Cheaper version of TI flats?

[gimmeagig]

Well, I have been playing rounds exclusively for 40 years so I'm definitely no authority in the field of flats. I bought a few sets in the past years and put them onto my active Js ...hated them. But I learned that on a P bass they are pretty cool. I checked out a million flat comparison videos and read every post here, but you don't know what a string feels like until you play it. I have to say the TIs low tension does't bother me at all. In fact I love it. I don't have a heavy touch but I dig in on occasion and I love the way the TIs respond. Besides, if Pino likes them ( and Carol Kaye too) how bad can they really be? LOL

 

[uwrossl]

Well, I have been playing rounds exclusively for 40 years so I'm definitely no authority in the field of flats. I bought a few sets in the past years and put them onto my active Js ...hated them. But I learned that on a P bass they are pretty cool. I checked out a million flat comparison videos and read every post here, but you don't know what a string feels like until you play it. I have to say the TIs low tension does't bother me at all. In fact I love it. I don't have a heavy touch but I dig in on occasion and I love the way the TIs respond. Besides, if Pino likes them ( and Carol Kaye too) how bad can they really be? LOL

As you stated...you really have to try the TIs to find out if the tension is an issue for you or not. Stayed away from them for a couple of years because of all the low tension (floppy) talk and didn't want to shell out $70 for a set of strings that seemed really polarizing and might hate. As you saw...once you mention them here the lovers and haters come out in droves! Once I finally pulled the trigger and got em strung up I instantly fell in love with them. Truly nothing like them and that set of strings also helped me realize that I am not one that is sensitive to low tensions strings as I don't find them floppy at all. Totally get why they don't work for everyone though. Been keeping rounds on P lately but ordered a set of the TI short scale flats for my Serek Midwestern as that's become my flats bass. They'll replace a 4 year old set of Dunlop flats that are on it now. Love the Dunlops and they still sound great. They've consistently been my second favorite next to TI but excited to try this bass with TIs and also see what the short scale set has to offer.

 

[gimmeagig]

What I learned from using the TI's a little bit is that I can raise the action a little higher than I'm used to and they are still really easy to play and there's absolutely no string buzz even when I dig in a little harder.
I think that's great.
I do have a second P Bass. Actually it's a PJ with EMGs and the BTS tone circuit and on that one I do have roundwounds. On that one I have an action of 2/32 on the g to 33 seconds on the E. Practically no string buzz.
The tone circuit has a blend control for the pickups. I just blend the bridge pick up in a tiny bit. To me that sounds really good. Any more than that sounds too nasal to me. A lot of PJ players go for that 50/50 blend to me that's a really ugly sound. Nothing like a '70s fender Jazz for the 50/50 blend. That's the sound I've always gone for. I wonder how the guys in my band are going to like my flatwound P bass. I know it won't work for everything and I'll definitely have a jazz bass with me. We are a horn band so for the Tower of power, Earth Wind and Fire and the Motown stuff the p bass maybe just be the ticket.

 

[Stranger Danger]

I use TIJFs on two basses. On a 84 Washburn Force 8 with a single passive humbucker they sound great and give a gorgeous thumpy but smooth Precision sound. I also have them on my Sandberg California TT fretless, which is essentially a (much enhanced) Fender J clone. Here, the sound is a bit on the brittle side and I miss some warmth. Don‘t know if this is an issue with this specific bass. Plus, the silk is too long for the toploading bridge. I had to cut some off, but I think this is not optimal. On a side note: when budget is an issue, GHS Precision Flats come pretty close, IMO.

It’s likely the bass. All the Sandbergs I’ve tried have been quite bright and airy. Which is not a knock, just my experience with them.

 

[Iofflight]

I have a fretless Sanburg with TIJFs as well. They're an improvement over whatever what on there before, I think GHS flats (purple silks), but I'm thinking something else might be better but I'm not sure what to try next.

 

[68Goldfish]

I get a little rattle out of the A string even with my action raised to what I would consider medium high. I figure it's due to the nut being a little to loose for the skinnier string. To me the tension isn't bad unless you're playing right at the end of the fretboard but then I'm probably trying to play something slower and fatter anyway.

