I own Thomastik-Infeld an apology

[HaphAsSard]

what about these makes them worth at least twice as much as most other flatwound strings?

The biggest component is being made in Europe. La Bellas are more expensive than Thomastiks here.
In terms of subjective value placed in them by North American users who prefer them to the competition, I defer to them. I guess suppleness and tone, or a combination of both, are the answer.

 

[silky smoove]

For folks who have played them and liked them - what about these makes them worth at least twice as much as most other flatwound strings?

For me, even though I couldn't hang with the low tension, I found the tone to be very balanced in a way I haven't heard from other flats. They provided the big fat low end thump I want from a flatwound, but they also had a nice snappy clarity to the attack that kept them present in a mix without getting overly bright in a weird way like Chromes do for my taste. I've not heard another flat that sounds like them. If you want THAT tone and can hang with the lower tension feel then they're an excellent, if not THE choice. It didn't work out for me, but I definitely get why it does for so many.

 

[dagrev]

Flats require patience, they take a long time to settle in, for me its many months…i suffer through the beginning to be rewarded with what they offer once they mellow… they are opposite of rounds that sound good then decline.

I suggest getting a set and play that bass every day for a long time to put the time in, you have to give them a fair chance. It is an acquired taste, one that often takes exposure and wear.

^^^This^^^
Anyone who puts a set of flats on and decides they are bad or good with only a few days playing on them doesn't know what they will actually sound like for 95% of their lifespan. Flats are not like rounds. The opposite.

 

[musicman556]

And those are legit authentic TI strings? I ask because the margin is really not all that high on string sales and at $40-55 (maybe higher) they would be selling at cost or a major loss. I am not sure how anyone could sell new ones at that price. When I was a dealer I really was just selling to TB members and my prices were lower for people here than anywhere else and it didn't come close to that even 10 years ago.

Every set I've gotten so far has been legit. Amazon is crazy sometimes. My "Save for Later" cart is full of "I'd like to have this but it's not a necessity" items and I check for price changes throughout the day. When something drops to what I feel is a deal, I pounce. Still kicking myself for not pulling the trigger on a new set of Galaxy Buds 2 when they dropped to $70 a couple weeks ago. I was in a work meeting and I thought "I'll buy them after this call" and of course I forgot. Later that evening I remembered, and they were back to $100. Argh!

 

[Pilgrim]

They actually aren’t more expensive. I just bought some off Amazon for about $60 and they will likely last at least 10 years. That comes out cheaper in the long run. So don’t really understand all the gripes about cost.

Depends on how often you change them. I buy Labella Deep Talkin' flats and never change them. My oldest flats are 50 years old on my 1963 P, although those aren't Labellas.

Of course, that would make extremely expensive strings inexpensive on a per-year basis...but I just don't see the need to pay more than Labellas cost.

 

[Johnny Alien]

Crazy. Since you need to pay to use amazon for sales I don't see how anyone would set a price that would lose them $10 or more dollars per sale.

 

[musicman556]

Heck, since I posted this morning the price dropped $4 to $66

Amazon.com: Thomastik-Infeld Accordion Accessory (JF344) : Musical Instruments

Of course, it may be different by the time you see this post, but this just shows how dynamic some of the pricing on amazon is. I don't know if the seller is toying around with the price, or if they're leaving it up to some amazon algorithm.

 

[JLS]

Wish I could try them out but they cost too much and that robs me of an opinion other than the cost .

I have a set on one of my basses vintage late 2001. 5 string.

 

[SoulReflection]

I apologize I don't play 6 strings so I have never looked at or know anything about what sets are available. Even when I was a TI dealer I did not carry any 6 string sets. Everything I know is limited to what is out there for 4 string and to a smaller degree 5 string.







When I mentioned great strings by GHS I was mainly referring to the balanced nickels which are what I use now. Previously my favorite low tension round was TI Jazz Rounds and these are absolutely as good for a fraction of the price. I also like the GHS roundcore Boomers but those are rounds as well. For flats my TI replacement suggestion is the LaBella low tension flats. Really great strings.

As a note about TIJF lasting forever, that is something that applies to all flats. Flatwound strings in general will last forever. Look at how many of the old school bass players had the same set of flats on their basses for decades. So yes a $75 set of strings that last for over 10 years is a bargain. So is a $40 set of flats that last for over 10 years. And none of this is to talk poorly on TI's. They are fantastic strings that deserve the praise they get. I just think there are other great options these days and 20 years ago when I started my relationship with TI those other options weren't there. TI was the only one doing it.

I bought a set at a discount from that "accordion" seller, thinking that I would replace my LBltfs to see what all the excitement was about. I liked the LBs so much that I ended up not doing that. So, I sold my TIs at a slight profit, to some one who thought he could tell the difference...

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I've heard so much about these strings, most of it positive but a few folks like yourself couldn't stand them.

For folks who have played them and liked them - what about these makes them worth at least twice as much as most other flatwound strings? Is it just the low tension, or do they sound particularly different? I've played Labella DTFs (love them and still have a set on my P bass, 2 years and counting) and D'Addario Chromes (didn't jive with these, not as smooth as the Labellas, and a bit too stiff for my taste).

I'm intrigued by TI strings but I've never been able to justify the cost. Sure they last a long time but so do LaBella DTFs and those are less than $50 for a set.

I think I didn't like them because I like some fight back from my strings. I play with a lighter touch mostly, but like to be able to dig in.

 

[ejaggers]

"I owe Thomastik-Infeld an apology."

Yes @michael_t, @Pilgrim, @Skullie, @Cal03, etc, it was a typo.

They actually aren’t more expensive. I just bought some off Amazon for about $60 and they will likely last at least 10 years. That comes out cheaper in the long run. So don’t really understand all the gripes about cost.

Not a gripe, it’s a fact. They are more expensive than other flats I like just as well.
It is also a fact that I installed Chromes on my Coronado 05/30/2011, which is over 10 years ago.
And yes, they are more expensive: Mathematically $60 is greater than $40.

...Flatwound strings in general will last forever. Look at how many of the old school bass players had the same set of flats on their basses for decades. So yes a $75 set of strings that last for over 10 years is a bargain. So is a $40 set of flats that last for over 10 years. And none of this is to talk poorly on TI's. They are fantastic strings that deserve the praise they get. I just think there are other great options these days and 20 years ago when I started my relationship with TI those other options weren't there. TI was the only one doing it.

I agree with you one hundred….No…. make that one million percent!!!

Depends on how often you change them. I buy Labella Deep Talkin' flats and never change them. My oldest flats are 50 years old on my 1963 P, although those aren't Labellas.
Of course, that would make extremely expensive strings inexpensive on a per-year basis...but I just don't see the need to pay more than Labellas cost.

I couldn’t agree more!!!
I have gained some respect for TI’s recently, but I’m just as satisfied with others.

I tried a set and they lasted maybe ten minutes before I swapped them out. Really, really did not like them. They felt like strings that would be on a toy guitar to me. I'll probably try them again since they get so much love and this time I'll keep them on a bass for at least a few weeks to give them a fair trial.

This is precisely my story.

Sorry for asking if I'm the only one who doesn't know, but I've wondered this before after seeing it in your posts: what does "057912" mean?

See Post# 11: Ne Neck-Thru Bass Design Topic | TalkBass.com

057912

 

[alotabass]

I tried the Thomastik-Infeld but hated the low tension and removed them quickly. I tried a bunch of other flats with good tension but the sound just wasn't there. I kept coming back to the Thomastik-Infeld. They sound better than all the rest even though I still hate the low tension. So I put up with it.