TI Jazz Rounds are dangerous. Heed my warning.

[fishdude101101]

Do TI jazz rounds have a thinner sound because of the thinner gauge?

 

[g-dude]

Do TI jazz rounds have a thinner sound because of the thinner gauge?

No, I wouldn’t say there’s a thinner sound.

I’d place it between round wounds and flat wounds. It’s a nice middle ground string in that regard, but the thin winds make for a string that is incredibly gentle on the hands and plays fast.

It’s not a string for punk or death metal, unless you have a hand injury. This is not a string you manhandle.

 

[sean_on_bass]

Thomastik Infeld has a long history of making strings, finally branching out into guitar and bass guitar from its history of making orchestral strings.

But there is a dark side that nobody dares speak about.

Things were fine until I installed my first set of jazz rounds. At first, it was an issue of adjusting my setup, and lightening my touch.

All was fine. Until it finally happened.

Left hand - ruined. Right hand - ruined.

Other strings, such at D’Addario, Ernie Balls, and even Optima round wounds suddenly felt abrasive and stiff under my right hand. Under my left hand, they felt draggy - as if I was running sandpaper across wood, or had fingertips made of Velcro.

My hands are now ruined...for other strings. Even the TI Super Alloys, a very nice string, seems brutish in comparison.

At this point, the only solution is to eventually migrate all my basses with round wounds to TI Jazz Rounds.

Well played, Thomastik. Well played indeed.

If you disregard my words of warning, I am not responsible for what happens next.

I'm having this experience with having bought their flats after 20+ years of playing. I don't see them ever coming off my jazz bass. I'm sure the rounds got some sauce too.

 

[fishdude101101]

I've always had a back and forth relationship with their flats. I wish they had a little more low end, but it can be added at the amp I suppose.

 

[g-dude]

I've always had a back and forth relationship with their flats. I wish they had a little more low end, but it can be added at the amp I suppose.

Yup. Only thing you can’t add with an amp/eq is how playable the strings are.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Do TI jazz rounds have a thinner sound because of the thinner gauge?

No.

 

[Father Gino]

I just couldn’t quickly adjust to how lightly I had to play them. I probably could, but I don’t think I want to.

 

[fishdude101101]

I just couldn’t quickly adjust to how lightly I had to play them. I probably could, but I don’t think I want to.

I think I'd probably have to play light gauge strings every where else too, on all my other basses I mean.

 

[Father Gino]

I agree. I’ve got TI flats on my J and those are fine for me, but the rounds feel like guitar strings in comparison.

 

[g-dude]

I just couldn’t quickly adjust to how lightly I had to play them. I probably could, but I don’t think I want to.

I think I'd probably have to play light gauge strings every where else too, on all my other basses I mean.

I agree. I’ve got TI flats on my J and those are fine for me, but the rounds feel like guitar strings in comparison.

I switch between the Jazz Rounds and Super Alloys (different strings for different basses) and it doesn't really throw me all that much.

 

[fishdude101101]

I switch between the Jazz Rounds and Super Alloys (different strings for different basses) and it doesn't really throw me all that much.

I'm kinda wanting to find some low tension rounds foe the 5 string I just bought but not sure what to get yet.

 

[g-dude]

I'm kinda wanting to find some low tension rounds foe the 5 string I just bought but not sure what to get yet.

Get the TI Jazz Rounds, a good setup by someone who understands they are low tensions, and report back with results.

 

[shai-ga]

Got a new bass yesterday, time to check these out.
Installed a fresh set of Smith nickel burners 40-100, which are pretty flexible and smooth, so they will serve as a nice reference point.

 

[HotelX]

Anybody using these on a 5 string? The string gauge looks really odd to me going from an 89 E to a 118 B.

 

[Doug Harrison]

Anybody using these on a 5 string? The string gauge looks really odd to me going from an 89 E to a 118 B.

I had a set on a 5 string stingray that I just sold. They feel great and the different sizes work perfectly, even though the gauges are dissimilar to other sets. I sold the bass, kept the strings

 

[Loring]

What’s the longevity like?

 

[g-dude]

What’s the longevity like?

I’m rough on my strings, but last time I changed my TI Jazz Rounds, I was having some issues with my A string that might have been resolved by my installing a stealth string tree, but I decided to put fresh strings on while I was already taking the time to remove the A string. That was probably 1.5 years after their install, maybe 2, but the other strings were all fine - so perhaps there was still life in them.

 

[sears]

What’s the longevity like?

Easily 5 years, in the sun, in the rain, at the beach, practicing a lot, not being kept in the case, still intonating perfectly and sounding fantastic. I only started using them 5 years ago. The only thing I worry about is -- at a gig someone comes up and says, cool bass! I'm so-and-so, well known bass influencer who wants to be your friend. Can I try it? And then I have to think, is this person a string corroder? But that's me worrying about nothing.

 

[BargeOn]

Anybody using these on a 5 string? The string gauge looks really odd to me going from an 89 E to a 118 B.

Yes, had them on a couple, both active and passive, currently on my Pedulla MVP 5.
The timbre of the B is clear and crisp, well defined through the scale, which is the virtue of TIs in general. As you can gather from comments here "aggressive" or "deep" are not words that come first when describing these strings (others in the TI line, especially PowerBass lean more in that direction).

 

[cavemanbass]

Tried a set over the weekend, as has been said I needed to lighten up my technique to really appreciate the sound of these strings. Awesome! I moved them to my ABG and really liking the tone.
On my 4003 they were cool but not quite what I want…
Anyone here tried the Powerbass or Superalloy sets from TI? How do they compare to JRs in terms of stiffness/ tension? Hex core and much fatter gauges have me wondering… appreciate any info!