• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Flats on a P - need more defined mids

#61
I cannot use TI's pure nickel wrapped flats or the Optima flats because my hand perspiration eats nickel. They have great tone, smooth and defined at the same time.

One niggle with TI - the A string is so much looser than the others. I don't know why they were wound this way, maybe for some idiosyncratic reason with pickups and hardware from ages past. But that TI A string needs to be about a 74 or a 75 now instead of the loose 70.
 
#62
iiipopes said:
I cannot use TI's pure nickel wrapped flats or the Optima flats because my hand perspiration eats nickel. They have great tone, smooth and defined at the same time.

One niggle with TI - the A string is so much looser than the others. I don't know why they were wound this way, maybe for some idiosyncratic reason with pickups and hardware from ages past. But that TI A string needs to be about a 74 or a 75 now instead of the loose 70.
Click to expand...

Maybe for evenness of sound?

TI would clean up if they offered a bigger gauge set of flats with the resultant higher tension.
 
#63
About the A string I found out that it doesn't seem so light with 7.25" radius necks.
I was used to them on 10" and 9.5", and the A always felt a bit "too light". When I switched them to the Classic50 Precision, it felt perfect. Probably it's because the radius makes it different to fret it, in a different position.
 
#64
Pier_ said:
About the A string I found out that it doesn't seem so light with 7.25" radius necks.
I was used to them on 10" and 9.5", and the A always felt a bit "too light". When I switched them to the Classic50 Precision, it felt perfect. Probably it's because the radius makes it different to fret it, in a different position.
Click to expand...

My experience exactly! When I started using my AmStd, I had to abandon the TI's in favor of something a little more taut. Ive been through a couple 9.5 radius boards with TI's and it didn't seem like I was able to get them as low without buzzing as I did on my 7.25 radius necks.
 
#65
markjazzbassist said:
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.
Click to expand...


I have to respectfully disagree with you on this one - ime tapes have plenty of mids but you have to dig in real hard to tease them out. But increasingly I find that different fingers suit different tones, and my style of playing, coupled with my anatomy may result in a totally different tonal characteristic to yours.

Having said that, the mids in the TI's are just right there without too much fuss. But they most definitely lack the woody solid authoritative thump of the tapes, as well as the need to dig in and play hard to create some dynamic range, and those are characteristics which I love and miss when the TIs are on the bass. So I'm still v much undecided. I feel like tapes call for a harder and rougher playing style, whereas TIs need you to have a more considered and sophisticated approach, as well as a lighter touch.
 
  • Like
Reactions: iiipopes
#66
petrus61 said:
My experience exactly! When I started using my AmStd, I had to abandon the TI's in favor of something a little more taut. Ive been through a couple 9.5 radius boards with TI's and it didn't seem like I was able to get them as low without buzzing as I did on my 7.25 radius necks.
Click to expand...

yes! on my 9.5" Precision I started to think that I wanted a set of La Bella 760FX, with the .077 A string.

on my Classic with 7.25", fore example, i find more balanced the Rotosound Swing 45-65-80-105 than usual 45-105 sets with the .085 A string.
 
#67
project_c said:
I have to respectfully disagree with you on this one - ime tapes have plenty of mids but you have to dig in real hard to tease them out. But increasingly I find that different fingers suit different tones, and my style of playing, coupled with my anatomy may result in a totally different tonal characteristic to yours.

Having said that, the mids in the TI's are just right there without too much fuss. But they most definitely lack the woody solid authoritative thump of the tapes, as well as the need to dig in and play hard to create some dynamic range, and those are characteristics which I love and miss when the TIs are on the bass. So I'm still v much undecided. I feel like tapes call for a harder and rougher playing style, whereas TIs need you to have a more considered and sophisticated approach, as well as a lighter touch.
Click to expand...

musical tastes are so funny! you describe TI as not woody, i would call them the most woody string. Tapes may sound like that now, but let them break in a little more, or go listen to serge gainsbourg melody nelson, you'll hear herbie flowers fender jazz and tape wound sound.

also i think the mids you're hearing with the tapes are just the inherent mids present on the mid heavy fender precision. IMHO. put them on a fender jazz and its scoop city.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pier_
#68
markjazzbassist said:
musical tastes are so funny! you describe TI as not woody, i would call them the most woody string. Tapes may sound like that now, but let them break in a little more, or go listen to serge gainsbourg melody nelson, you'll hear herbie flowers fender jazz and tape wound sound.

also i think the mids you're hearing with the tapes are just the inherent mids present on the mid heavy fender precision. IMHO. put them on a fender jazz and its scoop city.
Click to expand...

To me, "woody" means a hollow sounding top end, perhaps slightly scooped upper mids. The TI's IME tend to absolutely dominate the entire mid range, with a very slight muffled top. They can certainly be EQ'd as such, but wouldn't describe them as inherently "woody" the way La'Bellas are.
 
  • Like
Reactions: project_c
#69
markjazzbassist said:
also i think the mids you're hearing with the tapes are just the inherent mids present on the mid heavy fender precision. IMHO. put them on a fender jazz and its scoop city.
Click to expand...

Yeah, 'woody' is a weird word to describe tone, and like 'growl' it can mean different things to different people. I totally agree with the mid-heavy p-bass sound, but that's the context I'm using the strings in. I personally wouldn't ever put tapes on a jazz, because that really would be way too scooped for my tastes. TI's on the other hand might be nicer. Very different set of criteria.
 
#70
markjazzbassist said:
musical tastes are so funny! you describe TI as not woody, i would call them the most woody string.
Click to expand...

let me quote you! I call a sound "woody" when I hear the entire midrange, like a "knock" on a wooden surface. the TIs give me this feeling, and I call it "woody".
the sound full of bass frequencies is not "woody" for me.

or go listen to serge gainsbourg melody nelson, you'll hear herbie flowers fender jazz and tape wound sound.
Click to expand...

ehm... http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histoire_de_Melody_Nelson

Dave Richmond : basse électrique
 
#75
project_c said:
Yeah, 'woody' is a weird word to describe tone, and like 'growl' it can mean different things to different people. I totally agree with the mid-heavy p-bass sound, but that's the context I'm using the strings in. I personally wouldn't ever put tapes on a jazz, because that really would be way too scooped for my tastes. TI's on the other hand might be nicer. Very different set of criteria.
Click to expand...

i hear you man. i was able to lock down my bass choice very quickly, but man oh man i've spend so much money on strings. various round wounds, tapes, and almost every gauge and brand of flat wound. tone is very crazy, will drive you wild. just when i think i've finally gotten it, i want something else.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dome, petrus61 and project_c

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back