Some guys raise their action for TIs to allow for more aggressive playing. I've tried this, it works. But what's great about low action and TIs is it's absolutely effortless to play fast, just keep a light touch.
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TI Flats: First impression, The string search continues?
- Thread starter BassBob1
- Start date
Some guys raise their action for TIs to allow for more aggressive playing. I've tried this, it works. But what's great about low action and TIs is it's absolutely effortless to play fast, just keep a light touch.
Right, I hate high action and keep em' low.It takes a little getting to know them and where to play on the freatboard and they sing real nice.
I'm a fan of medium high action so you can really get the string moving. With any string too low you only get varying degrees of "clank" past a certain point. Which is fine if that's your thing. You can still play plenty fast with action a little high. Being a double bass player may skew my thoughts on this though.
Most DB guys I know tell me the same thing. Makes sense given what you're used to.
I've put my first set of flats, TIs, on my Jazz Bass about a month ago, and I've been absolutely thrilled with them, with the sound for sure, but with the feel most of all. I am so pleased, in fact, that I overnighted a set of them to be put on and set up on my brand new Fodera Yin Yang Deluxe. Give the reputation that the Fodera has for ease of play, now combined with the characteristics of the TI flats, I can't even imagine what that bass is going to feel like 
Got to hand it to TI. They really succeeded in making a string that not everyone likes, but those who do like them love them to an insane level. Very few people are wishy washy about TI's. I'm certainly not.
I love both the TI's and the Chromes. But I do think that a well worn in set of chromes sit in the mix much better than the TI's. The mids on the TI's, while still very musical, soften up as the strings wear in. With Chromes, the mids seem to get stronger as they are played in. You really notice it when you start rolling off the tone knob..... the TI's really start to get lost.
Again, I love both sets, but in a full band setting, I'll take chromes on my P bass. If I were doing a small combo jazz thing, it would be TIJF's all the way.
BTW, I hate TIJF's on a jazz bass. Not a good mix for me.
Again, I love both sets, but in a full band setting, I'll take chromes on my P bass. If I were doing a small combo jazz thing, it would be TIJF's all the way.
BTW, I hate TIJF's on a jazz bass. Not a good mix for me.
Guys,
How drastic is the difference in tensions (or should I say...suppleness or ease of fingering
) between the TI Flats and the Chromes?
Are the chromes really tight? Or are they just a little tighter than ther TI Flats?
How drastic is the difference in tensions (or should I say...suppleness or ease of fingering
) between the TI Flats and the Chromes?Are the chromes really tight? Or are they just a little tighter than ther TI Flats?
Guys,
How drastic is the difference in tensions (or should I say...suppleness or ease of fingering
Are the chromes really tight? Or are they just a little tighter than ther TI Flats?
Tried both and TI flats were to floppy for me. Couldn't get used to them, but I know a few fellow bassists who love them. Sound is exceptional, though...
Chromes are much stiffer than TI's.
Thanks, goran.
I have the TI Flats on my Carvin B40, right now. And I really love them.
But I'm always looking for different options, for different basses. So that I have different options for tone and application available to me.
I don't like really tight, high tension strings. But I do like having strings that are a little tighter than the TI Flats for different kinds of music and of course tonal variations. For instance, if we're playing a heavier hard rock song; I prefer a little more tension in my rounds and flats. Not super tight, but just a we bit more tension than the TI Flats.
The TI Power Bass Rounds are real nice and I have them on one of my Fender P-basses. The tension is perfect: a bit tighter than the TI Flats, but still have a little play in them and are generally supple and easy to finger on the fingerboard. The only thing I don't like is the .105 gauge of the E string. I'm trying to get away from .105 gauge E strings on most of my basses (except for this specific bass), I want to use a lower gauge for the E string on most of my basses, but I will retain the .105 E on this bass (with the TI Power Bass Roundwounds).
Are the Chromes nice and supple on the fretboard, when fingering? Or are they very stiff and difficult to finger?
Depends on a gauge. Must admit that I have been using 50-105 Chromes that had much more tension than any other strings in similar gauge. So stiff that they felt like cables
. I guess that 40-95 set might have a comparable tension to the TI flats, but this is just a guess..
Depends on a gauge. Must admit that I have been using 50-105 Chromes that had much more tension than any other strings in similar gauge. So stiff that they felt like cables
Anyone not guessing?
This would be a very good piece of information.
It seems many love the tone of the TI's (myself included) but do not like the string clanking and buzzing around while playing a bit harder, due to much lighter tension.
I have the Sadowsky Flats (45-105) on a Jazz. The tension is better suited to playing than the TI's, but I wonder if they, along with the Chromes, would be even better in say, a 45-100 set.
Depends on a gauge. Must admit that I have been using 50-105 Chromes that had much more tension than any other strings in similar gauge. So stiff that they felt like cables
I think that''s a fair comparison based on my experience with both sets.
I've got 4 year old Fender 9050s on my CS 55 P that are 55-105 guage and they're extremely stiff but work really well with that bass.
