The current Fender 9050 flats are made by D'Addario; however, they're NOT re-branded Chromes as they're manufactured to the Fender specs. And you're right, the EB Stainless Steel Flats and the Fender 9050s are similar both in tone and feel.
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Sound Comparison: Labella LT Flats vs TI Jazz Flats - Which do you prefer?
- Thread starter fourstringdrums
- Start date
The current Fender 9050 flats are made by D'Addario; however, they're NOT re-branded Chromes as they're manufactured to the Fender specs. And you're right, the EB Stainless Steel Flats and the Fender 9050s are similar both in tone and feel.
Cool! And just to be clear, I'm not talking about EB Cobalts, but rather the EB "Group" strings. I'm still waiting to try the Cobalts, but am liking the "Groups" meanwhile. And maybe for a long time, as they seem to last and last.
Yes, I refer to the EB "traditional flats" as "Stainless Steel Flats" to differentiate them from the "Cobalt Flats" (aka Slinky Flats).
Great post. I've played every brand of flats mentioned in the thread but the TI's are the ones I go for.
Over here La Bella's cost the same as TI's,it's actually cheaper to buy TIs than D'Addario Chromes here in Europe.
No "I'd try TI's but they cost ...."
Over here La Bella's cost the same as TI's,it's actually cheaper to buy TIs than D'Addario Chromes here in Europe.
No "I'd try TI's but they cost ...."
Here in England online the price difference between the two is so small its not even worth considering and at a music shop if they have both they are more than likely the same price.Great post. I've played every brand of flats mentioned in the thread but the TI's are the ones I go for.
Over here La Bella's cost the same as TI's,it's actually cheaper to buy TIs than D'Addario Chromes here in Europe.
No "I'd try TI's but they cost ...."
True, however I do wonder with Brexit coming up if TI's will suddenly get more expensive, tempted to buy a backup set now just in case
Hope not. Have about 8 sets in the cupboard so I'm good for a couple of lifetimes
Yes, 8 lifetimes.Hope not. Have about 8 sets in the cupboard so I'm good for a couple of lifetimes
I also recall her saying that she has hand problems now in her later years, so thank goodness for the TIs. This was before the low tension La Bellas came out.
(I’m not suggesting that’s the only reason that she uses them. But both sets certainly are easier to get around on than most other flats.)
Based on these recordings, I like the LTF a bit more on that bass - but I’m listening with a focus on how they’ll sit in a band setting. The LTFs speak with a stronger low-midrange voice on that bass, so they get my vote!
(The broken in TIs sound great too, though.)
(The broken in TIs sound great too, though.)
Someone brought this response to my attention. They’re a few years old, but I still have the Ernie Ball Groups on my Valenti. This to confirm that they did settle in to be a bit brighter than DTF’s or TI’s. Tension remains similar to light DTF’s, stiffer than Labella low-tension flats or TI’s. They’re holding steady and I’m happy to keep them in place.
I have more than a month old EB group 2810 on my sub ray5 . She still has out from pack fresh tone even I play it around 2 hours daily at home. The B and E string has pretty solid and clean tone.
Carol Kaye used Fender flats during the 60s, never changing them (per Carol- “I never changed strings - hated to do that and had no time to do that. I merely ran into a music store on a break, handed in my old bass, and quickly picked out a new Fender Precision every 2 years and so I had the new strings!”).
She used Rotosound for a short time in 70s, but switched to TI in the 90s. I recall her glowing reviews of them in the 90s and thats when I started using them.
I wrote to her around 1972, and she wrote back. She sent me a couple of guitar picks with her name on them, and said that she used Fender Flats, the F90 set. Those were medium gauge, as opposed to the light gauge F80 set that came on Fender basses at the time. She did not use LaBella.
I think she misremembered the name: it should be F850
(the 90 was the original not-flatwound set from the Fifties, which has been described as "polished", and come the late Seventies as simply roundwound).
I've also read Carol quoted as relating how, back in the day, she would get herself a new bass when strings started going too old for her taste, instead of replacing them. This also doesn't jibe with the idea of her replacing stock strings with La Bellas, which is true for Jamerson and Duck, and possibly others.
I have to confess; "one of these days" happened a few months after I posted this. I put a set of TIJF's on a '95 Alembic Epic that I acquired. So, how do I like them?I do like the sound clips of broken-in TI'sthat I've heard; and, like quickfix, I've toyed with ordering a set (still am, kinda), but... I like stiff strings - and I like to play them with a pick. The TI's being described as being everything from "Very flexible to "rubbery" to "limp spaghetti" is not exactly what I'm looking for... One of these days, maybe; but for now, I'll keep my money in my pocket...
Well... they're still on the Alembic, after all this time. TBH, though; I'm... a little conflicted. On the one hand, they aren't nearly as "noodle-y" as some people say. On the other hand, they are too flexible for me to play with a pick. I certainly could do so - if the Alembic were my only bass - or if all my other basses wore TI's, too. But, the technique adjustment needed to go from playing bridge cable stiff flats to playing the TI's, is just not worth the effort. So, the Alembic is the only bass - out of 25 - that is strictly finger- picked. I don't mind, though; that works best for what I play on that bass, anyway. As for their tone? The TI's almost-orchestral harmonics suit the Alembic - and what I play with it - perfectly. So, yeah; I'm pretty happy with the string/bass combo. However...
