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TI Flats - Are these made for mice?

#21
king_biscuit said:
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.
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That's exactly how I feel. I also play upright so when going over to any electric I need to lighten up a bit. But those TIs are so light that I can't play comfortably. I play a lot of R&B and I like to do Jamerson-ish rakes and ghost notes and you need strings that give you some resistance. I use Thomastik strings on my upright and they're great so I wanted to try these. They have a very nice tone and you can see that they're well made, if they'd just make a set with a more normal gauge and tension! Oh well, it was an experiment...:hmm:

Back to my Sadowsky flats, which I like just fine anyway.
 
#22
LOL.... and talk about low tension...... I've been playing my TI JF's on a G&L SB1 tuned down to Eb! Action is pretty low too.... 3/32" at the 12th fret on the E string (or Eb if you prefer). I don't have a light attack, but I don't dig in real deep either. I think the key is the angle of attack that you use.

To me, the beauty of the TI's is the eveness of tone between all of the strings. I've tried darn near every type of flat out there, and there is always one string boomier or tinnier than the others. Not so with the TI's.

One other thing I've noticed. While I know the tension hasn't changed, the set I have on my sb1 feels a bit "stiffer" than the new set I placed on my sb2 a couple of months ago. And now the sb2 set is starting to feel the same. I can't explain it, but there is definitely a difference as the set breaks in.

Ljazz
 
#23
If you use the 34" (JF344) set on a 35" scale bass, it will increase the tension a little.

I recently ordered the JF346 set for my Yamaha TRB1006 (35" scale). I curious to see how the scale difference will impact the tension. I hope it's not too much. I like the supple feel of my TI's.

Joe
 
#24
Bobby King said:
How can anyone play TI Flats?! The tension is so frigging light!
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Which means that you may need to adjust your setup to deal with the new tension level on your neck.

You may also need to lighten up on your plcking hand a bit - but that is good for you. Less chance of tendonitis. In my case I picked up some speed going to a lighter technique as well - once you get used to it -

Bobby King said:
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!
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more or less reinforces the above - you used to have proper relief with your neck tensioned for other strings. Now you don't ...

Bobby King said:
I play a lot of R&B and I like to do Jamerson-ish rakes and ghost notes and you need strings that give you some resistance.
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more or less describes my playing style to a T and - you don't really need the resistance to ghost, stutter or rake - just a properly setup instrument. It's funny - in my stable I generally run two basses with flats and two with rounds. The strings are alomst always TI's, JF's and Super Alloy's. The action on the basses is somewhat variable. My 5 is a flat (high numerical radius) fingerboard with very low action for rounds, My J is a little higher as it is a more radiused board. I like that the feel changes from one to the other. That change in feel affects how I approach a line - philosophically, If I were going to impose my will on the instrument and only ever play it wone way - then I'd only really need 1 instrument I think... As it is, I use the nunces of the bass and the particular setup - hopefully to my advantage.

Different strokes for certain...

I've also had good luck with D'Addario Chromes over the years. A little less 'woody' than the JF's but they are a higer guage and don't have the silk inner wrap so they are higher tension. Used to be my 'go to' flat prior to SA's.

To one of the points way up above .. How would having extra windings on a post - the result of stringing a 34" scale instrument with 35" scale strings affect tension. It's the tension between the bridge piece and nut that determines pitch afterall ...
 
#25
[To me, the beauty of the TI's is the eveness of tone between all of the strings. I've tried darn near every type of flat out there, and there is always one string boomier or tinnier than the others. Not so with the TI's.

One other thing I've noticed. While I know the tension hasn't changed, the set I have on my sb1 feels a bit "stiffer" than the new set I placed on my sb2 a couple of months ago. And now the sb2 set is starting to feel the same. I can't explain it, but there is definitely a difference as the set breaks in.

Ljazz[/QUOTE]

Same thing I've noticed regarding the stiffness. I also use the T.Is for that even tone between strings.
 
#26
you don't really need the resistance to ghost, stutter or rake - just a properly setup instrument.
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I've got to disagree with you there. The tension and feel of "regular" flats is integral to that style for me. I play a lot of upright too and the difference is just too much with the TIs. I could loosen my truss rod all the way and raise the saddles as far as they'll go and those things would feel too loose and floppy. But if they work for you, great!

