*TI Flats MegaThread*

[RomanS]

I just turned my old MIJ Precision into a medium scale bass (by mounting a 32" Squier Jaguar neck, and moving the bridge a tiny bit). The only medium scale flatwounds available at my local music store were TI JF324 (yeah, officially "short scale" - but even with a 32" bass the main/non-silk part of the low E reaches the tuner post, and goes around for a quarter turn).

I have had D'Addario Chromes on that P bass for about two decades, then I used LaBella DTFs for the last year (I also have DTFs on all my other basses, too); no previous experience with TIs on bass - and man, I love them!

Of course I changed three things: neck, scale length, and strings, so any tonal changes could have a variety of causes...

I do still love the classic LaBella thump (instant Duck Dunn tone) - but the TIs offer a lot more variety. You can get still get the classic thump by using a sponge, and turning down the tone pot a bit. But wide open the TIs sound much more lively, with more upper mids - almost roundwound-like, but without the nasty clank and zing of roundwounds.

I just ordered a Jaguar mute, to be able to switch between these two tonal options (like on the Sean Hurley P bass).

Admittedly, the LaBellas feel much smoother (you can actually see the difference, with the DTBs you can barely make out the grooves between the flat wire windings, with the TIs you can't miss them), but the TIs don't feel as stiff (Chromes were the worst when it comes to stiffness).

I'm tempted to get another set of TIs to try on my Guild Starfire I.

 

[RomanS]

Yes. I was uncertain myself and watched German-language videos on YouTube, including some with company representatives, and it is definitely tome AH stick, not TOM uh stick.

As an Austrian living in Vienna, about 15 minutes from the Thomastik place, I can confirm this!

 

[Bighouse]

It's happens on all basses. It's physics.
1) As you move up the neck, the speaking length of the string gets shorter, changing the amount of overtones. That's the reason that short-scale basses sound a little "tubbier" than long scales.
2) As you move up the neck, the part of the string over the pickup(s) moves closer to the pickup, changing how the string interacts magnetically with the pickup. As the strings get closer, the volume goes up-- up to a point. If strings are too close to the pickup, they can start to exhibit warbly and chorusing effects. To minimize the volume and tone affects as you move up the neck, you could try lowering your pickups into the body a little. You don't need to set pickup height for maximum volume. Let your amp make up any volume reduction.

Thank you! That was one of the best and clearest explanations of string physics/tone quality anyone's ever given me. Now when I hear the differences, I'll know that it's to be expected and that some notes will sound more live than others due to the overtones my ears and brain are hearing that aren't as noticeable when fretting the same note on a different string. It's not a problem with my bass, it's a problem with physics.

 

[bwildt]

It's not a problem with my bass, it's a problem with physics

Something else to remember is that although you might hear small differences when you play by yourself and are listening for those differences, most of these issues tend to be less noticeable when in a band and PA situation.

I play in an 18 piece big band. When all those horns are blasting, my bass tone is not up front at all. If the audience can hear the basic notes I am playing, that's considered a win.

It's easy for people to obsess over the small stuff.

 

[RomanS]

Also, you might intentionally put the tone differences to good use - play lower strings up the neck for more thumpy, subdued background stuff, but play the same notes on higher strings near the nut if you want a fill to stick out from the rest.
I do that all the time!

 

[kesslari]

Question for all you experienced TI users. I now have a new set of TI flats on my fretless.
I'm noticing an almost distorted quality to the sound in the middle register, almost like an overdrive. Higher notes are clear.
Is this a "not used to the quality/tone of the mids" issue? Or possibly a "neck needs more relief" issue? There is no overt buzz (it's a fretless!) but the distorted sound is definitely there.

 

[NorthTexasBass]

Question for all you experienced TI users. I now have a new set of TI flats on my fretless.
I'm noticing an almost distorted quality to the sound in the middle register, almost like an overdrive. Higher notes are clear.
Is this a "not used to the quality/tone of the mids" issue? Or possibly a "neck needs more relief" issue? There is no overt buzz (it's a fretless!) but the distorted sound is definitely there.

