On some basses, they’re amazing and unrivaled by any other string, round or flat. On others, they’re just terrible. I chose the option that wasn’t there: Depends on the bass.
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Are T-Is all that?
- Thread starter ThuzzleFump
- Start date
I like heavy, higher-tension flatwounds, so TI's are out of the question for me. That said, I have tried them a few times. Gave each set (on different basses) at least a month, but had issues with string-to-string volume issues and they never really seemed to break in properly. I guess they are just not my cup of tea.
I've had the best luck with D'Addario Chromes and DR Legend Flats
I've had the best luck with D'Addario Chromes and DR Legend Flats
Yes. I love mine. I would have already bought them again in the 4 years I’ve used them if I had needed to.
It’s not a $70 experiment though. Anytime a slightly used set is put up in the tb classifieds in the $50-55 range, they sell pretty quick. So you’re looking at $15 or so to try them out. That actually could be cheaper than a lot of other options. Buy a new set of GHS boomers for $20 and you’d be lucky to sell them used at all.
It’s definitely a taste thing. You couldn’t give me a set of chromes. I’ve tried them several times on several basses and hated the sound. Labella Black tales I tried and they were pretty great. Of course all this is totally subjective...chromes get love from lots of folks here.
None will sound like the TI though. None.
The only TI round I have used is the Jazz Round. They are equally unique and awesome like the flats, and last forever like their flat counterpart as well.
Oh interesting, so I might not get the sound I'm looking for with Chromes on my Bongo 6. I would have gotten piezo, but they didn't offer that option for Bongo 6, so I got an HS. Now EBMM doesn't offer it on any model bass. My Bongo 5 is HSp, so it has the piezo bridge, but it's fretted.
Thanks for the info. I might just keep playing with the DRs until they die, and then try Chromes on my 6.
I love lower tension strings, feel so good on the fingers (I use Obligatos on my upright which are similar feeling), you can slide around with absolutely zero friction and no noise. Great thump on my P.
My right hand used to be a bit bothered by the lower tension, especially on the A string. But having played them exclusively for a good long while now, they don't really feel floppy at all. I also used to think they were a bit on the "polite" side and probably better suited to "quieter" music, where their famous "musicality" can really shine. But they have worked just fine for me in a wide range of different band settings, from a low fi keyboard/acoustic guitar combo to a larger group with a horn section to a pretty aggressive hard rock band, where they always make themselves heard amid the din created by an extremely loud drummer and guitarist. I wouldn't know how well they work for slap, but otherwise it's really hard to imagine too many mainstream musical settings where they wouldn't sound great.
Thanks, everyone for your comments and info. I like low-tension strings on a short-scale. On a long-scale I have no idea. I'll probably try a set of TIs at some point, just to see what people like/don't like about them. In general, I find that as long as I don't expect things to be something else, they have their merits. Again, sincerely appreciate all the information and perspectives.
I can only speak about the flats because those are the only TI's I've ever used. See my avatar? I've had the same set of TI flats on that P-Bass since I bought it (March 2015). Next month will mark three years for those strings, and I intend to get at least three more years out of them. Note: That bass (and those strings) probably have around 150 gigs on them. Those strings sound great and are easy to play (low tension).
If $70 sounds like a lot for a set of strings, consider this: If I can get 6 years out of those strings, the annual cost is less than $12.
I've had my TI flats for 8 years. First on an old P Bass, then I had them transferred to my mahogany bodied Martin acoustic bass. No loss of one for all that time. I may start looking for a new string just to change the sound a bit, and actually was about to create a new thread for that.
I love how people complain that flats, and TI's in particular are expensive. You're a prime example of how these strings really AREN"T expensive. 7-8 years out of one set of TI's is like $8-$9/year in strings! People spend way more regularly changing rounds a few times a year.
Maybe you aren't into them because you bought them in pairs when you should have just bought the standard 4-string set instead. They work much better that way.
I would never call TI's, even broken in ones "old-school tone". Doesn't mean they don't sound good, but far from old-school.
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Crocs are not a substitute for Birkenstocks, regardless of how much cheaper they are (personally I'm not a fan of either though).
Birkenstocks... Ya know, they cost about the same as T-Is, I think. Coincidence? Or something more sinister?
