• 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.

I finally get the hype with TI strings

#41
I bought a set of 344s on Amazon a few weeks ago. Around $50 including tax and shipping. Put them on a P, and I’m really enjoying the feel and unplugged tone. Plugged in, I’d give the tonal edge to LaBella LTFs. Plus the A string on the TIs is a touch thin/light for me, wish it was 075 like the LTFs. But that’s really my only gripe.

If/when I run across the 345s at that price, I’d love to try them on my Jazz V.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TN WOODMAN
#42
muggsy said:
I have four basses with TI flats. They're my favorite strings, by far. The price is reasonable to me because I never have to replace them. I had a set on a P bass for close to 20 years and they were going strong when I sold the bass last year. On the basses I still have my oldest set is probably 15.
Click to expand...

I would of taken those off and put on say a set of Fender flats-which are great flats but not TI great. Especially 20 year old ones. But again that may be what sold the bass and would hate to disappoint the buyer.
 
#44
Guys keep a watch on Amazon for the TIs. (Well after the pandemic subsides). It’s like watching gold prices. I finally bought my 1st set last March shipped TTD right @ $50.

I put em on a recent pawn shop prize 1987 Korean Squier E7 Bullet and became an instant convert.

Been watching for months, pulled the trigger on 4 sets when I thought as low as they’d go-$51.25 each TTD. (In Feb.) Next day dropped $3. If you can get them around $50, I consider a bargain.

The UK sellers seem to offer best prices even with shipping. Get this though-tracking showed mine started in Australia (I guess actually Austria technically) then to Italy. Next on the Great Britain. Shipped to US. Delivered to me 13 days total by USPS for cheapest rate chosen.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tindrum, bassrique and brian579
#47
Although I try to only use Amazon when I can't get an item locally or from a smaller online business, the low price on Amazon was my gateway into TI Jazz Rounds about six months ago.

I was hesitant to buy them sooner and from a full-price vendor because of the frankly misleading info I'd read here on TB--specifically the "they're floppy" line, which turns out to be quite untrue. Supple and light gauge, sure, but decidedly not floppy or noodley feeling (which I have experienced and strongly dislike). And the rounds feel nicely balanced. (I'm using the so-called 'short scale' rounds on a 32-inch scale bass.)

Anyway, when it's eventually time to buy another set (even with an hour or so of daily play, six months in they sound just like they did after about three weeks), I won't hesitate to shell out the full amount to my preferred online string shop. They're really wonderful strings.

smtp4me said:
Could I also ask for that link, please?
Click to expand...
BunnyBass Interview: Kevin Reynolds of Thomastik-Infeld strings
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kubicki Fan, MG Wolf, Loring and 1 other person
#48
I just got a 6 string set , from the Tb shop, and put them on my ACG with the DFM filter pickups and preamp. I was concerned that the filter pre would cancel out any benefit but they just provided a great starting point. I easily dialed in a great progressive metal/rock tone. I heard about them being floppy but, to me, the tension is very similar to DR High beams.

If these strings last for few years or more I'll be ecstatic!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Loring
#53
Sweetwater is now carrying TI brand reg rounds, power rounds, and flats plus short scales. The yellow packaging version is more money than the version with the blue background with Red jazz bass but they are the same JR344 or JF344 as far as I can tell. I've used both.

I've had the flats on my short scales - the JMJ mustang and StingRay SS but moved the SR short scale to the rounds (which sounds great on this bass). Recently I tried the long scale rounds and was so impressed I put them on my P bass and Jazz bass. At this point I really love both the rounds and flats equally. There is no break-in period on the rounds for me they sound great right out of the package. It does take a bit getting used to the lighter gauge as I prefer a 45-105 gauge in general. Given that I've been surprised that I like the Regular Rounds better than the Power rounds. I went ahead and put power rounds on my 34" StingRay Special, they are a tad darker which works well with that bass's active EQ but I keep wondering how the regular rounds would sound on it since I like them so much. I guess I'll give them a try whenever these give out. I honestly have no idea how long the rounds tend to last. I know the flats can stay on indefinitely.

At this point I only have one bass without TIs and that is my birdsong C bass which has La Bella flats on it. Even my upright, e335 guitar and D28 Acoustic have TIs on them. I think it's fair to say I'm a huge convert after 2-3 years of trying a ton of strings on different basses trying to find the right fit.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: lowdownthump
#54
I have a set on my G&L CLF L-1000. I also have a set of LTF's on my L-2000. First, both strings do a great job of reining in these very aggressive basses. I definitely prefer the TI's over the LTF's but am glad I have the LTF's on the L-2000 for times when I want to really dig in. The LTF's are much better under those circumstances. Otherwise, I tend to gravitate to the L-1000 and the TI's more often. I should also add that the TI's have a much wider range of tonality unto themselves. The LTF's have the trademark LaBella thump albeit, less so than the Deep Talking versions.
 
#59
JohnnyBottom said:
Bought a bass with TI flats on it. Almost returned the bass, and then realized I could sell the strings for $50.
Just too little tension for me. Maybe I couldve got used to them and lightened my technique but GHS precision flats for me. The sound of chocolate:)
Click to expand...

JB,
It seems we are in the minority here.
I put a set on my Coronado which is short scale but uses LS strings.
I also couldn't get with the low tension, but maybe they would work on one of my LS basses.

I replaced them with Chromes which made my Coronado happy again.
I said I'd try them on a LS next time, but I never did.
They have been collecting dust ever since.

057912
 
  • Like
Reactions: JohnnyBottom
#60
7615 said:
T1's depend on the bass - sound great on some of basses but not so good on others.
Click to expand...

That was my experience with the C bass, I tried the Ti flats on it and as well on the StingRay short scale, they weren't bad they just weren't right. I ended up liking the La Bellas better on the C bass for the dark thumpy sound and the Stingray just benefitted better from rounds. I had a really hard time with that bass in particular. The slinkys it came with really gave it a clangy sound I did not like, that same string on the full scale special wasn't off putting in the same way to me. Anyway I tried quite a few strings on the SR SS before landing on the rounds and it's great now.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back