TI Jazz Rounds are dangerous. Heed my warning.

[nonohmic]

Well, I think I got my bass in early February so it's been like 8 months and they finally deadened. They still sound great though, they have this mellow thump. It's like a better flatwound.

Goal was to buy one pair a year, so I'll see if I can stretch them. But might try a set of Dunlop's in the meantime as they are one of the only companies that does light gauge medium scale. But I expect I'll go back to TIJRs pretty quickly. Even somewhat dead I expect they're better than other rounds.

 

[nonohmic]

IMHO the whole "being ruined for other strings" aspect is attributed more to the gauge of the TI's rather than the brand itself. I've used the following sets along with the TI's and they all nail the "supple/responsive/dynamic/effortless playability" aspects down pat:

DR hibeams 30-90
Roto funkmasters 30-90
GHS hexcore boomers 30-90
Ken Smith burners 30-90
Ken Smith slap masters 30-90

And to a slightly lesser extent, DA EXL180 35-95

I was in the anti-steel camp for a while, but at gauges this light, everything feels smooth to the touch. The Rotos in particular go from a .105 cheesegrater to a .090 tactile feel. Though I will admit, nothing sounds quite like TIJR.

Yah none of these come in medium scale (except the EXLs) which is the problem.

 

[WG Plum]

I do wish they came in a heavier gauge.

This is why I don't use them. I don't like bridge cables, but every TI set, flats or rounds, has had too much give. I need a little resistance when I want to dig in.

 

[Igotsoul4u]

Funny thread. I agree that the Jazz Rounds are some of the best strings ever especially if you are susceptible to hand fatigue or weakness. What's crazy is how insanely long they last. With normal acid hands you can go 5 years easy. If you have a heavy touch I could see them feeling too bendy.

 

[Father Gino]

They’re too loose for me and I’m a TI flat fanatic. Recently I tried a set of TI rounds and didn’t like them. I have used them in the past on fretless basses and got along with them for some time but eventually moved on. They’re not aggressive enough to me. Very smooth sounding. And I couldn’t dig into them enough to make them growl to my liking. Maybe plucking real close to the bridge, but that’s it.

All this being said, I could get used to them just like I get used to different basses and amps. In the end, it always end up sounding like me.

 

[Jeff Scott]

They’re too loose for me and I’m a TI flat fanatic. Recently I tried a set of TI rounds and didn’t like them. I have used them in the past on fretless basses and got along with them for some time but eventually moved on. They’re not aggressive enough to me. Very smooth sounding. And I couldn’t dig into them enough to make them growl to my liking. Maybe plucking real close to the bridge, but that’s it.

All this being said, I could get used to them just like I get used to different basses and amps. In the end, it always end up sounding like me.

They're aggressive enough for my playing.

 

[Angus]

Funny thread. I agree that the Jazz Rounds are some of the best strings ever especially if you are susceptible to hand fatigue or weakness. What's crazy is how insanely long they last. With normal acid hands you can go 5 years easy.

Absolutely this. I have jazz rounds on every instrument where I can, and I recently replaced the set on my main bass after close to 10 years….and I regret it. I liked them better older and worn in. I’ve been playing it like crazy to get them worn in again.

And I saved the old set just in case.

I just wish they made a wound F string.

(I’m not entirely sold on them on every fretless, though, in fairness.)

 

[Igotsoul4u]

I have them on my US Musicman Sterling 5 but my F bass BN5 has the traditional F bass rounds with exposed core. I've been wanting to try the jazz rounds on the BN5 but it plays so well right now that I don't want to mess with it. I also use it along side my fretted BN5 so I like having the same tone. I find myself reaching for the musicman for my imitation upright sound and the jazz rounds are a big part of that. I did use the musicman fretless 5 exculsively for many years and the jazz rounds worked well enough for most styles/genres. Not so great for slapping but doable.