TI Jazz Flats or Chromes?

KingRazor · #1 09-03-2010, 09:54 PM

I'm planning on building a Jazz bass for someone and I want to put either chromes or TI Jazz Flats on it.

The reason I want one of those two is because they have some of that nice bright zing of rounds, but they're still flats. I've heard the TIs feel really good, but I can easily put together a balanced chrome set on Brook Mays as well.

The price isn't really an issue as I'm looking for strings that will last for years, which is one of several reasons I'm going with flatwounds.

I've heard TIs are brighter than Chromes, which sounds good to me, but I think that might possibly be too bright and might be getting too far away from the flatwound tone. I don't want them to have to use the tone knob just because of the strings, it's supposed to be to offer more tonal variety when playing different styles of music, not cutting the extra brightness of the strings.

So what do you guys think?

Grateful · #2 09-03-2010, 10:09 PM

The easiest answer to this is how you prefer your tension: Ti's are low, Chromes are higher.

I had TI's for a day or so. Way, way, way too low tension for me. I'm part of the minority of people who don't care at all for TI's. Most folks seem to worship them! Bought 'em once, likely never again.

I've had Chromes for a couple of years now and love them. The older they get the better they sound IMHO.

My experience is that the Chromes are brighter than the TI's, not the other way around.

They are both great strings with lots of fans.

Chrisk-K · #3 09-03-2010, 11:08 PM

I used both TI and Chromes. TI had extremely low tension and felt like noodles. String balance was poor. Chromes had right tension and initially sounded bright. But they lost zing quickly. I used a set Chromes on my P for 2 years.

JimmyM · #4 09-03-2010, 11:23 PM

Chromes start out bright initially, but soon lose their zing and sound like regular flats. TI's NEVER lose that zing. That's why I don't like them (if I wanted rounds, i'd buy rounds), but if you want a string to last years and still retain brightness, they're the string for you. A compromise between Chromes and TI's are Rotosounds, but they won't last years with the zing...maybe a couple months longer.

Of course, skin chemistry and amount of usage enters into it as well. But as much I didn't like either TI's or Rotos and as much as I like Chromes, I think Rotos or TI's are both a better choice for your needs than Chromes.

felixxx · #5 09-03-2010, 11:29 PM

I prefer the sound of TI flats. Not by much, but still. However, the tension was too low for me as well. There was a lot of noise coming from strings hitting pickups, frets etc. (I know my technique suck).
Chromes, for me, have perfect tension. Mine are still bright (after few months), and I like the sound (I have the medium thick ones).

bassbully · #6 09-03-2010, 11:33 PM

I like both and have used both. With TI's I have a love /hate thing, love the tone and feel, hate how they fart out if you dig in or pluck hard.

Chromes are my go to string and although they do lose some of the zing they stay nice and thumpy with decent tension. I also feel chromes are brighter than TIs and IMO my Ti's got mellow and woodier sounding the older they got...in a good way but they were never bright as rounds.

KingRazor · #7 09-04-2010, 12:31 AM

How does the tone of "broken-in" chromes compare to most flats do you think?

To be honest, I haven't played Chromes (I don't think so anyway, the P bass I played at the store might have had chromes idk) but from sound clips I've heard of them I love the tone when compared to other flats because of that little bit of zing they have.

If it were my bass I'd change the strings often enough to keep that tone, but knowing who this bass is going to be for I know the strings aren't going to get changed much if at all, so having a good tone that will last a long time is certainly a plus.

As long as Chromes retain enough of their "zing" to sound nice and bright compared to other flats, I think they're probably a good choice.

selowitch · #8 09-04-2010, 12:59 AM

Switching to Chromes from roundwounds was the best thing I ever did for my sound, thanks to TB. I love the rich, punchy sound they produce, and the way they respond to my fingers. I play almost entirely pizzicato, and Chromes are great for that. They also last a long time and are inexpensive. What's not to like?

A bass strung with Chromes sounds like a bass. I like it.

Emibass · #9 09-04-2010, 03:07 AM

What about Sadowsky flats?

selowitch · #10 09-04-2010, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emibass

What about Sadowsky flats?

I think those are simply rebranded Chromes, but I could be mistaken.

