jps wrote:How do they compare to TI Jazz Flats?
Both the 4099 and the RB4440 sets are not nearly as bright. Both have a "meatier" feel.
The Gs don't sound as "papery" as the TIs do. If your bass is set up for TI's, (if vintage) you'd need to put roughly up to a half turn on the rods
to have the bass where it was with the TI's.
So anything prior to '71 might be iffy. I don't have anything built after that to make a fair judgement call on how they would work.
Having said that, the 4099s sound better on my "Faux Thousands" than they do on an old 4001.
Personally, if the bass can handle them, I prefer the Optimas to the TI's. The caveat is if your bass can handle them. I have a few 4001's with TI's where the rods are maxed out and the bridge is bottomed.
Another caveat is that there has been some inconsistency with the Optima 4099's over the years, though the newest set I have sounds better than some of the older ones.
Hope that helps.