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Thomastik Flats on a Jazz Bass?

Do you like Thomastik Infeld (TI) Jazz Flats on a Jazz Bass?

  • Yes

    Votes: 163 86.7%

  • No

    Votes: 25 13.3%
  • Total voters
    188
#61
I'm not a fan of them on a jazz. I tend to take advantage of the both pups up mid scoop, and use a bit more of a mid scooped string. I love the now discontinued Sadowsky Black Label Flats on my jazz. They have great low and high mids, but not a lot of the mid-mid content of the old Sadowsky Blue Label Flats or TIJF's..... Kind of right where a jazz is mid canceling. Labellas and the old Fender flats sound fantastic on a jazz as well.

My next jazz bass string experiment will probably be the new Sadowsky Blue Label Flats ... They are full through the entire mid spectrum..... Low mids to high mids, but don't seem to get thumpy.
 
#62
Thinking about putting a set of TI flats on my Fender Delux V. I've tried EB Cobalt flats and Chromes obit and haven't been terribly happy with either. No major complaints, both types of strings were "fine".

I've got a set of TI flats on my '58 reissue P and love them. For you five string TI flats users, how's the B string?
 
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#63
I finally gave in to curiosity and ordered a set today. Been wanting to try them for quite awhile and am going to slap them on my Sadowsky J when they land on Saturday. Have tried other flats(la bella and Dunlop) on it and been underwhelmed. From what I'm reading these perform quite different than other flats and can't wait to try them out. If I don't like them on the Sadowsky I'm sure they'll sound great on my P.
 
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#65
e-flat said:
The string swapping never stops.

I just pulled a set of TI Flats off my main P Bass, and decided to try them on my parts Jazz Bass. I actually think they are the best sounding flats I've tried on a Jazz.

Probably because they are a midrange-focused string, they help me to get a more balanced, thicker and punchier sound from my standard "both pickups on" position than most other flats. They're also killer for bridge pickup sounds. Added bonus is they have a little bit of the "pizz" and bark of a round wound due to mild tension & my low action.

I've heard folks say that they've hated TIs on a Jazz, and others say that they love them. It turns out I really dig them. What do you guys think?
Click to expand...

WELL, I used TI Flats exclusively on my fretless and fretted Jazz, as well as my 1967 Ampeg AMUB-1. Per Amazon, the cost is around $62, instead of the normal low $70's that you would pay at a normal online string shop (i.e. just strings.com). I find quite easy to play, long playing life (years) and low tension.
They also achieve "my sound", particularly on my Jazzes.
As far as I have seen, TI's are only available in very light gauge 40-95 which may account for their low string tension. Now that's a personal preference.
On the other hand, the Ampeg mentor and overall Ampeg Scroll Bass guru, Bruce Johnson, does not care for them, due in part, (Bruce, correct me if I'm wrong), to the low tension. He strings his personally owned Ampeg Scrolls and the ones he builds himself using D'Addario Chromes or LaBella 760's. If the cost were less, I'm sure there would be a many more bassists using them.
 
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#66
I tried TI Flats on a Fender Deluxe Jazz a few years ago and went back to rounds after a couple months. BUT, they are not like other flats in tension, texture, and sound. I do use them on my fretless and another fretted bass that allows it to sound somewhat fretless (whatever that means). For me, they are application specific not universal.
 
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#67
Boy oh boy, in the 70's , as a 13!year old kid, all electric bassists in my area (Saginaw, Bay City, Flint MI) used flats exclusively. Then sometime in the late 70's, with the popularity of bands like RUSH, STANLEY Clarke, active electronics (ie MUSIC MAN) etc, everyone seemed to have switched to RW's. Now when I go to talk to some younger musician gents, they go on about how cool flats are on their basses, even the guys who spend 90% of their time on electric GTR . Makes me chuckle to see this cycling effect.
 
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#70
I've had my first ever set of TI's on my Sadowsky MV4 for a couple of weeks now. I really dug them on their own and just playing at home but wasn't entirely sure they were going to cut it in the full band situation. To say I was pleasantly surprised would be a massive understatement.

Put them to the test today and I've never had the sound sit so perfectly in the mix and come through so clearly. Listened to the play backs and they confirmed what I heard while playing. Worked up a new tune today that required a busy and syncopated 16th note based line. Clear, defined and effortless. 4 piece band that gets pretty loud and plays a nice gumbo of southern soul/blues/rootsy rock n roll. Basically what I'm getting at is these can cut it for I'd say most types of music.

