Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Rounds

[MissJoanna2U]

Having just read through all three pages of posts thus far, there seems to have been some lingering confusion regarding what these strings are all about. A few points would seem to bear emphasis:

* Based on the multiple descriptions of actual users, TI Jazz Rounds would seem to be one the very best roundwound strings on the market, specifically designed for playing electric jazz & fusion.

* As such, the questions & remarks about their lack of "thump" and "decay" would seem to completely & utterly miss the point: Since when are "thump" and "decay" considered normal, typical attributes of any roundwound string? Answer: They're not. Those attributes are characteristic of upright bass strings or electric flatwounds - not roundwounds.

* Likewise, all the questions & speculations about their slap tone would seem to miss the point. Yes, I am aware that just about any type of string can be slapped...just as nearly any type of electric bass can be used for playing just about any kind of music. But realistically, would you use a 1968 Hagstrom short scale semi-acoustic bass with flatwounds to play contemporary progressive metal? Would you use a hot pink pointy starburst-shaped six-string bass with active humbuckers to play old skool country & western tunes in a honky-tonk? So by the same token, why would you evaluate what is clearly meant to be a clean, warm, natural-sounding string for playing jazz & fusion on the basis of its slap tone? Why wouldn't you just get strings that are already optimized for that application - like DR Hi Beams or Ken Smith Slap Masters?

That said, I haven't actually heard these yet - though I more or less trust the impressions of those who have. And based on their recommendations, I'm very close to ordering a set of TI Jazz Rounds for my Carvin Bromberg 5 (fretted), and a set of TI Jazz Flats for my Carvin Bromberg 5 (fretless), which seems as if they might just make for an ideal combination, i.e. playing strictly finger style, in an application that requires, a smooth, warm, expressive, highly articulate string: electric jazz & fusion. I'm especially encouraged by the reports of the long life of the Jazz Rounds (not concerned about the Jazz Flats), and the likelihood that a set could last for at least a year in regular use. At around $90 a set, they'd better!

MM

Great points. The one thing I would say however is they they do slap well.

I'm not saying they do a Stu Ham or Mark King tone, but they do a good Freddy Washington mellow slap tone that I love.

 

[mrperkolator]

I’ve read through and seen wound length for the long scales, but what are the wound length for the short scale JR? I’ve got a bass with picky length…

 

[HaphAsSard]

I’ve read through and seen wound length for the long scales, but what are the wound length for the short scale JR? I’ve got a bass with picky length…

35.5" ball to silk, assuming it's the same as the Jazz Flat JF324. Even in the remote case the shortie Jazz Round set has a shorter full-gauge winding length than its flatwound counterpart, it cannot be shorter than 34" or thereabouts: the same scale length (32", despite the fact they call it "short-scale") is incorporated in the product number of the roundwound set - JR324 - as well.

 

[GIBrat51]

View attachment 1180145 My Gretsch Broadkaster.

This is a '93 G6119BO-LH Gretsch Broadkaster; basically a 30.5" scale bass, built on a G6119 Tennessee Rose guitar body. And, yes; it's a factory lefty - the only lefty Gretsch Bass I've ever seen, in 40 years of looking, that wasn't a '50s custom. So, don't feel bad if you've never seen one; hardly anyone has. Anyway...
When this picture was taken, it was wearing long scale EB Hybrid Slinkys. It's such a big bass (It's almost 40" from the tailpiece to the A & D tuners) that most long scale strings will fit it just fine. Most medium scale strings will not fit it at all; as for short scale strings? Don't be absurd... The TIJR 324 Jazz Rounds, though? They fit this bass - perfectly. I only had to shorten the E & G string leaders about 1-3/4" to get my preferred 3 wraps around the tuner posts; I did not have to touch the A & D string leaders - at all... The silks are almost perfectly aligned, too... They are - for "short scale" strings - ridiculously long. Compared to medium scale strings? The TIJR's are probably longer than most of them. Exactly how long are they? I just now got finished measuring mine; from ball end to silk? The E string is 35.0". The A, D, & G strings? 35.5".
Normally, I dislike round wound strings - a lot. But, these TIJR's are the only strings I've tried - in 12 years and a lot of $$'s - that make this big orange thing actually sound like a bass. So, even though they squeak; even though they hurt my nerve-damaged, frostbitten fingers after 15-20 minutes - this is where they'll stay. After 12 years of frustration? A little pain is worth the tone...