Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

ive got to the stage where i want to give my bass a more smooth feel. my only problem is that i like very low tension, for rounds i usualy use hybrid gauge or less rotosoud swingbass. i want that real low tension bendy feel, but with the texture of flats or tapes, also i want as much punch and brightness i can get, basicaly i want all of what my rounds have, but with the feel of flats. please help me, it seems each company has its own oppinions on what low tension is.

If you want to give flats a try on the cheap, I bought some flatwound bass strings from www.webstrings.com . they are low tension (coming from a guitarist, I find them very easy) and they are very cheap!

wowa they r cheap, saddly i dont live in the us so that site aint the best choice.
to be honest i have flats on my jag bass so its not so much trying, its getting some good quality really low tension one that are avalable in the uk
xx

Will Webstrings not ship to you? I spoke with them just a couple weeks ago and they told me they were shipping a ton to Spain. So I gather they can ship elsewhere too.

ooo, i dont know then, will have a loosh
x

SHipping is 6$ plu 15% of total.

Buy some guitar strings with it, you've got yourself some good cheap strigns!

cool,
one thing though
they only do medium and heavey gauge
im a litght gauge man, 40-100

ricky22 wrote:cool,
one thing though
they only do medium and heavey gauge
im a litght gauge man, 40-100

I've got the medium gauge, and they feel slinky enough that they're easier to play than light gauge rounds I had before.

ricky22 wrote:ive got to the stage where i want to give my bass a more smooth feel. my only problem is that i like very low tension, for rounds i usualy use hybrid gauge or less rotosoud swingbass. i want that real low tension bendy feel, but with the texture of flats or tapes, also i want as much punch and brightness i can get, basicaly i want all of what my rounds have, but with the feel of flats. please help me, it seems each company has its own oppinions on what low tension is.

You've just described TI Jazz Flats perfectly. These are basically rubber bands but with an extremely bright tone. These are by far the lowest tension strings you can get, IMHO, and the second brightest, next to Chromes. I don't like them for both reasons, but that's why everyone's different! (Or maybe it's just me who's different?)

Another possibility is TI Jazz Rounds. These are very smooth feeling roundwounds and are even lower tension than the Jazz Flats. I have them on both of my '73 4001s and on my '97 Fender California Precision Special. Great tone and feel for those who like their strings to feel like strings and not bridge cables!

4stringnosing wrote:You've just described TI Jazz Flats perfectly.

+1

mdeayton wrote:

4stringnosing wrote:You've just described TI Jazz Flats perfectly.

+1

Yep, TI flats are fantastic and should fit the bill. I have them on my Mosrite and they sing. I'll be putting them on one of my Rics at the next change over.

Chromes are great but aren't quite as buttery (for want of a better word) as TIs.

antipodean wrote:Chromes are great but aren't quite as buttery (for want of a better word) as TIs.

True. I tend to keep the Chromes for pure "rock", while the TI Flats are more versatile. At the moment I have TIs on my 4003, a fretted and a fretless Stingray, a '66 P and a Nash '51 P. Chromes are on the Thunderbird, the two Bongos and a '64 frankenFender J with a P neck that I usually keep tuned down half a step.

well guys ive gone for it and ordered some ti's. hope they are all they are cracked up to be, havent read a bad review about them on the web.
just out of intrest- i have herd the strings last a very long time, much longer than roundwounds. whats the longest a forum member has left some on their bass????
xx

ricky22 wrote:i have herd the strings last a very long time, much longer than roundwounds. whats the longest a forum member has left some on their bass????

The TI Flats on one of my Stingrays are 8 years old and still going strong.