A Few Thoughts On TI Flats

[smtp4me]

I've played round wounds since the beginning. To give a little context, "the beginning" is 1977. I only started playing flat wounds when I got my first P bass 3 years ago. Since then I have tried: D'Addario Chromes, Ernie Ball Group 3, and Fender flats.

Back in November, I finished a parts-build P bass and decided to put TI Flats on it. This is my first time with TIs, so after reading about them extensively here on TB, I thought I would share my experience and impression of them.

The good:

• The all-nickel outer wrap is very smooth and easy to play.
• The tension is low and unlike other brands that feel like ski-lift cables.
• They don't seem to produce an over abundance of overtones, which as I understand is one of the goals in their design.

The not so good:

• I've read widely-varied opinions about their tension. The tension is just fine for me except for the second string (D in four string standard tuning). It is too light.
• They do have a distinct tone. A bit more "dull" than Chromes, and after four months of playing they are quickly getting more dull. Too dull for my preference. Tone is very subjective and these may be great for some, but not so much for me.

TI is obviously not going to make a custom set for little old me, but if I could suggest changes, I would make the core of the D string a little thicker, and offer a version with a stainless steel outer wrap to add more brightness.

Overall, I don't hate them, but I'm not in love with them either. And at ~$100 per set this may be a "one and done" situation.

 

[Killing Floor]

TI JF are significantly brighter than Chromes as they age. Chromes are bright out of the wrapper and age to thud.
If your TI are more dull than aged Chromes the 2 objective probable reasons are they are not authentic OR they aren’t installed correctly. Given what you said about the D, that sounds like it may be twisted.

That all being said, there’s no best string. Experiment. Try every set you can. Don’t have to play strings you don’t like.

 

[Lobster11]

Huh. I've been using these strings on my P's for years, and never noticed any difference between the D and the other strings. That might just be because I'm less observant than you, but it might worth double-checking that your D isn't twisted or something as @Killing Floor suggested.

Also, if you dislike them enough to not use them, you could probably recoup some of the cost by selling them in the Classifieds here. I suspect there are lots of people who would like try them but don't want to pay full price, and who wouldn't mind a set that is slightly used (i.e., broken in).

 

[smtp4me]

Huh. I've been using these strings on my P's for years, and never noticed any difference between the D and the other strings. That might just be because I'm less observant than you, but it might worth double-checking that your D isn't twisted or something as @Killing Floor suggested.

Also, if you dislike them enough to not use them, you could probably recoup some of the cost by selling them in the Classifieds here. I suspect there are lots of people who would like try them but don't want to pay full price, and who wouldn't mind a set that is slightly used (i.e., broken in).

Yeah I noticed the D string tension very quickly. When I install strings I leave a little hanging beyond the bridge so that, when tightened up to pitch, the string goes where it needs to avoid twisting. But as you and @Killing Floor suggested, I immediately loosened the D string and then tuned it up again (using the same techinque) just to be sure.

I am used to playing lighter-gauge round wounds, and I play finger-style and vary the "attack" as needed. I didn't need to make any adjustments with the TIs except for the D string. It just feels more floppy to me.

 

[el jeffe bass]

If you want a brighter flat wound string try the EB cobalt slinky flats. I put a set on my Carvin J-bass a few months ago and they are still pretty bright. One of the best things about them is that they are pretty inexpensive so if you don’t like them you’re not out much money.

 

[Iristone]

Thomastik might point you to their Jazz Rounds for a slightly brighter tone than Jazz Flats. Their extra-long model are more balanced tension-wise than the regular model, and should fit around most tuner posts just fine.

 

[andare]

I don't know what the thinking is behind TI gauges. 43 for the G and 100 for the E makes sense but 56 for the D and 70 for the A is way too light.
I have 11-gauge TI flats on my Jazzmaster and those gauges are also "wrong" but in a different way. The bottom strings are too light.

