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TI Jazz Flats questions

butchblack

butchblack

Life is short. Do good. Find and do what you love.
Jan 25, 2007
1,164
3
Waltham Massachusetts
#1
Hi All

2 quick questions on the TI Jazz Flats

1, What color is the silk?

2. Are they not quite as smooth as say the GHS flats?

The reason I ask is that I just had some work done on one of my basses, I gave him a set of TI jazz flats to install and they just strike me as being just a hair rough for flats. Or is it just the difference in feel between SS and nickel? I want to make sure that I'm not imagining things before I e-mail him and ask.
 
#3
1) Red

2) I occasionally read complaints that the TI flats feel a little rough, but I've been using them for years and they do not bother me. I haven't used GHS flats, but the TI's are maybe a little less smooth than Ernie Ball flats.
 
#4
Thanks

IIRC my old strings were not wrapped as long as the ones on there now, so I'm assuming he put the new set of TI's on.

On the plus side, they with the new pups (DiMarzio 126) sound killer in my Fernandes PJ. I'm looking forward to playing it on my gig tonight
 
#5
TI Flats are a little rough for flats, it's because they have slight gaps between the windings to keep the string flexible. I actually got more calluses from playing those for a few months than I did from playing nickel rounds for a few years.
 
#6
Yes red silk. I do enjoy the feel actually, it doesn't really feel like what you would expect flat easy finger smooth, but doesn't eat as bad as rounds, though it seems like they rougher almost. The sound is killer however, rich, full, warm, defined mids, and just lovely.
 
#8
I would just like to add a question to this already-active thread.


I think I may have run into the TI Jazz Flats at a guitar shop earlier today. I was playing an Ibanez SRX bass and the strings were flatwound, but they were very thin gauge and REALLY sticky. They had a very mellow sound unplugged, which sounded almost like an upright. They were also very pliable, but tended to stick to my fingers when I played them due to their insane amount of stickiness. I'm willing to bet that they were TIs just because someone probably wanted to have a "Carol Kaye" bass.

I'd personally be loath to buy a Carol Kaye configuration bass, because she seems like the kind of person that I would NOT want to be accused of imitating. But it does seem like a solid bass and the TIs may add a significant amount of value to the mix, that the music store guys probably have NO idea about.....


Anyway, do you think these strings were in fact TIs?
 
#9
ZenderBender said:
I would just like to add a question to this already-active thread.


I think I may have run into the TI Jazz Flats at a guitar shop earlier today. I was playing an Ibanez SRX bass and the strings were flatwound, but they were very thin gauge and REALLY sticky. They had a very mellow sound unplugged, which sounded almost like an upright. They were also very pliable, but tended to stick to my fingers when I played them due to their insane amount of stickiness. I'm willing to bet that they were TIs just because someone probably wanted to have a "Carol Kaye" bass.

I'd personally be loath to by a Carol Kaye configuration bass, because she seems like the kind of person that I would NOT want to be accused of imitating. But it does seem like a solid bass and the TIs may add a significant amount of value to the mix, that the music store guys probably have NO idea about.....


Anyway, do you think these strings were in fact TIs?
Click to expand...

Sounds about right, was the tension low?
 
#17
More questions...

Here's the situation. I recently bought a 5-er. Came with strings I didn't like. Also, didn't like the floppy B string on the 5er. I read here that a thicker B string will give you more tension, so I bought a set of D'Addario Chromes. Yup, that fat B string had a bit better tension, but still feels floppy to me. And the sound was better than the cheap roundwound stock strings. But still just not right. So I'm looking for new strings.

Based on what I've read here, TI Jazz Flats might be good for me. I'm a flats guy, but I like punch, midrange, and some brightness.

All that buildup for a coupla questions:

1. Anybody tried their 5-string set?
2. How is tension on the B string? TIs reputation is low tension to begin with, right?
3. Do the strings get more tension or less tension as they get broken in?
 
#18
DaveR,
Not much help here but:
I have TI's on a few 4's and have to say they're my favorite strings. They have the lowest tension I've come across and that's partially why I dig them. They have a warm,round, fat
tone although I wouldn't say bright. I usually roll the treb back though ,so I'm not looking for bright. It seems like they stiffen up a wee bit after time but not much if at all.
I've never tried the B but I hope some people chime in as I'm curious to know how they are too. Due to the fact that TI is a respected UBS string as well, I'd guess they're happening.
 
#20
Dave R said:
More questions...

Here's the situation. I recently bought a 5-er. Came with strings I didn't like. Also, didn't like the floppy B string on the 5er. I read here that a thicker B string will give you more tension, so I bought a set of D'Addario Chromes. Yup, that fat B string had a bit better tension, but still feels floppy to me. And the sound was better than the cheap roundwound stock strings. But still just not right. So I'm looking for new strings.

Based on what I've read here, TI Jazz Flats might be good for me. I'm a flats guy, but I like punch, midrange, and some brightness.

All that buildup for a coupla questions:

1. Anybody tried their 5-string set? (note: "stink face" in the good way -- as in "What's that smell? Oh it's just the funk I'm cookin'."
2. How is tension on the B string? TIs reputation is low tension to begin with, right?
3. Do the strings get more tension or less tension as they get broken in?
Click to expand...


1. Just put a set on -- see the post above yours
2. I like the tension on the B -- it is definitely less than the Chromes though. Is this your 1st 5? It can take a while to get used to the B string -- try being "polite" with it.
3. dunno -- I'm sure someone else can field this one.
 

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