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First TI Flats ordered. 2 questions.

#22
My 2012 American Precision got a fresh set of TI Flats the day I bought it new. Ten years later they are only getting better. I will never change them again in my life. It is also what I use on my 1978 Musicmaster and 60s Japanese violin bass. I consider them to be "lifetime" strings. Expensive, yet economical! Do keep in mind that they mellow out dramatically after a few weeks as they settle in. They sound good with either a pick or fingers and fantastic thumbed!
 
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#23
Willie5String said:
Q1-You’ll probably need to adjust intonation on the A and D.

Question 1.
I usually have 45-65-85-105 strings on my basses. The TI's A and D are 70 and 56. Any issues?

Q2-The P, may have to do a slight truss rod tweak.
Click to expand...

I agree with Willie5String, you're likely going to have go play with the truss rod because the lighter gauge, lower tension TI's will get the neck to move a little bit. For what it's worth, whenever I install strings (and I did it for all my basses whether they has TI Flats or Rounds), I follow this procedure:

Notes On Intonation
 
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#25
Griendrr said:
These are the Jazz Strings I'm seeing for around $100 a set ? Must be a hell of an experience....

Now I'm curious.
Click to expand...

I have TI Jazz Rounds or JR's on my G&L L-2000 and my Sterling Stingray Short Scale. I love them. They are low tension, light gauge strings that last forever, sound great and are easy on my fingers and hands. Yes, they're not cheap but you can catch a deal every once in awhile in the US. I know a couple of years ago Amazon was selling the TI Flats for $38 plus $8 shipping from a retailer in the UK. I stocked up and know I'll not have to worry about flats for a very long time.

I grabbed a short scale (32") set of TI JR's off a guy on Reverb. They were brand new. He didn't need them and I think they were $45 shipped. Definitely worth the wait. The short scale TI's are 32" not 30" and while I wouldn't want to cut a set of flat 32's" cutting rounds presented no issues. I think the set of JR's on my L2000 were around $70 when I picked them up.

In terms of the sound of the TI JR's they are not at all zingy when new, follow a lot of the characteristics of the flats and seem to last a lot longer than most round wounds. That helps ease the pain of the high cost.

They're not for everyone. I've never been a fan of heavy gauge strings so the relative light gauge of the JR's is a welcome. I have even tried the TI Power Bass strings but preferred the JR's because they were lighter and lower in tension. I guess it really comes down to giving them a shot. You may find something you'll love or, in the worst case, you'll have to sell the set off. The good thing is you'll get back most of the cost in a failed experiment like this. There's always someone out there looking for a lightly used set of TI's.
 
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#26
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#29
phorm said:
Hi Everyone,
Heard the glowing reviews and bit the bullet and ordered the TI flats.

Question 1.
I usually have 45-65-85-105 strings on my basses. The TI's A and D are 70 and 56. Any issues?

Question 2.
I have 2 basses I am considering for these strings. A passive PRS SE with Seymour Duncan SB4 pickups(because the stock pickups were the suckiest, weakest, noisiest pickups I have ever heard). The other is an 83 PBass Elite ll, with active pickups. The PBass is the bass I often use to record, and currently has Fender Flats. Which would you recommend putting them on?

Thanks for any Input. Greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...
I would Put them on the Pbass first! I love them. Some don’t like the tactile feel of the string some do. I do. I also like LaBella in different forms. Black, White Nylon and Low Tension Flats.
 
#32
Just from happening upon this discussion I'm going to buy a set. The only issue if I can call it that, is 3 of my 4 bassses have new flats on them. The 4th is a Yamaha Fretless with flats, it doesn't need strings in my opinion but I'll give it a go, keep the ones I take off as a spare set...(something that wasn't occurring to me, I thought once the string had a 90 degree bend in it wasn't worth re-installing)...or maybe I just wasn't thinking.
 
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#33
Griendrr said:
Just from happening upon this discussion I'm going to buy a set. The only issue if I can call it that, is 3 of my 4 bassses have new flats on them. The 4th is a Yamaha Fretless with flats, it doesn't need strings in my opinion but I'll give it a go, keep the ones I take off as a spare set...(something that wasn't occurring to me, I thought once the string had a 90 degree bend in it wasn't worth re-installing)...or maybe I just wasn't thinking.
Click to expand...
Ha. I just spent as much on a set of strings as I did on my last bass. And the Bass they're going on is worth even less. :)
 
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#34
1. You shouldn’t have any problems.

2. Considering their cost and somewhat different voicing from most flats, I think you’d be happiest using them on whichever bass has the best pickups and electronics to get the most out of them.
 
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#35
74hc said:
The TIs are not floppy by any stretch of my imagination. So I don't know where people came up with that description. Maybe they are use to steel rods as strings?
Click to expand...

First, I would keep an eye on the A and D strings. IME, TI's are low tension and supple enough (even in comparison to rounds) that larger gauges are preferable.

Below is my rambling thoughts on TI's after trying them a few times. Insert whatever face picture things requisite to convey that this is all my opinion. I am not emotionally invested in any set of strings.

I'd say that floppy is a pretty accurate descriptor. I have tried TI's 3 times on 3 different instruments and they just didn't work for me on any of those instruments. For comparison, I'm currently using Dunlop rounds on my 5 string nordy P/J and D'Addario XL's on my fretless J (obviously those are both round sets). I frequently pluck the strings over the neck for a differing tone (especially on fretless) and with TI's I find my hand constantly rooted between the bridge and the J pickup. Is there a variatiation in the tone depending on right hand placement? Sure. The TI's were just far more limiting on where I place my hand. Minute movements produce inordinately large alterations of tone. I move my right hand to differing locations for differing tones and with TI's my intimate knowledge of where I pluck to produce those tones is radically altered. I don't feel like relearning where those spots are to accomodate a single set of strings.