 

[bigswifty1]

<SNIP>

The not so good:

• I've read widely-varied opinions about their tension. The tension is just fine for me except for the second string (D in four string standard tuning). It is too light.
• They do have a distinct tone. A bit more "dull" than Chromes, and after four months of playing they are quickly getting more dull. Too dull for my preference. Tone is very subjective and these may be great for some, but not so much for me.

<SNIP>

I'd respectfully submit that if TIJF's are too dull for you then flatwounds are not the string for you. I note that you've tried several flatwounds and I've tried many of them too. As well as others you might not have.

Comparisons between flats are not worth much unless you've played them for many months, but I will say that I think TIJF's are about the brightest (in flatwound terms) you can find with the exception of Rotosounds, which are somehow brighter than some rounds.

Your comment about the string tension with TIJF's is a common one, and it's why I had to stop using them when my band started downtuning. Having one specific string feeling significantly looser than the rest seems strange though.

 

[Gizmot]

I've played round wounds since the beginning. To give a little context, "the beginning" is 1977. I only started playing flat wounds when I got my first P bass 3 years ago. Since then I have tried: D'Addario Chromes, Ernie Ball Group 3, and Fender flats.

Back in November, I finished a parts-build P bass and decided to put TI Flats on it. This is my first time with TIs, so after reading about them extensively here on TB, I thought I would share my experience and impression of them.

The good:

• The all-nickel outer wrap is very smooth and easy to play.
• The tension is low and unlike other brands that feel like ski-lift cables.
• They don't seem to produce an over abundance of overtones, which as I understand is one of the goals in their design.

The not so good:

• I've read widely-varied opinions about their tension. The tension is just fine for me except for the second string (D in four string standard tuning). It is too light.
• They do have a distinct tone. A bit more "dull" than Chromes, and after four months of playing they are quickly getting more dull. Too dull for my preference. Tone is very subjective and these may be great for some, but not so much for me.

TI is obviously not going to make a custom set for little old me, but if I could suggest changes, I would make the core of the D string a little thicker, and offer a version with a stainless steel outer wrap to add more brightness.

Overall, I don't hate them, but I'm not in love with them either. And at ~$100 per set this may be a "one and done" situation.

There’s one other important thing you haven’t mentioned about Jazz Flats probably because you haven’t used them long enough yet - - but they last for years and years without sonic degradation. NOTHING comes close in my experience. Yes - they cost a pretty penny- but if you consider how long they last, they are one of the least expensive strings you can buy..

 

[bassdude51]

Just my .02 cents. I've been using TI Flats for 15 or more years. IME, whether right out of the pack or on the bass for 10 years, they sound the same. The sound doesn't change.

I agree that they are terribly expensive! But, there are reports of them lasting well over 10 years. So in the long run, the price is not too bad.

They are a low tension flat wound and about the same tension as some round wounds. No biggie. Just tweak string height a bit.

The D string too tight? Huh?

Different strings are like different flavors of ice cream. Choose what you like.

 

[2saddleslab]

Just my .02 cents. I've been using TI Flats for 15 or more years. IME, whether right out of the pack or on the bass for 10 years, they sound the same. The sound doesn't change.

I agree that they are terribly expensive! But, there are reports of them lasting well over 10 years. So in the long run, the price is not too bad.

They are a low tension flat wound and about the same tension as some round wounds. No biggie. Just tweak string height a bit.

The D string too tight? Huh?

Different strings are like different flavors of ice cream. Choose what you like.

Agreed, I've had sets last 15 years no problem. And they sounded consistent throughout. The initial investment is steep but quickly [or slowly ] becomes a bargain.

 

[smtp4me]

I'd respectfully submit that if TIJF's are too dull for you then flatwounds are not the string for you. I note that you've tried several flatwounds and I've tried many of them too. As well as others you might not have.

Comparisons between flats are not worth much unless you've played them for many months, but I will say that I think TIJF's are about the brightest (in flatwound terms) you can find with the exception of Rotosounds, which are somehow brighter than some rounds.

Your comment about the string tension with TIJF's is a common one, and it's why I had to stop using them when my band started downtuning. Having one specific string feeling significantly looser than the rest seems strange though.

