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TI flats aren't working for me. Am I crazy?

#42
I have used the TI flats on a Modulus 5 string. I liked them a lot, but if you are used to higher tension strings then this may a poor choice for you. I now use Smith Compressors on the Modulus and they are fairly stiff but very even sounding with very little finger squeak. The Sadowsky flats IMO are similar to the TI flats except a little darker sounding and stiffer too. I no longer use flats since on gigs my damp fingers stick to the strings slowing my fingers down. No such problems with the Smith Compressors which feel like polished glass.
 
#43
warnergt said:
I've found TI Jazz Flat E strings tend to be inconsistent. The
A, D and G strings are great but the E string can be good or bad.
Luckily, you can buy individual E strings to find a good one:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001631NI8/ref=pe_175190_21431760_M3C_ST1_3p_dp_1

It sucks having to find a good string by trial and error (and
expense). The last time I replaced one, I had to go through
two or three before I found a good one. But once you find it,
it sounds great and lasts a long, long time.

I'm hooked on TI Jazz Flats for my P Bass. They feel good
and don't zing like most other strings.
Click to expand...

That's just unacceptable! I don't care how great they sound; strings should be more consistent than that, especially give the cost. Outrageous if true.
 
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#44
It's a funny thing with strings. Always though would end up with one brand/type of string that I would use on all basses. a big DR Sunbeam fan and that's been my go to roundwound but realized today I have:

57 AVRI PBass - TI flats
08 Am Std Pbass - Dr Sunbeams
62 RI Fullerton Jazz - Zon stainless steel
12 Stingray 5 PDN - Ernie Ball Slinkys

You know what? They're all different but I like em all!

Just came back from a session with a potential future band. Soul R&B thing and the 57 P was just perfect. Can't say that I've ever played that bass and been unhappy about how it felt or sounded. I've had the Zons around for a while and so far really like them on the Jazz. A bit stiffer than usual DRs but in a good way. Never cared for Slinkys on any other bass but they seem so right on the SR5. The B feels so natural.

Variety is good!
 
#45
I agree that TI Flats may not work on every bass. I have them on my Lakland 55-94 and they are great. Tried them on a Lakland Skyline JO5 with Fralins and they did not sound good. However, Chromes on that bass were perfect. I've also used TIs on a Lakland Bob Glaub P bass and liked them. Briefly tried them on a Hofner Icon and they sounded good but prefer LaBella flats on that bass. I also like Sadowskys on most nay bass. They give a little more bite that the TIs and ould be better for more modern rock applications. The TIs are perfect for Motown, blues, R&B and the like.
 
#46
mccartneyman said:
I agree that TI Flats may not work on every bass. I have them on my Lakland 55-94 and they are great. Tried them on a Lakland Skyline JO5 with Fralins and they did not sound good. However, Chromes on that bass were perfect. I've also used TIs on a Lakland Bob Glaub P bass and liked them. Briefly tried them on a Hofner Icon and they sounded good but prefer LaBella flats on that bass. I also like Sadowskys on most nay bass. They give a little more bite that the TIs and ould be better for more modern rock applications. The TIs are perfect for Motown, blues, R&B and the like.
Click to expand...

I don't really like the TI's on my J's. I really didn't like them on my '08 AmStd P..... at least not until I put in a OV P pup. Maybe they work a bit better on basses that are less "wide" sounding, with more focus in the low mids?
 
#47
I would give GHS Precision flats a try. They are the next logical step after switching from TI's, IMO. Bigger gauges with slightly more tension. The Chromes have too much tension and a 'scooped' nature to them, IMO. A bass does need to be set up to accomodate it's strings. The TI's are rather unique and the bass should be set up to handle them, not the other way around. Same goes for all strings. Honestly, this sounds more like a set-up issue to me.
 
#48
bassbully said:
This is why only one of my basses has TI's on it. The tone is not my go to tone and I use it here and there for gigs where I want that dub,woody tone TI's give me.
Click to expand...

I just put some on my fretless and I don't hear the dubby or woody tone. I have La Bella 760FM's on my other bass and that has the dubby woody tone that I hear in my head.

I don't know if I really like them either. Tension wise they are fine.Not even close to the 760FM's, but I feel like I can dig in still with my action a little less than 2mm on my fretless. To me it's the tone. They sound thin even when I compare them to my bass that is stung with DR sunbeams.

They are staying on the bass it's on since I don't play it much and it would be waste if I didn't use them. Hopefully they age better than what they sound like now. I had Ernie Ball flats on it before. All though they sounded way to dead to me, they sounded better :/
 
#50
backup said:
will ti flats work on a squier VM jazz?
i currently use sunbeams but to me they are a little too thin sounding and feeling. the ti's will be even more like that wont they?
Click to expand...

I feel Sunbeams have a bigger sound. But I can't switch strings around because the TI's are on a headless and the sunbeams are on an active fender. It may be the bass that makes the TI's sound thin to me, but even acoustically the sunbeams have a bigger sound.
 
