TI Jazz Flats questions

[4Mal]

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?

not sure about the B string questions but the TI's go on soft and don't 'break in' much at all that is to say that their 'new string' phase lasts for a few hours of playing time and they settle into what they do for a very long time after that. They certainly don't seem to soften much if at all to me.

That you dig punch, mid's and brite AND you want more string tension - Jazz Flats might not be the string for you. The TI's are pretty mellow, kinda woody, sweet overtones. Very rich sounding. and quite low tension or soft as well.

Chromes are more 'steely' sounding and a lot stiffer. GHS Brite flat's (I believe that is a ground flat) are steely as well. RotoSound's Monel flat's in a light guage are pretty good too. I have a set of those on my fretless and they seem pretty nice. Somewhere between the woodines of the TI and the brighter, more 'steely' sound of the Chromes/Brite Flats. They make it in a heavy guage that might satisfy your tension needs.

The JF is not a string I would describe as punchy - articulate, great detail in the upper mid's nice solid low end - it's more about smooth response than punch to me though. I've used them for years and I like them a lot. Some basses just won't setup with a low tension string though and for those I use the Roto's or GHS or D'Addario sets noted above.

TI makes a lot of very high quality string sets for Electric Bass. Only the one flat set for EB though. Their Power Bass strings are pretty stout / stiff while Jazz Rounds are so light as to be unplayable for me. Their Super Alloy Round is my favorite Round Wound string of all. *Normal* tension in a .045 to .105 set - So not every TI set could be described as low tension.

 

[Tom7]

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?

This description sounds like TI Flats to me.

You guys should be aware there is another ACTIVE TI Flats thread happening as well.

 

[eotpr]

I want to put them on a through the body bass. Can I do that OK? I have heard that they are the only flat that you can do this with.

 

[Dave R]

>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.


Yup, this is my first 5, and I am getting used to the B. I'm learning to be "polite" to it. I've noticed that, if I dig it hard, the sound goes kinda nasty. So, yup, 5-er rookie.

 

[Darkstrike]

I want to put them on a through the body bass. Can I do that OK? I have heard that they are the only flat that you can do this with.

Yeah, they're fine for through body, I have mine set up that way with months.

 

[manray]

Re: TI flat stickiness- It goes away eventually as many have mentioned, and I have found that rubbing each new string down with a rag lightly soaked in alcohol (isopropyl or rubbing) that the "stickiness" goes away immediately! I do this with every new set and have had GREAT results.

+1 re: 4 MAL's love for the Infeld Super Alloy Rounds! They are my fave, as well! Very under-rated string, mostly due to people being unaware, I think.

Cheers!!

 

[lpdeluxe]

I've strung all my basses with TI Jazz Flats for about a year and a half now. I've even converted other bass players to them after they played and listened to my basses.

I like the feel, love the sound.

 

[emblymouse]

I gave 'em a good shot on more than one bass, but I need a little more fight out of my strings. I did try the Infeld Superalloy rounds on a whim and am loving the tension and nickel goodness. They did leave my fingers black for the first month though.