Changed from a set of La Bella 760's that I threw on for a minute from my P Bass for the heck of it and before that was primarily using Fodera's. The Fodera's remain my favorite round and up until the TI's were my go to string. I would like to try a set of TI's on my P Bass but I am happy with the La Bellas back on it.

The change in set up was minimal. Raised the saddles slightly...added just a touch of relief...set the intonation and bam. The search is over. If you've ever been curious about these strings def give them a try. Could well be that they won't be your cup of tea due to the lower tension but definitely don't let the reviews that site that and the change in set up stop you from trying them. I did for a long time and regret it now. Thumpy like a flat but have a mid growl to them and better sustain then traditional flats. I could go on. I'm a believer.:cool:
 
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#73
Well, given the fact that I don't - and never will - own a Jazz Bass, I suppose my answer has to be - NO. Yes, I know Jazz Basses are the cat's ass; I've noodled around on several different makes and iterations of them. But, nice as they are (and, a few of them were awfully nice)? They feel... weird... and, just don't fit me - at all. Maybe it's because my 2 Rick basses - who's ergonomics are usually described around here as "Ewww!" - fit me like a surgeon's glove - or, maybe it's something else. But, yes, lots of people do like TIJF's on their Jazz Bass. Personally, if I did own one? I think I'd probably have a set of Fender 9050L's on it. Aside from the fact that an awful lot of people like the Fenders on their JBs? I have both TIJF's and Fender 9050L's on some of my basses, and - to my ears? Aside from the "orchestral" overtones that come with the TI's construction, they sound pretty much identical to the Fenders. And, for what I'd play with a Jazz Bass? I don't need "orchestral" overtones. I do want- and need - them when I play Jazz, though; which is why there's a set of TIJF's on the bass I use for that - an Alembic Epic. But, that's the only bass that wears them. Aside from the fact that their lack of stiffness makes them difficult for me to play with a pick (which I use about 95% of the time), without major adjustments to my technique, TIJF's just don't have the lows and low-mids for most of what I play, most of the time. Which can be said for the Fender's too, but there's stuff I play that sounds good with them... In any case;
I'm glad you - and many others - like TIJF's on your Jazz Basses. Yes, I imagine they do sound good on there. Play the snot out of them - and enjoy them...:thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
#74
JRA said:
i've always been a round wound player (tried flats when i was a young player in an attempt to get around the need for proper calluses --- didn't like the sound!). after getting a set of TI jazz rounds for one instrument (and really liking them...a lot!), i decided to 'go-all-in' and so i purchased a couple more sets: now, both of my main players have them.

i realize that some like rounds, other prefer flats, yada yada. but i keep getting the impression here on TB that the TI flats have a lot of 'round wound quality' to them, so...

question: for those who have used both the TI jazz flats, and the rounds: what are the differences between the two besides any obvious 'finger pad feel'? can you compare them for me? thanks.

sorry if this is a wholesale derailing. i might be ashamed later. :)

my only J bass currently sports neon red DR strings because it looks cool in pictures i post on TB! :D
Click to expand...
Well, I'll give it a try...
I do have a bass with TIJF's on it, and one that wears TIJRs. But, the Jazz Flats are long scales on an Alembic Epic, and the Jazz Rounds are short scales on a hollow-body Gretsch Broadkaster. So, apples to apples it ain't...Anyway, here goes;
- TIJF's. Low tension (143 lbs.), extremely flexible due to their "orchestral string" construction. What some call "round wound quality" is their heavy focus on the mid range. Low end is... adequate; their low-mids are... good. Mid-range and high end, is where they really shine. and, their construction gives them harmonics that most other flats can't touch. I have them on an Alembic Epic, which I use strictly for Jazz. In that role? They are simply superb. But, for most of the other music I play? Uhh... not so much. For me, TIJF's are pretty much a One Trick Pony. Lots of others disagree, but after playing lots of different flats for 50+ years? I know what works for what, pretty well - for me...
- TIJR's. They're also low tension - for rounds; but, I can't give you any numbers. Short scale strings - on a normal short scale bass, tend to get a little... limp... as the gauge gets lighter;and, the TIJR's are pretty light gauge. But, because the Broadkaster is very big for a short scale bass - and these strings just barely fit - they're probably stiffer than they would be, normally. Stiff enough that I can play them with a pick, without major technique adjustments, anyway.
So, how do they sound? On the Gretsch, they sound like... well, pretty much like Jazz Flats, but just a little more "bright". Trying to think of other rounds to compare them to, but... I've hardly ever played anything but flats and tapes, so my experience with rounds is... skimpy, at best. Actually, the closest I can come, is the old Rickenbacker Light Gauge Nickel Rounds. 42-97 gauge, IIRC. On my 4001, I liked them an awful lot. They were bright, without being "twangy". Actually, the more I think about it, they did sound a lot like the TIJR's...
So, bottom line? TIJF's are fairly bright, mid range-focused flats. TIJR's? Slightly brighter TIJF's, that are a little less smooth, and don't last quite as long...:cool:
 
