Thomastik Flats on a Jazz Bass?

[AngelCrusher]

I much prefer a jazz bass with flats. Much thicker and the sound of J's with rounds is too harsh to me now. Sometimes a hassle to mix as well.

What I found is you sacrifice the epic Jazz slap sound, but honestly, that's not a huge loss to me. It's been done a million times.

I tried Chromes V TI's and went with the TIs. But now I prefer Chromes. I just think they are a more modern sounding flat with a little more warmth to them.

You really can not go wrong though, except in the wallet. Chromes are priced quite nicely.

 

[AngelCrusher]

How's the slap tone on these?

Not bad. Better with Chromes. If you want flats and still slap sometimes, Chromes are a better option IMO.

 

[rydin4lifebass]

I bought a used Fender Jazz FSR from a TB member and he shipped it with TI Jazz flats. I put tapes on it as I really prefer the sound and feel, but there certainly wasn't anything wrong with the TI's being on there, just my personal preference.

 

[Gyver]

Love TIs on my Jazz. I used that setup in a Grateful Dead tribute band and it did a great job of producing the rubbery Phil Lesh sound.

 

[RedJag]

Love TIs on my Jazz. I used that setup in a Grateful Dead tribute band and it did a great job of producing the rubbery Phil Lesh sound.

Which is slightly funny because he used Pyramid Golds I believe

 

[Scarey Larry]

I have TI Flats on a couple of basses and tried them on several others. Love them, but not on my Jazz. YMMV. I have them on my fretless Roscoe 5 and Warwick Infinity 4 and love the sound. Over the years I have tried a lot of strings and these are on my short list when looking for the right string set for a new member of the harem.

 

[Dave Neal]

I have a set on my G&L and waiting for a short scale set for my Sa-75... i lovem.

 

[jnewmark]

A little derail here. How do you figure out the tension of a set of strings if it isn't listed ? For example, I use fender 7250 Nickle rounds, 4 string, 45 - 105 gauge.

 

[Heisenbass]

My fretless Jazz has them and it works pretty well. Still best on a P though.

Same here. I have them on a Sandberg California I fretless (as "J" as it gets) and I think they could stand a bit more punch. I also have them on an old Washburn Force-8 (one fat passive humbucker, much like a Wunkay) and they kill it.

 

[Marial]

Nope. Didn't care for TI flats on my 34" Jazz basses. EB cobalt flats and DR Sunbeams were what I preferred. Short scale is a different story. I have TI flats on my fretless Mustang PJ and they're excellent.

 

[Mastermold]

I like TI Flats on just about any bass though....

I do too ... except Jazz basses.

 

[Fat Freddy]

I do too ... except Jazz basses.

That figures...

 

[Schlyder]

I use TI high C strings for my 6 string basses. One of them is a 6 string jazz bass. They sing the best, and are nice and soft and smooth tone, and they aren't as harsh or as brittle sounding as any other flatwound high C string I have used before. They are a little less tension as well so the C string balances out with the rest of the strings. I always find the C strings too tight. I have Dunlop flats for the B-G strings which are about a Fenderish tension, and the TI C strings just are the cherry on top.
It was truly happiness when I discovered the combo of using a TI string for my needs... I imagine if you have a bass that seems to produce too bright a tone, or the strings you were using is not to you liking, that TI strings may soften that voice up as well. I took a page from the BD side where guys have different brand of string for one or even all four strings are different brands, according to the tone of each specific string. Until Dunlop came out with a great set of flats for B-G strings, I was using Fender on E-G and chasing the tone dragon with a Bstring. And then as I said the cherry on top is the TI C string.

 

[vivaknoxvegas]

I just took the plunge too for a MIM Jazz. Hoping these are correct. I've never owned or played a set of TI flats.

 

[Element Zero]

I just took the plunge too for a MIM Jazz. Hoping these are correct. I've never owned or played a set of TI flats.

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As for most people, they can be polarizing. Give them time too. They change the more you play. They may also feel loose compared to other strings, but again, give them time. Honest playtime. Not an hour or two. I put close to 60 hours of time with them on my fretless (really didn't like) before putting them on my fretted... and dude, I gotta say...they're amazing on my fretted Ibanez.

 

[Pantone 333]

Nothing wrong with TI flats on a Jazz, but I way prefer them on a Precision.

 

[4Mal]

I like TIJF's on just about anything. However... I also like Chromes. The TI's do detail. The Chromes do thunk. In a country setting, Chromes rule... I'm a kick drum that changes pitch in time to the music in that stuff ;-)

In a walking more melodic setting, the Ti's are it. On fretless TI's are it.

Just ordered a set of the LaBella Low Tension Flexible Flats for my 35" scale Kinal. That one is more of a utility go anywhere, do anything, SUV of a bass. A super premium SUV mind you... Chromes in the 5 string, Super Long are brutally big... we'll see how I get on with the LTFF's

 

[bassplace]

I just put TI's on a jazz for the first time and was blown away. More highs than expected and compared to on my P, my Wal or my Rick. Also have perfect tone for the band I'll use it with.

 

[vivaknoxvegas]

I've had mine on for a few weeks now, and love them. They sound/feel terrific and they don't kill the jazz growl at all.

 

[mussa]

hi everyone,
i use standard D tuning (DGCF) and been using LaBella Jamerson flats for the past 10 years tuned this way.
i am curious to try Thomastik flats, but i wonder if they sound good in D standard tuning being smaller in diameter and (for what i read) softer. if anyone has some experience, please share.