I like Fender Flats...what else might I like?

[Killing Floor]

I have never played the TI Jazz Flats, why are they almost universally praised as the GOAT flats?

Because at every fret at every string with equal effort the output is smooth and consistent. And although they (definitely) cost a lot they last many years of consistent use without losing their tonal characteristics.

 

[KellyC]

Because at every fret at every string with equal effort the output is smooth and consistent. And although they (definitely) cost a lot they last many years of consistent use without losing their tonal characteristics.

Sold!

 

[logdrum]

I have never played the TI Jazz Flats, why are they almost universally praised as the GOAT flats?

Not sure if they are GOAT. If you piad a lot, then you will GOAT too

TIJF Flats - Here is a sound sample on a lowly Squier VM Jazz V that has been upscaled a bit with EMG JAX5 (Almico) IT has a BTS pre-amp which is set flat and recorded in a "band" context (apple loops thrown in with a virtual drummer). My second take today (I needed to send ti in for a virtual screening before an audition) The low B will is better if I EQ it a bit plus I also prefer the bridge pickup but no EQ other than a gain only preamp into a DI (and 15 inch cab IR - it looks like ) The strings were first installed 10 years ago on I bass I got in 8 2021. I am not a TIJF flat evangelist - I actually took them off in 2021 and just put them back in Jan on this bass. I hope it gives everyone and idea how they sound.

 

[LG TPAFL]

TI Jazz Flats.

And before someone replies they're not exactly the same it's still the best and final answer. You can get them now or you can keep looking and get them later.

Second that from my perspective. I love the TI jazz flats on my 2007 American Precision. The change in tone from whatever rounds were on it when I bought is huge-to the better. Can't compare to others, I just know I love them.

 

[logdrum]

Cobalt Flats definitely have a roundwound sound to them. They are higher tensions than the Thomastiks. A little more rock. Here is a take I did in December. using the same bass. I think the B sounds better than TIs s as well as the G

 

[4StringDave]

Couple things:
- as I said, AFAIK Fender flats didn't have tuner-end silks at all, 20 years ago. If these in the pic have colour-coded ball ends, they can't be older than early 2010 ( = 14 years at the most)
- mine have about the same shade of green; is that dark to you? or do you mean you've since got ones with even lighter-green silk?

My current set of 9050L from 2019 have the darker green silks and came in the white box with the large 45. I've just bought a second set, same box, but the lighter green silks.

 

[Coughdrops]

I have one bass with old black label sadowsky flats that cover the the labella vibe (though they are a little different). I now have fender flats on three basses at the moment and they're my favorite. The closest I can think of is the dunlops but I also had issues with strings breaking when I switched them to another bass. Have some on my my Mustang that I love, but given their cost I'm just going to stick with the Fenders, I love them. You could buy the L and M sets if you wanted to mix a couple of tensions.

 

[GIBrat51]

Love La Bellas for the old-school thing, but that's not the sound I'm after.

Love DR Legend flats except the E string has that vintage "clunk" factor, which again isn't what I'm going for.

Wanted to love D'Addario Chromes but I found the texture to them tacky/sticky, not a pleasure to play.

So far of what I've tried, I've loved the Fenders best, even if their tension balance within sets can be a bit wonky. They have a growl and clarity that is very pleasing in my Precision Bass. I've heard Ernie Ball Group flats aren't too dissimilar... or what about Rotosound Jazz 77s? What other flats might be in a similar ballpark?

Well...
I'd saythat pretty much any light gauge, preferably round core, flat wound string, might make you happy. Optima RBs, or their 4099L "Chromes", for example. Same for EB Group IV flats - or La Bella's LTF4A Flexible flats. I use all of those flats, and I'm quite happy with them. Dogal's "Jaco" CarbonSteel Flats might be a contender; I have the lightest gauge (JC106A) set on my '73 Rick 4001 (for reasons we needn't go into here), and I'm also quite happy with them, as well.
As for the TI Jazz Flats? Well... some people do think they're the Alpha/Omega of flats; but, I do not. Their tone and feel is fairly unbalanced - especially the A string - and they can take... oh, roughly forever... to break in. They do settle down nicely when they are, though. But, unless the music you play needs their complex overtones/harmonics? I find the Fender 9050L's fundamental tones are actually quite similar to that of the TI's. Which is one of the reasons why I have the Fenders on 3 of my basses right now... I have a set of TI's on my Alembic Epic - which I use exclusively for Jazz - and for that? I honestly can't think of a better set of strings. But, for Vintage Rock - or pretty much anything else I play? Uhh... No. There are lots of other flats that work much better for most of what I play; that's why I use those flats instead...

 

[Selim]

How would you compare the Fender flats to both Ernie Ball and Dunlops,

Not familiar enuf with either of those, but for reference sake, if you're familiar with La Bellas, Dunlops will feel more flexible/comfortable than La Bellas of the same gauge.

If you play heavy, I'm not sure if they'll work for you - they can take it, but you'll be coaxing a more grind flat sound out of them. But played with a more reasonable touch, they are a nice balance of modern & vintage flat, articulate and clear.