TI Jazz Flats rule for me...

[Mastermold]

Mastermold,

I agree that the TI's were very nice at volume. How would you describe the difference between the FS's and the TI's at volume? Where were the LaBella's lacking in comparison (if anywhere)?

The La Bella's are more percussive --- they "kick" where the TIs "punch" so to speak. I wouldn't say the La Bellas lack anything per se, they're just higher tension so they require different technique than TIs, firmer fretting and right hand attack. TIs are thus easier to play. But I use and enjoy both. Sometimes I find the TIs don't have enough percussion for me, and sometimes they're just fine. Depends on the bass they're on and what style I'm playing.

 

[Tom7]

Wow. You guys know a LOT more about flats than I do. TI's are the first and only flats I've tried since 1978.

Because the currrent discussion is centered around flats on a P-bass, it is only moderately useful to me, but interesting enough to make me want to try 760FLs on SOMETHING I have!

However, there is something else you should know about TI Flats. Long after the rosin coating left, I suddenly got a new tone: something just blossomed up from the strings with use that was REALLY cool. In fact, when it first happened, I just wanted to run to a computer and ask everyone here about it.

The TI Flats for my fretless Fbass AC6 have become much more satisfying since they hit that break in point.

 

[Frank Orlando]

That's another aspect I like with the LaBella's... they rock right out of the box and also get better with age like most flats do. How would you describe this "new tone" your TI's have developed?

 

[62bass]

Wow. You guys know a LOT more about flats than I do. TI's are the first and only flats I've tried since 1978.

Because the currrent discussion is centered around flats on a P-bass, it is only moderately useful to me, but interesting enough to make me want to try 760FLs on SOMETHING I have!

However, there is something else you should know about TI Flats. Long after the rosin coating left, I suddenly got a new tone: something just blossomed up from the strings with use that was REALLY cool. In fact, when it first happened, I just wanted to run to a computer and ask everyone here about it.

The TI Flats for my fretless Fbass AC6 have become much more satisfying since they hit that break in point.

Yes, that's what happens when you play them in. The sound will now stay like that for many years.

 

[62bass]

62bass,

Interesting how your experience was so much different than mine. Did you play the 760FL set? It's noticably different than the FS, FM or M sets. In tension and tone. I can see the "feel" being different because nothing I tried feels like TI's. I think a person's playing style/technique and what their "target sound" is in their head has a lot to do with this too. Someday, months from now, I may try TI's again.

Yes, it was the 760. I just couldn't get used to the tension particularly after so many years of using rounds which were a bit lighter. When I initially put on the T.I.s I thought they were jsut like rubber bands and way too bright. But I went out that night and did a 4 hour gig with them and by the last set they'd started to relly get that warm sound with definition that I like. By the end of the gig next night they were even better and the tension seemed to have improved and they felt stiffer. Now when I put a set on a bass I expect them to not be perfect for the first few hours. But back then I was playing so much each day it didn't take long to break a set in.

But yes, we all have a target sound we try to get. Probably if we both played through the same equipment with the same band at a gig we'd both get good sounds and nobody, including the band members would be able to tell which strings we were using and wouldn't even care.

 

[Hamrhed]

I finally got around to putting some TI Jazz Flats on my p bass and I think they are awesome compared to just about any other Flatwounds Ive used. The closest string that comes to mind is LaBella flats, but I hated the high tension of them- and the thickness (Jamersons) was a bit much... but these strings felt just right. I have heard others saying that the tension on TI's are too slack but I had a blast w/ them just playing some classic rock- they feel and sound outstanding imho

 

[Tom7]

...How would you describe this "new tone" your TI's have developed?

Ah, the art and science describing tones. Let me see....

I have these on an Fbass AC6, which ships with LaBella rounds that sound WONDERFUL, except --

Whenever I grab a fretless bass, I have 1 of 3 tone targets in mind: Jaco Pastorious, an acoustic upright, or Alain Caron.

For Jaco, I use the magnetic pickup near the bridge, obviously. For an upright-y tone, I use piezos (the bass has chambers to help as well), and Alain is a blend of the two.

The LaBella rounds were perfect Jaco and Alain, but an uprighty tone was possible, but not convincing.

When I put the TI flats on, the uprighty tone was convincing even to piano and sax players who play nothing else but swing jazz with upright bass in the rythm section. It is wonderful.

However, while the Jaco and Alain was okay, I was dissatisfied. In fact, I started telling my wife I need another fretless 6 string for round wound playing.

Just as I was looking around the used market, something amazing happened to the TIs, and I could hear the transformation very clearly.

Instead of a drier, somewhat thinner and brittle tone of highs and high mids, the emphasis dropped to the mids.

But this wasn't like round wounds losing their brightness, it was more like when you start playing basketball and you are still sore and stiff from the day before, then after several times up and down the court, suddenly you feel agile and quick and competent and the brittle "gee I'm getting old" feeling is gone.

I don't know if that helped AT ALL...

But what it did was reinterest me in playing the Jaco and Alain tones.

The mids and lower mids punched through and the mwah was much stronger and controlable with my hands.

I recorded some lines with the rounds before I removed them, and with the TI flats when they were fresh on the bass. I played that recording back, and then played the lines now, and there was a distinct warming of the bass.

