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Thomastik Flat attack?

F

f.c.geil

May 12, 2011
3,381
265
#1
I've been trying strings forever, spend many hundreds of dollars on them, and have yet to find nirvana. I keep thinking I do, but then I listen back, and it isn't there.

I've often heard about how great the Thomastik Infeld Jazz Flats are, but recently have heard that they have no attack. I'm really looking for a flat that will thump, but still is playable, and can zing some harmonics on occasion.

I'm open to suggestions!
 
#2
I only had TI flats on my bass for a week so I am by no means the authority on all things TI. I did not think the TI's had that typical thump sound. I also didn't think they were as zingy as some folks seem to describe. I never gave them a chance to break in because I just could not deal with the low tension (ridiculously flexible) feel of the strings. They are by far the lowest tension strings I have ever played. How do you feel about D'addario Chromes? They are pretty bright out of the package but tame down and thump nicely but don't seem to go so dead that you cant get a good harmonic out of them.
 
#5
mccartneyman said:
Chromes have more thump than TIs, but Sadowsky's have more zing. Chromes sounded good only on my Lakland JO5 with Fralin PUPs. Right now I use LaBella on my Lakland Bob Glaub P and Sadowkys on my 55-94. Sadowkys have better attack but have a bit less fullness than TIs.
Click to expand...

Okay, finally, someone who has played all the strings I'm considering. Which string best matches my above description?
 
#7
I haved used TIs on one bass for about 10 years. They are not what you are looking for. Chromes would be closer, but DR flats may just be your ticket. I use them on one of my Lakland 5501s and I would put them more 'zingy' than Chromes, which I have also tried and liked.

On a stiffness comparison, I would put Chromes first, then DRs very close, with the TIs coming in as 'floppy'. They all sound good to me, but all quite different.

I also have a set of GHS tape wounds on a bass, and when played agressively, they have some twang to them, while a softer touch brings out the thud. Clear thud that is.
 
#8
tekdiver500ft said:
I've been trying strings forever, spend many hundreds of dollars on them, and have yet to find nirvana. I keep thinking I do, but then I listen back, and it isn't there.

I've often heard about how great the Thomastik Infeld Jazz Flats are, but recently have heard that they have no attack. I'm really looking for a flat that will thump, but still is playable, and can zing some harmonics on occasion.

I'm open to suggestions!
Click to expand...
Well, have you actually tried the TI Flats youself yet?

I just got a 5-string set a couple of days ago and haven't really put them through their paces yet so I can't really comment on them much. I can say the feel pretty good under the fingers but, like you, I'm searching for a tone that just grabs my ears and won't let go. I don't know if these TIs will have it or not.
 
#10
I'm old school, can't slap and rarely use a pick - and use Pyramid Golds on one instrument (fretless) ... Everyone complements the sound.

I have TI Jazz on another (Fretted); they tend to be - I'll say mid scooped (if that makes sense) - and it make for a refreshing change.

btw - and fwiw - they are both in the $60/set range, but they seem to last quite a while (over a year).
 
#13
tekdiver500ft said:
No, I haven't. That's why I'm asking. At that price, I really don't want to just "try" them. I want to be reasonably certain that I'll love them before paying that much for them. Let me know what you think once you've played yours a bit, would you?
Click to expand...

I have TIs on my RIC and also tried them on my P bass. They have zero thump and close to zero attack. I like them on my RIC because they allow me to zip around all over the place with easy pull-offs, bends, etc. But I took them off my P bass and replaced them with La Bella Deep Talkin'. If you want real thump, the La Bellas do it well. But the problem with La Bellas is that they're so high tension, your neck will go out of whack in a few months and then you'll be adjusting your truss rod. :) I tried Chromes, but they weren't for me. It was more about feel than sound. I think I'm going to try Sadowsky Black Labels next, and if those don't work I'm gonna try GHS flats.

Do string manufacturers read these forums? I hope so. Because they'll see that a lot of us bass players love flats; we just need more to choose from. :)
 
#14
Over the years I've played Chromes, La Bella Deep Talkin', TI Jazz Flats and Sadowsky flats.

For thump, I rank order them La Bella, then Sadowsky and Chrome about equal, then TI.

For attack, Sadowsky, TI, Chrome are all pretty close, then Deep Talkin'. To be clear, what I mean by "attack" is quickness of the note to sound...the TI's are funny in that the harmonic character does not create a lot of "ping" on the attack (I think it relates to the mid-range suckout that someone mentioned above), but they do respond quickly and then bloom, as opposed to blooming all the time - it's a pretty unique sound, but if you lean on your bridge pickup it can be surprisingly snarly and pingy.

For brightness, Sadowsky, Chrome, TI, Deep Talkin'.

For righteous old-school fatness, La Bella, Sadowsky, Chrome and TI, but the TI's are not lame if you cultivate a soft touch.

From tightest to loosest, Chrome, Deep Talkin, Sadowsky, TI, with the TI far more flexy than all others.

Slapworthy (for flats, that is)? Sadowsky, Chrome, Deep Talkin, TI.

For string surface, I can't stand the feel of chromes, and new TI's have a tackiness that disappears after a couple of weeks, but the Sadowskys and La Bellas feel good right out of the bag.

Personally, I use the TI's because I like the range of left-hand expression, but actually think the Sadowsky is a better-balanced string in many ways, and am considering going over to them. Right now, I'm just plain addicted to the flexiness of the TI's which works well in some jazz contexts in which I play. For general application, the Sadowskys or La Bellas are probably best. Lots of folks like the Chromes, especially for rock, but for me the string feel and tension don't work, and I had quality control problems with the last set I tried.
 
#15
^good info. I use chromes and TI's only. Chromes have more attack, higher tension,brightness and overall are my go to since they are easy to get and easy to EQ.

TI's thou are a flatwound string like no other with a wonderful, middy, woody tone that I love. I find myself hearing some of the warmest, fattest, notes when I play this bass w/TI's and it brings me smiles.
 
#16
Thank you, Joe! That is the kind of information we need more of! Now, if only someone would do a video with high quality sound, comparing all these strings on the same instrument, same amp, same settings (preferably same day). Probably too much to ask, but it would be nice. Anyway, your comparison really solidifies my decision to try the Sadowskys.
 
#17
I got the Sadowskys today, and won't go back! These are the strings I've been looking for all along, and just didn't know it. They can thump (more or less), they can scream, and they are really light and easy to play. Love these strings!
 

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