Hizzoner · #11 09-04-2010, 06:37 AM

Chromes are great and feel right for me tension wise on a p bass. I think the TI's have a sweet and unique sound to them but I found the tension an issue...also seemed they detuned more often than chromes but that is IMO/IME...I think the tension thing is more about me than about the TIs..my right hand technique lacks the finesse necessary to always play lighter..after years of digging in to hear myself in loud band situations....Im working on it though...

Emibass · #12 09-04-2010, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by selowitch

I think those are simply rebranded Chromes, but I could be mistaken.

Rebranded Chromes made at Labella factory under Roger specs??

greggster59 · #13 09-04-2010, 07:06 AM

My used Jazz came with TI flats and I love them. Great sound and very smooth. I have a light touch so I don't have the issues associated with the lower tension but if your style of playing is aggressive fret noise could be a problem.

ljazz · #14 09-04-2010, 07:37 AM

Contrary to what Jimmy is saying, the TI's DO lose their zing. Listen to Pino with the JMT.... no zing. Listen to some of Carol Kayes later vids and stuff...... no zing. However, they do take some time. I have two sets here, both about 3 years old now, and there is not a hint of zing in either. They just keep getting better with age...... the 14 year old set of Fender flats I have here have way more top end...... Heck, I even slap with those fender flats.

My preference for a jazz is Chromes. I think the TI's are so mid heavy, they benefit the most from hotter pups that don't have even a hint of scoop...... scoop a bit, and there isn't much left. While the Chromes do start out with a bunch of zip on top, they eventually loose that, and you'll be left with solid bottom and complex mids. Very nice. While I love Labellas, the mids don't "sing" like they do with Chromes.

CamiloDíaz · #15 09-04-2010, 07:48 AM

Im a LaBella kind of guy, but between those two I think you can get most out of Chromes than TI's. Better balanced, mostly.

Nic. · #16 09-04-2010, 07:49 AM

TI jazz flats. They're well worth the money. I use them on my 4 string jazz fretless, 5 string fretless, and for a period of time, on ly fender jazz 5 fretted (until I realized I needed a distinctly different sound and I can't use the same thing on every single one of my basses or it would defeat the purpose of having different basses)

I didn't realize how awesome they were until I swapped them out... and suddenly the other strings just felt weird to play. These strings just feel soft like butter.

EricJ · #17 09-04-2010, 07:54 AM

I put TI flats as my first flats on an Aria Pro II (for sale, BTW) and liked the tone so much that I tried another set on a fretless Jazz that came with Chrome flats. Looser enough to need truss rod adjusting to restore the mwaah. Then bought a fretted P that appeared to have the original Fender rounds, and ordered the TIs the same day. I had saved the Chromes, and tried them on the P while I waited for the TIs to come (also tried them on the Aria).

In every case, it's tone. Big, full bottom. Partly, I think, because there is a lot of steel (magnetic material) in the E string. The J has Bill Lawrence pickups and needed more bottom with the Chromes. Not with the TIs. The Chromes are a little smoother, but the TIs to me are easier to play.

TIs have forced me to work on technique to get tone. There is definitely a lot of fret clacking, etc. if I get carried away, but hey, I'm working on it.

Gizmot · #18 09-04-2010, 07:56 AM

I'm using Chromes right now (my first venture into flat wounds in decades) and I think they're okay. However, I can tell you that my experience with TI strings is sensational and I'm going to switch to TI whenever I re-string again.

**StrangerDanger** · #19 09-04-2010, 07:58 AM

I didnt think the TI's had any "zing" at all and I kept pushing the E off the board because of the low tension. I went to Chromes on my P-bass and havent looked back.

theo64 · #20 09-04-2010, 09:37 AM

The tension of long scale TI flats (4-string set) is 140 lbs compared to 154 lbs for the lightest chromes (40-95) and 205 lbs for the heaviest chromes (50-105). I guess TIs shouldn't feel very different than lightest chromes tensionwise.

I don't have any experience with chromes, but I use TI flats on my Cort B4. Their acoustic tone is woody and uprightish. Their amplified tone varies widely depending on the position of the plucking hand, bridge or neck (I think this is due to the low tension). My favorite sound is with blend towards bridge PU and (slightly) rolled-off treble. Use of a foam mute goes also nicely with these strings.