TI Jazz Flats rule for me...

[T-34]

Ti Jazz flats are basically the bass guitar version of TI "Spirocore" upright bass strings. Spirocores are known as the most durable upright strings, just sounding better and better over time, not going bad but maturing as the good wine . Massively popular and considered "standard" for jazz upright. Looks like Tomastik got it right for the bass guitar too

 

[roger winkler]

I don't think having to retune a lot will be caused by strings that are too old. Check your tuning pegs to see they aren't slipping, the screws that adjust height on your saddle to make sure they aren't loosening off. truss rod, etc.

As for what gauge for Thomstic flats--you don't have a choice. They come in one gauge only for each scale length. There is a reason for this. The string gauge is optimum for the sound on these strings and carefully chosen to match other string parameters.

I'm probably older than you and have been playing professionally since 1961. Flats were all you could buy then and there wasn't much of a choice of brands either. The Thomstics are far superior to anything else I've ever used.

Give them a try. Play the hell out of them for a week or two and as they settle in and develop their full tone, see how you like them. If you like them as much as I do, you won't have to change them for many years. I got over 8 years out of a set and only changed to new ones because I thought it might be about time. They still sounded very good. The new ones are now nicely played in and sound and feel wonderful.

I TOOK THE PLUNGE.... On the TI Jazz Flats.....OOOOHHHH HOW SWEET THEY ARE. I'm gonna put some on my G&L L-2000...can't wait to hear what that's gonna sound like...

 

[62bass]

I TOOK THE PLUNGE.... On the TI Jazz Flats.....OOOOHHHH HOW SWEET THEY ARE. I'm gonna put some on my G&L L-2000...can't wait to hear what that's gonna sound like...

Let us know how they sound on the G&L. I bet they'll be wonderful. Play the hell out of them for a few days and they'll warm up even more.

 

[dustklose]

Anyone play these on a bongo?

How do they sound?

 

[JohnDavisNYC]

yeah, these are kind of like spirocore weichs for electric bass... low tensions but a huge sound with the right bass and touch.

john

 

[buckminster]

yeah, these are kind of like spirocore weichs for electric bass... low tensions but a huge sound with the right bass and touch.

john

So I take it from this general description that these strings would not sound good for slapping? Not that I slap that much on my fretless, but I'd like the option. I am seriously considering a set of these for my ATK fretless.

 

[FidgetStone]

They are fantastic strings but not much for slap. An occasional slap or pop here and there is fine but hardcore slappers should look elsewhere.

 

[jasper383]

The only flats I have found responsive to slapping (what little I attempt) are Chromes.

Rotosound flats might work OK, too, although I have never tried to slap with a set of them. They tend to be bright and higher tension.

 

[monkeyland]

So I take it from this general description that these strings would not sound good for slapping? Not that I slap that much on my fretless, but I'd like the option. I am seriously considering a set of these for my ATK fretless.

i had a set on an ATK fretless and they sounded great. in fact they have sounded great on every bass i've played them on. i never slap and such though

 

[Sparkdog]

I'm very curious about TI flats, but I tend to hit the strings kinda hard when the band is pumping so I'm wondering if they would work for me.

My main bass right now with my blues band is a Precision strung with DAD Chromes (50/70/85/105)

Can someone who's tried both tell me what the difference is in terms of feel?

Are the TI's going to be more prone to buzzing on the frets?

I find that I have to set my action fairly high to avoid sharp pops when I'm digging in.

Thanks.

 

[Horny Toad]

I'm very curious about TI flats, but I tend to hit the strings kinda hard when the band is pumping so I'm wondering if they would work for me.

My main bass right now with my blues band is a Precision strung with DAD Chromes (50/70/85/105)

Can someone who's tried both tell me what the difference is in terms of feel?

Are the TI's going to be more prone to buzzing on the frets?

I find that I have to set my action fairly high to avoid sharp pops when I'm digging in.

Thanks.

HUGE difference in feel. Compared to your 50-105 Chromes, the TI flats will feel like wet noodles.

 

[Mastermold]

I'm very curious about TI flats, but I tend to hit the strings kinda hard when the band is pumping so I'm wondering if they would work for me.

My main bass right now with my blues band is a Precision strung with DAD Chromes (50/70/85/105)

Can someone who's tried both tell me what the difference is in terms of feel?

Are the TI's going to be more prone to buzzing on the frets?

