• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

TI Flats - Are these made for mice?

Bobby King

Bobby King

May 3, 2005
2,632
1,822
69
Nashville, TN
www.phillysoultributeproject.com
#1
I know many folks are fond of these strings so I'm sorry if this pisses you off, but....

How can anyone play TI Flats?! The tension is so frigging light!

I keep my action medium-high and have decent relief on all my basses but I can barely pluck these without them snapping against the fingerboard. I can't even play an open G without it hitting the frets. They seem to have a nice tone, but there's no way I could adjust my touch enough to be comfortable playing them. I like to dig in! It's slightly ridiculous if you ask me. These are for mice!

Bring on the hate mail :spit:
 
#2
I understand what you're saying. TI's are my favorite strings. I have them on my P-Bass, my fretless J-Bass, and soon to be on my TRB1006.

I consider myself and aggressive player, but I don't hit or yank on my strings. If I cross the line, I do get some click and buzz.

If you like the sound enough, you'll adjust your technique. Fortunately, I didn't have to make any uncomfortable technique adjustments.

Joe
 
#3
TI's definately take some getting used to. It took me a few days to get to the point I was with higher tension strings with these lower tension ones. They're not for everyone, I usually go back and fourth on strings, but i can see myself with the TI's for a while. For me, its about the sound. Its much easier for me to get that sound in my head out with these strings than any others.
 
#5
You loosened the rod, right? Even if you had relief with your old strings, it may not be there with the TIs. The TIs need a lot of relief and then a lot of saddle height. IME, after getting the setup right and spending some time with them, it comes pretty easy. Also lower the pickups because the string travel is greater.
 
#7
Bobby King said:
I know many folks are fond of these strings so I'm sorry if this pisses you off, but....

How can anyone play TI Flats?! The tension is so frigging light!

I keep my action medium-high and have decent relief on all my basses but I can barely pluck these without them snapping against the fingerboard. I can't even play an open G without it hitting the frets. They seem to have a nice tone, but there's no way I could adjust my touch enough to be comfortable playing them. I like to dig in! It's slightly ridiculous if you ask me. These are for mice!

Bring on the hate mail :spit:
Click to expand...

No hate mail here. After looking at your profile, I think I understand your liking/need to dig in. I've been like that since I started playing double bass (not a legit player) in 1964. Part of digging in was related to playing with no amplification in my early years. But I also realized a number of years ago, that digging in hard didn't necessarily give me the sound I wanted and thought I was getting. Your bass does sound different standing over it than what someone hears out in front of it (no amplification implied). That realization was the result of conversations with a friend whose opinion I respected and valued. Its like realizing that you're playing so hard that you passed the point of diminishing returns wrt sound.

In 1983, I took up electric bass and also built my own fretless and spent a couple years fine-tuning the neck (no trussrod) to a point I was comfortable with it. About 4 years ago, I bought a set of TI Jazz Flats for that bass after having had many brands of strings (Fender, D'Addario Chromes, Kamans and many others, both flat-wound and round-wound) and it took me a while to get used to their feel, part of which was the tension. As a result, I've been playing those strings on my self-made fretless for over 90% of my electric bass gigs. Just for experimentation, I bought a Yamaha fretless last year and put LaBella Deep Talking flat-wounds on it. They have a different sound and a totally different feel. I like both brands, but for different reasons. The Deep Talking strings have much more tension, at least it feels that way, and I have the action very low with no buzz. If you haven't tried the LaBellas, perhaps they may be a flat-wound you could live with. Alas, they to are expensive like the TI Jazz Flats, but are not nearly as expensive as the last set of TI Spirocore 4/4's I bought for a 7/8 double bass.

Lloyd Howard
 
#8
Bobby King said:
I know I'm just being a jerk, but they were expensive and I can't use 'em! (They're for sale in the classifieds ;) )
Click to expand...

Thomastic flats aren't for you. Sorry about that, but you need very high tension strings if you're going to play that hard. You should be able to get most of your money back when you sell the Thomastics as long as you didn't cut the strings too short or otherwise damage them.

