Well, there was nothing visual that I recall; it was just the sound. When I put the set on, I followed my usual practice of putting one string on at a time, playing it a little bit, and retuning before putting the next string on. I usually go from low to high, but this time I went from high to low, so the .136 was the last one on.
The first five strings (I had the 6-string set) all seemed to make sense and sounded like they belonged together. But when I got to the low B, I thought, this can't be right. [johnmcenroe] "You cannot be serious!" [/johnmcenroe] It was quiet, thumpy, dull, and dead, unlike the rest of the set.
There was a guy around on one of the music forums, I forget his name, who was the US T-I distributor or something. So I contacted him, and I got a replacement low B that, though visually indistinguishable from the old one, sounded much better. That was my very first T-I set, and none of the ones I've bought since (I don't buy that many, since they last so long) have had that problem.
I'm not saying you definitely have a dud string, just that it's at least a possibility. OTOH, it could be that your bass just doesn't like those strings, or they it.
Outside possibility: If .136 is substantially bigger than you normally use, could the nut slot be too tight and pinching it a bit?
Another outside possibility: These strings have round cores. The "received wisdom" I've always heard about round-core strings is that you need to make a right-angle bend in them before cutting them to length; the idea presumably is that this keeps the wrap from slipping along the core, since it's not held in place by the edges of the core as would be the case with a hex core. I don't know enough about strings to verify this, but I've heard it many times. Not to impugn your string-changing skills--my own aren't stellar--but is it possible you didn't make a bend before cutting? It's about the only other possibility I can think of.
All this aside, the simplest explanation may be that the T-I .136 just doesn't work for you. Or that your bass is a hater.
Japanese ceramic Filtertrons the bass has - the ones that belong on a guitar. The ones that Rockabilly Gretsch guitar players will kill for... The only thing I don't like about the TIJRs, and the thing that makes them a One Trick Pony - for me? They're round wounds. I really, really, dislike round wounds. Except for my MIK Rogue VB-100 (which wears Roto TruBass 88 tapewounds), the Gretsch is my only bass that doesn't wear flats. I imagine that some of my other basses might sound really good with Jazz Rounds, but... even though they're the least obnoxious rounds I've ever played? Ain't gonna happen...