Also, they are definitely supple as well. Insanely so IMHO (agreed that suppleness and tension are definitely different qualities). They are not nearly as able to dig in on if desired without them bottoming out. I am NOT a heavy touch player (very light touch with right hand actually) so if I am needing to dial my right hand back even more then that is definitely saying something.

I can certainly see their appeal for some but they just didn't work for me. Too limiting on where and how I pluck the strings. I am not going to alter my technique to make a string work. Gear is easy to use/works with me or it gets moved on. If you are kosher with altering your approach to playing (or if you root your right hand near the bridge and leave it there) they may be your jam. They do produce a good tone and are reputed to last 6 or 7 years (or longer according to some).

Last note: be thankful if you are not an upright player. Trying out and finding the right strings is exponentially more expensive and a PITA on that beast.
 
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#36
Spupilup said:
I have TI Jazz Rounds or JR's on my G&L L-2000 and my Sterling Stingray Short Scale. I love them. They are low tension, light gauge strings that last forever, sound great and are easy on my fingers and hands. Yes, they're not cheap but you can catch a deal every once in awhile in the US. I know a couple of years ago Amazon was selling the TI Flats for $38 plus $8 shipping from a retailer in the UK. I stocked up and know I'll not have to worry about flats for a very long time.

I grabbed a short scale (32") set of TI JR's off a guy on Reverb. They were brand new. He didn't need them and I think they were $45 shipped. Definitely worth the wait. The short scale TI's are 32" not 30" and while I wouldn't want to cut a set of flat 32's" cutting rounds presented no issues. I think the set of JR's on my L2000 were around $70 when I picked them up.

In terms of the sound of the TI JR's they are not at all zingy when new, follow a lot of the characteristics of the flats and seem to last a lot longer than most round wounds. That helps ease the pain of the high cost.

They're not for everyone. I've never been a fan of heavy gauge strings so the relative light gauge of the JR's is a welcome. I have even tried the TI Power Bass strings but preferred the JR's because they were lighter and lower in tension. I guess it really comes down to giving them a shot. You may find something you'll love or, in the worst case, you'll have to sell the set off. The good thing is you'll get back most of the cost in a failed experiment like this. There's always someone out there looking for a lightly used set of TI's.
Click to expand...

The Jazz Rounds are also very well made strings, but in my experience they tend to get oxidized after a year or so, and it makes the string sound less lively. Other than that, they're great strings.
 
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#38
phorm said:
Hi Everyone,
Heard the glowing reviews and bit the bullet and ordered the TI flats.

Question 1.
I usually have 45-65-85-105 strings on my basses. The TI's A and D are 70 and 56. Any issues?

Question 2.
I have 2 basses I am considering for these strings. A passive PRS SE with Seymour Duncan SB4 pickups(because the stock pickups were the suckiest, weakest, noisiest pickups I have ever heard). The other is an 83 PBass Elite ll, with active pickups. The PBass is the bass I often use to record, and currently has Fender Flats. Which would you recommend putting them on?

Thanks for any Input. Greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...

Okay....
Question 1 - Personally, I have no problems with TI's gauges. There are some people here who do have problems - with the A string in particular - and aren't shy about saying so. Most of us who use TI JFs, though, either don't have a problem - or just don't say so. You'll just have to see (or feel) for yourself, I guess...
Question 2 - This is a hard one to answer, but here goes...
As far as my ears are concerned, there's no real difference between Fender Flats and TIJFs. Maybe slightly more highs and high-mids for the TI'S, but... IMO, not enough to bother with. Stiffness, and possibly how long they'll last, are the only real difference that I've found - and I'm currently using them both. I have the Fenders on one of my Danelectro DC59 Pros (single coil lipstick pickups) and an Eastwood Magnum Bass (mini-humbuckers). The Fenders sound just fine on both of them. I like the Fender's stiffness vs. the TIs, since I play these basses with a pick about half the time. The TI Jazz Flats? I have them on an Alembic Epic - which is active only - and for what I play with it, the TI's are the cat's ass. The Alembic does not get played with a pick; the TI's are just a little too flexible to suit me for that...
So, AFAIC, the only difference between these strings is;
- Fenders are stiffer than TIJF's;
- TIJF's are a hair brighter;
- You might not like the TI's A and D gauges;
- Fenders will break in quicker than the TIs; and
- TIJFs will cost a lot more than the Fenders.
Bottom line? If it were me, I'd leave those Fender flats where they are, and put the TI's on the PRS SE...:thumbsup:
 
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#39
phorm said:
Hi Everyone,
Heard the glowing reviews and bit the bullet and ordered the TI flats.

Question 1.
I usually have 45-65-85-105 strings on my basses. The TI's A and D are 70 and 56. Any issues?

Question 2.
I have 2 basses I am considering for these strings. A passive PRS SE with Seymour Duncan SB4 pickups(because the stock pickups were the suckiest, weakest, noisiest pickups I have ever heard). The other is an 83 PBass Elite ll, with active pickups. The PBass is the bass I often use to record, and currently has Fender Flats. Which would you recommend putting them on?

Thanks for any Input. Greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...

1. Yes, the TIs are much lower tension than the Fender flats you have so you’ll need to adjust your setup.

2. Put them on either, they are a mid-focused string so they are pretty versatile. I have them on several basses and used to have them on my ‘83 Elite II but swapped them out for Fender flats that are still on that one.
58725C1F-CCCA-4F02-B277-FA37E39BDAD5.jpeg
 

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