(hopefully) useful info on TI jazz flat strings

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 11:13 am

Dan go for it - youll see they are real "healthy" for the old 4001's

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 11:46 am

When I first put the TI flats on my 79 4001, I loved the sound and physical feel (they almost felt like butter to my fingers) but were very light for me. I raised the action above what I usually have on my basses, and they then felt much better to me, like a higher tension string, and because they are a high output string they sound great even with high action. And I can play faster and more accurate with these at the higher action than with other strings at a lower height, and because they are higher (and smaller in diameter) they can vibrate freely without hitting the neck, you can really pull the E string with no annoying clank against the frets. (was that sacrilage here?)
I myself would still prefer a slightly heavier gauge, but everything else about the strings are great for me, so I'll settle for the lower tension for the sound and playability.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 11:47 am

One more thing, they are great for bending too.

cisco · Post by **cisco** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 12:48 pm

"John i dont find they need a lighter touch, you just raise the action a bit (on my 4001, "

Owen - what I meant was that you don't need to play with a heavy touch like you do with higher tension strings. Because of their lower tension they react well to a lighter touch which helps you hand to relax more when playing and gives you better dexterity.

jps · Post by **jps** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 12:53 pm

TIs are going on all my basses as soon as I run out of my current stock of Chromes. At another forum they spoke of the low tension and some over there thought that they would be difficult to play with because of that. I got one set to try out and put them on the '62 Jazz Bass and I find the tension to be very nice and not floppy at all like I was lead to expect. They are very supple and the sound quality is excellent everywhere on the fingerboard. So what if they are a little more expensive than the usual, they are well worth it.

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 12:54 pm

ah right John! yeah, i see what you mean now i misread.

PS..you are right

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 1:26 pm

Hi Cisco,
Thanks for the advice on the JF324 set. Welcome aboard. Think I'll go ahead and try them out. Quite a T-I convert I am too.

I get my T-I flats from Steve "Dude" Barr who I think has the best prices for T-I bass strings.
http://pub206.ezboard.com/fthedudepitfrm18.showMessage?topicID=218.topic

Bob,
Yeah, they are super nice for bending and wide vibratos! These are really bright sounding "Modern Flats" that reflect the nuances of picking and fingering.

cisco · Post by **cisco** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 1:42 pm

"Yeah, they are super nice for bending and wide vibratos! These are really bright sounding "Modern Flats" that reflect the nuances of picking and fingering."

Very well said Paul!!

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 6:19 pm

BUT, if you do like more tension (as I do) raising the action will give you more tension because you have to press a little bit harder for the increased distance to the fretboard. And to my ears they sound better that way, because with higher action the vibrational path is not as impeded by fret buzz if you play hard like I do sometimes.
I think they are very expressive strings.

docbass · Post by **docbass** » Tue Sep 30, 2003 4:01 pm

Had TIs on two of my basses and took them off after a couple months. Too dull and loose for my tastes. I use Pyramid flats on my Ric and Gibson and they sound great and play great, LaBella nylon 760Ns on my other basses for that old school thump from the 50's. I think the Pyramids are the livliest flats around and are a comfortable guage and tension for me.

All a matter of personal preference for sure.

dano · Post by **dano** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 2:17 pm

"(hopefully) useful info on TI jazz fl..."

Very useful info Owen! I just put these on my '79 4001FL. I've been waiting for the "right" set of strings to come along and now that they are finally here... I'm in Tone Heaven! :^)

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 2:26 pm

, Dan.

"I'm in Tone Heaven!"
Exactly the way I felt after putting my 1st set of JF344 on Sophie. Annie followed soon after!!!

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 2:27 pm

Hey Dan! good aint they??

Bare in mind tho that they will dull down in a week or so. So i wouldnt judge the sound on what you have now.

These strings apparently last a long long time.

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 2:32 pm

Big money saver, aren't they?

dano · Post by **dano** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 2:57 pm

Owen, I agree. The first impression is usually the right one though. I love the feel of these strings and they suit this bass well. Plus the lower tension is like an added bonus, save the truss rod adjustments. I hear they sound better with age? Big money saver considering the amount of strings you go through in a year. If your like me and change them every 2 months or so, the savings are huge!