TI Jazz Flats - First Impression

[Dave Leighton]

I put a set on one of my J's about a month ago. I now have them on 4. I love the tension, balance, tone. Can be as mellow as I want and can still get punch.

I am a life long rounds guy. Primarily SS. And I still have SS rounds on a few. But the TI Flats are fabulous IMO.

 

[Shorelinegold]

I've got a set on my MIM 70s Jazz right now (it had Chromes before) and I'm starting to dig them. Yes, tension was as advertised--much looser and required a little adjustment to technique. I've got La Bella Deep Talkin' Flats on my Precision and those are much, much stiffer of course. I'm beginning to enjoy that there is less "fight" to playing. I usually like strings to fight back a bit--I tend to have a heavy touch--but now I'm beginning to feel the benefit of lower tension. My steadily spreading arthritis thanks me. I do know what you mean about them feeling rougher though. I don't particularly like the feel, especially compared to Chromes or DTFs.

Not to derail the thread, but I'm waiting on delivery of La Bella Low Tension Flats. While I love the feel of the DTFs, I need a little more bite or top end sometimes and the TIs give that. What differences are there in sound for others between the TI Flats, the DTFs and the LTFs? I've got 2 out of 3 right now, but would like your impressions.

 

[bherman]

Just tried them again, and because they’re flats, they’re still somewhat stiff.

tbh, I even wish they were a little looser lol.

I don’t know where this “they’re like rubber bands” idea came from… these people must have their basses strung up with gondola cables

They are very low tension compared to other flats, but not compared to roundwounds. I too found that they worked very well on a fretless, but were too floppy for my tastes on a standard P bass. I use Pyramid flats for that bass. Also expensive but last a really long time (going on 5 yrs with my current set and going strong).

 

[Matthew_84]

I need to see if I can find some sound clips of these strings in action...I am so curious how they compare to my experience with flats in other brands...

There are quite a few YouTube clips where people throw different flats on a bass to compare the sound. I watched probably two, maybe three different ones that had TIs in them.

A lot of the reason I got them was because they were lower tensioned flats, and they were still bright, but not as bright as Chromes (which I personally think are too bright).

 

[REV]

Not only do they sound great but they get better with age.

 

[GIBrat51]

I did so much research to try and find the perfect flatwound for my fretless, and everything pointed to TI Jazz Flats. However, I was very apprehensive to try them because of the high cost, and how many people I’ve seen complain that they’re so low tension, it’s like playing rubber bands.

Well, I finally decided to just pull the trigger… I figured if they were super low tension, then at least they’d be going on a fretless where that is desirable (at least for me).

They came in today and I am shocked at just how normal the tension is. They’re definitely lower tension than other flats and I need a little more relief coming over from Chromes, but they aren’t nearly as floppy as I was lead to believe. They feel like a normal gauge roundwound, in my best guess, and I’ve definitely played with lower tension/looser strings than these. Personally, I’ve always hated the stiffness of most flats, so these are perfect for me.

They sound great too. Tonally, they seem to be a lot more versatile than Chromes (at least on my Ibanez Portamento SRF705), and they seem to have more body and sound more natural.

As mentioned, I will have to add relief (and it’s probably wise to do a full setup), but I can’t wait to do that and for them to settle in. I’ll add my thoughts later.

One thing to mention is that they feel a bit rougher than my Chromes, but maybe that’s because I wiped them down with isopropyl before installing. Not sure if that will improve with more playtime, but it’s not a hindrance or anything - just thought I’d mention it.

