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string tension-ti jazz flats vs XL chromes .45-.100

rokkitt

rokkitt

Jun 7, 2007
1,004
14
Tysons Corner, VA
#1
the TI's are jf-344's-----

JF34043 G 1st Nickel Flat Wound Roundcore .043
JF34056 D 2nd Nickel Flat Wound Roundcore .056
JF34070 A 3rd Nickel Flat Wound Roundcore .070
JF34100 E 4th Nickel Flat Wound Roundcore .100


are the chromes going to be a higher tension? are they still considered "light tension" as compared to rotos?


I cant use rotosounds, they are too much tension for me...

just wanted to get your thoughts on these before I dripped 30 bux....


also, I am comfortable with bass boomers .95's to give you an idea


can anyone give me the lay of the land on the tension on the chromes?


thanks
 
#3
Chromes tension (.40 - .95):

G 42.1 lbs
D 50.6 lbs
A 40.8 lbs
E 43 lbs
B 35.9 lbs

TI flats tension:

G 37.03 lbs
D 37.47 lbs
A 31.30 lbs
E 34.39 lbs
B 34.83 lbs

The TIs are still significantly lower than the lightest gauge Chromes on paper. Feel-wise, the Chromes feel tighter to me also.

I threw the B in for good measure.
 
#4
The chromes will be higher tension than the TI's. The TI flats are just stupid low tension. Feels lower tension than plain old D'Addario XL's in my experience. Some people love them for that tension. Well that plus the tone, which is quite good. Some people find them to be floppy. I personally am in the latter camp. Chromes on the other hand are slightly higher in tension than D'Addario XL's. Not by a massive amount, but they still feel like a flat tension wise. They are fairly light tensioned for a flat though. I prefer them feel wise by a good bit, although I'd give the tone nod to the TI's by a slight margin. TI's are more about the mids region while Chromes have more of the traditional flat fundamental with an added upper mid-range that gives them greater clarity than most other flats.
 
#5
The .45-.100 chromes are much higher tension than the TIs. Can't comment on comparison w/rotos, because I don't use them.

I think the chromes have a much more versatile tone than the TIs, and I'm used to round core DRs. If I buy them again, I'm going to give the ECB80 chromes a whirl; they're .40-.95 and hopefully closer to the DRs without the TI's one dimensional tone.
 
#7
Jaco who? said:
The .45-.100 chromes are much higher tension than the TIs. Can't comment on comparison w/rotos, because I don't use them.

I think the chromes have a much more versatile tone than the TIs, and I'm used to round core DRs. If I buy them again, I'm going to give the ECB80 chromes a whirl; they're .40-.95 and hopefully closer to the DRs without the TI's one dimensional tone.
Click to expand...

I've been a big fan of TI flats but I see what you're saying about them compared to Chromes. I've been thinking of going to Chromes for their brightness and percussive ability.
 
#8
oh, and I had DR hi-beams on my 1988 ric, and the tension was too much, could not play them.

they were 45.-105's

thanks for all the input

I wonder what the tnesion on the rotos or the DR hi beams are...

is there a website with those figures so I cn compare to the numbers provided earlier on>?
 
#9
rokkitt said:
oh, and I had DR hi-beams on my 1988 ric, and the tension was too much, could not play them.
Click to expand...

Hi-Beams were too much tension? Hi-Beams/Sunbeams are the lowest tension rounds out there. I'm not trying to be belittling, but maybe you're psyching yourself out with the whole tension thing, because those DRs are almost wet spaghetti noodles IMO. The TI flats have more tension than those from what I can tell.

You may want to try TI Jazz Rounds. That's the lowest tension string out there.
 
#12
Jaco who? said:
The .45-.100 chromes are much higher tension than the TIs. Can't comment on comparison w/rotos, because I don't use them.

I think the chromes have a much more versatile tone than the TIs, and I'm used to round core DRs. If I buy them again, I'm going to give the ECB80 chromes a whirl; they're .40-.95 and hopefully closer to the DRs without the TI's one dimensional tone.
Click to expand...

IMO/E I haven't found that ".45-.100 chromes are much higher tension than the TIs", but it's not a small difference. This could likely be because, at some point, a set of strings are just too darn loose for a player & my threshold is lower than yours in this.

I've also had the opposite experience to you regarding relative versatility of tone. I find Chromes have a decent range of tone possibilities but I've found TIs to have a very wide tonal range/flexibility to playing technique (to the point of pointing out some areas I should clean up).

Both very good strings but, for me, I call TI the better. I'm doing fingerstyle on an active 5 with very low action, mostly Classic Rock with a fair amount of Current Rock.

YMMV, & we probably take different sized shoes as well ;)
 
#13
JustDavid said:
This could likely be because, at some point, a set of strings are just too darn loose for a player & my threshold is lower than yours in this.
Click to expand...

IMO It's just a matter of time until you get used to the TIs.
When I first got them they were stupid loose and I just rattled and rattled. Now it's all good and they feel completely normal. Very nice sounding, too.
 
#14
JustDavid said:
I've also had the opposite experience to you regarding relative versatility of tone. I find Chromes have a decent range of tone possibilities but I've found TIs to have a very wide tonal range/flexibility to playing technique (to the point of pointing out some areas I should clean up).

Both very good strings but, for me, I call TI the better. I'm doing fingerstyle on an active 5 with very low action, mostly Classic Rock with a fair amount of Current Rock.

YMMV, & we probably take different sized shoes as well ;)
Click to expand...

I've only used the TI's and Chromes on my fretless J w/passive Dimarzio model J's and it's a pretty dark sounding bass to begin with. The chromes just work on that one, along with DR Sunbeams. My LTD just works with DR fatbeams. I've nicknamed both basses muddy and clanky, respectively. Funny you mentioned technique; I've found flats of any kind makes my fretting technique really sloppy if I'm not careful.

Different basses, maybe different ears too.
 
#16
Jaco who? said:
I've only used the TI's and Chromes on my fretless J w/passive Dimarzio model J's and it's a pretty dark sounding bass to begin with. The chromes just work on that one, along with DR Sunbeams. My LTD just works with DR fatbeams. I've nicknamed both basses muddy and clanky, respectively. Funny you mentioned technique; I've found flats of any kind makes my fretting technique really sloppy if I'm not careful.
Click to expand...

LOL!!! Jaco, you & I seem to be on opposite sides of the fence on everything here!

I'm pretty much full-time on flats these days, so I find my fretting hand can get a little off on rounds when fretting close to the nut. My biggest technique discovery when going to TIJFs was plucking hand, in particular note levels. I'd guess higher tension strings give less level difference for plucking differences.


Jaco who? said:
Different basses, maybe different ears too.
Click to expand...

Perhaps also different tastes.
 
#18
so< I am using the chromes now ...xl ecb81

e string is .100

played last night, for ambout a half hour.... all seems well tension wise

but they are a little stiffer, but my frettign hand seems to be ok for now

capn! I am so dissapointed that the hi beams didnt work for me...I wanted those on the ric...

and yes, I was suprised...I tried for a few days, playing different tunes, and different lenghts of time.....

but I HAD to take them off, it just didnt work for me

allen

let see how the chomes do...I love the sound so far!
 
#20
I used DR Loriders for years on my Jazz and about a month ago switched to Chromes (.40-.100). After I figured out how to really play them, I like the Chromes a lot! It took more than sitting in a home studio to really get the feel for them. I have used them on about a dozen gigs in different settings (small party to 2,000 seat concert hall/theater over the weekend) and I have never failed to get really good punch out of them. It's difficult to describe, but they take a slightly different technique than rounds, but once you find what works for you, it is worth the effort.
 

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