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TI Jazz Flat A string problem

C

Chet Braun

Apr 9, 2013
8
0
#1
Wondering if anyone has experienced a problem like this before.

I have a Carvin LB75F (fretless 5 string). It was strung with D'Addario Chrome XL flats, and I've had no problems with it.

Recently I had it restrung with Thomastik-Infelds Jazz Flats. All was good for about 24 hours then the A string developed this bad distortion that reached a peek just a bit sharp of the ninth fret position. None of the other strings had the problem.

I switched between active and passive modes, switched amps and even detuned the string. The peek of the distortion was always in the same physical location.

My luthier put the old D'Addario A string back on and the problem disappeard. We returned the TI A string and got a replacement.

For about the first 12 hours it sounded great then developed the same exact distortion sound but this time the peek was just a bit sharp of the fifth fret position.

Put the old D'Addario back on and problem gone. Truss rod adjusments and bridge adjustments made no difference. The fingerboard is clean and even. The strings felt fine, no visual problems.

The only thing we can think of is flawed batch, maybe the manufacturing of the core. We're sending them back again.

Anyone seen anything like this?
 
#2
If there is one thing that T-I's do is resonate throughout the instrument moreso than some other strings.

Is this a noise that is heard on your instrument when not plugged in? Are you using a compressor or any other EQ pedal, or even amp setting (aural exciter etc)?

By your description it sounds like something resonating somewhere. Could even be in your cab.
 
#3
You can hear it even unplugged. No effects, multiple cabs, including the one at the luthier.

Only the A string sounds that way, and as you slide from the open string to the bridge you'll hit a spot where it goes into an extreme distortion. Very noticable unplugged and you can feel the vibration change radically.

The string simply sounds bad compared to the others even though the extreme is at a specfic location.

The first string hit that extreme spot a bit sharp of the 9th fret position. The second one that they sent hit it abit sharp of the 5th.

It started showing up 12-24 hours after tension was applied when first strung.
 
#5
Except for:

1. The D'Addario A string doesn't show the problem...anywhere.

2. The two different TI strings showed the problem at two different frequencies near F# and near D.

3. With the first TI string I detuned the string a half a step (once down to F and once up to G) and the problem stayed in the same physical location on the string... near the 9th fret position (actually just a bit sharp of that positiion), and

4. It showed up only after tension had been applied to the strings for a period of time.

So it was not related to frequency.
 
#6
Buzz. If you are getting this 'distortion' at roughly the same place regardless of tuning, there's nothing else it can be. You've got a little bump in the fingerboard there. The Ti strings have less tension than the strings you were using. This allows the neck to relax and flatten out a bit. Since your action is probably low to begin with, it's now TOO low with the Ti's.
You must increase relief, bridge saddle height, or both. Or consider cleaning up your fingerboard a little.
 
#7
That's what I thought the with the first TI A string. But, the TIs were put on at the same time the luthier resurfaced the ebony fingerboard.

Then the second replacement TI A string showed the same problem but at a completely different position...as I indicated. This convinced me it was not a problem with the fingerboard.

The luthier tried adjusting the truss rod as well as the bridge...it had no effect.

Furthermore the string sounded just 'different' than the other TI strings.
 
#8
Customer put on a set of ti flats on his six string fretless. On random notes he experienced buzzing on the instrument even some open strings. This instrument never buzzed before. Put on a second complete set same thing. Told him to hold the springs on the bridge and the buzzing went away. Turned out the ti just resonated through the instrument that much more. They really ring thru the instrument and bring it to life.

Upright players experience this too with new strings especially ones that vibrate with more amplitude. New strings help point out cracks that didn't vibrate before.
 
#9
I have TI flats on several different basses, fretted, fretless, four-strings, fivers, short-scale, 34", 35".

The tension is low enough that every bass required a set-up the first time I used 'em; the string oscillations are more pronounced than strings with higher tension, and they cause every instrument to resonate more than the strings that I used to use: they produce more dynamic range, which requires slightly higher action. With a good set-up, these strings sing. :)
 
#10
Luthier resurfaced fingerboard, put on the TIs and set it up all at the same time.

The second time we raised the action but still didn't affect it.

I still can't explain that two TI A strings have the same problem but at different positions, and it doesn't follow the frequency. Detune the string and the problem stays at the string position, doesn't stay with the frequency.

Distributor is sending out two new A strings to see what happens so hopefully next week we'll get some answers. Maybe this time I'll get it hooked to a spectrum analyzer and see what it looks like. (I'm an engineer, so this is killing me not knowing!)
 
#14
Been exploring both. However everything done to the instrument so far still points to the strings. The TI rep is sending them back to TI for testing. But with absolutely no consistency with the characteristics of the problem that would relate to the instrument it still points to a manufacturing problem related to a batch of A string material.

That is why I've asked if purchases of that model from TI over the past few months have turned up related problems
 
#15
I've found the TI flats relatively easy to bend (as in physically kink), and even a very slight kink in the string could cause buzzing in one position on a fretboard. I like to experiment with different strings and tend to keep lots of slightly used sets that I try on different basses and have had similar issues with other string sets as well, but found the TIs to be the easiest to bend (and because of the low tension when strung up, the kink that is produced has the most dramatic effect of any strings I've had). Try looking at the string unstrung to see if you notice any bends. Also be careful not to twist the string when installing it, as that can cause audible problems and it is also very easy to do with the low tension TIs...
 

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