I had no intention of ever putting TIJF's on any of my other basses. The sonic territory they live in, is simply not suited to the great majority of the music I play. Yes, they would work - if I wanted to spend a small fortune to put them on my other basses. But, there are a great many other flat wound strings that are far better suited to play that music - and they don't cost nearlyas much as TI's do, either. That said, I did put a short scale set of TIJF's on a bass I acquired about 6 weeks ago; a 32" scale, '93 Fury Anthem lined fretless bass. They fit fine; tuned up fine; and intonated fine. How did they sound? Definitely NOT fine. I got noises from that bass that I've never heard a bass make - in 50+ years of playing. Turns out, the hand-wound, custom, uniquely designed pickups on the Anthem were evidently designed for Tape wound strings - and to mimic an upright bass. The Roto TruBass88M Tapes I put on it, sound as close to an upright as any electric bass I've ever heard. So. the TIJF 324's are safely stored in a Ziploc bag, awaiting their next home. So, in my bass herd? TIJF's are really nice strings - but they're definitely "niche" strings...
As for the La Bella Low Tension Flats?
I bought some of them several years ago, intending to put them on my '73 Rick 4001. It had begun to develop the neck problem that 4001's of a certain age get, sometimes. But, I never did, and about a year after I moved to Indiana, I put it up for sale on Reverb. And, at the same time, so did just about everybody else in the world, that owned a left handed 4001. After about a year, I gave up - and brought it home. In the meantime, Dogal came out with their "Jaco" CarbonSteel Flats, which they claimed were super-low tension. So, I tried those on the 4001. And, TBH? I think they're right about the tension - although they feel a little stiffer than the TIJF's. Stiff enough that I can easily play them with a pick - with no technique adjustments. But, the La Bella LTF's soon found a home. I bought a G&L Custom Shop (lefty) Kiloton Lined Fretless Bass a month ago, and the La Bella's are simply the cat's ass on that bass. The fact that they're not quite as "Old School" thumpy as regular La Bella DTF's is a plus, IMO. I do want that "Old School" thump from a lot of my basses - but there's also some music I like to play, where solid low-mids and mids are required, too. And the LTF's deliver...
So, bottom line? TIJF's have their place in my bass herd, and they fill that place very, very well. But, it's a small place. The La Bella LTFs? I really like them on the Kiloton fretless, and I can see where they'd work well on several other basses in my herd. However... I'm not going to replace any of the flats those basses wear now, anytime soon...
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Tough choice, this would depend very much on the song. If I had to choose between these two clips without knowing the context... I would go with the LaBellas. The TIs are still a bit bright and unbalanced sounding IMO. The LaBellas sound like they are broken in and the TIs will mellow out a bit over time, although they will never be as dark/fat sounding as the LaBellas. TIs will always have more subtle lows than most other strings and when they're fresh they can be a bit unbalanced and "clanky" for my taste. But give the TIs a couple more weeks and I have a feeling I might prefer the TIs. The LaBellas are slightly bordering on muddy, but nothing an eq can't fix.
But like I said, it would also depend very much on the song/genre and whether you want the bass to "sit" deep in the mix (LaBellas) or "cut" through the mix more (TIs). This can also be adjusted with eq of course.
I will say one thing though: I have extremely bad experiences with uninstalling/re-installing TIJFs. On more than one occasion I've had them develop weird buzzing and strange metallic overtones after loosening the tension and re-installing them. Maybe it was just a case of poor luck but I would at least keep the TIs installed until they're properly broken in and THEN decide, just in case...
EDIT: I just noticed the last clip with the broken-in TIs, LOL. Yeah, that's the one I would go with based on these clips (although it would STILL depend on the song/genre, both sound great).
But like I said, it would also depend very much on the song/genre and whether you want the bass to "sit" deep in the mix (LaBellas) or "cut" through the mix more (TIs). This can also be adjusted with eq of course.
I will say one thing though: I have extremely bad experiences with uninstalling/re-installing TIJFs. On more than one occasion I've had them develop weird buzzing and strange metallic overtones after loosening the tension and re-installing them. Maybe it was just a case of poor luck but I would at least keep the TIs installed until they're properly broken in and THEN decide, just in case...
EDIT: I just noticed the last clip with the broken-in TIs, LOL. Yeah, that's the one I would go with based on these clips (although it would STILL depend on the song/genre, both sound great).
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Just discovered this thread today.
First of all, let me say Nice to hear a comparison of these 2 string sets…and especially on a great Bruce Thomas bass line. Lipstick Vogue is a killer song and bassline.
I’ve used the LTF sets on several basses, and tried Optima RB out.
But I really liked the sound of the TI’s best on your comparison, and think I’m up for putting a set on my Cheyenne. I haven’t had much luck finding them in Portugal though.
First of all, let me say Nice to hear a comparison of these 2 string sets…and especially on a great Bruce Thomas bass line. Lipstick Vogue is a killer song and bassline.
I’ve used the LTF sets on several basses, and tried Optima RB out.
But I really liked the sound of the TI’s best on your comparison, and think I’m up for putting a set on my Cheyenne. I haven’t had much luck finding them in Portugal though.