TI Jazz Rounds are dangerous. Heed my warning.

[N. Kentucky Bass]

Anyone able to compare the tone/feel of the TI Jazz Rounds to GHS Boomer Round Cores on a Jazz bass?

I tried TI Jazz flats on the J-bass and while they were better than the Fender rounds and GHS Boomer Hex core rounds, still a bit too polite. The Boomer Hex cores were too grindy to my ears. (I use TI Jazz flats on my P-bass and they are great!).

Then I put a set of GHS Boomer Round Cores on the Jazz bass and it sounded perfect. Nice, solid, even tone across all strings and the fingerboard -- like a Jazz bass! I'm guessing the TI JRs will be more similar than different, but welcome comments from those of you who've used both. Thank you!

 

[shoulderpet]

I have a set of these on the way for a short scale bass, I know on a short scale they will be very low tension but that is my preference (I have often used 95-35 rounds on short scales), the low tension and the smooth feel are very appealing to me

 

[shoulderpet]

I have a set of these on the way for a short scale bass, I know on a short scale they will be very low tension but that is my preference (I have often used 95-35 rounds on short scales), the low tension and the smooth feel are very appealing to me

Ok so they arrived today and the D string is completely dead, sounds like a flatwound, not impressed, I know dead strings happen but at £50 a set these could be foil wrapped or something to keep the strings fresh, hopefully the place I got them from replaces the D string with no hassle.

 

[Loring]

Yeah that’s odd.

 

[Loring]

Anyone able to compare the tone/feel of the TI Jazz Rounds to GHS Boomer Round Cores on a Jazz bass?

I tried TI Jazz flats on the J-bass and while they were better than the Fender rounds and GHS Boomer Hex core rounds, still a bit too polite. The Boomer Hex cores were too grindy to my ears. (I use TI Jazz flats on my P-bass and they are great!).

Then I put a set of GHS Boomer Round Cores on the Jazz bass and it sounded perfect. Nice, solid, even tone across all strings and the fingerboard -- like a Jazz bass! I'm guessing the TI JRs will be more similar than different, but welcome comments from those of you who've used both. Thank you!

boomer rounds are darker and higher tension.

There’s a certain mid tonality with the JR that the round core boomers don’t replicate.

Ranking round cores I like - TI rounds, DR pure blues then boomer round cores

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

boomer rounds are darker and higher tension.

There’s a certain mid tonality with the JR that the round core boomers don’t replicate.

Ranking round cores I like - TI rounds, DR pure blues then boomer round cores

Forgot about that query! Shortly thereafter I tried TI Jazz Rounds on the Jazz bass and haven't looked back. Excellent tone and feel.

 

[frankie5string]

Ok so they arrived today and the D string is completely dead, sounds like a flatwound, not impressed, I know dead strings happen but at £50 a set these could be foil wrapped or something to keep the strings fresh, hopefully the place I got them from replaces the D string with no hassle.

What the string is wrapped in wont make any difference. If the string is dead, it likely didn't wind properly or twisted. It's not really a freshness thing.

 

[g-dude]

Ok so they arrived today and the D string is completely dead, sounds like a flatwound, not impressed, I know dead strings happen but at £50 a set these could be foil wrapped or something to keep the strings fresh, hopefully the place I got them from replaces the D string with no hassle.

The price you pay and getting a dead string have no bearing on each other.

Sometimes there are duds - contact the seller and get a replacement single string, or exchange the set.

This is true whether you pay £5 or £500.

 

[NeilGB]

Just installed TIJR lights on two of my 5 string basses. They play amazingly and have a solid fundamental that is surprising given their light gauge. The B string is even and musical with a real ‘note’ to the sound. Very nice to the touch also.
Highly impressed so far. A set up is required but that only takes a few minutes.
The only downside is the price. I don’t want to have to install them on all my basses!

 

[Jazzdogg]

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've happily had all of my electric basses strung with TI flats for a few decades. Recently, I strung a fretless fiver with Dogal Hellborg rounds, and although I hadn't played rounds this century, and it took awhile to get used to rounds again, I like them now.

 

[Loring]

What the string is wrapped in wont make any difference. If the string is dead, it likely didn't wind properly or twisted. It's not really a freshness thing.

the other thing to be very aware of - with round cores - bend em at a right angle if you’re going to cut them. If you don’t you could easily end up with a dead string.

