Thomastik Infeld

[Isaac_James]

Thomastiks are only expensive if you plan to replace them in 6 months.
When you use them for a decade, the relative cost is actually not that much of a factor.

It's like buying a laser printer rather than an inkjet.

In my experience, flatwound strings generally last a very long time, I had a set of Labella DTFs on my P bass for years. Is there something to Thomastiks that make them last even longer? Surely they mellow out over time like any other string?

 

[jimmydean]

The price does make it harder to buy the first time around , but you tell yourself they will last forever ? It took me years to buy them and while good ... so are the new Pino Palladino that cost even more . Are you willing to pay the price to find out ?

 

[tpaul]

They are great strings. In addition to giving you terrific tone and playability, they will balance your checkbook, weed the garden and wax your car. My TI Jazz Rounds give me a foot massage after every gig. But the Jazz Rounds are cooler, as everyone knows. I wouldn't expect that from the flats.

 

[kodiakblair]

@ardgedee

If you want to reach for 'possible' excuses why TIs can cost 50% more in the US, that's your affair.

I'm Scottish, any time I encounter huge price gouging I'd don't look for excuses to sweeten the rip off; I just boycott the retailer

 

[Luther]

Mine were cheap - 20 yrs ago.

 

[SLO Surfer]

I had no idea there were a set of flats that were this expensive…what is the deal with these?

I’ve spent more on the 3 packs of round wound Slinky’s in the past year for my Stingray than the $60 I spent 7 years ago on one pack of TI Jazz flats I bought for my P Bass that still sound fresh and awesome.

It’s simple math, and personal preference of string tension/feel/tone. You can definitely save money by purchasing more expensive flats.

(Edit to add: I REALLY wish round wound Slinky’s lasted longer. They sound SOOO good on my Stingray but only last 1-2 months before going completely dead.)

 

[Pbasslovernyc]

I’ve spent more on the 3 packs of round wound Slinky’s in the past year for my Stingray than the $60 I spent 7 years ago on one pack of TI Jazz flats I bought for my P Bass that still sound fresh and awesome.

It’s simple math, and personal preference of string tension/feel/tone. You can definitely save money by purchasing more expensive flats.

(Edit to add: I REALLY wish round wound Slinky’s lasted longer. They sound SOOO good on my Stingray but only last 1-2 months before going completely dead.)

 

[Pbasslovernyc]

While on the subject of lasting longer,,why do flats last so long?

 

[Jazzdogg]

I have TI jazz flats on several basses and they are my favorite strings. The set I have on one of my fivers is about 25 years old and contributes mightily to the sound it produces. I really appreciate their ability to make nuances in playing audible, due in no small part to their flexibility.

 

[Pbasslovernyc]

They are great strings. In addition to giving you terrific tone and playability, they will balance your checkbook, weed the garden and wax your car. My TI Jazz Rounds give me a foot massage after every gig. But the Jazz Rounds are cooler, as everyone knows. I wouldn't expect that from the flats.

Tell me more about these TI Jazz rounds

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

While on the subject of lasting longer,,why do flats last so long?

Less grooves for the muck to get stuck in and people that are putting flats are usually going for a dead thuddy sound anyway, so not a problem as they wear in. Maybe even better as they age!

 

[Ric Vice]

Granted I didn't replace them that often but since I got my first 10 sets from the U.S. distributor I would chamge
them one a year. As a Double Bassist I really don't ascribe to the "flat wound strings last forever and a lifetime" There
are lots of factors involved in string life. I generally change them once a year sith a full setup. Just my take but for me
at least the idea that I would have strings on a bass for 5-10 years just doesn't work. I'm not critiquing folks who leave
them on for a decade, that's their privilege, I remember when people boiled their Roto Sound roundwounds to get more
"life out of them" I tried that once and all I got was wet strings that took hours to dry in the hea of the noonday sun.

 

[Isaac_James]

Less grooves for the muck to get stuck in and people that are putting flats are usually going for a dead thuddy sound anyway, so not a problem as they wear in. Maybe even better as they age!

Yep, the little grooves between the windings on roundwound strings is where the boiling strings thing comes from - it loosens the accumulated finger oil, dust, and other crud and cleans it out, so you get a little bit of the lost zing back.

 

[mambo4]

As others have said: expensive , but they can last for decades if you're not addicted to that freshly picked round wound zing.

 

[Pbasslovernyc]

I have TI jazz flats on several basses and they are my favorite strings. The set I have on one of my fivers is about 25 years old and contributes mightily to the sound it produces. I really appreciate their ability to make nuances in playing audible, due in no small part to their flexibility.

25/years!???

 

[REV]

Not only do Ti flats last a long time but they get better with age.

 

[nixdad]

I had no idea there were a set of flats that were this expensive…what is the deal with these?

They're likely the best investment in bass strings you will ever make. Killer feel, killer tone, and can last for decades.

25/years!???

I'm not surprised. I've had TI Flats on 2 of my basses since 2014.

 

[Pbasslovernyc]

They're likely the best investment in bass strings you will ever make. Killer feel, killer tone, and can last for decades.

I'm not surprised. I've had TI Flats on 2 of my basses since 2014.

 

[Pbasslovernyc]

They're likely the best investment in bass strings you will ever make. Killer feel, killer tone, and can last for decades.

I'm not surprised. I've had TI Flats on 2 of my basses since 2014.

Do they feel as slippery as the Chromes I currently use?

 

[el murdoque]

In my experience, flatwound strings generally last a very long time, I had a set of Labella DTFs on my P bass for years. Is there something to Thomastiks that make them last even longer? Surely they mellow out over time like any other string?

I'm not entirely sure where I got this info, so I cannot vouch for it to be 100% accurate, but I do think that on the Thomastiks, there is a layer of silk between the first and second layer of the string.

I'm pretty sure I read that in @JimmyM 's thread about aging strings with Eucerin creme - which does not work on TI strings because of that.