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TI Flats: First impression, The string search continues?

B

BassBob1

Dec 21, 2010
735
26
#1
Ok, so any of you who have seen me post in other string threads may or may not know I have been trying out different strings on my 08 MIA Fender Jazz. With in the last year I have gone back and forth with between rounds and flats. I have definitely settled on flats. So far my favorite set has been d'addario chromes 45-100. I just put on a set of TI jazz flats today. My first impression, holy low-tension batman!! I'm not sure if thats a good thing or not yet. (They are even more flexible than DR sunbeams 45-105) They sound pretty good, definitely more mellow out of the package than chromes and rotosound 77flats. Feel-wise, they remind me of rotosound. The D and G are incredibly smooth, the E and A, not so much. At least not as smooth as the E and A in a set of chromes. With how much the TI's cost me I really want to like them so I will give them a fair shot. I should get to try them out in a band setting this weekend. I'll say this too, out of the package they feel a bit sticky (more so than chromes out of a pack). For those of you who use TI's, how long does the stickiness take to wear off? several hours, a week?

Thanks for reading. I'll post an update at the end of the week, or sooner.
 
#7
I have TI flats on two basses. One a 24 fret Fender active Jazz, that set is about 4 yrs old, the other set is about two weeks old on a MIM P/J Jazz. I have also used Chromes for about 2 years on the P/J. I have spent time with GHS flats, Fender old recipe flats, and Roto TruBass 88s on a variety of other basses. Each brand has something I like, but to me nothing compares to the TI's. Deep, resonant, tuneful, with a nice touch of highs. The low tension is no big deal, I set my instruments up low and play with a light touch, I can fly across the fretboard with minimal effort. I really liked my Chromes 50-105, but I kept having problems with pain in the back of my fretting hand, when playing my other Jazz with TI's I did not suffer from any pain, hence the switch.

I remember my Chromes feeling sticky, and this set of TI's feeling a little tacky, but that quickly wore off. This set seems to be more even than my first set, both in terms of tone and feel. This set was very even across the board, tonally and to the touch, whereas with my first set the E and A definitely felt and sounded different than the D and G. But after a month or two they all evened out and they feel and sound fabulous now.

Give them a couple of weeks and they will smooth out, even out, and mellow out. By then you should be used to the tension.
 
#8
I'm actually sitting here noodling on my jazz with the TI's now and even for not being broken in yet they sound nice. The sticky feel has pretty much worn off. Reminds me of the last time I threw a new set of chromes on a bass. I think the hardest part for me is going to be getting used to how loose they feel. I have never been one to play with a very light touch. If light touch is on one end of the spectrum and really digging in is on the other I'm closer to digging in (depending on the song of coarse but I'm speaking generally). These strings will probably get more of a shot than other strings have gotten because of the cost. I really only justified the cost because of all the money in strings that I don't really like that I have sitting around my apartment anyway. Believe me I don't have the money to through around on strings, I will be eating very cheaply this week.

Thanks for all the input thus far. I'll continue to post as I get to know these strings better.
 
#9
I'm kind of addicted to Chromes. They improve my playing. The stickyness of new strings is caused by oil residues from the production line, I suppose. I always rub new strings with a cloth drenched in alcohol, before installing them. A lot of grey slurry comes off, regardless the brand. Thoroughly cleaned strings feel less sticky. However, it takes quite some time before the strings are broken in.
 
#10
I have used a variety of flats on my Fender basses and currently use Labella Deep Talkin'/Original 1954s on two and TI flats on two. The TIs are on my main Jazz at the moment which like yours is a 2008 Am. Std. I love them and do not find the tension an issue even when switching from the P-Bass with the Original 1954s on it. Where do you do the majority of your playing? I am not a light plucker either but I find the tension absolutely perfect over/slightly in front of the bridge PU. Unlike the Chromes they retain their out of the package character much longer. Some even suggest that they just don't totally die like other flats. However they do mellow out after heavy playtime in a couple of weeks. Mine have been on this particular bass for about 2 years and they sound great, to me. They are truly the 'warmest' mid heavy string I have ever played. To me they stand out in a mix unlike any other flat I've tried and in a good way.
 
#11
RFMac said:
To me they stand out in a mix unlike any other flat I've tried and in a good way.
Click to expand...

This sums it up for me. Had mine on my Fullerton RI Jazz for nearly two years now. Really love 'em.

