Went from Chromes to TI JF344 today

**Btone** · #1 01-15-2011, 11:15 AM

Went from Chromes to TI JF344 today on my Precision.

I've been curious about the TIs for some time, but the very low tention, the high price and the fact that I've been quite happy with the Chromes has kept me on the fence.

Strung up, 1/8 turn counterclockwise on the truss rod, tuned up, plugged in:

Love'm!!

What surprised me the most was that although I can feel the lower tention, they're not at all floppy, they just feel and sound so in-cred-i-bly NICE.

Try them.

dalahorse · #2 01-24-2011, 08:28 PM

Yup! I just went from Ernie Ball flats (supposed to be the same as Chromes) to TI JF344s the other day. Backed off the truss rod about 1/4 turn, but added much of it back after everything settled. They're not floppy at all. Then again, they're lose enough that I don't bruise up my fingers after an hour of playing.

I never cared too much for the sound of my old flats. They were just too dull and boomy. The TI strings have an amazing sound! I doubt I'll ever bother trying a different set of strings again. I'm a very, very happy little dude with them!

TripleDouble · #3 01-24-2011, 08:32 PM

What quality in the tone do you both like better than Chromes? Warmer? More mids? More refined? I keep hearing how great these strings sound, but just curious why and how. The lower tension isn't a real big deal to me either way, but wouldn't hurt I guess.

Eublet · #4 01-24-2011, 08:51 PM

I did that a while back on my P bass, and didn't like the TI's at all. The Chromes are a much better string for my needs, and cheaper at the same time. I know the TI's get a lot of love, and I can understand why, as they are pretty different in feel and tone from the Chromes. It's no wonder some folks love one more than the other.

dalahorse · #5 01-24-2011, 08:52 PM

My EBs were just twangy sounding with ugly highs with when the bridge PU was dialed up more than the neck PU. So I'd have to roll back on the treble and favor the neck PU to make them sound decent. But then they were just boomy and muddy sounding for me. The TIs just sound alive. The mids and highs are nice compared to Chromes, EB flats (which I really can't tell apart from Chromes except in appearance), and whatever rounds (D'Addario EXPs?) were factory installed on my Schecter.

As for the feel... The higher tension flats bruised up my fingers on both hands. They felt okay otherwise. The TI JF strings - especially the D and G - are glassy they're so smooth. And they give just a bit more.

I wish I could describe it all better, but I'm a really new bassist (about 10 months in). Hopefully Btone will chime in with more info.

TripleDouble · #6 01-24-2011, 09:03 PM

Hey thanks guys, I'll probably give them a try sometime. Though I'm really happy with Chromes, I can always put em back on..

JimmyM · #7 01-25-2011, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eublet

I did that a while back on my P bass, and didn't like the TI's at all. The Chromes are a much better string for my needs, and cheaper at the same time. I know the TI's get a lot of love, and I can understand why, as they are pretty different in feel and tone from the Chromes. It's no wonder some folks love one more than the other.

word. i'm with you, but those that like them love them like a religion.

Johnny Alien · #8 01-25-2011, 06:37 AM

Chromes are my second favorite flats! Very nice. Not all strings are for all people. Even ones that others feel are "holy grails" are not what everyone wants in tone. The best part (for me) is that because of all of the variety you can make a big tonal difference on your bass just by swapping to a different brand.

Johnny Alien · #9 01-25-2011, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Btone

What surprised me the most was that although I can feel the lower tention, they're not at all floppy, they just feel and sound so in-cred-i-bly NICE.

I try and stop people from making statements like that all the time. People that don't like the tension tend to describe them as wet noodles and they aren't at all. Sure they are lower tension than most flats but they are not floppy at all and are more similar to a very light set of rounds.

Fender4Me · #10 01-25-2011, 08:34 AM

How does the sustain of the TI's compare to Chromes?

**Btone** · #11 01-25-2011, 11:23 AM

Quote:

People that don't like the tension tend to describe them as wet noodles and they aren't at all.

Excactly my intention with the first post.

Quote:

What quality in the tone do you both like better than Chromes? Warmer? More mids? More refined?

Didn't have the chance to try them in a band setting yet. And they're so fresh it's hard to say much about how they differ from a broken in set of chromes.
What I CAN say, is that they have a great feel to them, and that no one should be worried about them being to low tension, floppy, boiled noodles or spaghetti for that matter - I totally understand that some prefer stiffer strings, but if you like the tension of a standard set of rounds, you should try the TIs. From what I've read here and elsewhere, TIs are basically unplayable (tention-wise), and that has kept me away for some time. The price has contributed to this. But I'm glad I finally bought me a set, and look forward to break them in and see what's in them tonewise.

