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TI Jazz Flats is it just me?

B

brainburst

Guest
Jan 10, 2012
66
3
bronx ny
#1
I know everyone raves about these strings, ( a couple of years ago I would have been one of the ravers) but my last two sets have bummed me out. On my 5 string the BEA sound great almost but not quite approaching bright flat with a nice growl, (more like a burble cuz they're flat!)
the D & G just sound dead flat with no sweetness.
On the 4 string it's the same minus the B. To get the strings to sound the same I have to muffle the lower strings. Plying them around 3 months.
Anyone purchase TI's recently and noticed this? Are there any alternatives to check out i.e low tension roundcore chrome flats?
 
#2
I bought my first set in July, and haven't stopped loving them ever since. Now since this was my first set, I can't really attest to how they compare to the sets being sold in previous years. I have always desired the flatwound sound, and this is the first pair that I have been able to play with for an extended period. Maybe they have dipped in quality, and they used to be even better than I think they are, but I have no complaints about mine.
 
#3
Everyone seems (Carol Kay for one) to rave about the flats. I never had them. I do own a 6 string set of Jazz rounds, quite small gauged (.118, .89., .68., .51, .43., & .29. They all sound good but the black sheep is the .43 g string. Lean & twangy. B-flat on the 3rd fret really sucks, way too lean! I avoid it hitting A, B, B-flat on the D string.

I am presently taking off the single coils pups I once put on my Ibanez SR406, & am reinstalling the factory DX6 double coils hoping the string/pickup interface will be better & will result in a more natural g.

Can't help or relate to your situation per se, but I can verify that TIs can have obvious timbrel inconsistencies with just one string. I suspect I have thrown a hundred bucks away. We'll see. Furthermore, DR will replace strings at no charge, TI won't.
 
#4
I have TI Jazz Flats on two basses...A Rick Turner Ren 5 fretless and an Elrick Platinum Hybrid 4 fretted. I love the TI's on both and haven't had any issues as far as string balance. The Turner Ren set is about 10 months old and the Elrick set is less than 2 months.

I had done a lot of reading here and the only other string set I've been thinking about trying in place of the TI's are the Sadowsky flats, but it is more of a curiosity based upon what I've read. You might do a search here for what's been discussed on those.
 
#9
I've used them for awhile now (probably around 7 years). I've always found that on new sets the D and G strings are more dull then the E and A. It takes a couple of weeks to even out. But that's when the sweetness settles in.
I've been using my current set for over 3 years and I have no intention on changing it in the coming years, unless one breaks.

I've tried many sets, both rounds and flats, and these are the only strings I have been perfectly happy with the balance, both tension wise and string-to-string tone.
 
#10
I am very happy with TI Jazz Flats, both the 4 and 5 string versions. I currently have the 5 string set on an acoustic fretless bass, and the 4 string set on a Fender CS '59 P-bass. I have had them on several other 4 and 5 string basses, and have bought and played three 5 string sets and four 4 string sets in total.

I agree that it takes around two months before they are broken in, and before that, in my experience, it is anyone's guess as to which strings do not sound like the other strings in a set. I have had the D and G strings sound brighter than the E and A, and the opposite. I have also had the low B sound both brighter than the four others, and duller.

In the end, it doesn't matter to me, as they are my favorite string of all time once broken in. I like the lower tension, and I like the mid-rangy sound, and they just make (most of) my basses come alive. Even compared to Black Label Sadowsky flats, TI just makes my P-bass "sing" more. And a happy bass player is a better, more inspired bass player!
 
#11
I had a set of TI flats for about 10 years. They are wonderful strings. Recently one of the strings unraveled. I have since bought a new set and the new ones have not a got a lot of hours on them. They are far from broken in and lack the sweetness that my last pair had. I am looking forward to the break in. I really miss the tone of my old ones.
 
#15
Welcome to the weird and sometimes wonderful world of TI jazz flats. I had a set around 7 years old that were on and off again on a bunch of basses. when you find the right bass and they break in then they are gold. But they are not not for everyone.
 
#16
Been using TI Jazz Flats on my Lakland 55-94 for slmost 8 years except for a brief flirtation with Sadowsky. I also have them ion my Eastwood CLassic 4. However, I Tried them on a Lakland JO5 and they just didn't sound good. On that bass, D'Addarios Chromes work best. My current set has been on the 55-94 for about a year averaging 8 gigs a month, and they still sound great.
 
#17
bassbully said:
Welcome to the weird and sometimes wonderful world of TI jazz flats. I had a set around 7 years old that were on and off again on a bunch of basses. when you find the right bass and they break in then they are gold. But they are not not for everyone.
Click to expand...

Yeah they are wonderful on some basses, others I've not had the same experience. But when they work they are great.
 
#18
Mastermold said:
Yeah they are wonderful on some basses, others I've not had the same experience. But when they work they are great.
Click to expand...

Yeah, in my unscientific perusal of the various flats threads my general conclusion is that they work best on P basses, less so on Jazz variants, but with plenty of exceptions. I did not like them on my Jazz, but I also don't really care for an overtly favored midrange in my tone, so it's possible I wouldn't care for them on any kind of bass.
 

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