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Flats on a 6 string?

#41
I have a new MTD 635-24 that I'm about to have PLEK'd and I'm considering having it set up with TI flats. I love TI flats on my 4 string but the string sizes of the TI 6 string set seems strange.

Here are the string gauges of the stock MTD strings (rounds) versus TI flats (the "diff" column just shows the jump in size between adjacent string sizes):

IMG_4253.jpg


The difference in sized of the TI's seems a little bit all over the map. This makes me nervous for some reason. Also, I'll have to have the nut adjusted to accommodate the larger B, etc. I loves me some TI flats but maybe there's a better option for a flats on a 6? La Bella LT, etc..?
 
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#42
rorsini said:
I have a new MTD 635-24 that I'm about to have PLEK'd and I'm considering having it set up with TI flats. I love TI flats on my 4 string but the string sizes of the TI 6 string set seems strange.

Here are the string gauges of the stock MTD strings (rounds) versus TI flats (the "diff" column just shows the jump in size between adjacent string sizes):

View attachment 4902513

The difference in sized of the TI's seems a little bit all over the map. This makes me nervous for some reason. Also, I'll have to have the nut adjusted to accommodate the larger B, etc. I loves me some TI flats but maybe there's a better option for a flats on a 6? La Bella LT, etc..?
Click to expand...
IIRC the G is .043, not .045. But beyond that, don't get hung up on the numbers only. There's nothing sacred about .020 or .030 increments. Consider the tension.

If they work on your 4s, why couldn't they work on your 6? It's really the D and the A that have the most unusual gauges, and they're the same on the 6 sets as on the 4 sets.
 
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#43
rorsini said:
I have a new MTD 635-24 that I'm about to have PLEK'd and I'm considering having it set up with TI flats. I love TI flats on my 4 string but the string sizes of the TI 6 string set seems strange.

Here are the string gauges of the stock MTD strings (rounds) versus TI flats (the "diff" column just shows the jump in size between adjacent string sizes):

View attachment 4902513

The difference in sized of the TI's seems a little bit all over the map. This makes me nervous for some reason. Also, I'll have to have the nut adjusted to accommodate the larger B, etc. I loves me some TI flats but maybe there's a better option for a flats on a 6? La Bella LT, etc..?
Click to expand...
If you're talking about the TI JF346 set, as I think you are, the G is .043. The only string in that set that's really wrong from a balanced tension perspective is the .070 A, which should really be .075. This bothers some people who find the A too floppy, even for TIJFs. But you've used the 4-string set before and liked it, so you probably weren't too concerned about the A. Personally, I've noticed the difference but learned to live with it, with my only issue being how much longer, IME, it has taken for the A to break in. The B also draws differing reviews, but I haven't used it, so have no experience to draw on.

Here are the tension numbers, BTW:

Jazz Flat Wound Bass Guitar | Guitar Strings | Products | Thomastik-Infeld Vienna
 
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#44
Richard Lindsey said:
IIRC the G is .043, not .045. But beyond that, don't get hung up on the numbers only. There's nothing sacred about .020 or .030 increments. Consider the tension.
Click to expand...
Good catch! The G is .043 -- so the differences are: 10, 13, 14, 30, 36 (not as weird as what I had).

Richard Lindsey said:
If they work on your 4s, why couldn't they work on your 6? It's really the D and the A that have the most unusual gauges, and they're the same on the 6 sets as on the 4 sets.
Click to expand...
No reason they won't work I suppose. Thanks for your reassurance!
 
#45
DCCat said:
If you're talking about the TI JF346 set, as I think you are, the G is .043. The only string in that set that's really wrong from a balanced tension perspective is the .070 A, which should really be .075. This bothers some people who find the A too floppy, even for TIJFs. But you've used the 4-string set before and liked it, so you probably weren't too concerned about the A. Personally, I've noticed the difference but learned to live with it, with my only issue being how much longer, IME, it has taken for the A to break in. The B also draws differing reviews, but I haven't used it, so have no experience to draw on.

