TI Flats vs the world...

Elder Rynok

Elder Rynok

Feb 23, 2016
111
151
4,571
#1
Okay, I need everyone's help. I don't have the time to try every string under the sun. I am playing too much right now. I have been using Dunlop Flatwounds for almost 2 years I think. I loved them, but the QC is horrible. A couple of dead E strings, balance on the G string off and tinny, and 2 strings from 2 different packs that broke when tuned to pitch and plucked.

I know you might be thinking it's the bass or it's me, you might be right, but I can't take that risk with my schedule right now.

I am looking for a thumpy string with good grit, nice low-end growl. And grindy when I dig in with a pick and distortion. (mostly prefer flatwounds) The TI flats almost sound perfect, but I have avoided them due to worry about pick playing since they are so loose, but I have tried so many strings lately that don't feel right. I am currently giving pressurewounds a try and don't hate them, but is it even worth my time to try TI Flats?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Andrew In Boise, nixdad and Pbassmanca
#3
TI Flats are something you have to try for yourself. They sound darn good, perhaps better than any other flat wound string. However they are floppy. I your bass allows for picking nearer the bridge than that will help immensely.

ie; On a Rickenbacker it's nice to have the Bridge Pickup cover removed while using TI's. Then you have the freedom to find the "sweet spot" as far as tension.

You will 100% have to change your technique to offset the low tension. How much depends on how hard you dig in.

I don't believe Geddy Lee would ever get used to TI's. I think Bobby Vega could tear it up using them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GregC, Kevin Teed, HolmeBass and 1 other person
#4
Depends on how hard you play. I’m a bit heavy handed with fingers but have had no issues with the Jazz Flats on my Ibanez 5 string. When I use a pick I’m quite a bit more gentle and okay more towards the bridge. I was concerned about the “floppiness” that everyone on here seemed to talk about. While they are more flexible than I’m used to, I wouldn’t call them floppy.

Pricey for sure. But the only way you’ll know is if you throw a set of em on. I also like D’Addario Chromes. Much more tight and can take quite a beating.
 
#5
Elder Rynok said:
but the QC is horrible. A couple of dead E strings, balance on the G string off and tinny, and 2 strings from 2 different packs that broke when tuned to pitch and plucked.
Click to expand...
Elder Rynok said:
I know you might be thinking it's the bass or it's me, you might be right, but I can't take that risk with my schedule right now.
Click to expand...
User error is always a possibility even among the best and brightest. You may be busy but re-examining your stringing technique might solve your problems and really shouldn’t take too long.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JRA, Elder Rynok, GeneralElectric and 3 others
#6
2saddleslab said:
Yes. Have them on every bass I own, hollow, semi hollow, and solid. Seems to bring out the best in each. They last forever. The tension is on the low side but they still work just as well tuned a half step down. Gotta try or you’ll never know.
Click to expand...

Do you play with a pick for anything? I've got a couple of songs here and there that need that harsh attack and grind from a pick.
 
#7
FunkHead said:
TI Flats are something you have to try for yourself. They sound darn good, perhaps better than any other flat wound string. However they are floppy. I your bass allows for picking nearer the bridge than that will help immensely.

ie; On a Rickenbacker it's nice to have the Bridge Pickup cover removed while using TI's. Then you have the freedom to find the "sweet spot" as far as tension.

You will 100% have to change your technique to offset the low tension. How much depends on how hard you dig in.

I don't believe Geddy Lee would ever get used to TI's. I think Bobby Vega could tear it up using them.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the trying is kind of the weird thing in my head. How much of a truss rod adjustment was it? I don't just want to try them at home, I'd rather try them for a practice session, but I don't want to screw up my neck by not adjusting the truss rod for too long.
 
#8
Elder Rynok said:
Yeah, the trying is kind of the weird thing in my head. How much of a truss rod adjustment was it? I don't just want to try them at home, I'd rather try them for a practice session, but I don't want to screw up my neck by not adjusting the truss rod for too long.
Click to expand...
When I had them on my Ric 4003, I just raised the saddles up and left the truss rods as they were. Rics are pretty easy that way with one allen screw per side. On a Fender, I would just back off the Truss rod about 1/4 to 1/2 turn and you'll be golden. Unless you unusually high tension strings on currently.
 
#10
My 5-string P bass has D'Addario Chromes on it and they work really well for pick or just about any other style of playing.

At first they're surprisingly bright, but that fades after an hour or two of playing them. They have just a little bit more edge to them than other flatwounds that I've tried, and they have a lot of tension so definitely not floppy. The B string is super tight and pronounced even on a p Bass.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Element Zero
#15
I play primarily with a pick and I like the action fairly low. I find that I tend to move the pick as parallel to the fretboard as possible to avoid buzzing on the frets. This is habit for me and works well. If you like to hit the strings with a motion toward the fretboard when digging in, you may have to raise the action. I don't like gritty myself, so I don't know how that would sound with TIs.
 
#16
Elder Rynok said:
I am looking for a thumpy string with good grit, nice low-end growl. And grindy when I dig in with a pick and distortion. (mostly prefer flatwounds)
Click to expand...
Solid percussive bottom end attack is realm of a good flatwound such as GHS Precision flats or Fender 9050 flats. Plenty of meaty mids too. Grit & Grind/Distortion is the amp's job, and since you have a Fender Super Bassman you'll have no shortage of sonic greatness. You can get a bit of growl with a flat and a tube amp, but nothing like a roundwound. You'd be best served playing several differently strung basses. Guitar players switch off all the time. There is no reason why you can't also.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AModestRat, Elder Rynok, Pbassmanca and 1 other person
#17
i use the ti flats as a substitute for almost dead dunlop rounds, they work great with an L2000 into a mesa d180 for the heavy od live stuff and they work beautifully clean with my LB100 into the apogee jam for garage band, one thing though they do settle down and they don't maintain their newish flavor forever and it might just be me, but they see to need some wiping off or the fast fret treatment from time to time
 
  • Like
Reactions: lowplaces
#18
Elder Rynok said:
Okay, I need everyone's help. I don't have the time to try every string under the sun. I am playing too much right now. I have been using Dunlop Flatwounds for almost 2 years I think. I loved them, but the QC is horrible. A couple of dead E strings, balance on the G string off and tinny, and 2 strings from 2 different packs that broke when tuned to pitch and plucked.

I know you might be thinking it's the bass or it's me, you might be right, but I can't take that risk with my schedule right now.

I am looking for a thumpy string with good grit, nice low-end growl. And grindy when I dig in with a pick and distortion. (mostly prefer flatwounds) The TI flats almost sound perfect, but I have avoided them due to worry about pick playing since they are so loose, but I have tried so many strings lately that don't feel right. I am currently giving pressurewounds a try and don't hate them, but is it even worth my time to try TI Flats?
Click to expand...
I love TI's, but from what you have said, it sounds to me like your next stop should be D'Addario Chromes or GHS Precision flats.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lobstermen23, HankHillWaluigi, Elder Rynok and 3 others
#19
I'm a finger player. I have TI Flats on several of my Jazz basses and EB Cobalt Flats on my daily player. I enjoy the subtlety of the TI's and the relatively brightness of the EB's
The TI's do feel a bit looser, but not annoyingly so.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back