My experience: I'm a longtime Chromes user. I prefer the 50-105 set. Yes, they're heavy, but the thickness and punch of the notes is more than worth it to me. The D and G strings in this set, unlike so many other flats I've tried, still maintain that meaty tone and never sound thin. The set is just wonderfully balanced from top to bottom.
I also find I can get my action at a nice level because of the tension, plays smoothly but it allows me to really dig in when needed for a driving rhythm.
The TI's when used on the same bass sounded distinctly thinner and "smaller" to me. The fat woody punch of the Chromes just carries more weight in the mix. I also never felt that I could play the TI's aggressively, they just flopped around too much for me (Chromes will fight back, in a good way
My .02 worth.
I also find I can get my action at a nice level because of the tension, plays smoothly but it allows me to really dig in when needed for a driving rhythm.
The TI's when used on the same bass sounded distinctly thinner and "smaller" to me. The fat woody punch of the Chromes just carries more weight in the mix. I also never felt that I could play the TI's aggressively, they just flopped around too much for me (Chromes will fight back, in a good way
My .02 worth.
My experience: I'm a longtime Chromes user. I prefer the 50-105 set. Yes, they're heavy, but the thickness and punch of the notes is more than worth it to me. The D and G strings in this set, unlike so many other flats I've tried, still maintain that meaty tone and never sound thin. The set is just wonderfully balanced from top to bottom.
I also find I can get my action at a nice level because of the tension, plays smoothly but it allows me to really dig in when needed for a driving rhythm.
The TI's when used on the same bass sounded distinctly thinner and "smaller" to me. The fat woody punch of the Chromes just carries more weight in the mix. I also never felt that I could play the TI's aggressively, they just flopped around too much for me (Chromes will fight back, in a good way
My .02 worth.
I tried the Chromes in the 50-105 set on my MIA P-Bass, and it was not for me. It was too mid-heavy and cut too much through the mix for me. I know that sounds kinda crazy, but hear me out. When I was looking for flats for my P-bass, it's because I wanted a sort of huge, warm, woody sound that would fill up all the space between the guitars and the drums and shake the room.
For me, I found that sort of sound with the La Bella Deep Talkin's. When I pulled the Chromes off my bass and put the LaBella's on, I thought, "Aha! That is the P-bass sound I was search for!"
I'm sure for some folks it is reverse. If you want that punchy, mid-forward sound that's great for cutting through the mix and awesome for pick-style rock, then the Chromes are a fantastic string.
In this case, I think the respective companies actually hit it right on the head with the names of the strings! If your envisioning classic cars and rock 'n roll with lots of "Chrome" the Chromes are your string. If you're envisioning smoky clubs and Motown, the the "Deep Talkins" are your best bet.
That said, I think the LaBellas also sound good with a pick, whereas there was just nothing I could do with EQ to tame those cutting mids on Chromes, which is why I think some players swear by them.
"In this case, I think the respective companies actually hit it right on the head with the names of the strings! If your envisioning classic cars and rock 'n roll with lots of "Chrome" the Chromes are your string. If you're envisioning smoky clubs and Motown, the the "Deep Talkins" are your best bet."
-senp5f, above.
That may be the best description I have ever read comparing these string sets. I hope prospective buyers read this. Well done!
I have 8 year old TIJF's on an old Fender P and absolutely love them. Yes, they feel a little loose compared to other strings and the attack is kind of slow, but they sound incredible.
I would like to give the Chromes another spin- I tried them once about 10 years ago and obviously don't remember much about them. I'm fortunate enough to have a couple of basses, and I like for them to feel and sound completely different. I find that I adapt pretty quickly to whatever strings are on the bass and actually like changing between different strings with different tensions.....
-senp5f, above.
That may be the best description I have ever read comparing these string sets. I hope prospective buyers read this. Well done!
I have 8 year old TIJF's on an old Fender P and absolutely love them. Yes, they feel a little loose compared to other strings and the attack is kind of slow, but they sound incredible.
I would like to give the Chromes another spin- I tried them once about 10 years ago and obviously don't remember much about them. I'm fortunate enough to have a couple of basses, and I like for them to feel and sound completely different. I find that I adapt pretty quickly to whatever strings are on the bass and actually like changing between different strings with different tensions.....
For upright tones on a fretless P, I'm using Pyramid Tapewounds on "E" and "A" and TI JF's for the "D" and "G" strings. I like a fairly high action and I'm really enjoying this combo. It drives with a full and brawny warmth and has that "TI supple" feel for soloing.
Guys,
How drastic is the difference in tensions (or should I say...suppleness or ease of fingering
Are the chromes really tight? Or are they just a little tighter than ther TI Flats?
I have a medium 105 set of Chromes on my P and they are considerably tighter than the TIs. They not unbearable by any means, but you get feel them pull a bit when your fingers come of them.
I have a 105 set of Sadowsky flats on a Jazz and tension is right in between the two which is perfect and they sound killer. They'll be on this bass for a long time.
