Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have RIC Maximas (NOS) on a 4003 and JH has stated the TIs are the closest to these. I do not find them floppy; they are silky smooth and have a distinctive plunk or thwop to them. I have the Chromes on my 4004C and they also are smooth, but as Kira and Charly report, they are a lot brighter; not like a round, but you can get some clank and growl out of them. Sorta like the Fender 9050 flats, but with not as much tension.

My experience with Thomastiks has been with guitar. With regard to this application I have found the Thomastiks to be of noticably lower tension, more mellow and with better sustain. The Chromes by comparison have an equally nice feel but are brighter and with less sustain.

I will give the TI's a shot sometime. One thing I notice now with the Chromes: the first string is a skosh less bassy now. With the rounds I had remarkable consistency stepping to the high string. Now I have to punch it a little harder when I move to the high string or the bottom drops a bit. The other strings are nice and bassy. MMM, could be EQ issues or room acoustics too, but I'll report if I'm right about that.

rickaddict wrote:But flats aren't fun...

We're talking about strings, here, Jeff.

I need to compare the TI JFs on my '08 4003 with the Chromes on my 4001V63; to me the feel is similar, keep in mind I have 40-55-75-95 gauge Chromes.

admin wrote:As to which strings pull hardest, there is a definitive answer in my view, it is the heart-strings.

Aw shucks... I was gonna end this thread with that line

jps wrote:

rickaddict wrote:But flats aren't fun...

We're talking about strings, here, Jeff.

That went over my head both times OK, I'll bite.

kiramdear wrote:

jps wrote:

rickaddict wrote:But flats aren't fun...

We're talking about strings, here, Jeff.

That went over my head both times OK, I'll bite.

Think anatomy.

D'uhh are we talking female anatomy in particular? Let me know when I get warm. I'm so dense

kiramdear wrote:D'uhh are we talking female anatomy in particular? Let me know when I get warm. I'm so dense

Dense? I dunno. I'm stumped too, so we're both dense! What 'choo talkin' 'bout Jeff Scott?!

I was just talking about strings. I have a few of my Ricks strung up with flats, but to me they're just not as fun as rounds. Rounds are springy, bouncy, fast and fun! (For me at least!)

I like the TI flats, put them on my Alembic. I have Pyramid Flats on my 4005, and still able to get growl. It's a Rick fer goodness sakes!

rickaddict wrote:Rounds are springy, bouncy, fast and fun! (For me at least!)

Yeah, it's a shame they don't sound very good.

Biscuti, you're sounding kinda curmudgeonly lately. We'll have to call you the Right Coast Curmudgeon.