I use TI Jazz Rounds on my Jazz Bass and Dogal Jonas Hellborg roundwounds on my main P-Bass and I love the flexible feel on both brands, very comfortable to play and the low tension is perfect for me. The Dogal strings are extremely flexible, you notice that right when taking the strings out of the package- those are unique, as far as I know those are the only electric bass strings with strand-core construction.
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Are Thomastik strings easier on the hands
- Thread starter Swipter
- Start date
I have a few months to break the TIJF in. Hope I like them. This can get expensive in a year. Really considering the TI jazz flats for the Pedulla. Need to work on the P bass, though.
TI Infeld JF344 are easier on the hands than LaBella 760FL.
BUT
NÓT than LaBella LTF-4A Low Tension Flats.
After using TI Infeld JF344 as my preferred flat wounds for years, I am now totally hooked on the LaBella LTF-4A's.
Why? They are as easy on the hands as the TI strings but have a broader sound spectrum and deeper punch.
All to my ears of course.
BUT
NÓT than LaBella LTF-4A Low Tension Flats.
After using TI Infeld JF344 as my preferred flat wounds for years, I am now totally hooked on the LaBella LTF-4A's.
Why? They are as easy on the hands as the TI strings but have a broader sound spectrum and deeper punch.
All to my ears of course.
If you like the sound of your LaBellas, you could try LaBella Low Tension Flats. Very similiar to the 760FL in tone with a little less attack and considerably shorter break-in time until they mellow out nicely.
Also, I as well once thought the FLs were too high tension for me, but after a couple of years, they do not feel that stiff any more.
Also, I as well once thought the FLs were too high tension for me, but after a couple of years, they do not feel that stiff any more.
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the "blue" package is for Europe, the yellow one is for USA.
I've used TI flats and Jazz Rounds for some years, and the only thing I didn't get used to is the fact that my right (plucking) hand felt more fatigue for them being too flexible.
fingers didn't receive enough resistance, and fatigued more. I prefer "firm" strings, also because I often pluck near the neck and with some energy.
for playing near the bridge, TI are great strings, but once you move near the neck, they just don't respond to the pluck. with a pick is better, and they are great for the "McCartney" tone picking near the neck.
this is an old sample I did with them and my old Precision with foam at the bridge: Dropbox
Hot take:
I like the LaBella Deep Talkin Flats more for that thing.
1. Their surface is smoother
2. Their higher stiffness let them swing less, so it's possible to set a lower action
3. They work really well when playing with a soft touch.
I personally found that I have to set the Wet Noodles From Vienna a little bit higher to accommodate their soft tension.
Compared to the LaBella strings set as low as they go, I found that my fretting hand uses about equal force, but more travel on the TIs. This is also something to watch out for when muting.
On the other hand - the plucking hand, I also find myself less fatigued and rubbing off less callous material on the LaBella strings because my finger has less interaction with the string during a single pluck, which I think is due to the stiffness.
The key, of course, is to play with a soft touch. TI strings, in my eco system, work better when plucked a little harder than "soft". Their singing midrange qualities really come out when you play with a fair bit more than minimum force, and they feel better to my ears and fingers when some force and movement is involved.
I like the LaBella Deep Talkin Flats more for that thing.
1. Their surface is smoother
2. Their higher stiffness let them swing less, so it's possible to set a lower action
3. They work really well when playing with a soft touch.
I personally found that I have to set the Wet Noodles From Vienna a little bit higher to accommodate their soft tension.
Compared to the LaBella strings set as low as they go, I found that my fretting hand uses about equal force, but more travel on the TIs. This is also something to watch out for when muting.
On the other hand - the plucking hand, I also find myself less fatigued and rubbing off less callous material on the LaBella strings because my finger has less interaction with the string during a single pluck, which I think is due to the stiffness.
The key, of course, is to play with a soft touch. TI strings, in my eco system, work better when plucked a little harder than "soft". Their singing midrange qualities really come out when you play with a fair bit more than minimum force, and they feel better to my ears and fingers when some force and movement is involved.
I've been toying with the idea of TI Jazz Flats, but I have to admit their round wound offering had completely slipped under my radar - and the example in the video posted above sounds really good.
One of my concerns with TI Jazz Flats, is the lower tension - learning that their rounds are even lower still, has me a little cautious about taking an expensive punt.
I originally switched from Super Slinky's, and Roto Swing 66 LD, to RS66LC , for reduced tension.
I've currently got a set of D'Addario NYXL's on one of my basses (in the equivalent gauge as the RS66L D), and they're significantly lower tension than the LD set of Roto's - in fact not that much more tension than my regular, preferred LC set.
The tension aspect is definitely something I'm mindful of with regards to a couple of my basses, being 40, and 50 years old respectively, and I get the impression that the truss rods don't have all that much adjustment before they're at their maximum (both have very low action, and I've never needed to adjust either of them in over 30 years, once I got them set where I wanted them).
Where things get confusing, is determining the difference between string tension, and stiffness.
I confess, the reason I originally moved from LD, to LC gauge was entirely down to stiffness - I was too young to know there was a difference, or that they aren't necessarily a package deal - as it happens I got lucky.
So, with regards to TI strings, low tension sounds good from my point of view, but what I really need to know is their relative stiffness.
I mostly play with a pick, and I tend to play with a light touch - but I do need a certain stiffness.
That means that the ideal spot for striking the string on my StingRay, and Ric, is just in front of, or over the pickup. The ideal spot on my Precision is just behind the pickup, or in line with the rear edge of the pickguard.
If I try to play as much as an inch in front of the Precision's pickup, the strings are just far too floppy, and my playing goes to hell, with reduced accuracy, speed, and articulation (not a problem when playing finger style, but way out of my comfort zone with a pick).
So, my question for you, and anyone else experienced with TI flats, and also rounds : if you play between the pickup, and the bridge - is the stiffness as loose as most other round wound strings played near the end of the neck?
On my Pbass ~ Ti flat just perfect in term of tone and playing feel.
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I have been using both the Jazz Flats and Jazz Rounds for many years now. Yes, they do take some getting used to the lower tension but once done, you should find them very comfortable to play as these strings allow for a lighter touch and (IMO) sounds great.
Here is a new set of Jazz Rounds on my old March '73 4001, played fingerstyle through an Avalon U5.
This one is a July '73 4001 with a set of TI JRs that were a few months old (same details as with the first recording; same gig).
This one is my former '03 AV '62 Jazz Bass with Jazz Flats, played fingerstyle through the preamp of an Ampeg PB-250.
Both of these are improvised jams.
Here is a new set of Jazz Rounds on my old March '73 4001, played fingerstyle through an Avalon U5.
This one is a July '73 4001 with a set of TI JRs that were a few months old (same details as with the first recording; same gig).
This one is my former '03 AV '62 Jazz Bass with Jazz Flats, played fingerstyle through the preamp of an Ampeg PB-250.
Both of these are improvised jams.
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