 

[g-dude]

Just installed TIJR lights on two of my 5 string basses. They play amazingly and have a solid fundamental that is surprising given their light gauge. The B string is even and musical with a real ‘note’ to the sound. Very nice to the touch also.
Highly impressed so far. A set up is required but that only takes a few minutes.
The only downside is the price. I don’t want to have to install them on all my basses!

I might end up swapping out my TI Super Alloys for Jazz Rounds for my G&L L2500. The Super Alloys are great, but I don’t currently have TIJR on any of my basses, and that needs to change…

I do have a lot of basses with TI Super Alloys on them. They are a very nice string.

 

[REV]

Your calluses aren't even trying!
You've become worthless and weak!
The only solution is a rigorous training program to re-motivate your jelly-like meathooks, and instill in them a sense of duty to serve.
First, go out to the garage and turn on your bench grinder. You DO have a bench grinder, don't you?
Good.
Now, grasp the spinning wheel between your thumb and fingertips, slowly exerting more pressure, until you bring it to a complete stop. Repeat.
Now switch hands and continue this exercise until you really feel the burn.
Next, start your car, open the hood, and reach in and grasp the fan belt til the engine stalls. Repeat, as needed, for both hands. You're on your way!

Now, get in the car and drive it to the nearest forest preserve, and using cheese sticks, lure in a porcupine.
Grab him firmly, with both hands, and tell him something that will really tick him off.

Tell him you think all porcupines are actually cute and cuddly.
Ignore the searing pain in your palms, and whisper in his ear that you did his sister....... on the first date.
Be imaginative, but hold on for at least 60 seconds.

These rituals, through repetition, will start you down a true path to recovery. Before you know it, your hands will be gnarly with calluses, and manly enough to handle GHS Boomers and Rotosound Swing Bass strings.

This is amazing... this is almost exactly how I maintain my calluses for playing my upright bass. I've actually never tried the part about the porcupine (to be honest) but the rest of it works quite well.

 

[GroovyBaby]

A current thread reminded me of this one. My question on the other thread is copied below to gather TB wisdom:

Also playing TI flats and rounds. I love how easy they are to play. I’ve had mine on the same bass for a year plus. That’s normal for flats but less so for rounds.

I am wondering, given the cost of the rounds, how often y’all change your TI rounds?

 

[Loring]

Yearly? Or thereabouts

 

[shoulderpet]

Took these off as they went a bit dark once they broke in but they are back on now, the band I am in has a couple of songs where the bass does a gallop and the Fender rounds I was using where leaving my hands a bit sore, hopefully I can EQ in some bite (although I suspect the "bite" will be in the mids with these) as the feel of these is so silky and light in comparison to the Fender strings and they are so smooth the A,D and G almost feel like flat wounds.

 

[Jazzdogg]

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.

Until last year, all of my electric basses were strung with TI Jazz flats, with which I have been ecstatic.

Last year, I installed a set of Dogal Hellborg rounds on my Lakland 55-02D fretless. They're the first rounds I've used in at least 30 years, and They're great. Their best attributes remind me of TI Jazz Flats. You might want to try a set someday.

 

[JPK_DK]

Until last year, all of my electric basses were strung with TI Jazz flats, with which I have been ecstatic.

Last year, I installed a set of Dogal Hellborg rounds on my Lakland 55-02D fretless. They're the first rounds I've used in at least 30 years, and They're great. Their best attributes remind me of TI Jazz Flats. You might want to try a set someday.

Why didn't you try the TI Jazz Rounds?

The Hellborg Dogals are very interesting strings alone because of the way they are constructed), but, personally, I don't like their "feel". I still very much prefer the TI Rounds, which are unbeatable in feel and great sounding a well.

 

[Jazzdogg]

Why didn't you try the TI Jazz Rounds?

The Hellborg Dogals are very interesting strings alone because of the way they are constructed), but, personally, I don't like their "feel". I still very much prefer the TI Rounds, which are unbeatable in feel and great sounding a well.

It was an experiment encouraged by a few TB friends, and an effort to remain open-minded in my old age after swearing an oath never to use rounds again after the frustration I experienced when I last played rounds.

Changing things up and avoiding being in a rut, no matter how comfortable the rut, has been one of my antidotes to aging, along with spoiling our five grandchildren whenever we're lucky enough to spend time with them.

 

[nonohmic]

Going in on my new Cliff Bordwell. Might as well go for it eh, try them out.