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*TI Flats MegaThread*

#81
Pier_ said:
well, Chromes are bright on the highs, and more "twangy". TI start bright, in particular on the low strings, but them mellow out to a middy and woody tone, and you can hear my samples with them in the pages before.

let's say that Chromes keep a "stainless steel" vibe, and Thomasitk are clearly nickel flats.

Labella are bright at the beginning, being stainless, and a bit scooped on the mids, and with a thumpy E string (instant decay of the note). I've tried only the 0760M set, the 52-110, and in a band mix they were a bit less "cutting through" due to their scoop on the mids, but they have clearer highs compared to the Thomastik, but non bright as Chromes.

in my experience, Chromes are the brightest and cutting-through of all, Thomastik cut through but not that much, and are "warmer" for the band context, and Labella are deep, going side by side with the kick drum, and cutting through only going up on the register (obviously in a sound like the motown one, where sometimes there are no guitars at all(think about "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"), they work perfectly and are clearly audible even on the lowest notes).
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I need your expertise on flats lol. I'm wanting to either try the chromes or TI flats on my Ibanez Prestige 5 string. We are a full band with drums, accoustic, electric and bass. I play gospel praise and worship and use finger style technique. What would cut through the mix better and have the better tone?
 
#82
Bassworship1 said:
What would cut through the mix better and have the better tone?
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hard to say and to be sure, because the bass obviously plays it's part.

it depends on what you like: more "metallic" bite in the high frequencies (Chromes) or mellower sound on the highs with woody mids (Thomastik)?

for example, on a Precision I really love Thomastik, but I didn't liked them on a G&L L1500, which sounded better with Chromes.

my favourite thing about Thomastik is how they sound "smashed" on the frets, even when kept with low action: the sound is never "harsh", always a middy but mellow tone, with added a slight spark from the fret hitting.
with Chromes this kind of sound is a bit more metallic.

however, the feeling is also important: Thomastik are flexible (roundcore) and with a light gauge, 43-56-70-100-136 ( I made the D and A bold, because they are the peculiar strings: 56 and 70 could come from a 35-90 set, that's pretty light! the smallest gauge from Chromes has 60 and 75); Chromes are less flexible, and with more tension.

on a modern bass like the Ibanez I'd see the Thomastik very interesting.
 
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#90
I gotta plug for the TI Jazz Rounds here too... I just put a set on my Gibson Thunder Series V last week, and wow was that a great combination. Tension feels perfectly balanced, and the tone is just right! I have the Jazz Flats on everything else, and I'm sold on that.
 
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#91
tallboybass said:
Very interesting, BigfellaBass! Just last night I tuned mine down to Eb, since I play in a band that requires that. They seemed just fine. 50-105 Ernie Ball Slinkies on a passive Jazz are what I usually use with that band, and they work great, but the TI's have their own thing going on.
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totally forgot I have a whole album recorded like with that setting (lyrics in spanish, but bear with it while you check the tone: especially tracks 3 and 9 are my favorite ones)

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#92
BigfellaBass said:
totally forgot I have a whole album recorded like with that setting (lyrics in spanish, but bear with it while you check the tone: especially tracks 3 and 9 are my favorite ones)

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Wow, very cool, BigfellaBass! I'm amazed that the smaller gauge strings seem to work so well with downtuning. Right now I'm using a 40-55-75-95 set of Chromes on a PJ tuned to Eb...and it sounds great!
 
#93
Dear friends. I am missing the big bottom of a labella or ghs flat. I'm thinking what if I got the string b and added it to my 4 strings and just got rid of the g?

136 100 70 56. I tune down a half step to Eb Ab Db Gb so it could work. Anyone try this? Do the bigger strings give more fundamental?
 
#94
markjazzbassist said:
Dear friends. I am missing the big bottom of a labella or ghs flat. I'm thinking what if I got the string b and added it to my 4 strings and just got rid of the g?

136 100 70 56. I tune down a half step to Eb Ab Db Gb so it could work. Anyone try this? Do the bigger strings give more fundamental?
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Eh why not just raise the action a bit?
 
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#95
markjazzbassist said:
Dear friends. I am missing the big bottom of a labella or ghs flat. I'm thinking what if I got the string b and added it to my 4 strings and just got rid of the g?

136 100 70 56. I tune down a half step to Eb Ab Db Gb so it could work. Anyone try this? Do the bigger strings give more fundamental?
Click to expand...
I know what you mean about the bottom end on these strings. They are more about the mids. IME there is maybe a little more fundamental with thicker strings but not enough to make it worthwhile. I have a set of TI JFs on a Stingyray so I can crank up the low end to compensate. On a passive Precision I didn't like them as much. Replacing them with GHS flats made me go "Ah, now I'm playing a bass". Of course, plenty of players love the sound of them on a passive bass.
 
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#97
markjazzbassist said:
raising action don't increase bass response. not sure what you're talking about. play some labella or ghs and get back to me, TI are severley lacking in the 100hz and lower range.
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Get back to you? o_O

Anyway -- raising the action helps the percussive response of the strings. Because TIs are low tension they sometimes need that to sound more like traditional flats such as the ones you've mentioned.
 
#98
markjazzbassist said:
raising action don't increase bass response. not sure what you're talking about. play some labella or ghs and get back to me, TI are severley lacking in the 100hz and lower range.
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I feel your pain Mark, there is something I love about my Ti jazz strings, I have them on my 30" 5 string P bass. I am temped to try a set of short scale 1954's I have (5 string set), although it requires filing the groove on my E string nut as it was cut for the Ti E string. I have a hankering for a bit more low end and stiffness as I over pluck with the Ti's when I have a fast run.

Mastermold said:
Get back to you? o_O

Anyway -- raising the action helps the percussive response of the strings. Because TIs are low tension they sometimes need that to sound more like traditional flats such as the ones you've mentioned.
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When I raised the action on my Ti's I did not get any additional bass response. I actually noticed a more focused midrange sound.
 
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#100
Mastermold said:
Yeah raising action would just help the percussive feel. Most basses I've used TIs on I raise the action a wee bit, but they are still going to be more middy than traditional flats.
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Yeah I love the mids just want more bass. Decided to try something else I forgot I used to do with them. I been on and off with them for years. I raised the pickups on the e string sides to get more low end response. We'll see if that pays off for now, so far I do notice a little more fundamental, I hope this does the trick.

If not I've heard the optima flats are very similar to TI just with more tension and fundamental.
 
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