It was like whole milk had been added to the cocoa powder I'd been licking, and everything became much creamier.

I don't know; I shouldn't be doing this.

Like I said, I haven't used flats in years, so I'm used to strings being too shrill, then losing their overbrightness, then getting useless. I was not expecting these strings to go from very nice but thin, to WHOA! Slide on over baby!

 

[ljazz]

I've played all of the Labella gauges over the years. I still have a set or two around here somewhere. My problem with the Labellas, especially right out of the pack is that the E is a bit boomy, and hollow sounding. That goes away once they've broken in. Great strings, and if you're after some thump, then there is no better string.

That being said, I have a real hard time thinking of TI JF's as flats. I guess it's those wonderfully articulate mids..... Chromes kinda get there, but once that initial snap is gone (after a few months), they fall back into the "thump" category (although still articulate.... I love how they sound on my SB2). The TI's just sit in the mix better for me. What you're playing can be understood, and not heard as thump. Don't get me wrong, if thumping all night is what you're going for, then great. It's just not my thing.

Ljazz

 

[lump]

Fill out your profile, Frank. I smell corporate shill in the house.

 

[62bass]

Fill out your profile, Frank. I smell corporate shill in the house.

I boost T.I. flats as much as anyone and I've been doing it for years. I don't have an endorsement with T.I. or anyone for that matter. Why does Frank come under suspicion?

 

[bass dan]

i recently became a flats convert. wow who knew string could actually save you tons of money on other equipment searching for the right tone. i had a set of ti flats that i have been taking on and off basses for the last 3 years. time my friend time. i never gave them enough time on a bass to really settle in before deciding they didnt sound good.
i play upright bass primarily so this should have been a no brainer that i would prefer flats to rounds but alas it has taken me quite a bit of not digging my electric basses and deciding the amp was the problem with my tone.
i put my old ti flats on my p-bass and just kept after it and lo and behold its the tone i have been after. i had some chromes on it for about a month but those dont sound nearly as good to me as the ti jazz flats, dare i say a almost plasticy sound on the chromes.
ironically enough i prefer the lower tension ti on my p and higher tension labella's on my jazz. go figure.

 

[Frank Orlando]

LMAO... after reading my post I can see where lump is coming from. I assure you I am just another retired NY'er living in sunny Florida.

It's only that I was so blown away by the 760FL's (like many of you were with your first encounter with TIJF's), that I had to share my experience. Maybe a bit overboard but that's the NYC in me.

Oh, and if E&O Mari is reading this, I am available for "shill" duty.

 

[Tom7]

LMAO... after reading my post I can see where lump is coming from. I assure you I am just another retired NY'er living in sunny Florida.

It's only that I was so blown away by the 760FL's (like many of you were with your first encounter with TIJF's), that I had to share my experience. Maybe a bit overboard but that's the NYC in me.

Oh, and if E&O Mari is reading this, I am available for "shill" duty.

Nice reaction, Frank.

Does anyone have any experience with TI JFs on ash bodied, maple necked basses?

I have so many sets of these thanks to gifts from the wife and kids, I'm at a loss as to what to put them on.

 

[62bass]

Nice reaction, Frank.

Does anyone have any experience with TI JFs on ash bodied, maple necked basses?

I have so many sets of these thanks to gifts from the wife and kids, I'm at a loss as to what to put them on.

I've had T.I. flats on my 78P with an ash body and maple fingerboard for over 10 years. It was the first bass I tried them on. The first set stayed on for over 8 years and still sounded good when I took them off and put on a new set.

 

[Mastermold]

I've had T.I. flats on my 78P with an ash body and maple fingerboard for over 10 years. It was the first bass I tried them on. The first set stayed on for over 8 years and still sounded good when I took them off and put on a new set.

Just curious -- Why did you change them if they still sounded good?

 

[Jared Lash]

A quick question: Can anyone who has played both tell me how the tension of TIJFs compares to DR Sunbeams?

I know the TI's are considered very low tension by flats standards, but being a strictly RR player I'm interested in how they compare to roundwounds . Sunbeams are generally considered very low tension RR strings and though I really dig them, I'm not sure I could deal with anything lower tension than that.

Thanks

 

[Tom7]

I have DR Sunbeams on my Nordy vJ5, and TIJFs on my Fbass AC6, and the TIJFs are lower tension than the DRs.

 

[62bass]

Just curious -- Why did you change them if they still sounded good?

I was playing gigs and figured I was pushing my luck and that one might break in the middle of a set. Anyhow, I had a spare set and was itching to put it on something. I really don't know how long the originals would have lasted. I've had the same set on a Danelectro DC for about 6 years now.

 

[Mastermold]

I was playing gigs and figured I was pushing my luck and that one might break in the middle of a set. Anyhow, I had a spare set and was itching to put it on something. I really don't know how long the originals would have lasted. I've had the same set on a Danelectro DC for about 6 years now.

That's probably a good idea, even the best strings have to wear out eventually.

 

[Jared Lash]

I have DR Sunbeams on my Nordy vJ5, and TIJFs on my Fbass AC6, and the TIJFs are lower tension than the DRs.

Significantly lower tension than the Sunbeams? I'm just not sure I would want strings that felt much looser.