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Are Thomastik-Infeld flats really flats?

aero58

aero58

Supporting Member
Mar 16, 2021
579
1,733
USA
#1
I've finally gotten around to trying out TI flats on one of my basses (Peavey Cirrus4). I love the tone, but the feel is what I've got a question about. They don't feel like flats to me at all - they feel like rounds. Is this the way T-I JF364 flats are, or did I get a set of something else that was not QC'd along the way and ended up in the wrong package? Just curious.

And for reference/context, I've got La Bella DTB 760FL flats on my American Fender P-bass, La Bella DTB 760FS on my modified Squire PJ bass, and D'Addario Chromes on my MIM Fender P-bass. And I've tried GHS Precision flats, Ernie Ball Slinky flats, and Dunlop flats.

Thanks
 
#4
Definitely flats using flat ribbon outer wrap. Should look like this.
IMG_20210512_160633178.jpg
 
#5
J_Bass said:
The TI's everyone talks about (I love them) are the TI JF-344. The smoothest flats I ever tried.

I never tried the ones you got, so I wouldn't know about them.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the quick replies. The 364's that I have are for super long scale vice the 344's for long scale. I would think they are the same string, just different lengths. But in terms of smoothness, they aren't even close to being as smooth as the others I have. I'm thinking that I got a mixed up set.

What color are the silks for the TI? Mine are red.
 
#6
Red silk on both ends. How do they look compared to my picture? They are definitely full flats but not as smooth as, say, Chromes or Dunlop Flats.

Did you clean them before installing? That may effect the perceived feel.
 
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#7
JKos said:
Red silk on both ends. How do they look compared to my picture? They are definitely full flats but not as smooth as, say, Chromes or Dunlop Flats.

Did you clean them before installing? That may effect the perceived feel.
Click to expand...

Yep, mine are red on both ends as well. And yes, the strings do look the ones you have pictured. But I admit that I did not clean them before installing - interesting - perhaps that's it. They do sound good - that's for sure.
 
#10
aero58 said:
I've finally gotten around to trying out TI flats on one of my basses (Peavey Cirrus4). I love the tone, but the feel is what I've got a question about. They don't feel like flats to me at all - they feel like rounds. Is this the way T-I JF364 flats are, or did I get a set of something else that was not QC'd along the way and ended up in the wrong package? Just curious.

And for reference/context, I've got La Bella DTB 760FL flats on my American Fender P-bass, La Bella DTB 760FS on my modified Squire PJ bass, and D'Addario Chromes on my MIM Fender P-bass. And I've tried GHS Precision flats, Ernie Ball Slinky flats, and Dunlop flats.

Thanks
Click to expand...
TI flats are extremely smooth feeling and I’ve played just about everything. If you see close up pics of them they may not look smooth - but they are!
 
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#12
aero58 said:
Thanks for the quick replies. The 364's that I have are for super long scale vice the 344's for long scale. I would think they are the same string, just different lengths. But in terms of smoothness, they aren't even close to being as smooth as the others I have. I'm thinking that I got a mixed up set.

What color are the silks for the TI? Mine are red.
Click to expand...
Could they possibly be Rotosound 77s? Slightly older sets have red silk on both ends and feel a little more textured.
 
#13
Root 5 said:
IMO they feel smoother than Chromes by far.
Click to expand...
Interesting. I have the three I mentioned on basses. I'm feeling them right now. It goes Dunlop Flats, Chromes, TIs from smoothest to not smoothest for me. There's quite a difference between the Dunlops and Chromes as the Dunlops are glass smooth. Not as much difference between the Chromes and TIs.
 
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#15
aero58 said:
I've finally gotten around to trying out TI flats on one of my basses (Peavey Cirrus4). I love the tone, but the feel is what I've got a question about. They don't feel like flats to me at all - they feel like rounds. Is this the way T-I JF364 flats are, or did I get a set of something else that was not QC'd along the way and ended up in the wrong package? Just curious.

And for reference/context, I've got La Bella DTB 760FL flats on my American Fender P-bass, La Bella DTB 760FS on my modified Squire PJ bass, and D'Addario Chromes on my MIM Fender P-bass. And I've tried GHS Precision flats, Ernie Ball Slinky flats, and Dunlop flats.

Thanks
Click to expand...
From the side they look round. Long and round. The cross section is round.
 
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#18
aero58 said:
They don't feel like flats to me at all - they feel like rounds.
Click to expand...

What do you mean by "feel"? The texture of the outer wrap? The way the string responds to plucking? Something else?

As was mentioned before, the wrap of these is unlike other flats in that they are not perfectly smooth or seamless like most other flats. Response-wise, it's important to note that the combination of very light gauge and round core construction make them feel much less stiff than most other flats, which usually have hexagonal cores (like, for example, the LaBella DTF).

There's really nothing like the TIs. Personally I can't imagine putting anything else on a P Bass.
 
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#20
Scott Lynch said:
....As was mentioned before, the wrap of these is unlike other flats in that they are not perfectly smooth or seamless like most other flats....
There's really nothing like the TIs....
Click to expand...

I think you've summed it up nicely. And the more I've been playing, they do "seem" to be feeling smoother to my fingers. One thing I've never questioned is the sound - they sound great.
 
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