I'm glad you like them so far; I hope you will continue to like them for a long time. They really are nice strings, and, as others have pointed out; their initial cost, amortized over their long life (provided you take reasonable care of them, becomes stupid low.
Personally? Out of the 24 basses in my herd, all but 2 wear flats. Out of those, only one wears TIJFs. Although I do like them, there are reasons why they aren't on more of my basses...
- I think they're too flexible to play with a pick. Yes, I know that people disagree, and from their POV? They're probably right. But, the stiffness contrast between TI's and the many other flats I play with a pick, is quite pronounced. If the bass with the TI's ('96 Alembic Epic) was my only bass, or if all my basses wore them, there wouldn't be a problem. But, the technique adjustment required to play the one bass with TI's, compared to the 16-17 others - with really stiff flats - that are played with a pick 100% of the time, is more than I care to deal with. So, it's the only bass that gets finger picked - all the time. Which, for what I use the bass for, isn't a problem at all.
- IME, TI's are among the roughest flats I've played. And, over 50+years of playing flats, I've played an awful lot of them. They certainly aren't the roughest - IMO, the Roto 77LD's are - but they don't bother me. In fact, the minute gaps in the winding that makes them "rough" is part of what makes them so flexible. Still, silky smooth they are not. Currently, in my herd that crown goes to the Galli Jazz Flats on my EBMM 4HH Stingray Special. They're smoother than wet ice. And, after 3 years on the Alembic, those TI's haven't gotten the least bit smoother. But, as I said; by no means a problem.
- Their tone. I class TIJF's as firmly in the "modern, middy flats" family. Which is fine; they work great for some of what I play, but... so do some other flats I use. Particularly Fender's 9050Ls, which, IMO, sound an awful lot like the TIJFs. A lot cheaper - and for me, they also work much better with a pick. Yes, of course I tried the Fender's on the Alembic; maybe it's because of the active electronics, but the TI's just sound better on that bass. As for the majority of what I like to play? Sorry; flats with more of the "Old School Flats" tone work much, much better. TIJF's just don't have the bottom end to do well in the "pretend it's an upright bass" territory that is '50s-early '60s Rock, Rockabilly, C&W and Blues.
So... much as I like TIJFs; for me? I have to say that, nice as they are, they're just not the Alpha & Omega of flat wounds. In their tonal range, though - they are awfully hard to beat...

 

[silky smoove]

They came in today and I am shocked at just how normal the tension is. They’re definitely lower tension than other flats and I need a little more relief coming over from Chromes, but they aren’t nearly as floppy as I was lead to believe. They feel like a normal gauge roundwound

I had exactly the opposite experience when I put a set of these on a Jazz bass about a month ago. It was my first experience with TIs and I knew their reputation for low tension, but I was shocked by just how low it was. This bass was previously wearing GHS Balanced Nickels in the lighter gauge set, and prior to that was wearing LaBella black nylon tapes. This is a bass that's very used to low or at least lower tension strings and is setup accordingly. I play with pretty low action and have a light touch unless I'm digging in. With the TIs I have to focus harder than with any other string I've used over the last 20 years in order to not have them bottom out on the frets under normal playing. Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely digging them and love the tone on this bass, but the tension was a real shocker for me.

 

[Hop Jam]

Just tried them again, and because they’re flats, they’re still somewhat stiff.

tbh, I even wish they were a little looser lol.

I don’t know where this “they’re like rubber bands” idea came from… these people must have their basses strung up with gondola cables

Or have a vested interest in another string company??


Murmurs of conspiracy!!

 

[Winton]

Yeah, I have no idea why people say they’re so floppy. Probably, like you said, they come from brand new Chromes? They feel very normal to me tension-wise.

 

[Element Zero]

these people must have their basses strung up with gondola cables

I like gondola cables… and Jazz Flats.

 

[Boneless]

TIs are great but their own kind I think. They don't sound like ordinary flats, they are quite bright (even though, with age, they do significantly mellow out) and they have very strong mids. I have them on a Höfner Club and you can play with the neck pickup without it being overbearing or muddy, it sounds nice and balanced. Really really nice. And despite the lower tension I do personally like to play them with a pick, although I'll choose a thick, slightly rounded pick (an old heavy pick does the trick) and I'll play relatively few notes.

 

[Yahboy]

I did so much research to try and find the perfect flatwound for my fretless, and everything pointed to TI Jazz Flats. However, I was very apprehensive to try them because of the high cost, and how many people I’ve seen complain that they’re so low tension, it’s like playing rubber bands.

Well, I finally decided to just pull the trigger… I figured if they were super low tension, then at least they’d be going on a fretless where that is desirable (at least for me).