 

[GIBrat51]

Okay, a couple of things...
1. The TI's themselves. Yes, the initial price is pretty steep, but it does vary some; it pays to shop around. People do sell them occasionally here on TB, so... maybe a used set? And, if you're curious? There are some flats that cost as much as the TIs - or even more. You can by 2 sets of the TIs for what I paid for a set of Dogal Hellborg Flats. New ones are an investment, but... if you like them? They can last for a couple of decades - if you take reasonable care of them. Which brings me to...
2. Cost amortization. Spread that initial cost over the potential life of the TI's, and they wind up being just about the least expensive strings you can buy. I did the numbers once, for a thread here several years ago. Spread over 10 years (which is pretty conservative for their life for most people), they wound up costing about $0.002 a day. Typical rounds, over the same period? About $1,200...
However... A lot of people don't like TIJFs, for lot of reasons besides the cost. They are very low tension strings, and although it's not quite the same thing, they are also very flexible, too. I use them, and I do like them, but... they are the only strings that I never play with a pick. And, I play with a pick about 95% of the time. And, the bass they're on, gets used for one music genre only. I don't consider TIJF's to be good for everything; in fact, for some of what I like to play? IMO, they don't work very well - at all... I also have them on a Fury Anthem fretless bass; but, they're the short scale TI's. They feel a lot stiffer, and sound a lot "bassier" than the long scale TI's, so they really don't count here...
So, are there other strings that sound similar to long scale TIJFs? Yes, there are; sorta similar, anyway. Because of the way they're made, TI's have rich, sort of orchestral, overtones. Which are great for some kinds of music (like what I use that one bass for), but for, say, "Vintage" Rock & Roll? Pretty much wasted on that kind of stuff. Other than that? TI's are "modern, midrange-y" flats. Decent low end; lots of low-mids and mids; and really good highs. And, there are a number of flats that fit that description. The ones that I think come closest to the TI's? Fender 9050Ls. I've used them on several basses over the years - and still have them on 2. 9050L's do have overtones - most long scale flats do, to some extent -, but not as rich as the TI's. They won't last as long, but one of my basses has a set that's about 11 years old, now, and still sounds good. But, I keep my hands - and strings - clean, so... Other flats in the "modern" category? Of the flats I'm familiar with; D' Addario Chromes; Sadowsky Blue Labels; Optima 4440 RBs; Roto SM77s (low end of the "modern" tone range, IMO); and, also on the lower end of the category - La Bella 760FX's (39-96). The only place I know of that has the long scale 760FX's, is Strings and Beyond. I have them on one of my Danelectro DC59 Pros. Midrange-y as can be, too, but some of it is certainly the Dano... Other than those? I imagine any of the lighter gauge flats might make you happy...

Since I posted this, I'm back to TIJF's on only one bass. The ones I put on the Fury Anthem fretless? Well, they didn't stay on there long. They are nice strings, and they did sound good, but... my ears kept telling me "this ain't what you want to hear from this bass". My ears were right; it became pretty obvious that the Anthem was intended to mimic a stand up bass, more than anything. So, the TIJF's came off (and went to a very appreciative new home), and I replaced them with a set of medium scale Roto TruBass88 Tapewounds. The Anthem's pickups were made for these strings; deep, woody tone, and more "Mwah" than should be allowed... Which just goes to prove my point; nice as they are, TIJF's are not the one string for everything...

 

[Jeff Scott]

Since I posted this, I'm back to TIJF's on only one bass. The ones I put on the Fury Anthem fretless? Well, they didn't stay on there long. They are nice strings, and they did sound good, but... my ears kept telling me "this ain't what you want to hear from this bass". My ears were right; it became pretty obvious that the Anthem was intended to mimic a stand up bass, more than anything. So, the TIJF's came off (and went to a very appreciative new home), and I replaced them with a set of medium scale Roto TruBass88 Tapewounds. The Anthem's pickups were made for these strings; deep, woody tone, and more "Mwah" than should be allowed... Which just goes to prove my point; nice as they are, TIJF's are not the one string for everything...