Interesting. I had a set of D'Addario Chromes on another P Bass for almost two years. They seemed brighter to my ears than the TIs.

 

[Lobster11]

Interesting. I had a set of D'Addario Chromes on another P Bass for almost two years. They seemed brighter to my ears than the TIs.

How much did you play them during those two years? Chromes tend to be very bright out of the box but then mellow with age. How long that takes is, of course, dependent on how many hours you put on them.

 

[smtp4me]

I'd respectfully submit that if TIJF's are too dull for you then flatwounds are not the string for you. I note that you've tried several flatwounds and I've tried many of them too. As well as others you might not have.

Comparisons between flats are not worth much unless you've played them for many months, but I will say that I think TIJF's are about the brightest (in flatwound terms) you can find with the exception of Rotosounds, which are somehow brighter than some rounds.

Your comment about the string tension with TIJF's is a common one, and it's why I had to stop using them when my band started downtuning. Having one specific string feeling significantly looser than the rest seems strange though.

I am aware of the Rotosound flats and have listened to them in string comparison videos on YouTube, but never tried them (I actually played the Swing Bass 66 rounds for many years). I also have read that, in terms of tension, they are on the higher end of the tension scale. At some point I may try a set to see if the tension is tolerable.

I don't necessarily want the combination of brightest and lowest tension flats, which may or may not exist - I would prefer something with a balance of each.

 

[tranceFusion]

I never liked any flats until I tried La Bella LTF-4A Low Tension Flexible Flats.

They don’t have as much tension as most other flats but aren’t quite as flexible as TI Jazz. And the sound is pretty much perfect.

 

[jimmydean]

Because of the cost , it's taken me years to get around to trying out TI strings . You will love them or hate them , there is no middle . I had two PB's and they sucked on one bass and sounded great on another . Waiting for the Pino flats to come out later this year .

 

[smtp4me]

Because of the cost , it's taken me years to get around to trying out TI strings . You will love them or hate them , there is no middle . I had two PB's and they sucked on one bass and sounded great on another . Waiting for the Pino flats to come out later this year .

Yes, I've heard about the new EB Pino flats!

 

[smtp4me]

How much did you play them during those two years? Chromes tend to be very bright out of the box but then mellow with age. How long that takes is, of course, dependent on how many hours you put on them.

I don't play out at gigs. I do some recording of cover songs with a couple friends using a home studio. Most of my playing time comes from a combination of daily practice and playing along with, recording, or learning songs. I would estimate that I play an average of six days per week for about two hours at a time. The aforementioned P Bass got the majority of that workload - especially practicing (practicing on the thicker/fatter P Bass neck makes it easier to play on my other Jazz basses).

So... maybe 10 hours per week for almost two years.

 

[smtp4me]

I don't know what the thinking is behind TI gauges. 43 for the G and 100 for the E makes sense but 56 for the D and 70 for the A is way too light.
I have 11-gauge TI flats on my Jazzmaster and those gauges are also "wrong" but in a different way. The bottom strings are too light.

Yes! I typically play either 45/65/80/100 or 40/60/80/100 round wounds. I noticed that the TI G and E strings are close to that, but the A and even more so the D strings are very different. Of course there are many other factors that affect the feel besides the thickness of the core, but this was one of the first things I noticed.

 

[SLO Surfer]

I know we tend to talk about strings as a general preference, but once I started acquiring and using more than one bass I found that each bass tends to like different strings. What I thought was my personal favorite strings for 20 years (GHS Boomers ML gauge), didn’t sound or feel as good on my new custom built Moollon P-bass. I found nickel round wounds or TI flats sounded/felt better on that bass, while Boomers and Chromes sounded/felt better on my 2012 American P bass. Opened my eyes to stop judging strings on their own, and to judge them on an instrument-by-instrument basis.

Also all 4 of my TI strings feel like the same tension, nice and even across them all. I’ve bought two sets (because I killed the first set installing/removing them multiple times on a few instruments), for around $50. They are still available around $50-60 if you look for the ones (mis)labeled “accordion accessory.”