+1 get used to the floppy tension if not try chromes. once you've tried those two if it's not enough then begin to tweak EQ or get a different pickup. 
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Flats on a P - need more defined mids
- Thread starter project_c
- Start date
Another vote here for the TI's!
I put em on my P and am completely in love. They do, if fact, sing.
Although I have heard awesome things about the sadowskys and the laklands, idk if any other flat will have the musical nuance of the TI's. They're not made the same way as any other flat, hard to compare. But very woody, amazing booty, singing upper register, and the mids are super strong. The tension takes about a week to get used to, then you're off and jamming!
I put em on my P and am completely in love. They do, if fact, sing.
Although I have heard awesome things about the sadowskys and the laklands, idk if any other flat will have the musical nuance of the TI's. They're not made the same way as any other flat, hard to compare. But very woody, amazing booty, singing upper register, and the mids are super strong. The tension takes about a week to get used to, then you're off and jamming!
- Jul 15, 2003
- 901
- 65
- Disclosures
- I am a determined follower of Jesus Christ and am a Mormon.
quick update - I bought some TI's and made a very quick clip for comparison (see below - ignore the sloppy playing please, it's late over here in London). I'm still undecided about which I prefer, curious if you guys have a preference? First one is with Nylon Tapewounds, second is TI Jazz Flats. Nylon Tapes are about 3 months old, flats are brand new. Tone is about halfway on both, recorded straight into my audio interface. It's how I would normally have the tone control in a 'real world' situation.
My observations: TI's are much more sensitive to dynamic playing. Action is noticeably lower with them on. They sound a bit crunchy right now but that will settle down in a day or so I'm sure. The strings feel a LOT thinner under my fingers than the tapes. I can play faster with the TI's. OTOH - they lack the woody thump of the Nylons, and they sound less ballsy to my ears. Anyway I'm curious which you prefer:
My observations: TI's are much more sensitive to dynamic playing. Action is noticeably lower with them on. They sound a bit crunchy right now but that will settle down in a day or so I'm sure. The strings feel a LOT thinner under my fingers than the tapes. I can play faster with the TI's. OTOH - they lack the woody thump of the Nylons, and they sound less ballsy to my ears. Anyway I'm curious which you prefer:
Agreed. Chromes and Fenders are actually mid scooped in comparison to LaBella, TI or GHS IMO.
I guess we often hear things completely differently. In my experience TIs are the middiest, followed by chromes and new fenders (not the old ones by a long stretch!), followed by ghs, and then labella. The labellas have a little bit of upper mids that, along with their gut-kicking lows, allow them to poke out in a mix.
I must disagree with one item, from playing them exclusively for over two years, and still would if the CL set had not been discontinued: Fender flats are definitely NOT mid scooped. They have very present mids. They growl.
to the OP, i mean this with all the respect in the world, maybe the description of tone you seek is misguided. mids and treble can be difficult to differentiate sometimes. the reason i say this is that Tapes are literally bass and treble, there are no mids to be found. if you like that sound, then great, but just know you like a trebly tone. if you really dig the TI, then you dig mids. they have tons of low and high mid content, not a ton of bass, but lots of mids.
I agree they have a rich upper mid character, but the low mid fundamental has always felt a bit anemic to me by comparison to LaBella or TI.
IME Chromes have are more pronounced in the high mids, with LaBella, GHS, Fender and Sadowsky all having various degrees of low mid push, while TIs are strong throughout the mid spectrum.
GHS and new Fender Flats are the growliest to my ear.
GHS and new Fender Flats are the growliest to my ear.
Roto 77s. Like Roto 66's but with no string noise or fret clank. Tension in standard tuning can be a bit too high for some peoples tastes, but if you ever tune all four strings down a step, there's nothing like them!
I appreciate that observation. I usually have as part of my system a small 1X15 ported cab, which by definition has its own upper bass/low mid hump, so I may not have observed that particular aspect compared to those who play through other systems.
let me quote you! when I used the Labella (Jamerson) the first thing I noticed after they settled in was that they had a big amount of lows and hi-mids, and they sounded always "too bright" then the TI, but with less "punch" in the low-mid.
wonderful strings for a big bottom bass line with not that much of definition and clear notes.
with the TIs I get a more defined tone, less "lows" and rounder highs, but a big punch on mids, so they cut through the mix wounderfully.
They are good strings. I had a 58RI P that loved wearing them. Now I have an American Std with a 62 "Original" which has a very strong upper mid character to it. It seems to like LaBellas more than most because of what I hear as a slightly attenuated top end nature...they just seem to suit that pickup well. I can bring in the highs with the tone knob, but they never seem to get harsh. They also play lovely with a pick. Horses for courses!