They came in today and I am shocked at just how normal the tension is. They’re definitely lower tension than other flats and I need a little more relief coming over from Chromes, but they aren’t nearly as floppy as I was lead to believe. They feel like a normal gauge roundwound, in my best guess, and I’ve definitely played with lower tension/looser strings than these. Personally, I’ve always hated the stiffness of most flats, so these are perfect for me.

They sound great too. Tonally, they seem to be a lot more versatile than Chromes (at least on my Ibanez Portamento SRF705), and they seem to have more body and sound more natural.

As mentioned, I will have to add relief (and it’s probably wise to do a full setup), but I can’t wait to do that and for them to settle in. I’ll add my thoughts later.

One thing to mention is that they feel a bit rougher than my Chromes, but maybe that’s because I wiped them down with isopropyl before installing. Not sure if that will improve with more playtime, but it’s not a hindrance or anything - just thought I’d mention it.

Agree that Ti flat has Dunlop SBN 40-100 stiffness under my hand.

Some people complaint Ti are noddle floppy and sxck , but they never rely themself has gorilla hand . Those sharing just make lot bassist resist from Ti flat and that is a big lost.

 

[KevinDBassist]

I read this thread and realized I had a new set in my string drawers . I have never played them before and put them on my new Lakland tonight through body no problems . Man do they sound and feel goooood . Took it to my friends to jam tonight in a full mix with keys . Amazing strings that will stay on this bass .

 

[sotua]

I liked them so much I'm seriously considering putting jazz rounds on my other jbass, but I just restrung it and I play the one with flats most of the time, so there's still many months of life left on the current ones.

 

[Mastermold]

I'm glad you like them so far; I hope you will continue to like them for a long time. They really are nice strings, and, as others have pointed out; their initial cost, amortized over their long life (provided you take reasonable care of them, becomes stupid low.
Personally? Out of the 24 basses in my herd, all but 2 wear flats. Out of those, only one wears TIJFs. Although I do like them, there are reasons why they aren't on more of my basses...
- I think they're too flexible to play with a pick. Yes, I know that people disagree, and from their POV? They're probably right. But, the stiffness contrast between TI's and the many other flats I play with a pick, is quite pronounced. If the bass with the TI's ('96 Alembic Epic) was my only bass, or if all my basses wore them, there wouldn't be a problem. But, the technique adjustment required to play the one bass with TI's, compared to the 16-17 others - with really stiff flats - that are played with a pick 100% of the time, is more than I care to deal with. So, it's the only bass that gets finger picked - all the time. Which, for what I use the bass for, isn't a problem at all.
- IME, TI's are among the roughest flats I've played. And, over 50+years of playing flats, I've played an awful lot of them. They certainly aren't the roughest - IMO, the Roto 77LD's are - but they don't bother me. In fact, the minute gaps in the winding that makes them "rough" is part of what makes them so flexible. Still, silky smooth they are not. Currently, in my herd that crown goes to the Galli Jazz Flats on my EBMM 4HH Stingray Special. They're smoother than wet ice. And, after 3 years on the Alembic, those TI's haven't gotten the least bit smoother. But, as I said; by no means a problem.
- Their tone. I class TIJF's as firmly in the "modern, middy flats" family. Which is fine; they work great for some of what I play, but... so do some other flats I use. Particularly Fender's 9050Ls, which, IMO, sound an awful lot like the TIJFs. A lot cheaper - and for me, they also work much better with a pick. Yes, of course I tried the Fender's on the Alembic; maybe it's because of the active electronics, but the TI's just sound better on that bass. As for the majority of what I like to play? Sorry; flats with more of the "Old School Flats" tone work much, much better. TIJF's just don't have the bottom end to do well in the "pretend it's an upright bass" territory that is '50s-early '60s Rock, Rockabilly, C&W and Blues.
So... much as I like TIJFs; for me? I have to say that, nice as they are, they're just not the Alpha & Omega of flat wounds. In their tonal range, though - they are awfully hard to beat...

Yeah I have TI flats on several basses but they don’t work on everything. I just replaced them with LaBella LTFs on a P bass and am happier with the LaBellas, they have more booty in the bottom end which I prefer on that bass. But I like the TIs on plenty of other basses. Just glad to have other options.