Had both and prefer Chromes. One reason is the price, reason two is TI's are fickle. They sound good on one bass and down right bad on another. Once you find their home they have a wonderful woody honk I love but a tad too one dimensional for me.
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TI Flats vs D'Addario Chromes
- Thread starter jedgargroover
- Start date
I have both & prefer Chromes. My TIs made their rounds on all my basses and I never liked their sound on anything until I tried them on my Sigma acoustic fretless. They sound and feel great there and that's where they've stayed.
To me, Chromes have a greater frequency range. I like their tone with the tone wide open and with it rolled off in different amounts. The TIs are more of a one one trick pony. It's a pretty good trick, but still limited variety.
To me, Chromes have a greater frequency range. I like their tone with the tone wide open and with it rolled off in different amounts. The TIs are more of a one one trick pony. It's a pretty good trick, but still limited variety.
TI flats are the best strings I have ever played. I wouldn't recommend them for a beginner, maybe for a total beginner who can't pluck the strings, but they are too easy to play, so you can't get any good finger exercise with them. But once you get as fast as you will ever get, they get you faster, smoother, and easier.
I have heard good things about pyramids, but never tried them. Tapes have a better grip feel to me, but don't have that deep but not muddy pudding of TI. I wish they could wrap the plucking area only with tape, that would be perfect.
I have heard good things about pyramids, but never tried them. Tapes have a better grip feel to me, but don't have that deep but not muddy pudding of TI. I wish they could wrap the plucking area only with tape, that would be perfect.
I played with TIs and Chromes for months. Love them both, but the Chromes win for me. There is a crispness to them that is fantastic with a Pbass. Chromes are like a modern flatwound. They do more than just thump and I like that.
TI's are also quite unique. They have that super low tension and woody sound that beefs up the mids. I just find the chromes more versatile.
TI's are also quite unique. They have that super low tension and woody sound that beefs up the mids. I just find the chromes more versatile.
I would have no idea how. I doubt i could get the same grip as nylon tape strips that are machine wound.
I don't think you can get by with adding any mass to a string unless it is added evenly along the entire vibrating length. I believe adding mass at one location along the vibrating length will throw the intonation off by a mile; possibly beyond the adjustment range of the bridge.
Yeah, I didn't think of that. Hey, maybe it will make the string sound better? 
But, it is easy and cheap to try. If it doesn't work, just slice the tubing off.
But, it is easy and cheap to try. If it doesn't work, just slice the tubing off.
Yeah, I didn't think of that. Hey, maybe it will make the string sound better?
Way too thick. And slick. Defeats the purpose. It's a very specific grip, it's not just plastic.
Maybe I can try taking the wrap off a tapewound, and winding the plucking area, maybe trying superglue at the ends.
Not a good plan. Adding mass to a string in one location (not evenly distributed across the entire vibrating length) will severely affect your intonation
Supposedly the nylon wrap adds nothing to the effective mass, so a negligible amount shouldnt do anything.
D'Addario Chromes:
Thomastik-Infeld:
Both are so amazing
Yeah but most players think jazz flats feel better, which aside from cost puts them over the top. I dont know how long the chromes last, but the ti are pushing a decade for me.
Well both strings are great. My advice to the OP (back in 2010) would have been to stay with Chromes. Why ? He's on a PBass and rolls off the tone. To me that negates the rich mid detail in the TI. For fretless the TI's can't be beat. For thud, broken in chromes are the ticket...
For me Chromes are an annual replacement. Not sure I have owned any one bass strung with TIJF's long enough that I had to replace them.. they are a very long lived string.
For me Chromes are an annual replacement. Not sure I have owned any one bass strung with TIJF's long enough that I had to replace them.. they are a very long lived string.
Personally I liked my chromes until I took them off and tried any other string. I thought they were growing on me, but it turns out that I just forgot how good my bass could sound. Imo of course.
TIs are the best strings I've ever used in terms of comfort and tone. They have a vintage midrangey warmth to them that I haven't found in any other strings. They are also super versatile. I would say the only drawbacks are a slight loss in ultra lows and a less snappy (but very pleasant) high end.
A note to anyone that finds TI flats too floppy: it doesn't hurt to raise your action a bit
TIs are the best strings I've ever used in terms of comfort and tone. They have a vintage midrangey warmth to them that I haven't found in any other strings. They are also super versatile. I would say the only drawbacks are a slight loss in ultra lows and a less snappy (but very pleasant) high end.
A note to anyone that finds TI flats too floppy: it doesn't hurt to raise your action a bit
and just take some time to getting used to a different feeling.
most people are used to 45-105 hex core, and trying different tensions they don't take some time to getting used.
when I first tried the TIs, it was the same story: I came from 45-100 Chromes and 45-105 Rotosound Swing66, and those austrian strings were so soft that my bass rattled all over the fretboard, even with an higher action.
after some days I started getting used to them, found out that I could play with a lighter touch without losing anything in the sound.
as mentioned by @4Mal, there is a rich texture in the mids that no other string set has. learning not to play hard let all the nuances getting out of the bass.
I play Chromes (50-105) and I love the feel and sound. I also play TI – not very fond of the very low tension noodle thing, but they do sound incredible and like no other string I've tried.
I tell myself that TI's are "fun" to play, it helps
I tell myself that TI's are "fun" to play, it helps