I like that the feel changes from one to the other. That change in feel affects how I approach a line - philosophically,
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Well then, IMO the TIs would be the perfect thing for a lighter-than-air, mouse-like philosophical mindset. ;)

I've also had good luck with D'Addario Chromes over the years.
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Now you're talking. I have a set of those, the .105 - .050 set, and I can play on those babies!
 
#27
I wish they would spec string tension on new strings. That is, I wish the string packaging would specify exactly what the string tension is when tuned for the target configuration (e.g. 34" EADG). The manufacturer should be able to quantify this parameter. Right now, you don't know what you're getting when you buy new strings to experiment with.
 
#29
And threads like this clearly state what kind of strings they are. i knew when I bought mine that they were looser....they work great on my bass. It took 6 months, 5 basses and 15 sets of strings before I found the ones I like...this just happens to be one of them. They are never coming off the Sting...I'm getting a short set for my Beatle Bass.





warnergt said:
I wish they would spec string tension on new strings. That is, I wish the string packaging would specify exactly what the string tension is when tuned for the target configuration (e.g. 34" EADG). The manufacturer should be able to quantify this parameter. Right now, you don't know what you're getting when you buy new strings to experiment with.
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#30
I agree with Bobby - tension is a big part of it. Some of us love lots of it, others don't. It doesn't make TIs right for everyone, and even adjusting your truss rod, etc., it still may not be right ... for that person. I'm a digger and the TI strings felt like death warmed over to me. They felt horrible.

I love the Roto 77LE flat set out of all of the flat vendors. Some love LaBella, some D'Addario, etc.

Sometimes it isn't about adjusting - either you like it or you don't.
 
#31
expensive- you just have to shop online, i pay about 45 for my sets
and i use the jazz flats w/a silk core, i like the flexibilty of the string and i dig in deep too. but its true, string height is important, and they sound like no other ive tried. i clean mine too w/ white viniger and they last a loooooong time,TI jazz strings are my favs.
 
#32
ahhhhhh.... but sometimes you run into something that is just so wonderful, it's worth adjusting your technique for. For me, that was the TIJF's.

And, as I mentioned earlier in this thread, the JF's seem to "stiffen" as they breakin...... I really can't explain it. When I put my second set on my SB2, I thought I had a bad set, because they felt so much different than the first set I have on my SB1. I actually swapped them out to make sure it wasn't the bass. Now, after having them on for couple of months, I've noticed they now feel just like that first set (this may only take a few weeks for some, if you're playing the instrument often).

Amazingly enough, playing the low tension JF's has improved my articulation when playing my roundwound strung Jazz Bass. A lot less clak and fret noise. Awesome.

To the OP..... give the TI's a good, solid month or so. Let them get good and broke-in, and then make your decision. Generally speaking, flats take a good bit of time to break in so that you can really understand if the sound and feel is for you (as an upright player you should already understand this). Rounds are usually dead before a good set of flats break in.

Ljazz
 
#36
When I got them I could only get the gauge with the E and A strings being 100 and 70 (I assume this is the only available gauge). What were they thinking when they came up with that idea? The 30 difference between those two was too much for me. After that and the low low tension I ditched them pretty damn quick. Might try some LaBellas when I get my P5.
 
#37
If it weren't for TI Jazz flats, I don't think I'd play as often as I do. Tension, texture, tone... tremendous. When you need to play that high Eb, pianissimo - just you and the cornet - oh yeah that's when you exhale the note; you can hear the texture of your finger on the string.... I think the tension also helps play without fret noise whatsoever; and in certain settings that is irreplaceable.
 
#38
i have tried a lot of different flatwound strings over the years,it's amazing how much difference there is in tension/feel/sound in this string type. the ti's sound great,but i cannot get used to playing them,but love even less hi-tension klangy flats like fender/chromes. i still prefer pyramid flats to everything i have tried,but you had better love a competely dead e string sound,cause thats what u get! if you play the e string with a pick,it comes across nicely,tho. the other problem i have noticed with ti strings is that the surface of the strings is not particularly smooth and tends to "grab" on a glissando.
 
#40
Ive gotta be honest.

Im ham fisted and LOVE to dig in. I play pretty dang hard. Two of my three basses are string with TI Jazz Flats.

The tension just doesnt bother me. I dont know why, in fact, I feel like I play with more finesse with the TIs.

Different strokes.......
 

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