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#75
GIBrat51 said:
Well, I'll give it a try...
I do have a bass with TIJF's on it, and one that wears TIJRs. But, the Jazz Flats are long scales on an Alembic Epic, and the Jazz Rounds are short scales on a hollow-body Gretsch Broadkaster. So, apples to apples it ain't...Anyway, here goes;
- TIJF's. Low tension (143 lbs.), extremely flexible due to their "orchestral string" construction. What some call "round wound quality" is their heavy focus on the mid range. Low end is... adequate; their low-mids are... good. Mid-range and high end, is where they really shine. and, their construction gives them harmonics that most other flats can't touch. I have them on an Alembic Epic, which I use strictly for Jazz. In that role? They are simply superb. But, for most of the other music I play? Uhh... not so much. For me, TIJF's are pretty much a One Trick Pony. Lots of others disagree, but after playing lots of different flats for 50+ years? I know what works for what, pretty well - for me...
- TIJR's. They're also low tension - for rounds; but, I can't give you any numbers. Short scale strings - on a normal short scale bass, tend to get a little... limp... as the gauge gets lighter;and, the TIJR's are pretty light gauge. But, because the Broadkaster is very big for a short scale bass - and these strings just barely fit - they're probably stiffer than they would be, normally. Stiff enough that I can play them with a pick, without major technique adjustments, anyway.
So, how do they sound? On the Gretsch, they sound like... well, pretty much like Jazz Flats, but just a little more "bright". Trying to think of other rounds to compare them to, but... I've hardly ever played anything but flats and tapes, so my experience with rounds is... skimpy, at best. Actually, the closest I can come, is the old Rickenbacker Light Gauge Nickel Rounds. 42-97 gauge, IIRC. On my 4001, I liked them an awful lot. They were bright, without being "twangy". Actually, the more I think about it, they did sound a lot like the TIJR's...
So, bottom line? TIJF's are fairly bright, mid range-focused flats. TIJR's? Slightly brighter TIJF's, that are a little less smooth, and don't last quite as long...:cool:
Click to expand...
well, gee, thanks @GIBrat51! that's a great response to my original question. :thumbsup: i asked that question in 2018, and believe it or not: i bought a set of TIJFs after some friendly goading by our dearly departed brother EatS1stBassist. i strung 'em up, played around, let them sit for a while, played some more, sit, play, sit, play....couldn't stand the feel! :vomit:

anyway, they weren't on the ax long enough to fall for the great sound everyone raves about, and i sent them along (probably to EatS).

so please know that i appreciate your post and your follow-up :thumbsup: , but i'm almost sure i'm a committed rounds player!

thanks!
 
#76
JRA said:
well, gee, thanks @GIBrat51! that's a great response to my original question. :thumbsup: i asked that question in 2018, and believe it or not: i bought a set of TIJFs after some friendly goading by our dearly departed brother EatS1stBassist. i strung 'em up, played around, let them sit for a while, played some more, sit, play, sit, play....couldn't stand the feel! :vomit:

anyway, they weren't on the ax long enough to fall for the great sound everyone raves about, and i sent them along (probably to EatS).

so please know that i appreciate your post and your follow-up :thumbsup: , but i'm almost sure i'm a committed rounds player!

thanks!
Click to expand...
No worries. It's not that I hate rounds or anything. Simply that I learned to play bass in 1968, on a friend's '68 Rick 4001 - with the factory Maxima Flats. I really liked them - and, just stuck with them. Plus, I acquired nerve and frostbite damage to my fingers and hands over the years, that make playing round wound strings, rather... painful. I have had basses with rounds on them that I liked a lot - despite the discomfort - but, if I found flats that sounded similar? The rounds got replaced. The 4001 wears very low tension flats now, because it has neck problems that old 4001's get, sometimes. But, if that weren't the case, and Rick hadn't stopped making those Light Gauge Nickel Rounds? I'd be gritting my teeth, and playing them today...:cool:
 
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