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Thomastic Jazz Flat Wounds

#21
:cool:

Surprised no one has wrote about them ?
Put down the crack pipe and check string forum. :D:D:D

They are my favorite string.

I've had then on P-Basses, Jazz Basses, Ric, Musicman, Wal. and assorted fretless basses.

Some people do not like the low tension. I've come to love it.
They cost more $$$$. But they last forever.
I've had a set on my fretless P-Bass for 8 years.
 
#23
I can't say anything new about TI Flats, but here is my experience: had to check out the hype and got a set about 3 months ago. Prior to that, I was pretty much exclusively an Ernie Ball Super Slinky fan. I like them, alot. But they do require some set up adjustments and probably some changes in your playing technique due to the lower tension. The trade off for that is (IMO) a great sounding, comfortable string that is reported to last longer than some other brands. They are much brighter than I expected. They are not the 'One String To Rule Them All', just another tool to achieve the tone that fits the music. That is a nice way of saying that i think they suck for slap.
 
#25
vstrings said:
I do remember Carol Kaye championing Thomastik-Infeld strings a few years ago.
Click to expand...

Carol Kaye encouraged me to try my first set. I suspect Steve knows Carol so maybe he got the same encouragement.

I like them apart from when new they can be slightly draggy if your fingers are sweaty or hot, but that seems to go away. I presume that's just a function of the manufacturing process, but it caught me out at a gig once as I'd just put a set on freshly that day. For many they count as low tension, but to me they are just about right. I'm using light Dunlop nickel-plated rounds too, and the tension is a fairly good match so no massive technique changes required moving from Dunlop rounds to Thom flats.

The Thom rounds are definitely low tension, and they don't sound like most rounds as the high frequency extension isn't as pronounced and there are more mids. It makes them a good choice for a fretless IMHO as the low tension brings out the mwah without the top end being oppressive.
 
#28
LeonD said:
Bad move. I pick up a used set here on TB to try. I liked them so much, I'm putting them on four of my other basses.

They've become my go to string. Warm but still articulate with a very comfortable tension.
Click to expand...

Oh..............crap. Whelp, easy-come, easy-go!
Tell me, how do they age? I know they aren't as bright as a conventional round when new. But do they keep most of their like-new tone, like jazz flats do?
 
#29
While I've only had mine on for a couple of weeks on my main bass, I'd say they mellowed a bit after the first couple of days then they've been the same. I'm going to keep them on for 3 or 4 months then put a new set on. Mostly to see if I can hear a difference.
 
#30
I use TI jazz flats on my aerodyne jazz. Verry smoooth, bend-able and articulate. I have just ordered a set of TI SuperAlloys for my '57 RI P bass, so we'll see how they go.

These strings make a *huge* difference to the sound and feel of the instrument. Some may not like them, but I think it proves that we need to forget all these silly arguments about tone woods and pickups. They may make a small difference in sound, but the strings make a *big* difference.
 
#31
I have posted a bit about ti's on other threads but saw this and figured its worth another post

My experience with ti's ? They feel great and sound good but from experience I would advise not to string them through the body of a j or p bass.

The reason is the angle of a string through coming up over the bridge saddle is too much for the lighter gauge g and d strings

I have just gone through two sets on 3 weeks and after a bit of persistent trouble shooting I worked it out

On both sets of strings the d and g strings had fine fractures and cracks in the area on the string at the point coming through the body hole

Bad enough to deaden the tone of the string somewhat and enough to be off putting and particularly noticeable on the open string...

I was going to abandon ti's outright but figured I have the option to string straight from behind the bridge ( thank you fender for this option

I have given ti ''s another go... Expensive yes but for sake of one more go I figure its worth it....

So now I am strung up straight from behind the bridge and not pulled up through the body,

the strings appear to sit better this way and everything now looks, plays and sounds sweet...

I am hoping to leave this set on for a while now ....

my p bass is also sitting there currently strung up with rounds and I am somewhat tempted to go flats... But I will see...

Rossa
 
#32
Different strokes I guess.........I've had TI flats on my string thru 51/ 55 P bass and have had no negative effects whatsoever. They've lasted years, sound great, and play great.

Also use them on my Dean and Gretsch hollow bodies.
 
#38
As Leon knows I am a huge fan of the TI Jazz Rounds. I find that they have a great deal of fundamental and not too powerful in the overtones. They have a very soft feel and a very fine outer wind, which is strange for some, but for the work I do there is nothing better
 
#39
Mike is the first I knew of who sang their praise.

My story is that I got a new MTD bass early this year. I wanted it to have some warmth and articulation as opposed to a hyper modern sound. The wood choice of the bass helped in that regard.

The stock strings were stainsteel roundwounds. While they sounded good, I knew I could get closer to the sound I wanted with something different. Next I tried about half a dozen other strings; different brands, different materials. They all sounded good but they all sounded similar; nothing stood out.

I had been a TI Jazz Flat user for years so when a set of TI Jazz Rounds came up on the Emporium, I decided to give them a try. And that was the start of the end. Just the right amount of tension to balance give and feedback. And the tone was amazing. Very warm but still articulate; I could make out every note being played. Nothing was muddy. These strings were noticeably different from all the other strings I tried.

Since that day, I've put a set on a Lull P4 and a Pedulla Buzz. And have had similar results with all these basses.

Now if you're after an uber modern tone or make your living slapping your way to the bank, I'd try something else first. But if you like to play fingerstyle and want a warm tone that'll work anywhere from playing solo to "in the middle of a band mix", I'd give the TI Jazz Rounds a try.
 
#40
.
I have tried them on three of my basses. They worked for me on two.

On the Precision they sounded great when I finger plucked, but as soon as I tried using a pick there was way too much pick "thud" for my liking.

I tried all sorts of EQ adjustments and couldn't come up with a solution, so i took them off the Precision and went back to Rotosound flats on it.

On both of my Jazz basses they sound awesome either finger plucking or playing with a pick.
 

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