TI Jazz ROUNDS -thoughts and feelings

engedi1 · #1 03-31-2010, 04:40 PM

I have been a huge fan of TI Jazz Flats for a couple of years now, and when a call came for a Smooth Jazz/Fusion project where a lot of slap bass was required, I decided to put on some TI Jazz Rounds that I had kicking around. Since I have never been able to find much on TB about them, I thought I would post some of my impressions after the rehearsal last night:

1. Bass Sadowsky M5-24, ash body, maple FB
2. Amp TC Electronic RH450, through TC 2x210 cabs
3. No effects
4. Band was Keys, Guitar, Drums, Bass
5. Volume, medium-low

Your first impression of these strings is going to be something like "Floppiest string ever" however, once you get used to the low tension, and learn to pluck by the bridge, you can get great speed and clarity. These strings have a fast envelope, meaning they back off the initial attack kind of like flats, but not as severely. This enables fast licks to be really clean and articulate.

sound: Very warm, due to pure nickel outer wrap, and some kind of nylon wrap in the middle. Has a nice pleasing bite in the midrange that makes lower position finger style a pleasure. GREAT fingerstyle tone in the high register, really sings and cuts through. The strings are very well balanced and you don't lose the D and G string like you do with some many other strings, rather they punch through really well. They actually sound amazingly full and present considering the extremely light gauge.

The slap tone is definitely not up to Marcus Miller standards, and I probably won't keep them on this bass since this gig requires a lot of slap-they just aren't bright or punchy enough. I kept fiddling with my amp the whole night, but it was really the strings are just too loose to really punch through like DR's or Sadowsky strings do.

Sum up: They are perfect for the fingerstyle rocker/bluesman/jazzman who likes TI Flats but wants a little more sustain and bite-however, they don't have the punch of the Flats. I wouldn't recommend them for pickstyle, as they are just too floppy nor would I recommend them for modern jazz as the slap tone is quite puny. Really even volume across all 4 strings, smooth pleasing tone. 3 note chords were really clean and clear.
Would I buy them again? No. I play TI Flats for my blues/rock/country sound, and if I am going to use rounds, it is because I need a total departure for fusion slapping or certain rock sounds. These strings are too much like the Jazz flats without the strengths of the jazz flats. Would probably do well for someone who needed to play a lot of high register fast solos.

I hope this helps anyone else considering these strings. All comments IMHO, and IME, those who love them please feel free to flame on.

braydensharrar · #2 03-31-2010, 04:55 PM

I just ordered a set of TI flats and TI round for my J.

I have only used La Bella's for flats before these. I had them on a P and they were great for the Jamerson stuff, but lacked in a contemporary setting.

My go to rounds are DR sunbeams, which I know are nothing like the TI's. But I decided to try something new.

I am curious about the low tension feel. I have always been a bridge pup position player, with an occasional trip to the neck for walking.

I get them on Friday, so that's TI Judgment Day.

Great post, thanks!

~B

old-fashioned · #3 03-31-2010, 05:01 PM

I have MM StingRay and when I put TI Rounds on it, it reminded me of the bass sound on the Chlidren of Sanchez by Chuck Mangione. I like it a lot, but I feel it to sound too soft sometimes, depending on the music I play...

engedi1 · #4 03-31-2010, 05:12 PM

Brayden, Sunbeams are what I am planning on buying for my Sad. I know you will love your TI Flats, be sure to let us know your opinion of the rounds.

Johnny Alien · #5 03-31-2010, 07:26 PM

I play with a pick and Jazz Rounds. I have no problems with them being too low tension. I prefer low tension rounds.

Rumblefisher · #6 03-31-2010, 07:50 PM

Hey, thanks for the information...you are right, there is a lot more opinion available on TB regarding TI flats as opposed to rounds.

For those who have played both, which would you recommend for:

Jazz bass through 2 15/6 speakers and a tube amp, playing lots of rock. I want low tension, smooth feel, punch, clarity, growl. I DO NOT want zing or grit.

Do the rounds fit this profile? I understand they are lower tension than the flats, but do the flats feel significantly smoother? In other words, for me, low tension + super smooth is better than super low tension + not smooth. Keeping this in mind, which one of the two would you reccomend?

Thanks, not trying to hijack, just adding to this thread by posting some questions I know there are others out there wondering...

Johnny Alien · #7 03-31-2010, 07:54 PM

They both fit the bill. The flats are (of course) smoother BUT the jazz rounds are very very smooth feeling rounds. They are the lower tension of the two. The flats have slightly more lows but less sustain than the rounds. The rounds are not zingy by any means.

Rumblefisher · #8 03-31-2010, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Alien

They both fit the bill. The flats are (of course) smoother BUT the jazz rounds are very very smooth feeling rounds. They are the lower tension of the two. The flats have slightly more lows but less sustain than the rounds. The rounds are not zingy by any means.

