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Other Lower Tension Flats besides TI's

If you're looking for flats with same or lower tension than TI's, I'd say look to Nylon Tapewounds instead. I run a set of custom GHS flats 35.55.75.95 and they have an almost scary-exact feel of tension as my Fender Stainless Steel rounds that are 45.65.85.105.

However, tapewounds are thick, flexible, and never die. I'd seriously recommend looking into them as they are a blessing to the world of bass strings!
 
I also have used and like ghs flatwounds and pressurewounds in the light gauges. I have heard good things about Optima flatwounds being a good low-tension string set,that are not as loose feeling as the TI's. the optimas are about $50,the ghs $25-30 set. The optimas were described by one user on ricresource as feeling like a well broken in set of the old (discontinued) ric/maxima flatwounds,which are fantastic strings,but very hard to find and $$$. I think i am gonna order a set before long....
 
Love TI's and predict you will go back to them.
Pyramid Gold are nice but medium tension.
Also like the Sadowsky flats and LaBella FL's.
Would love to try the FXs and TI Jazz rounds.

I tired the Optimas and do not recommend them.
 
You'll want to check out some tapewounds (as others have said) or ground rounds, as there aren't any flatwounds as low tension as TI's




Do you have yourself confused with the OP?


I read this yesterday but had to come back to it again. hilarious :p
I think I will randomly do this in other threads.

I use TI's on all my basses (Ripper, Grabber, Jazz) but I think The GHS Pressurewounds would be a nice change for my Jazz.
 
So,imfreeman9, you tried the flatwound optima's and don't recommend them. Can you tell us what you didn't like about them? And/or what some of the characteristics of the string set were? For example,i have read a lot of opinions about how great daddario chromes are ,but i've tried 2 sets on different basses and just don't find them to my liking. (I prefer my flatwounds to not sound too "metallic". ) when i play flats,i pretty much want a '60's bass sound,smooth and thumpy,with minimal clang.
 
I read this yesterday but had to come back to it again. hilarious :p
I think I will randomly do this in other threads.

I use TI's on all my basses (Ripper, Grabber, Jazz) but I think The GHS Pressurewounds would be a nice change for my Jazz.


I've been using them on my Jazz for over a year and IMHO they're the best strings I've ever played on a Jazz Bass. Punchy without too much top end or zing like a roundwound and very tonally expressive. Nice feel and even tension as well.