TI Jazz Flats vs. TI Jazz Rounds

[BSR6P-Bob]

Hi all.


I just had my Smith CR6GF (fretless) come back from my Luthier Savant after having the fingerboard redressed and am giving a set of TI Jazz Flats a whirl.

They sound and feel amazing to me, so much so that I'm considering giving the TI Jazz Round wounds a go on my fretted 6.

Any and all opinions on the Jazz Rounds would be appreciated.

[Kaspar Vadsholt]

The rounds are livelier. Very sensitive to the touch. I really like them, allthough they go dark quickly. I missed the 'pop' of a normal string, but really liked their warmth and responsiveness. Not good for a heavy touch. Turn your amp up and play light, and you got a great fingerstyle tone.

[fretlessrock]

I think that the Jazz Rounds are an excellent string, but I find the SuperAlloys to be more like the Jazz Flats from a sonics/feel perspective. Jazz Rounds are the kind of string that you can literally build your technique around. Like Kaspar says, they do their work the best when played with a light touch. I've used the JRs on a few basses and the best way I an describe it is that they have great response to dynamics, but one you hit thier max volume you have lost the tone. If you use your hands to control you volume and tone, and let your amp do the work, and don't get freaked out by ultra-light strings, the JRs are the ultimate. The SuperAlloys have that nice punchy mid of the JFs, break in nicely, and have similar tension to the JFs.

I agree on th Jazz Flats. I have 4 basses and two have Jazz Flats on them. The other two have matching sets of Zon Light Gauge Nickel Rounds, which I have been using instead of JRs because they don't get murky as they break in. I have this set of JRs for a MM5 fretless, and they make that bass sound like a URB. Great sound, but not whay I was looking for on that bass.

[BSR6P-Bob]

Originally Posted by fretlessrock

I think that the Jazz Rounds are an excellent string, but I find the SuperAlloys to be more like the Jazz Flats from a sonics/feel perspective. Jazz Rounds are the kind of string that you can literally build your technique around. Like Kaspar says, they do their work the best when played with a light touch. I've used the JRs on a few basses and the best way I an describe it is that they have great response to dynamics, but one you hit thier max volume you have lost the tone. If you use your hands to control you volume and tone, and let your amp do the work, and don't get freaked out by ultra-light strings, the JRs are the ultimate. The SuperAlloys have that nice punchy mid of the JFs, break in nicely, and have similar tension to the JFs.

I agree on th Jazz Flats. I have 4 basses and two have Jazz Flats on them. The other two have matching sets of Zon Light Gauge Nickel Rounds, which I have been using instead of JRs because they don't get murky as they break in. I have this set of JRs for a MM5 fretless, and they make that bass sound like a URB. Great sound, but not whay I was looking for on that bass.

Thanks for the details...just what I was looking for.

I play with a very light touch which is why I think I took to the flats so well on my fretless.

On the fretted I'll mostly be doing guitar-like fingerstyle chord melody and solo work and some slapping.

So it's between Jazz rounds and Super alloy then....

[fretlessrock]

Originally Posted by BSR6P-Bob

Thanks for the details...just what I was looking for.

I play with a very light touch which is why I think I took to the flats so well on my fretless.

On the fretted I'll mostly be doing guitar-like fingerstyle chord melody and solo work and some slapping.

So it's between Jazz rounds and Super alloy then....

The Jazz Rounds are less tension than the Jazz Flats, and some would say a LOT less tension. They would be right up your alley, until you got to the slap part. You *can* slap them but you need a light slap touch and you will be adapting to the strings. IMO, you owe it to yourself to try the Jazz Rounds at least once.

[BSR6P-Bob]

Originally Posted by fretlessrock

The Jazz Rounds are less tension than the Jazz Flats, and some would say a LOT less tension. They would be right up your alley, until you got to the slap part. You *can* slap them but you need a light slap touch and you will be adapting to the strings. IMO, you owe it to yourself to try the Jazz Rounds at least once.

Wow!! The Jazz Rounds have LESS tension than the Jazz flats??

Easy enough to adjust the truss rod.
I do have a light touch even when slapping....so it looks like I'll have to give the Jazz Rounds a shot.

Would you say the TI JR's last as long as the JF's?

Thanks again,
Bob

[fretlessrock]

Originally Posted by BSR6P-Bob

Wow!! The Jazz Rounds have LESS tension than the Jazz flats??

Yes. I mentioned that I use these light gauge Zon Nickels because I was looking for a less-dark tone as they broke in. I use them on a pair of 34" fretless 5's and the gauges are 025/035/055/075/095, and the JRs are lighter feeling than these strings.

You can see the tensions of the TI sets here:
http://www.thomastik-infeld.com/guitars/index.html

doing little rounding because I don't have all day:
JR's GDAE = 34.6, 30.2, 29.5, 28.0 lbs tension
JF's GDAE = 37.0, 37.5, 31.3, 35.0 lbs tension

Would you say the TI JR's last as long as the JF's

I'd ay that they are comparable. I think that the JRs are less likely to stay on your bass for 3+ years like a lot of JF users do, mainly beause as they age the JRs lose more mid/hi than the JFs. I think that it is a great sound, but I'd bet that the way that they age, not the ability to intonate or tune, is why you might not hear as much about years of duty out of JRs.

[BSR6P-Bob]

Originally Posted by fretlessrock

Yes. I mentioned that I use these light gauge Zon Nickels because I was looking for a less-dark tone as they broke in. I use them on a pair of 34" fretless 5's and the gauges are 025/035/055/075/095, and the JRs are lighter feeling than these strings.

You can see the tensions of the TI sets here:
http://www.thomastik-infeld.com/guitars/index.html

doing little rounding because I don't have all day:
JR's GDAE = 34.6, 30.2, 29.5, 28.0 lbs tension
JF's GDAE = 37.0, 37.5, 31.3, 35.0 lbs tension



I'd ay that they are comparable. I think that the JRs are less likely to stay on your bass for 3+ years like a lot of JF users do, mainly beause as they age the JRs lose more mid/hi than the JFs. I think that it is a great sound, but I'd bet that the way that they age, not the ability to intonate or tune, is why you might not hear as much about years of duty out of JRs.

...I'll definitely pick up a set of JR's and a set of JA's and have some fun. My fretted 6 is naturally bright and these should be a good match given the way I play and what I'll be playing. Thanks again!

[bgavin]

Originally Posted by BSR6P-Bob

Wow!! The Jazz Rounds have LESS tension than the Jazz flats??

The 4-string JR-344 set is 122 pounds tension, where the JF-344 set is 140 pounds.

[Jeff Moote]

Originally Posted by BSR6P-Bob

...I'll definitely pick up a set of JR's and a set of JA's and have some fun. My fretted 6 is naturally bright and these should be a good match given the way I play and what I'll be playing. Thanks again!

I arrived to this thread late, but it's all good advice. Based one what you've said about your playing, the JRs should be great.

I love them!