I've been using Thomastic JF344s for 9 years now. I used to play very hard too on other strings and got away with it. I started off on my first Fender P back when they came with stock suspension bridge cable flatwounds factory installed. You had to whack them pretty hard to get any tone. When I switched to Thomastics I had to lighten up a bit and it took me a couple minutes of playing to get my technique adjusted. Now, it's second nature. For me the advantage in tone is worth it.

Also, I've noticed that the Thomastics stiffen up some once they've been played in for some hours. Anyhow, it's no big deal for me.
 
#9
My Bass and I dig the lower tension...the sound is what I like the best...I adjusted my style too...play lighter and turn the amp up...works for me. These won't be coming off my bass anytime soon. You'll get plenty back for yours...go get some Chromes and dig in!
 
#14
Hey, I can't play them either. I have always used a floating thumb on my right hand, and I just get tangled up in the super low tension. Plus I think they sound rather thin and lifeless. For the OP, try a set of La Bellas (flats) or Fenders (flats) for big thump with good tension.
 
#15
fearceol said:
I suppose the bottom line is, "to each his own" :)

As for being "expensive" : When you consider that some people have had them on their basses for ten years (and they still sound great) or more, they are not expensive at all.
Click to expand...

Yes, over 8 years on my P bass now. Even at the higher Canadian price I paid when I bought them that works out to less than $8 per year. I think the newest set on another bass is at about a year now.
 
#16
I have went back and forth. TI's were my first flat. I tend to dig in more when playing live, and it took some getting used to. They were on a Ric and when I sold it and bought a Jazz, I bought the LaBellas. Wow, talk about the extreme opposite! Those are great strings, but the tension is very high.

I bought some Chromes last week for my new jazz. I picked up a vintage 8x10 for my SVT last night and plugged in. I couldnt get my sound - even with this set up! It was the strings: I just dont like them or the boomy tone (chromes). I put some TI's on the jazz today and the tone is night and day difference IMO.

I have practice and gig recordings of all my basses, string, and amps of the past year thanks to my Edirol R-09 (buy one of these, too)!

The TI's have the best even tone. I loved them on a jazz and a Ric. They are trickier to play at first, but with low action you can absolutely fly with these strings, and they are so easy and comfortable to play. I want better technique while playing live, and these strings force you to just sit back and relax.

I love them, and I am done string experimenting. It really is amazing how much strings affect your tone, and the TI's have my tone.
 
#17
+1000

The string tension is the greatest hurdle in adjusting to the TI's, but when you get there, oh man...

I've actually learned to love the tension because you can set up your bass higher (more thump, tone IMO) and it remains comfortable on the left hand because the touch is so soft, if that makes any sense. I didn't fall in complete love with my US Bob Glaub until I made the switch from Lakland flats (GHS apparently) to TI Jazz Flats.

If they're good enough for Pino, they're good enough for me. :bassist:
 
#18
Well, here is the other problem for me: I played TIs for a while on a fretless (several weeks exclusivly). I started to get more used to them, but I noticed when I picked up another bass with medium rounds, that the tension felt crazy high. I like to play several basses and use several types of strings, and I don't want to have to totally change my technique every time I switch back and forth from TIs. I can't imagine why Thomastik won't make at least one more gauge for those of us who prefer heavier strings.
 
#19
Bobby King said:
I know many folks are fond of these strings so I'm sorry if this pisses you off, but....

How can anyone play TI Flats?! The tension is so frigging light!

I keep my action medium-high and have decent relief on all my basses but I can barely pluck these without them snapping against the fingerboard. I can't even play an open G without it hitting the frets. They seem to have a nice tone, but there's no way I could adjust my touch enough to be comfortable playing them. I like to dig in! It's slightly ridiculous if you ask me. These are for mice!

Bring on the hate mail :spit:
Click to expand...

You aren't alone. I spent about 6 months or so trying to get used to the lower tension. Never happened. Sure they sound great but I had to root my hand at the bridge pickup in order to play 16th notes (or anything quicker). Cuskers had lower tension than the rounds I normally use.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back