Here are the tension numbers, BTW:

Jazz Flat Wound Bass Guitar | Guitar Strings | Products | Thomastik-Infeld Vienna
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info! Yup, that's the set I'm looking at. Yup, that "A" string tension sure is weird, but I can't say I've ever noticed it on my 4 string so there you go! :)

The MTD is a 35" scale, and I've read that this helps increase the tension and makes the B more playable, but who knows. TI flats have been totally magical to me so far, so I think any apprehension I have is just related to being on a path that isn't all that common: flats on a 6.

Thanks for the help, and thanks to the OP for this timely thread!
 
#46
Check in with Jason at FretNation.com. He can help you out with TI flat sets if you need mixed lengths for your longer scale MTD.

Jason set me up with TI flats for my Dingwall six string, a 37”- 34”
Multi scale.

The TI flats were super nice on the six string.
 
#48
singlemalt said:
Payson strings have tapered B and E strings. I have Payson flats on my Dbird. Not quite as flexible as TI flats, but not anywhere near the bridge cable feel.

My one problem with TI jazz flats was the untapered, whopping big .136 B string. I needed shorter saddle screws to get it down where I wanted it.
Click to expand...

Our Fanned Flats set has a tapered A String too, a little more subtle than the B and E. It helps with the break angle over the saddles.
 
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#49
For some reason intonating flatwound strings on an Ibanez monorail bridge bass has been problematic for me. My previous instrument a couple of sets were unusable. My current instrument had TI flats for about 9 months but the screws were maxed out causing the B and E saddles to shift under heavy playing.
Currently getting great results with old nickel rounds and the TI c string
 
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#50
Kevin Hailey said:
For some reason intonating flatwound strings on an Ibanez monorail bridge bass has been problematic for me. My previous instrument a couple of sets were unusable. My current instrument had TI flats for about 9 months but the screws were maxed out causing the B and E saddles to shift under heavy playing.
Currently getting great results with old nickel rounds and the TI c string
Click to expand...

This is a very helpful observation- thank you.
 
#51
I have D’Adarrio XL nickel rounds on my Roscoe Century 6 fretless. They are perfect on that bass IMO.

My Roscoe SKB 6 has an Ebony fingerboard and a Mahogany body with a Maple top. It is much brighter sounding than the fretless and I just put a set of TI flats on it. It plays and sounds fantastic now.

TI flats are expensive to buy but they last for years. I use TI Belcanto strings on my upright basses and they are about $275 a set but they also last a very long time and as a bonus they have tuning stability.

Another thing I love about TI flats is their tone. They have a sort of Fender jazz bass growl.
 
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#52
I just got the MTD back from being PLEKed and setup with TI Flats. The situation is heavenly! I love how it plays and sounds. Zero regrets. The 35" scale was no problem for extra longs, but cut it close with the B and E silk.

(I still have to adjust the side-to-side play on the G string bridge thing and tighten it down, but otherwise it's all set.)

2F378B79-CF50-4942-8DDF-C0F6D1963509_1_105_c.jpeg


BFF38C89-D194-4D16-B96C-B672AECBD4B6_1_105_c.jpeg
 
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#53
Hello.

Can anyone tell me what is available regarding flats or tapes for 6 string bass?

I would like medium to high tension. I have TI flats, Fender Flats, Chromes and Tapewounds on my four string basses, and I am looking for something like the Fender Flats, tension wise.

Any recommendations?

Thanks!

EDIT: I went with TI Flats. Read post #55.
 
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#55
ToddB1963 said:
TRB6P > TI jazz flats.

The bass sounds superb with these strings.
Click to expand...
Oh yes.

TI Flats are my favorite strings.

I just put a 4 string set of TIs I had waiting for turn on the 6 string. Uau. This is it. The bass is 35” and the set fits with perfect tension. Now I just have to buy a B and a C or a new 6 set.


Spector NS Pulse ii 6: TI Flats, long scale.
 
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