Thank you. Of the two, I'm leaning towards the rounds. I thought I might give flats a try too though, b/c now I use rounds and they hurt my fingers a lot. Dean Markley Blue Steel. I got them for $3 on eBay, so I couldn't pass em up. I end up with very red, sore fingers (that's what she said...sorry, had to say it) though, I thought flats would be the cure for that.

EDIT: oh, and I forgot the million dollar question: of the two strings, which would you say would give more cut in a rock mix...let's say two half stacks, heavy handed drummer playing stuff like Dream Theater...so...loud

Thanks.

Johnny Alien · #9 03-31-2010, 07:59 PM

If you decide you want some of the rounds I believe there is a brand new set for a good price in the classifieds.

Rumblefisher · #10 03-31-2010, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Alien

If you decide you want some of the rounds I believe there is a brand new set for a good price in the classifieds.

Cool. I take it you are selling em?

I'll check it out. While I'm doing that, any insight into the added question in the post above?

Johnny Alien · #11 03-31-2010, 08:03 PM

The flats IMO cute better than most other flats but the rounds are going to cut more in a rock situation. I use them in a Ramones style punk band.

Rumblefisher · #12 03-31-2010, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Alien

The flats IMO cute better than most other flats but the rounds are going to cut more in a rock situation. I use them in a Ramones style punk band.

Then that's the way I shall go. For now...

Thank you!

Number27 · #13 03-31-2010, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Alien

The flats IMO cute better than most other flats but the rounds are going to cut more in a rock situation. I use them in a Ramones style punk band.

YEA!

i bought some a little while ago, put them on my medium scale aria and so far i've been pretty pleased with them. the only fault i can fault (meeb) them for is that the G string sounds kinda puny compared to the rest, but that might just be the 30 year old bass...

the feel of these strings is really awesome and makes life on my left hand soo much easier. i (also) play pickstyle and at first i felt like the "floppiness" was holding me back, but now i'm adjusting my style and i'm doing the best that i can. (bom bom bom..)

engedi1 · #14 03-31-2010, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CFclef

Then that's the way I shall go. For now...

Thank you!

Of course all things are relative and much depends on your total setup, but I have used the TI flats in rock settings with both pick and fingers. They sound particularly good in a mix. The jazz rounds are about the warmest rounds I can imagine, but they do offer more sustain and cut than the flats. I have also heard great things about Daddario Chromes which are extremely bright flats and favored by many on TB, and may be a better fit for you, since you want smooth on the fingers, but a cutting tone.

**smperry** · #15 04-01-2010, 07:43 AM

I love TI Jazz Rounds on fretless basses (TI Flats too of course).

engedi1 · #16 04-19-2010, 12:44 PM

Here is follow up to my first post...I had gig last night that was a traditional blues jam. I was using the house amp which was a disappointing Peavey. I was playing my Sadowsky with TI jazz rounds. The band was bass, drums, two guitars. My thoughts in this setting were as follows:
Pros
Good blues tones, nice and warm.
Left hand feels like you aren't even playing, could play them for hours and hours and not even notice it.
Sustain is excellent, more than I am used to really.
Cons
A little too sensitive dynamic wise, tough to play softly since they are so loose.
When I get excited I tend to dig in and these strings just can't handle that.
Not as much punch as TI Flats, or higher gauge rounds.
I felt like I was loosing the G string on high passages.

After the gig, I went home and put the TI Flats back on my bass and let out a big AHHHHH. The bass sounded much better, even unplugged. fatter, louder, punchier, with that great envelope that makes TI flats so specially.

It has been a fun ride with TI jazz rounds, but I don't see myself buying them again. The tension is just too low on the right hand. Although many also feel this way about TI flats, I have gotten used to that and really enjoy it. The jazz rounds are just too loose, and if your right hand technique is less than perfect, you will pop some loud notes out that you didn't mean.
I think my perfect setup is to have the TI Flats on my number one bass, for use in most jazz, rock, blues, and r & b situations, and then to have Sunbeams on a different bass for slap and aggressive rock.

Floridabwoy · #17 04-19-2010, 12:48 PM

I don't know.. I have both JF & JR. I really love the sound of the Jazz Rounds. They have a midrange growl that I really like on my Jazz, moreso than the Jazz Flats, which before I thought were the greatest string in the world.

engedi1 · #18 04-19-2010, 01:02 PM

Well, different strokes for different folks! I am more of P bass man tone wise, and am more into punch, than growl. I usually play my Sadowsky with the front HB soloed, which gives a pretty convincing Pbass tone.

Floridabwoy · #19 04-19-2010, 01:06 PM

haha.. I play rotosounds on my P Bass... I love the zing, but sometimes I roll it 80% back.

Rumblefisher · #20 04-19-2010, 01:44 PM

The debate never ends!

For those who've played both, is the flopiness factor THAT pronounced on the rounds? Are the flats even close to being that loose? I like loose strings BTW. I just want some that will take well to low action, are smooth, low tension, and have some cut to them in a mix.