About a month ago I switched back to Roto 77s for about two weeks (and I love those too) cuz I was bored. The 77s just didn't do it like the TIs do in a live setting for me, and I was a 77 guy for years. In fantasy land I'd have one Jazz for each, but I don't have the funds. I put the TIs back on after two gigs.

As for the tension, it's kinda nuts, but you get used to it, and this is from a guy who plays (played?) heavy handed.
 
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#12
RFMac said:
Where do you do the majority of your playing?
Click to expand...

I'd say on average I play right over the neck pick up finger style and on the occasion when I use a pick I play by the bridge more. For me one of the many great things about a jazz bass is the noticeable difference in sound you can get just by moving you plucking/picking hand IMO of coarse.
 
#13
So I got to play in a band setting yesterday. It was myself, two guitars, drummer and keyboardist. The TI's are not for me. I played some of the jam session with the TI's and then during a break put my oldest set of chromes back on (and re-setup). I guess it is chromes for me after all.

The TI's sounded fine so my gripe is not with the sound I got. They just feel way too floppy for me. So the TI's are on my P bass copy for now since that doesn't much play anyway.

To anyone who wants to try TI flats, I'm sure they are great strings but it you are used to heavier gauge or higher tension strings they probably aren't for you so save your 60 something bucks.
 
#15
TI's are indeed low tension for a flat but I have never felt they were "floppy" and I would not think they would be lower tension than DR Sunbeams. Round core roundwounds should be much lower tension (although you mentioned a high gauge set of Sunbeams). I play Jazz Rounds on my Precision and those are way lower tension than the flats and I don't even think they fall into floppy category but I guess if someone is used to much higher tension it can be a huge adjustment. I have been playing low tension for years now so it seems par for the course.

That said I think Chromes are fantastic flats and usually what I suggest to people when I don't suggest TI. Exploring strings is expensive but fun and when you finally find "your" brand it's exciting.
 
#17
Chromes have a short break in period and then get really nice smoooth. TI's for me were smooth right out of the pack but change allot in the first year of playing. I had a love/hate with TI's and tried them on a few different basses until I found out it was just the strings not the setup or basses they were played on.
It was not the tension or floppyness I like that, it was the honking or farting out they were doing when I dug in on them. I since have had to learn to play around that and know where on the fretboard to dig in to get away form this issue. The woody mid range thump of those strings (TI) is one of a kind thats for sure.
 
#18
bassbully said:
TI's for me were smooth right out of the pack but change allot in the first year of playing.
Click to expand...

I agree. They will become less bright over time. You should leave them on for a few months. I also agree with the poster that said that they Sunbeams are lower tension than the TI flats. I have Sunbeams on my Jazz and TI Flats on my P, and the TI flats are stiffer.

Note: we tend to use the word tension to describe how the strings feel. This is a misuse of the word tension. What people typically refer to as tension is more the suppleness or ease of fingering, and this is not the same thing as tension. This has come up over on the double bass side of a forum a few times. For double bass manufacturers list the tension (assuming a specific scale length) so you can see exactly what the real tension is.

Jim
 
#19
bassbully said:
Chromes have a short break in period and then get really nice smoooth. TI's for me were smooth right out of the pack but change allot in the first year of playing. I had a love/hate with TI's and tried them on a few different basses until I found out it was just the strings not the setup or basses they were played on.
It was not the tension or floppyness I like that, it was the honking or farting out they were doing when I dug in on them. I since have had to learn to play around that and know where on the fretboard to dig in to get away form this issue. The woody mid range thump of those strings (TI) is one of a kind thats for sure.
Click to expand...

Yes you can't dig into TIs the way you can Chromes ... for the honking result you just said. I play differently with TIs than other stiffer flats.
 
#20
Mastermold said:
Yes you can't dig into TIs the way you can Chromes ... for the honking result you just said. I play differently with TIs than other stiffer flats.
Click to expand...

Right on! The issue was I had 2 of my P basses strung w/chromes one with TI's. When I took the chrome strung P basses out no problem. I then would take the TI strung P and forget this and HonK!!!
I now remember this when I take that bass out and lay off the fretboard. When laying into it more I move my plucking hand toward the bridge and watch more on the fretboard. The sound of those TI's is really something thou and when I go to that bass I always hear those warm, rich tones and it really adds to my playing that night. I love Chromes as my go to string but TI's are awesome too.
 

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