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Well, after 24 years, I had to replace my TI flats

bwildt

bwildt

Mar 21, 2017
908
4,171
Wichita, Kansas
#1
In 2000, I bought my first set of TI flats, and put them on my 1999 Fender Hot Rod Precision (PJ). The same set has been on this bass ever since. I've always enjoyed them. Admittedly, they have mellowed over the years, but they still had a sound I liked. Not all that bright, but solid lows and mids, and with a little upper-mid bump on my amp, they had a nice solid attack. I usually used this bass for basement recording, small semi-acoustic groups and when playing in my 18pc big band. In the past, I played it in other more pop/rock bands until I needed to move to 5 strings.

The G string started developing some funny overtones.

I can't complain about having to replace them, as when you calculate price vs longevity, these are the least expensive strings I have ever used. I don't remember what I paid for them, but probably around $50. This equates to paying $2/year for strings for this instrument.

I replaced the old strings yesterday. The new ones are brighter, I assume they will mellow out at some point. I 'm actually rolling the tone off just a bit to get back to the sound I'm accustomed to.

I run TI's on some of my other basses: Fender P5, Ibanez ABG-140, Mexican Fender Jazz fretless, Yahama BBG5 (passive J), Reverend Rumblefish R5L. I find TI flats on a Jazz bass configuration to be a very pleasant sound.
 
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#6
bwildt said:
In 2000, I bought my first set of TI flats, and put them on my 1999 Fender Hot Rod Precision (PJ). The same set has been on this bass ever since. I've always enjoyed them. Admittedly, they have mellowed over the years, but they still had a sound I liked. Not all that bright, but solid lows and mids, and with a little upper-mid bump on my amp, they had a nice solid attack. I usually used this bass for basement recording, small semi-acoustic groups and when playing in my 18pc big band. In the past, I played it in other more pop/rock bands until I needed to move to 5 strings.

The G string started developing some funny overtones.

I can't complain about having to replace them, as when you calculate price vs longevity, these are the least expensive strings I have ever used. I don't remember what I paid for them, but probably around $50. This equates to paying $2/year for strings for this instrument.

I replaced the old strings yesterday. The new ones are brighter, I assume they will mellow out at some point. I 'm actually rolling the tone off just a bit to get back to the sound I'm accustomed to.

I run TI's on some of my other basses: Fender P5, Ibanez ABG-140, Mexican Fender Jazz fretless, Yahama BBG5 (passive J), Reverend Rumblefish R5L. I find TI flats on a Jazz bass configuration to be a very pleasant sound.
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Thanks for sharing, @bwildt! Your TI's cost you approximately $2 per year...that value is unbelievable! :thumbsup:

I've had TI's on 2 of my basses since 2014, and on several others since. Best strings on the market, as far as I'm concerned. ;)

BTW, you can find TI JF344's on Amazon for about $66. It's time to get another 24 years of usage out of the next set!

Carry on!
 
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#15
bwildt said:
In 2000, I bought my first set of TI flats, and put them on my 1999 Fender Hot Rod Precision (PJ). The same set has been on this bass ever since. I've always enjoyed them. Admittedly, they have mellowed over the years, but they still had a sound I liked. Not all that bright, but solid lows and mids, and with a little upper-mid bump on my amp, they had a nice solid attack. I usually used this bass for basement recording, small semi-acoustic groups and when playing in my 18pc big band. In the past, I played it in other more pop/rock bands until I needed to move to 5 strings.

The G string started developing some funny overtones.

I can't complain about having to replace them, as when you calculate price vs longevity, these are the least expensive strings I have ever used. I don't remember what I paid for them, but probably around $50. This equates to paying $2/year for strings for this instrument.

I replaced the old strings yesterday. The new ones are brighter, I assume they will mellow out at some point. I 'm actually rolling the tone off just a bit to get back to the sound I'm accustomed to.

I run TI's on some of my other basses: Fender P5, Ibanez ABG-140, Mexican Fender Jazz fretless, Yahama BBG5 (passive J), Reverend Rumblefish R5L. I find TI flats on a Jazz bass configuration to be a very pleasant sound.
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I've had a set of T.I. flats on a StingRay for 2 or 3 years and love the tone. I was late to the "T.I. Party" because their low tension reputation scared me off for a long time. I frequently dig in fairly hard if I'm rockin' out, and didn't know if they'd be okay for that. But I found that the adjustment period was pretty much immediate, and I love them now.

I have an American Special P-Bass that has had D'Addario Chromes on it since 2012. They sound great. BUT, I decided to put some T.I. Jazz Flats on it. Like your experience, the new T.I.'s are a lot brighter than the ones that have been on my 'Ray for a few years. So like you, I've been rolling back the tone knob until they break in. But Chromes are like that as well. Too bright for my tastes at first, but get better and better the longer they're on.

I'm hoping the T.I.'s mellow out quickly. That's one thing I like about DR Legends. They sound great right out of the pack (kinda' like the GHS Precision Flats). But I've only been using the DR Legends about 3 years. They sound killer, but I don't know if they'll keep that sound for decades like some of my other flats have.
 
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#19
High time I put a set of TI flats on my Jazz bass again. I use it mainly to practice slapping these days - it is a Marcus Miller model, after all. I do recall slapping a bit when it rocked the TI's but I'm afraid the slap sound will be lacking with those strings. Then again, I only slap 'er in the bedroom anyway :smug:
 
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