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TI Jazz Flats: Just HOW floppy?

Discussion in 'Strings [BG]' started by Monkey, Sep 14, 2001.

  1. Sep 14, 2001 #1
    Monkey

    Monkey Supporting Member

    Mar 8, 2000
    Ohio, USA
    I love the flatwound sound, and my main string for the last few years have been LaBella tapewounds. I still like the LaBellas, but I've heard great things about the TI Jazz Flats. I'm concerned about the floppiness that everyone seems to mention. I'm looking for a very warm, very deep (like dub-deep) sound, and I tend to dig in somewhat when I play. I tend to like medium-gauge strings with a fair amount of tension, but I'm curious.

    What do you TI-ers think; do you think these strings would blow my skirt up (so to speak....)?
     
  2. Sep 15, 2001 #2
    notduane

    notduane

    Nov 24, 2000
    Location
    TI Flats were the only ones I found tension specs for...

    • (numbers are "pounds")

      JF346 (34", 6-string set)
      C-38.13 G-37.03 D-37.47 A-31.30 E-34.39 B-34.83

      JF364 (36", 4-string set)
      G-41.88 D-42.32 A-35.71 E-35.27
    Also, I'm sure the TI's round core material adds to the "looseness".


    I've tried a buncha' flats and other type$ :rolleyes:.
    Totally subjective feel (floppiest to tightest)...
    1. TI Acousticore (spun NYLON core material)
    2. (warm rubber bands :) )
    3. TI Flats
    4. Rotosound RSLD-88 Nylon Tapewounds
    5. LaBella 760N Nylon Tapewounds (about tied with Rotos)
    6. GHS Precision Flatwound (3050 set)
    7. (suspension bridge cables :D )
    8. LaBella James Jamerson Flats
      [/list=1]
     
  3. Sep 15, 2001 #3
    Monkey

    Monkey Supporting Member

    Mar 8, 2000
    Ohio, USA
    I haven't been able to find a reliable and cheap distributor of suspension bridge cables....:D

    Thanks a lot, Notduane!
     
  4. Sep 15, 2001 #4
    Deman669

    Deman669 Guest

    May 11, 2001
    Caldwell, ID, USA
    I play a fretless P, and just recently went from LaBella black tapewounds to TI jazz flats. I have to say, it took some getitng used to...like 30 seconds. They have a bit of a different feel, don;t slide quite as welll, but MAN is the sound worth any change! I think they FEEL floppy, but tey have plenty of tension, as ar as I can tell. I did adjust my action after getting them...DOWN, mind youo not up. I absolutely love them, and with the tone knob at 1/2, and the amp flat, I get this delicious sustained upright sound...
     
  5. Sep 16, 2001 #5
    Bob Gollihur

    Bob Gollihur GollihurMusic.com In Memoriam

    Mar 22, 2000
    Cape of New Jersey
    Big Cheese Emeritus: Gollihur Music (retired)
    I love Thom flats on both fretted and fretless basses, and while their tension is lighter than most, it isn't that bad. However, if you want a more taut string and, as you say, are more into dub-deep response, you might want to check out the D'Addario Chromes. They have a stiffer and more taut feel and don't have the highs and mids that the Thoms do, but still have more edge and bottom to them than tapewounds IMHO.
     
  6. Sep 16, 2001 #6
    Monkey

    Monkey Supporting Member

    Mar 8, 2000
    Ohio, USA
    Thanks, Bob. I've used D'addarios before, but not the Chromes. I'm dying of curiousity about the TIs, due to all the great reviews I've seen here.

    Demann669, it sounds like you got used to them quickly. I am always after an upright-like sound, so I think I might take the plunge. It would probably do me good to ease up with my right hand technique anyway, and maybe the floppier strings would make me a little more delicate. I've heard reggae players and others say they get more bottom from their axe when they play very softly, but 25 years of playing one way is hard to change. Old dog, new trick....

    thanks for the help, guys.
     
  7. Sep 17, 2001 #7
    DaveB

    DaveB Guest

    Mar 29, 2000
    Toronto Ontario
    I was a Thom Jazz Flat guy for quite awhile but could NEVER get used to the tension difference.They are considerably floppier and you nedd to keep your touch very light to compensate. Bob's right about the Chromes - they are a very acceptable compromise.
     
  8. Sep 17, 2001 #8
    Velkov

    Velkov

    Jan 17, 2001
    Lansdowne, Ontario
    I've been playing a set of TI's for a couple of weeks and I think they're great. I put them on my MIM Jazzbass. They are not that floppy at all. The lower tension is noticeable but it wasn't something that I couldn't get used too. They sound amazing. The sustain is very good. They can sound like a double bass and they have a lot more growl than the fender flats that I had before. Very good strings.
     
  9. Sep 18, 2001 #9
    seamus

    seamus Guest

    Feb 8, 2001
    Jersey
    I play stainless Lo Riders and Roto 66's. When I tried out the TI flats on one of my Jazz basses, I found them waaaaay too floppy for me.
     
  10. Sep 21, 2001 #10
    Bernie

    Bernie Guest

    Dec 12, 1999
    I really dont get the "floppy" thing.They are a bit lighter in tension than other strings ive tried.But,floppy.Thats WAY overstating it!IMHO-fantastic strings.Good luck!
     
  11. Sep 22, 2001 #11
    ohiobob227

    ohiobob227

    Aug 18, 2001
    Shreveport, LA
    I'm thinking that the "floppiness" must be pretty heavily influenced also by the bass you're putting them on, just like low B's on a 5 string. I've got a set that I put on my Hoadley Bass Clef (copy of a 50's P bass) and they aren't floppy at all, which was my main concern at first. They are definately flexible, though. With little effort, you can bend the A at the 12th fret all the way to the bottom of the fingerboard. However, the playing feel of them is similar to the light set of GHS brite flats I used to use, maybe just a touch looser. They're definately not nearly as loose as I'd feared, only took my a couple minutes to get used to them. You'll probably need to loosen the truss rod, they seem to like a bit more relief than other strings if you dig in.

    mike