I find that I have to set my action fairly high to avoid sharp pops when I'm digging in.

Thanks.

Yeah the guage and tension difference is pretty substantial, but you may find you adjust your playing style accordingly. I'm a blues player too and know what you mean about diggin in when building solos, etc., but with the TIs (and the La Bella 760FLs I've been using) I find you don't need to dig as hard to produce the swell you want, so you may be fine. Try a set and see what you think.

 

[62bass]

I had no trouble adjusting to the change in feel. Just a matter of a few minutes. And no, they don't feel like wet noodles.

You will find that changes in how hard you attack the string will give you a wider variety of sounds. Also, although they are great for fingerstyle, they sound fantastic with a pick. Playing closer to the neck rather than flailing away close to the bridge gives a solid full sound that really cuts through but still lays down a solid foundation.

 

[Horny Toad]

I had no trouble adjusting to the change in feel. Just a matter of a few minutes. And no, they don't feel like wet noodles.

Compared to the 50-105 Chromes he is using, the difference will be enormous. Yes, in my opinion, they feel like wet noodles. However, they sound fantastic.


EDIT: I just put a set of TI Jazz Flats on my L2K. I'm going to give 'em one more shot and try like hell to adapt to the feel.

 

[Tom7]

I've got good news and I've got bad news.

At the recommendation of George Furlanetto, the maker of Fbasses, I decided to try Thomastik-Infeld Electric Bass Nickel Flat Wound Roundcore 6 Strings (.033 - .136, JF346) for the first time. He said that Alain Caron likes them, so I put them on my 6 string fretless Fbass AC6, the Alain Caron model.

The good news is I LOVE them.

The bad news is these strings cost an arm and a leg.

Please, someone tell me these strings last a long time!

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed].

First I recorded some familiar lines (without caring how well I played them, obviously) with the stock Fbass exposed core roundwound strings, which I understand are made for Fbass in special gauges by La Bella, then I recorded the same bass lines again (more or less and just as sloppily) after I changed the bass over to the TI flats.

To help me compare the two tones, I then mixed the two recordings so that I could first hear the Fbass roundwound strings, then the same line done again with TI Flats.

The recordings are straight from my bass to the computer and are totally untouched, no eq or other processing.

So the first time you hear a line, it is with the roundwound Fbass strings, and the second time you hear it, it is with the TI Flats.

I really like Fbass strings, so it is remarkable that no matter the settings on my bass or the style of the line, I pretty much prefer the Thomastik Jazz flatwound strings. That's true when I play on either the magnetic pickup, or with the piezos.

Again, I hope they last a long time, because at $80 to $90 a set, I wouldn't be interested in them otherwise.

 

[ljazz]

I've got good news and I've got bad news.

At the urging of George Furlanetto, the maker of Fbasses, I decided to try Thomastik-Infeld Electric Bass Nickel Flat Wound Roundcore 6 Strings (.033 - .136, JF346) for the first time. He said that Alain Caron likes them, so I put them on my 6 string fretless Fbass AC6, the Alain Caron model.

The good news is I LOVE them.

The bad news is these strings cost an arm and a leg.

Please, someone tell me these strings last a long time!

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed].

First I recorded some familiar lines (without caring how well I played them, obviously) with the stock Fbass exposed core roundwound strings, which I understand are made for Fbass in special gauges by La Bella, then I recorded the same bass lines again (more or less and just as sloppily) after I changed the bass over to the TI flats.

To help me compare the two tones, I then mixed the two recordings so that I could first hear the Fbass roundwound strings, then the same line done again with TI Flats.

The recordings are straight from my bass to the computer and are totally untouched, no eq or other processing.

So the first time you hear a line, it is with the roundwound Fbass strings, and the second time you hear it, it is with the TI Flats.

I really like Fbass strings, so it is remarkable that no matter the settings on my bass or the style of the line, I pretty much prefer the Thomastik Jazz flatwound strings. That's true when I play on either the magnetic pickup, or with the piezos.

Again, I hope they last a long time, because at $80 to $90 a set, I wouldn't be interested in them otherwise.

They last for fricken' ever. The set on my G&L SB1 have been on for one year. If I were using rounds, I'd have gone through at least 4 sets by now.

Someone earlier questioned how they would be drop tuning to D. I just moved a hipshot on to the SB1 from my L2000, and was amazed. No problems at all when I drop down to D. However, my old SB1 never buzzes or rattles..... i could string it up with dog crap and it would sound good (maybe a bit stinky though), so it might not be a good assessment.