I have never had an issue like this with TI's. Maybe play with your pickup height

 

[Zbysek]

It's happens on all basses. It's physics.
1) As you move up the neck, the speaking length of the string gets shorter, changing the amount of overtones. That's the reason that short-scale basses sound a little "tubbier" than long scales.
2) As you move up the neck, the part of the string over the pickup(s) moves closer to the pickup, changing how the string interacts magnetically with the pickup. As the strings get closer, the volume goes up-- up to a point. If strings are too close to the pickup, they can start to exhibit warbly and chorusing effects. To minimize the volume and tone affects as you move up the neck, you could try lowering your pickups into the body a little. You don't need to set pickup height for maximum volume. Let your amp make up any volume reduction.

I have been struggling with this for very long time. I don't mind the difference in overtones, I am bothered with the difference in the amount of low frequencies between playing the same note on different strings.

What helped to resolved this issues for me is reverse-P pickup configuration...

 

[Jeff Scott]

Does anyone design strings to minimise the different-tone effect. It really bugs me!

This one may have the power to do what you want.

 

[PBandJazzBass]

Just put a set on my Yamaha BB434 and am ecstatic! Perfect for 60’s classic rock and Motown.

 

[kesslari]

I have never had an issue like this with TI's. Maybe play with your pickup height

I took the bass to rehearsal - different amp, didn't notice the issue. So I'll play with my settings.

 

[FeltTipPen]

Giving another try with TI Jazz Flats for a fretless with Bartolini Originals. The first time I tried them was years ago on a fretted 5 string, when I didn't quite know what tone and feel I was going for.

Curious to see how these work coming from a year with LaBella Tapewounds.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Giving another try with TI Jazz Flats for a fretless with Bartolini Originals. The first time I tried them was years ago on a fretted 5 string, when I didn't quite know what tone and feel I was going for.

Curious to see how these work coming from a year with LaBella Tapewounds.

I have TI Jazz Flats on the fretless Martin Keith. Love how it sounds.

 

[FeltTipPen]

I have TI Jazz Flats on the fretless Martin Keith. Love how it sounds.

The set is going on my fretless MK too! Really looking forward to hearing the combination!

 

[Mike Vee]

Loive TIs on a Jazz bass played near the bridge. Not so much on a Precision (too loose feeling)

 

[lowfreq1]

Love TI’s on my P-bass. On my J-bass I want to have rounds.
I have struggled several weeks to get used to the low tension.
Now it feels natural

 

[FeltTipPen]

A couple of days ago I installed the TI Jazz Flats on my 5 string with Bartolini Originals. Coming from a year of LaBella Tapewounds, I personally did not find the tension/flexibility to be very different. The TIs sounded too bright to me at first but I turned the tone knob all the way down and had my treble knob on my amp down at 9:00.

3 solid hours of playing later, any stickiness is gone and I've turned the tone knob on my bass back up as well as the treble knob on my amp. I am really liking the tone!

Everything seems to be settling in nicely so far, except the low B string. I find the output of it anemic. It doesn't have the same output as the rest of the strings, which is not fun when I'm hitting the low D.

Anyone else have experience on this?

 

[FeltTipPen]

Thanks to Jason at FretNation, I restrung the B string to make sure there was no twisting of the string. Also I found that where the string bends at the tuning machine it was sitting too high. Now as I move from the E string to B the output is even!

 

[Jeff Scott]

A couple of days ago I installed the TI Jazz Flats on my 5 string with Bartolini Originals. Coming from a year of LaBella Tapewounds, I personally did not find the tension/flexibility to be very different. The TIs sounded too bright to me at first but I turned the tone knob all the way down and had my treble knob on my amp down at 9:00.

3 solid hours of playing later, any stickiness is gone and I've turned the tone knob on my bass back up as well as the treble knob on my amp. I am really liking the tone!

Everything seems to be settling in nicely so far, except the low B string. I find the output of it anemic. It doesn't have the same output as the rest of the strings, which is not fun when I'm hitting the low D.

Anyone else have experience on this?

No issues here. I am glad you got it figured out.

 

[markusd]

I have TIs on my Fender Jazz since a year now and I notice some intonation issues that seem to get worse.
1. Usually the bass holds it's tuning extremely well. Doesn't need tuning sometimes in weeks of not touching it. But with the TIs that's not the case. If I play today, I'll have to tune it again tomorrow. I wouldn't be surprised on another bass but on this that didn't happen with other strings.
2. The intonation over the fret board seems quite wobbly. It's not consistent and sometimes there are funky notes on a fret and 2 bars later it's all fine on the same fret.

I don't get my head around this. How can this happen? It's quite frustrating and I am very tempted to take them TIs off although I really dig the tone.