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Question for TI Flat Fans...

#41
2F/2F said:
Wondering how they'd sound on this. The fretless I have them on only has a middle pickup, no bridge pickup. Might be a pretty cool match to a Stingray. I play my T-Is closer to the bridge than normal, so the beefy bridge pickup might be a good match.

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I have a similar instrument (though 5-string) that I am considering trying with a set of TIs -- it came to me with what I think are DR Sunbeams and I wish it had a tighter low end and a warmer, more focused midrange. I think TI flats might do it.

Short answer: Haven't tried it, but think it could be cool. Let me know if you do!
 
#43
Mastermold said:
I think so. I've experimented with many more flats than rounds. TI flats work on some of my basses but not all of them. Trial and error has helped me find the strings that seem to work well on the basses I have.
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Mastermold, I think you have nailed it. I have bounced around TIs, Labellas,Fender and others on Jazz and Precisions. Trial and error is the key but TIs are one of the best flats out there and should be given a good break-in period before tossing. My flat-wearing basses have either old TIs or old Labellas.
 
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#44
I love TI flats too. Having said that, it is hard to find a long list of pros who use TI flats often in a live environment. Yes yes yes, you can talk about how Pino used them live on his P, at least with Mayer, and there are probably a couple others that you could dig up, but probably out of a more obscure player list. You can also suggest that most pros are so concerned with things other than strings, that they just dont know about TIs, and that they would likely jump on them in a minute if they knew about them. My conclusion from my own experience with them is that they sound FABULOUS....for many applications. But they don't work for everything, and like all strings, bedroom vs stage environment is a typical discriminator.
 
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#45
Regarding the Sadowsky Blue Label Flats...... I have both the old and new on a couple of Pbasses. Previous to the Blues, I played the TIJF's pretty much exclusively.

The old version are magic on a P! Set up difference between the TIJF's and these were just an eigth of a turn on the truss rod (40-100's), so just a touch more tension.... However, much stiffer feeling (yet still comfortable) ..... You can actually dig in with these, and get some bark, instead of fretting out like TIJF's. Focused mids like TIJF's, with maybe a touch more aggressiveness in the lower mids. I love these! Favorite string for sure!

The new Blues are nice too! More tension than the old.... More like similar gauge Labellas. However, they are super pliable. Drape them over your finger, and you'll find they are more comparable to TIJF's in stiffness than Labellas. Maybe the most comfortable string I have played! These strings are super punchy. Mid heavy, but not quite as focused sounding as TIJF's or the old Blues. They too sound great in the mix. But they need some break in time for sure...... Boomy and twangy at first, but after a few weeks that goes away.
 
#46
DylanB said:
What is the tension like? I’m enjoying the TIs much more than my really stiff Chromes. I’ve got some Dunlops coming to try to bridge that gap but it can’t hurt to keep my options open.
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Did you have a chance to slap the Dunlops on yet? I have a set here that I’m thinking about putting a jazz as well, but also considering a couple of the other options...
 
#47
friend33 said:
Did you have a chance to slap the Dunlops on yet? I have a set here that I’m thinking about putting a jazz as well, but also considering a couple of the other options...
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Oh yes I did. They’re nice, slightly lower tension than the Chromes but definitely closer to that side of the TI/Chrome spectrum. They’ve got an old school type sound but with a bright edge to it with the tone up.

To be quite honest, in my fickle nature I’ve taken them off as I have now gone completely the other way. I’m now after the most flexible rounds possible. I’ve got some 40-120 DR Sunbeams on at the moment, and am weighing up an order for some Dunlop Super Brights when they die.
 
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#48
bassdude51 said:
I love TI Flats. But, I don't think that they are the one and only flat wound string for everybody.

They definitely are not a string for solos, generally speaking.

The "living room" sound is definitely different than the "live band" scenario with anything, speakers, amp setting, strings. Seems like what has been posted here on TalkBass, the "in the mix" sound doesn't sound as good as the "living room" sound with the "smiley face" eq setting.

I guess you'll just have to find out with rehearsal tonight. Bring 2 basses with different strings, maybe.
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I definitely agree with the first point. I do love my TI Flats - on the one bass that wears them, and for the kind of music that I use that bass for. For my other 23 basses, and for the kinds of music that I play on those Basses? Uhh.. no. There are plenty of other flats; I've tried an awful lot of them; and I've eventually found the flats that give me what I want to hear on every bass I own. But... for Jazz, played on an Alembic Epic? AFAIC, the TI Jazz Flats are the cat's ass...

As for solos? I don't do that (if I can help); have never done it with the Alembic, in any case. So, I can't speak to the suitability of the TIs...

IME, the TI's have worked just fine "in the mix" for me. But, with so many basses to choose from, I have no need for them to work for anything but what I use them for. But, while the TI's certainly sound different in a live setting than they do in my living room, nobody's complained about them yet. I'm happy with the way they sound - regardless. That's what all the knobs on my amps - and the active electronics - are for, anyway...

In any case, I guess everything turned out ginger peachy at the rehearsal anyway, sooo... happy face!:thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
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#49
DylanB said:
Oh yes I did. They’re nice, slightly lower tension than the Chromes but definitely closer to that side of the TI/Chrome spectrum. They’ve got an old school type sound but with a bright edge to it with the tone up.

To be quite honest, in my fickle nature I’ve taken them off as I have now gone completely the other way. I’m now after the most flexible rounds possible. I’ve got some 40-120 DR Sunbeams on at the moment, and am weighing up an order for some Dunlop Super Brights when they die.
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Ha, you guys are really not all that helpful with your moving targets and all...:bored:

;)

But, I will try to be just as “helpful” in return by noting that “the most flexible rounds possible” are the TI, as I understand it, so you have some more buying/changing to do...:cool:
 
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#51
I think my ears have grown a bit accustomed to what works in a mix. I do not play as much with a pure bedroom sound when home alone as I used to.
I think the TI flats are like a P bass in that regard. They are a little shy in the bass region as well as in the treble one, but the mids sing. And that's what gets through. I only have them on one bass, but I like to play them.
They are a bit floppy for my main player, that one can have a little more tension because of its incredibly low action.
 

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