Hands down, these are my favorite strings! The sound, playability, consistancy, etc. etc, ..... it's all there for me. In fact, I'm selling off two other G&L basses, just because I'm finding the SB1 with the TI's to fit with virtually everything I'm playing. We're cutting some tracks right now, and I had an idea before we started what bass I would play for each track........ that all went down the toilet, because I kept comparing everything to the SB1/TI combo...... It's getting used for everything.

Ljazz

 

[bassphase]

Ti Jazz flats are basically the bass guitar version of TI "Spirocore" upright bass strings. Spirocores are known as the most durable upright strings, just sounding better and better over time, not going bad but maturing as the good wine . Massively popular and considered "standard" for jazz upright. Looks like Tomastik got it right for the bass guitar too

That's not really true. Aside from different construction and materials, Spirocore's are extremely bright--probably the brightest double bass string made. They also have the highest tension of any double bass string--so much so, that many upright players opt for the "weich" version which is a lighter gauge and a bit less tension. TI flat wound bass guitar strings are very dark and have very little tension which is why I can't use them on my electric basses. I wish Thomastik would make additional gauges with more tension. They'd surely gain more customers. Many players love the tone but can't deal with the wimpy tension.



bob

 

[62bass]

That's not really true. Aside from different construction and materials, Spirocore's are extremely bright--probably the brightest double bass string made. They also have the highest tension of any double bass string--so much so, that many upright players opt for the "weich" version which is a lighter gauge and a bit less tension. TI flat wound bass guitar strings are very dark and have very little tension which is why I can't use them on my electric basses. I wish Thomastik would make additional gauges with more tension. They'd surely gain more customers. Many players love the tone but can't deal with the wimpy tension.



bob

I have no problem with the "wimpy tension". I guess I must be a wimp. But I have no real problem with other brands with much higher tension and just prefer the feel and the wonderful sound of the Thomastics. Sure T.I. could make different guages in the flatwounds but they'r probably lose some of that sound. The balance from string to string is also astounding. There are a lot of myths being passed around about these strings.

The truth is, they are very nice strings. Any decent player can adjust to the slightly lighter tension in a matter of minutes. They last for a very long time (8 years on my oldest set). It takes a few days of playing for them to develop their best sound and then they stay like that. They won't work for everybody. If you like roundwounds don't buy them. If you like the James Jamerson strings don't buy them.

I A/B's a set of new Thomastic flats against a new set of Sadowsky flats recently. Both on old Precision basses. Both basses sounded great. I much preferred the Thomastics. So did the owner with Sadowsky flats. The Sadowsky strings were only slightly higher tension than the Thomastics. We did the test using the same GK MB150S amplifier.

 

[Mastermold]

I have no problem with the "wimpy tension". I guess I must be a wimp. But I have no real problem with other brands with much higher tension and just prefer the feel and the wonderful sound of the Thomastics. Sure T.I. could make different guages in the flatwounds but they'r probably lose some of that sound. The balance from string to string is also astounding. There are a lot of myths being passed around about these strings.

The truth is, they are very nice strings. Any decent player can adjust to the slightly lighter tension in a matter of minutes. They last for a very long time (8 years on my oldest set). It takes a few days of playing for them to develop their best sound and then they stay like that. They won't work for everybody. If you like roundwounds don't buy them. If you like the James Jamerson strings don't buy them.

I A/B's a set of new Thomastic flats against a new set of Sadowsky flats recently. Both on old Precision basses. Both basses sounded great. I much preferred the Thomastics. So did the owner with Sadowsky flats. The Sadowsky strings were only slightly higher tension than the Thomastics. We did the test using the same GK MB150S amplifier.

I'm still on the edge about trying TI flats on a P-bass because of the tension question, whether they'd thump enough for what I want in a P-bass.

But I do want to try them on my Ric basses.

 

[62bass]

Try them first on your Ric basses. Give them a few weeks of playing before you decide on the sound. They seem to stiffen up some after they've stretched in. Don't know why.

I don't know the definition of "thump". It's used a lot here with seemingly different meanings. I can say they've got a full solid bottom and very musical mids.

If you want the "old school" sound, play with a pick and a slight bit of muting under the strings at the bridge. Not a lot of muting like the wannabe Motown experts advocate today, but the way it was done back then--only enough muting to get rid of any annoying high frequency ring.