4Mal · #12 01-25-2011, 11:37 AM

I run both JF's and Chromes, and LaBella nylon's. All are good strings for different reasons.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TripleDouble

What quality in the tone do you both like better than Chromes? Warmer? More mids? More refined? I keep hearing how great these strings sound, but just curious why and how. The lower tension isn't a real big deal to me either way, but wouldn't hurt I guess.

The TI's are more harmonically complex, they have more detailed mid's which gives them a warmer character. For a solid body, in an otherwise acoustic environment - for me they are a clear choice as all things taken together, they are 'woodier'. On a hollow body, they are amazing! It takes TI's a couple of weeks to settle down. When they do, they'll stay that way a long damn time. I know people bitch about the money, but when you consider the life span, they are cheap as heck.

Chromes I love for what they do after a relatively short break in. Crisp, thunk. These are the strings that I rock 'n roll with. I also keep a bass with TI Powerbass rounds for rock as well. Chromes are the strings that are responsible for my now famous quote "I am basically a kick drum that changes pitch in time to the music."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fender4Me

How does the sustain of the TI's compare to Chromes?

When these strings are new, it has more to do with the bass than the string, IMO. Chromes deaden to kick drum thunk fairly quickly though. On my 83 wonder-P, brass nut & BA-II even dead Chromes sustain ... I run a Barker mute to correct that.

Overall, I find that the TI's have what I consider to be a more proper note enelope. I do a lot of acoustic music (that is where the LaBella tapes come in) and bass is supposed to sound like a bass, not an organ. Overall, whatever the musical setting, all my solid body basses sustain longer than I really want them to. If I were covering hairband power pop ballads that might change my tune. As there are laws about people with my shape wearing spandex, its not an issue I'll have to deal with though

Outside of the acoustic stuff I do, I do a lot of country and rock'a billy - lot's of 95 to 120 bpm half note stuff and to me a rapid rise, short sustain and quick decay are the 'proper' note envelope. I will be the first to admit that what works for me, doesn't necessarily for anyone else...

Kael · #13 01-25-2011, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Alien

I try and stop people from making statements like that all the time. People that don't like the tension tend to describe them as wet noodles and they aren't at all. Sure they are lower tension than most flats but they are not floppy at all and are more similar to a very light set of rounds.

Wet noodles is probably a bit of an overstatement. Too floppy pretty accurately describes my experience with TI's though. It also pretty much sums up my opinion of the lower tensioned rounds. I frequently pluck over the end of the fingerboard. With TI's that's a no-go unless I jack the strings up to a stupid high level. TI's had me rooting my hand near the bridge and leaving it there. I could get an acceptable range of tones out of them by using small changes in where I plucked, but those spots were all WAY down by the bridge. For me that was uncomfortable. Too bad as TI's really do sound wonderful. I can understand why people for who the tension isn't an issue are so rabid about them.

For context, I don't use flats these days. Hex core rounds (D'Addario XL's and Warwick Blacks) set up for a light touch are my frame of reference.

Edit: I switched to chromes for a while after using TI's. Found the playability much better, but ultimately realized that I prefer the tone of broken in rounds.

CapnSev · #14 01-25-2011, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fender4Me

How does the sustain of the TI's compare to Chromes?

They sustain quite a bit longer. Probably due to the flexibility.

THand · #15 01-25-2011, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eublet

I did that a while back on my P bass, and didn't like the TI's at all. The Chromes are a much better string for my needs, and cheaper at the same time. I know the TI's get a lot of love, and I can understand why, as they are pretty different in feel and tone from the Chromes. It's no wonder some folks love one more than the other.

I really tried to make TI's work to justify what I paid for them, but for me, I like chromes better too.

I moved my TI's over to my EAB, where they work much better for me, and will probably still be there when I die.

adivin · #16 01-25-2011, 11:46 AM

The tension has kept me from trying them so far. How does the tension compare to a set of D'Addario XL in 105?

CapnSev · #17 01-25-2011, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adivin

The tension has kept me from trying them so far. How does the tension compare to a set of D'Addario XL in 105?

Probably a little less. I'd say they are on par with the average .40-.100 set of rounds.

MR PC · #18 01-25-2011, 11:52 AM

I love the TI's. I've got sets in the 10 year old range, and they keep sounding better! On vintage basses that have forward neck bow issues due to heavy gauge flats from the "60's, they are a lifesaver too.

JimmyM · #19 01-25-2011, 11:59 AM

just remember that one person's perfect tension is another one's wet noodle.

MR PC · #20 01-25-2011, 12:06 PM

Yeah, that's right! I've tried them on basses with much stiffer necks than my old p and j basses, and they didn't work very well for my needs....kinda floppy and twangy, and useless with pick.