Best "McCartney" bass string sound?

beatlejon · Post by **beatlejon** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 2:39 pm

Hey guys...
I have a fireglow Rickenbacker 4001C64...I've heard some good opinions on these strings at musiciansfriend.com...

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ThomastikInfeld-JF344-Jazz-Flatwound-Long-Scale-4String-Bass-Strings?sku=101646

Any of you guys use these?
Thanks

scottpro1969 · Post by **scottpro1969** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 4:07 pm

I don't think you'll get any negative opinions on these strings...me included. They are low tension strings. I had them on a 4003 and they sounded great. However they were too low tension for my taste, they felt rubbery.

Sound wise, they are great. I feel more comfortable with Pyramid flats, however they are much higher tension than the TI's. To each his own. The TI's are great strings. This probably didn't help any but...there ya go.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 5:52 pm

Medium gauge D'Addario Chrome flats are nice too and much cheaper than either of those two. I just put a set on my 72 fretless P bass, they play and sound great, have a nice round sound.

fireglo · Post by **fireglo** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:12 am

I had Pyramids on my 4003 for four and a half years, and I liked them. However, when I finally decided to change strings, I went with the TI JF344 set. I like them better than the Pyramids. I like the lower tension, and I think they sound a little better too. They have a more defined sound to me.

I play mostly Beatles and Wings songs, and the TIs get the right sound for this to my ears.

fran4001 · Post by **fran4001** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 9:50 am

+1 for the Thomastiks here too. Or, jump on the first new-old-stock set of Maxima flats you see. That's what came on the Ricks from the factory for many a moon. I lucked into a set last year, and they're terrific.

revolver323 · Post by **revolver323** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 11:30 am

One set of TI Jazz flats will sound great and stay sounding great for about two years, which offsets the price. I never found the tension a problem. If you play with a pick, you'll get a great Macca sound.

rickinroma · Post by **rickinroma** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 1:03 am

Does anybody know if the TI Jazz Flats mentioned in the topic have lower tension than the standard factory Rickenbacker strings (which are RW) also?
Thanks

revolver323 · Post by **revolver323** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 1:42 am

I haven't played the current batch of Rick strings, but the TI flats feel substantially softer than most stock rounds, such as GHS, and Rotosound. Back in 1973, when I got my first Rick, it came with flats, and that's too long ago for me to judge accurately how they compared. I will say that although TIs feel soft at first (And you'll probably have to raise action to avoid buzzing), you become used to them quickly.

rickinroma · Post by **rickinroma** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 1:51 am

thanks, Dave
I am curious to try TIs on my V63 but I don't want to run into tail lift issues just because I have changed the string tension which has been constant for 10 years since I bought her brand new in 97. I've always replaced original factory strings with standard rick RWs

revolver323 · Post by **revolver323** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 1:53 am

Francesco:

I doubt that Jazz Flats will lift the tail because they are lower tension. Best price I've found on the TIs is through Bass Emporium in Texas--around $50 with shipping for a four-string set.

rickinroma · Post by **rickinroma** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 1:59 am

I'll have a try soon
I guess TIs are more expensive here in Italy/Europe if they cost 50USD there...maybe it is more convenient buying them through a web retailer

peewee · Post by **peewee** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 3:13 am

Here's a far better price on the TI JF344s -

http://www.uptonbass.com/Thomastik-Infeld-JF344/

I really like these strings a lot and if you're a Macca fan ( and I know that you are Jon ), these will get it done in spades. I never liked the feel of a FW string until I played these. The Pyramids are nice, but I just can't get over the "dead" E string, which is normal for a set of Pyramid Golds; however, those sound fantastic on my Hofner 500/1 V63.

fran4001 · Post by **fran4001** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 3:10 pm

Francesco! Good to see you again! Haven't seen you much either here or at BeatGear. The TIs really are the best for the Macca thing. I've got alot of basses strung with them, including 5 Hofners, a Rick, a '60 Precision, etc. I will tell you this though, give them a week or two to settle in. They will be a bit bright at first. And, as mentioned above, NO dead E string! They are significantly lower tension than any string out there that I'm aware of. I can't see you being anything but thrilled with them. John Hall himself is on the record as saying they're the closest to the original Maxima set Rick always used.

fireglo · Post by **fireglo** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 6:28 pm

Francesco:

I had tail lift with the Pyramids, but when I put the TIs on, the tail flattened back out. So, for me, TIs got rid of my tail lift!
before after pics

wolfgang · Post by **wolfgang** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 7:27 pm

Francesco,
TIs are made in Austria and Pyramids in Germany.
Wolfgang