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TI Jazz Flats intonation

Dave Higham

Dave Higham

Dec 19, 2005
684
2,288
S.W.France
#1
A long time ago I made the bass shown below, sort of inspired by Rick Turner's Renaissance basses. It has TI acoustic bass strings on it and I've been thinking I'd like to try their 'Jazz' flat wound strings as I think the Ren basses were available with either.
Then I was thinking that the Ren basses were perhaps made for one sort of strings or the other as, in theory, the steel cored Jazz flats ought to need a lot more intonation than the nylon cored acoustics and the bass has a fixed bridge.
A 5-string set of Jazz Flats is expensive and I don't want to buy them and find the bass doesn't play in tune, so that got me thinking "why don't I make another bass (that looks even more like an acoustic guitar than this one") for these strings?
So does anyone know if the Jazz Flats will need more intonation than the acoustic bass strings? I'd still like to know.
I emailed TI. They said they don't know!
Bass No 3-3.jpg
 
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#2
Dave Higham said:
So does anyone know if the Jazz Flats will need more intonation than the acoustic bass strings? I'd still like to know.
Click to expand...
I do not *know* = haven't experienced it firsthand, but most probably yes: there is a clear difference in stiffness between a nylon-core and a solid steel-core (albeit a comparatively supple, low-tension) string, which reflects in the needed compensation. If you put your mind into an adjustable acoustic bridge I'm sure it'd come out great. Speaking of which: gorgeous build. :thumbsup:
 
#3
There’s been a lot of discussion on this topic in the uke bass / very short scale forums. Few years back the only string options were the horrible rubbery strings (like .180 gauge E string) or nylon core / metal wrap. Many folks, me included, wanted a flatwound string but at the time only available with steel core. People that tried them said intonation was way off compared to nylon core.
One maker of uke style bass offered a convertible bridge that could be set for either nylon or steel core.
Meantime there are now nylon core flats available….
So, I think the answer is you would need to rework intonation if you switch to steel core. Only way to know for sure is to try!
 

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