TI's on this bass. Also, much "thumpier" than the TI's, but still good sustain. The A on the TI set was disappearing when the band was playing, not so with the GHS. I'm going to do a few more gigs on them, see how they settle in and how they feel.

[MNAirHead]

NOTE.. some of the GHS are thinner diameter at the higher tension..

I've used GHS instead of filing the nut.

[mrufino1]

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

NOTE.. some of the GHS are thinner diameter at the higher tension..

I've used GHS instead of filing the nut.

Can you clarify this? I'm not sure what you mean.

[mrufino1]

Well, no question about it, the ghs strings are a MUCH better match for my stingray 5 than the TI's. Much more balanced and full sounding. A lot less highs (which is good for me). Tension with the lighter e a d ang g is just perfect for me. Can't wait for them to settle a little more.

[fretlessguy]

I use both sets on different basses. They are my favorite flats. Which set I use depends on what best suits the particular bass and what style I will use them for.

FG

[Beefbass]

I put TI's on my Peavey Millenium. The low tension makes them easy to play, and IMHO since they don't have the traditional flat sound, I find them to be more versatile.

Now, I just put a set of GHS precision flatwounds on my Fender P/J bass, .45-.95 gauge. I like the TI's, but wanted a different sound out of this bass. I'll compare these to the Fender flats I had been using, the 9050L, and ML sets.

The GHS seem very low in tension as well, but not quite as much as the TI's. However, they do deliver the classic flatwound sound that I was looking for. In fact, these sound much more like that out of the pack than the Fenders do. I also find myself realizing; how do these GHS flats have such a lower tension feel and more broken in sound, than the Fenders of the same gauge, which in comparison feel like brdge cables? I do know from the GHS forum that the precision flats have a round core, maybe thats a lot of it? To me, the Fenders are very bright right from the start, and recently, I had one break as I was putting it on-was stringing up to tension, and POP-right about the 3rd fret.

To compare the GHS against the TI's-GHS uses a stainless steel wrap, while the TI's use nickle, but I find they feel very similar regardless. (I should point out, I'm comparing the light precision flats against the jazz flats) As far as which I like better? Hmm, thats a tough one, a real tough one. Each one does exactly what I want, on the particular bass they're on.
I would say, if you like a lot of slap and pop, along with everything else, IMHO the TI's will do that a bit better. If you're more traditional like I'am, I'd go GHS.

If I could only have one-I'd probably go GHS. The only reason being, they are about $25.00 less than the TI's, and for the little-very little, if ever-slap/pop kind of stuff I ever do, the GHS I feel would do that sufficiently enough.

[LilRay]

I use GHS Precisions on my Precision. Very thumpy and loud. I've never used TI's but I've read they're very rubbery which I wouldn't care for.

I'd like to give DR Flats a shot and compare them to the GHS. I really like all the other DR sets I've tried. DR is more in line cost wise with TI but I know that doesn't equal quality.

My "Perfect" set of flats would be DR Sunbeam tension and feel with a loud thumpy tone like the GHS.

God Bless, Ray

[blmeier7]

I might be interested in trying these since they sound similar to the Fender flats. I like the tone of the Fender flats except the tension is way too high for me.

I also tried the TI flats but they were too loose feeling and it felt like I was playing a mixed set of strings. The A was perfect but it sounded different than the D and G and the E was just dead sounding. I'm sure as they break in they would sound more even...I hope.

I'm looking at trying another set of flats for my P bass and was considering the La Bella Deep Talking flats. Has anyone compared the GHS Precisions to the La Bella DT's?

[LilRay]

Originally Posted by blmeier7

I'm looking at trying another set of flats for my P bass and was considering the La Bella Deep Talking flats. Has anyone compared the GHS Precisions to the La Bella DT's?

I know the LaBella "Jamerson" set has super high tension. Do you have a particular set in mind?

God Bless, Ray

[blmeier7]

Originally Posted by LilRay

I know the LaBella "Jamerson" set has super high tension. Do you have a particular set in mind?

God Bless, Ray

I was thinking maybe the orginal oldies. But, if they have super high tension then I don't think I would like them.

[jmain]

So would you guys so the tone of the GHS Precisions is somewhere b/t the Fenders or Labella DTF and the Chromes? Like b/t the old school thump and more bright?

And the tension b/t the Fenders and TI's?

[halloweenfiend]

Quick question: Do GHS Precision flats have silks on the end?

[JTE]

To me, the GHS Precision Flats soiund like all the classic thump I want out of a good flatwound string, but they have a precise note in them too. TI's have the note, but not the same thump (I really like the TI's, but it's not the flatwound sound I'm after). The LaBellas (based on the set of Old Originals that were on and off my P bass freqently for about 15 years) have all the thump I want, but they don't really have a precise note- they're just too much like a kick drum to me.

I used one set of Fender 7050 (don't recall the gauge) on my Sting, but they were nasty. Taut, brite, clanky, and very brittle sounding. I didn't leave them on very long, maybe a month, before I got a set of GHS for it.

jte

[no1likesme]

Originally Posted by halloweenfiend

Quick question: Do GHS Precision flats have silks on the end?

mine have purple silks

[mrufino1]

I have to say that the more I play these ghs flats the more I absolutely love them. TI's are great strings but on my stingray 5 these GHS strings just work better for what I am after. And I got them for $30 on ebay (a place called Mike's Chop Shop), how can you go wrong with a price like that?! He mixed the 45-95 set and the B for me, so I got the lighter tension on the e through G, but it is not as loose as the TI's, not as tight as the webstrings I had. For me, at this time, the GHS are perfect.

[jmain]

Originally Posted by JTE

To me, the GHS Precision Flats soiund like all the classic thump I want out of a good flatwound string, but they have a precise note in them too. TI's have the note, but not the same thump (I really like the TI's, but it's not the flatwound sound I'm after). The LaBellas (based on the set of Old Originals that were on and off my P bass freqently for about 15 years) have all the thump I want, but they don't really have a precise note- they're just too much like a kick drum to me.

I used one set of Fender 7050 (don't recall the gauge) on my Sting, but they were nasty. Taut, brite, clanky, and very brittle sounding. I didn't leave them on very long, maybe a month, before I got a set of GHS for it.

jte

Thanks man. Just got my new-to-me the bass and it is smokin'! (50s Classic P, Honey Blonde) It has a mix of GHS Precisions and a different E. Sounds pretty good, but will probably get a new set for giggles.

mrufino1, I saw that dude's store earlier. Thinking about a set for my JO5.

[Jack Clark]

Originally Posted by no1likesme

mine [GHS Precision Flats] have purple silks

So do mine-short scale.