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T-I Jazz Roundwounds - Why?
- Thread starter KenD
- Start date
That's why I started the thread - to see if there was any reassurance to justify the steep upfront cost. There has been - overwhelmingly positive.
Please add GHS Balanced Pure Nickels to this discussion. They are God's gift to short scale bass players. They have better tone than T-I's at a much less cost. They are, as the name indicates, consistent in tone string-to-string and up the neck, they are consistent in feel. They have a big, round, tone that doesn't clank, thump, twang, or wobble. They have enough tension to be stable and have good intonation. These strings are so superior to T-I that I don't know why T-I even bothers making them anymore. My current set has been on my short scale travel bass that I take to Mexico for fifteen months, and is really just now settling in to a big, round, woody tone.
I've had a pair on my second bass for years and love the tone (main player has TI Jazz Flats). It doesn't get a lot of playing time but they are far from dead.
regarding their tension: they're more solid than stiff, and I can dig in more than other strings that seem stiffer. I've tried a ton of rounds and have never played a set that feels like these do. They're easy to play with no floppiness.
regarding their tension: they're more solid than stiff, and I can dig in more than other strings that seem stiffer. I've tried a ton of rounds and have never played a set that feels like these do. They're easy to play with no floppiness.
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Maybe but GHS doesn't make a high C for the E>C tuning and, as far as I know, they don't use a fine gauge final wrap like T-I (and Newtone Platinum) does.
I can find things I like about many different strings. But the TI combine the best combination of feel, sound and longevity. I'd pay the very fair price even if they didn't last years. The tension in a way refines your technique so allow a few days or a week to get used to it. Listen objectively and A-B with another bass. I like the tone.
In fairness I also like DR Hi Beams on a bass I use for some slap/pop.
There is no "best", it is subjective. I mostly prefer TI J Flats and TI J Rounds.
If they are your jam they will last as long as you want them.
Also, there are Thomastik on my violin!
In fairness I also like DR Hi Beams on a bass I use for some slap/pop.
There is no "best", it is subjective. I mostly prefer TI J Flats and TI J Rounds.
If they are your jam they will last as long as you want them.
Also, there are Thomastik on my violin!
TI Rounds feel and sound amazing, and I am willing to pay a "little extra" for that - really fantastic strings! (Whether you want to call this "magic" or maybe a certain "je ne sais quoi" - it doesn't matter - they deliver!)
I am a bit amazed no one has mentioned yet that they are very light gauge... and this took some getting used to, I have to admit. But, while they might feel a bit "wimpy" at first, it doesn't take away from their sound at all.
I am a bit amazed no one has mentioned yet that they are very light gauge... and this took some getting used to, I have to admit. But, while they might feel a bit "wimpy" at first, it doesn't take away from their sound at all.
I shouldn't recommend this, but to get the heavier gauge I ran the 36" scale set on my 33.25" scale Ric,
43-55-75-101 vs.
43-51-68-89 with no problems.
But because I'm into maximum flexibility now I would probably use the 89s next time.
TI Jazz Rounds are unique, just like Pyramid Flats and TI Jazz Flats, are unique.
They are supple and luxurious, and have a sound that is also supple and luxurious.
If they are your thing, nothing else will do.
They are supple and luxurious, and have a sound that is also supple and luxurious.
If they are your thing, nothing else will do.
Ha, never thought of this... I guess it creates some "challenges" around the tuners!?! Some heavy crimping required!?
Go to Amazon, and look up the model number.
They are listed as being "Accordion Accessories".
Do not ignore the comment about refining your technique.
Also, you will need to adjust your truss rod. Not "might". Will.
TI Super Alloys are also great strings that don't get enough love.
JeezyMcNuggles
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- Feb 23, 2018
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Yes, but that doesn't account for much material. You're paying for TI"s inspection process, and exportation. There is nothing that costs more than labor.
Rounds an flats behave differently in this way, but whether you like the behavior or not is a personal thing.I don't clean them - at least, I haven't had to as of yet. I have clean hands before I play; my hands are very dry, and very, very seldom sweat; and I always wipe my strings down after I'm finished playing. Which has always worked well with flats - which have always been my preferred strings. We'll just have to see if extra effort is needed... As for "brightening them up"? I don't want them to sound bright; I want them broken in - and to sound that way. They've been on the Gretsch for about 15 months now, and they sound just the way I want them to. Not new, and not close to death, either. Just... broken in...
Rounds carry more overtones than flats by nature, mostly that's what we hear when we say "bright" in roundwound tone. If you were to magnify a roundwound string, especially an E or B string, you'd notice large peaks and valleys created by the winding. The accumulation of dirt, skin, and other debris in the valleys affects the vibrational behavior of the roundwound string and attenuates the overtones. So roundwounds begin to sound different the dirtier they get. Bass players say that they sound "dead." Flatwound strings don't have as substantial space to accumulate the detritus and don't exhibit the overtones to begin with to the same degree, so the effect is much less noticeable.
Again, some people like the sound of dead rounds, some don't. If you do, rock 'em and do nothing. If you prefer the brightness, you can soak the strings in denatured alcohol every so often for a day or two. Put them back on the bass and they feel and sound 95% as new. I have string sets that are over ten years old that I've been treating in this way, there is no meaningful impact on longevity.
I have a pretty new bass that came with Super Brights and there is a set of TI Rounds in a drawer waiting forever me to set aside the time to do it correctly.
I've exclusively used TI Jazz Rounds for many years. I tried everything on the market, and every few years I throw a different set of strings on my backup bass, but I'm always disappointed with alternatives. TI's are just easier to play, feel better, faster, smoother, and sound fantastic up and down the neck. My only wish is that they maintained the super bright new string sound a bit longer, but once they mellow out they are still super balanced and clear.
You get what you pay for. Personally, it seems silly to spend a large amount of money on a bass, amplifier, and all the other components that go into your sound, and then shy away from an extra $50 on the actual strings.
You get what you pay for. Personally, it seems silly to spend a large amount of money on a bass, amplifier, and all the other components that go into your sound, and then shy away from an extra $50 on the actual strings.
The simple answer is that you just need to try them. They are the only string I use on my 3 basses and even my mandolin. They last forever and nothing compares with the lush, traditional cool tone. They play so easy, it's rediculous. There are no other strings....for me. Trying them is the only way to know if they fit for you though.
@JPK_DK: It was my first time installing round core strings and I took the advice to crimp the end very seriously, and did the following (which isn't much more strange than the instructions Ernie Ball gives for Cobalt Flats installation):
The crimp wasn't 90 degrees, but 180 degrees.
The crimped part didn't go down into the tuner but just laid through the slot, jutting out a little.
The first turn around went *over* that, then subsequent turns went *under* it.
This worked perfectly for the two and a half years I had them installed. They were still good at that time but I switched the bass to Dogal Hellborg rounds, which I mentioned previously.
The crimp wasn't 90 degrees, but 180 degrees.
The crimped part didn't go down into the tuner but just laid through the slot, jutting out a little.
The first turn around went *over* that, then subsequent turns went *under* it.
This worked perfectly for the two and a half years I had them installed. They were still good at that time but I switched the bass to Dogal Hellborg rounds, which I mentioned previously.
I do that all the time with other round wounds. However, there were a few comments here that doing so might destroy the silk layer in the T-I's.
