Sunbeams or TIjazz rounds?

I prefer the Sunbeams.
TI Jazz-rounds are nice, but they die fast.
I was ready to change them a week after I put them on.
Lost tone quick.

 

There's quite a difference between those two sets in my opinion.

Sunbeams are not that far away from regular nickel roundwounds (like d'Addario XLs for example). They are a bit darker than other strings of the same type, and they have a soft feel to them, but it's not a night and day difference.

On the other hand, TI Jazz Rounds are MUCH darker, and have much less tension than any other string I've tried. The wire they use for the outer winding is quite fine, so they have a really unique feel.

 

Unlike TI Flats, I'm not a fan of the TI Rounds. Dark sound( a weird, empty sound, IMO) and shorter lived than I expected.

 

I LOVE TI Jazz Rounds. I've tried many different types of DR strings on different basses. They all sounded good but none stood out. Picked up a set of Jazz Rounds on the emporium and felt like my P bass came alive.

I had played TI Flats exclusively for years. I feel the Rounds are in the same ballpark as the Flats but with more brightness and articulation. I've since put Jazz Rounds on my active bass.

For the record (and I do think it makes a difference), I'm playing thru a GK head and Berg AE cabs (which all favor upper mids). Maybe the darkness of the strings are offset by the upper mid bias of my rig.

I'm surprised to hear they die so fast. For the price, I was hopping to get at least six months out of them.

 

If price is no object, then obviously you should just try both, and let us know what you think!

 

Just due to the price difference alone and the fact that roundwound strings don't last forever, fewer have tried the TIs than the DRs. That's what has kept me from trying a set of TI rounds yet.

I love Sunbeams myself, but I wouldn't really call them "dark" sounding. They're a bit mellower than most nickel rounds, and they have a pleasing warm midrange character. But they're not as dark as flats. I also love the playability which comes from the relatively smooth feel and low tension. They usually last 3-4 months of light to medium playing for me.

 

I have tried both of the strings you are talking about. I would question the claim above that TI Rounds "die" in a week. The sound they acquire after a week or so IS their sound, i.e., what they are meant to sound like. They are by far the mellowest sounding and smoothest feeling roundwounds out there AFAIK, very different from a "normal" roundwound, about halfway between standard nickel rounds and flats. And if you already like the feel and general vibe of TI Flats, but just want a touch more top end brightness or edge, you will probably like them. Also, if you are afraid of the notoriously low tension, you can get the "super long" set, which has larger gauge strings and feels a bit tighter as a result, about the same as typical TI flats. DR Sunbeams are just a very slightly mellower, more limbre version of "normal" nickel rounds, primarily because they have a round core and not a hexcore.

 

Since I happen to have the abovementioned strings on some of my basses, I made sound clips to help you decide:

P with 1 month old Sunbeams

P with 1 month old TI Jazz Flats

J with 8 month old TI Jazz Rounds (neck pickup only)

Fretless P with 6 month old TI Jazz Rounds

All tone pots wide open.

 

I'm still on my first set. I've only had them a couple of months.

I'm going to agree with the statement that after a week, the strings develop their sound. My oldest set is a couple of months old now and once the "new brightness" wore off, I haven't noticed any change in tone.

bassobrutto calls it TI Flats with top end brightness or edge. I'd agree and throw in the word articulation. I would think these would be a natural for anybody that's like TI Flats.

 

I just put Sunbeams on my new Carvin B40 for last weeks gig (because of this thread) and I'm quite pleased with them. There's more heft in the low E and while they're clear, they're to too bright. Easier on my fingers than the strings that came with the bass, which had a grittier sound that I had to tame a bit. A good match for this bass.

My Peavey (P+J Rock bass) has Low riders and my 1976 Ric has the High Beams.