TI Jazz Flats on Classic 50's Precision...

Vinnie Boombatz

Vinnie Boombatz

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May 26, 2010
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#1
I have a love/hate relationship with TI Jazz Flats. Love the feel but prefer the song of the LaBella 760FL's better. But for whatever reason the TI's just seem like they are made for my Classic 50's Precision. Minimal relief in the neck, lower action than factory spec and still no buzzing up the neck. You'd think with the higher tension of the LaBellas I could get less relief and lower action, but it's the other way around. And the low G from the 760FL's always seems to buy no matter what, and I've had this happen on TWO other basses with that darn G!

For now I'm going to stick it out with the TI's. I know it will take a while for it to happen, but they will mellow over time. I'm hoping it's worth the wait because they are so effortless to play. I've tried them in the past only to pull them off for a more traditional flat, but this time I'm determined to stick it out!
 
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#4
I share your "love hate" with TI flats! For me, they are the BEST sounding of all flats that I've ever tried. (I am very curious to try out LaBellas' new low tension flats!)

So, I love TI flats sound but the low tension requires a more control pluck and higher action or I get fret bang from plucking. Also, I hate the price of TI's! OUCH! What is it now, like $76 a set! Plus side is that they last for years and only sound better and better as they get older.

So, hang in there. Be patient. Let them age!

I'm lucky enough to own, and stupid enough for paying out a lot of money for a 1953 Fender Precision Bass. It is strung up with TI flats! Match made in heaven!

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#5
bassdude51 said:
So, I love TI flats sound but the low tension requires a more control pluck and higher action or I get fret bang from plucking.
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That's what I like about the TIs, actually - in the genres I play, I want fret noise if I increase in dynamics. So that works out perfectly.

Minor side effect of the added control requirement - I've had people tell me I have a very even sound (without any compression going on at all), I'm blaming the TIs for drilling me into that!
 
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#6
I have my bass set up with fairly minimal relief (0.010") and slightly low action measured at the 17th fret:

E: 5/64" (2mm)
A: 5/64" (2mm)
D: 4/64" (1.75mm)
G: 3.5/64" (1.5mm)

I play finger style and play pretty close to the neck, and still don't really get any clang or buzzing with the TI's unless I dig in ridiculously hard, which I really don't do.

I woke up today restraining myself from putting the LaBellas back on. Right after I got out of bed I plugged int he bass with the TI's and am going to stick it out, keep the tone knob rolled off quite a bit and just see how they age and break in!
 
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#11
Vinnie Boombatz said:
I have a love/hate relationship with TI Jazz Flats. Love the feel but prefer the song of the LaBella 760FL's better. But for whatever reason the TI's just seem like they are made for my Classic 50's Precision. Minimal relief in the neck, lower action than factory spec and still no buzzing up the neck. You'd think with the higher tension of the LaBellas I could get less relief and lower action, but it's the other way around. And the low G from the 760FL's always seems to buy no matter what, and I've had this happen on TWO other basses with that darn G!

For now I'm going to stick it out with the TI's. I know it will take a while for it to happen, but they will mellow over time. I'm hoping it's worth the wait because they are so effortless to play. I've tried them in the past only to pull them off for a more traditional flat, but this time I'm determined to stick it out!
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Stick with them TI's VinniB! I think they'e a match made in heaven with the laudable Classic 50's Precision ; which in my opinion is the best deal in the entire Fender bass guitar lineup.
 
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#14
fakeneckplate'65 said:
I prefer low action myself, with 5/64" being as low as I can get most instruments to play with about .014" of relief.

You're saying you can achieve LOWER action?
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I have about .010-.011" of relief and the low E is at 5/64", and each string is a little lower than the one before it. I never set every string at 5/64". it gradually goes down to like 3.5-4/64" once I get to the G. I also just play finger style pretty close to the neck. If I even try to use a pick I start getting buzzing obviously, but I never use a pick.

I guess I've just been lucky with the couple of Classic 50's P's I've owned. All have had really good fretwork from the factory and I have been able to set them up with pretty low action. The American Standard P I had prior was a different story. Needed a fret level and a shim, and my Classic 70's Jazz needed a fret level as well.
 
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#17
Gizmot said:
I’ve tried several other brands of flats and on my basses nothing is even close to Jazz Flats. I’m also convinced that my basses are very happy with the low tension pulling on their necks. I’m lucky that the sound of Jazz Flats seem to work well on all my basses too.
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The lower tension thing is nice for the necks. Most necks can handle the higher tension, but once in a while you'll come across one that is finicky. The last Classic 50's P I had was amazing. Super lightweight, ridiculously resonant and the whole thing just vibrated when you played it, but whenever I put more traditional flats on it, I'd find myself having to turn the truss rod every couple days, which is what initially led me to TI's. That bass absolutely loved the TI's, but at that time I wasn't into the sound of them, so I sold the bass, but soon after found myself missing the feel of the TI's on that fat Classic 50's neck, which is what led me to getting a new Classic 50's Lacquer.
 
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#18
Vinnie Boombatz said:
The lower tension thing is nice for the necks. Most necks can handle the higher tension, but once in a while you'll come across one that is finicky. The last Classic 50's P I had was amazing. Super lightweight, ridiculously resonant and the whole thing just vibrated when you played it, but whenever I put more traditional flats on it, I'd find myself having to turn the truss rod every couple days, which is what initially led me to TI's. That bass absolutely loved the TI's, but at that time I wasn't into the song of them, so I sold the bass, but soon after found myself missing the feel of the TI's on that fat Classic 50's neck, which is what led me to getting a new Classic 50's Lacquer.
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I’ve got two Rics, two G & Ls and two German Warwicks - all of them sound and feel superb with TIs. I don’t do slapping and use my fingers more than I do a pick and the string to string balance is really good too.
 
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#19
Ever time I go away from the TI’s and search for other flats the more I come back to them. They sound so great at quiet to loud volumes. I do have the flexible Labellas on my 64 custom shop p bass and they sounds better than the TI’s at getting “that tone”. My new obsession are TI’s on the JMJ Mustang - way better than the Fender flats or Chromes in my opinion. My problem with the TI’s is usually the 5th fret on the A string for buzzing.
 
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