#51
phangtonpower said:
I just put some on my fretless and I don't hear the dubby or woody tone. I have La Bella 760FM's on my other bass and that has the dubby woody tone that I hear in my head.

I don't know if I really like them either. Tension wise they are fine.Not even close to the 760FM's, but I feel like I can dig in still with my action a little less than 2mm on my fretless. To me it's the tone. They sound thin even when I compare them to my bass that is stung with DR sunbeams.

They are staying on the bass it's on since I don't play it much and it would be waste if I didn't use them. Hopefully they age better than what they sound like now. I had Ernie Ball flats on it before. All though they sounded way to dead to me, they sounded better :/
Click to expand...

How old are they? Mine are 5-6 years old ...don't remember know. The sound changed on those strings from bass to bass and in the years I have had them. Truely they are one weird string but nice in a way.
 
#52
bassbully said:
How old are they? Mine are 5-6 years old ...don't remember know. The sound changed on those strings from bass to bass and in the years I have had them. Truely they are one weird string but nice in a way.
Click to expand...


I just put them on my bass last Saturday. I'll admit there is something I like about them, but it's just not the sound I have in my head. Maybe I'm just trying to like them. I'm sure they'll break in, but I'm sure they'll never sound like my La Bella's or DR's.
Since I had to cut the strings way past the red silks for my headless and because they are expensive strings, they are going to live on this bass for a looooooong time. I might as well try and appreciate the sound. I really don't play this bass much, but I haven't put it down since I put the TI's on trying to break them in :smug:
 
#53
phangtonpower said:
I just put them on my bass last Saturday. I'll admit there is something I like about them, but it's just not the sound I have in my head. Maybe I'm just trying to like them. I'm sure they'll break in, but I'm sure they'll never sound like my La Bella's or DR's.
Since I had to cut the strings way past the red silks for my headless and because they are expensive strings, they are going to live on this bass for a looooooong time. I might as well try and appreciate the sound. I really don't play this bass much, but I haven't put it down since I put the TI's on trying to break them in :smug:
Click to expand...

Well like others here have found there can be a love/hate relationship with TI's. I am a P bass player and its all I own, it took me to switching those strings between 4 P basses before I found a home for them. My other P basses along with my 3 SS basses all wear Chromes which is my go -to string.

At the price I paid I was wanting them to work more than they wanted to work for me. The bass they are on now is a dream and it has a woody , thumpy, creamy tone that is very clear.

Again, these strings are 4-5 years old and yours are new, give them time for TI's need it and are a different animal all around.
 
#54
I can understand why people like them. They are here to stay on that bass. I'm not disappointed in them since I did my research on them on TB and knew what I was getting into. Just not the sound I'm looking for. Maybe after a year, I'll figure it out and I'll enjoy them more. All 3 of my basses and have different strings. They all sound different. Variety is good!
 
#55
Espresto said:
I have my fretless strung with TI's, but I just can't get used to them. I like the tone, they feel great, and they're friendly to the fingerboard. Unfortunately, I just can't seem to get them to play well. The low tension makes it feel like they hang onto my fingers, and makes it impossible for me to get the low action I want. Also, the E string buzzes unless I set the action really high, and it sounds odd. TI's seem to be very well respected around here, and they're really expensive (I know that's a bad way to judge things, but, you know...) so I guess I feel like they should be a better fit. Am I doing something wrong?

Do you guys know any alternatives to TI's, preferably bright, light-gauge, and easy on wood fingerboards?
Click to expand...

For my fretless (a Rob Allen mb2) its LaBella Black tapewounds; what they ship with and pair so well with, but have also used them on my Precision bass and they worked well there too. Very easy to play, wont harm your fingerboard and can go from woody to bright based on tone settings (though they wont be as bright as Chromes).

If you were here in the US I'd swap you, I have an extra set
 
#56
.
I put TI flats on my Rick a while back.
I love the sound of them when I finger pluck, but not when I play with a pick.

I haven't really sat down and tried to analyse what it is I don't like about the picked sound yet. It just doesn't sound "right" to me.
Yes, of course there is a lot more attack and definition playing that way, it just doesn' t appeal to me as much as the finger plucked sound of them.

Maybe I just need to keep trying to adjust settings chasing a pick sound I can be happy with.

Greg
 
#57
For what it's worth, you can hear a '57 RE Precision strung with TI flats here (the first 4 tracks, labeled with "P"):
http://soundcloud.com/ale29/sets
Forget about my playing, but you should hear how's the tone, especially compared to my older bass (Mayones) with Fender flats or La Bella HRS roundwounds, depending on the track.
I made Hotel California both with the P and the Mayones for example.
If you don't like the tone, you can save some money I guess :P
 
#58
I tried TI flats once... Had them on for a while to give them a fair chance, loved the tension, didn't love the sound... Too safe and wimpy sounding, for lack of a better description. Like generic mid-1970's L.A. light rock tone, not my cup of tea. Chromes are much more to my liking for my long scale basses, Pyramid Gold for short scale... I've also liked LaBellas a lot for both long and short scale, nice 1960's tone, not too aggressive but not wimpy either.
 

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