Author Topic: Strings, strings,strings- what are you using? (Read 1808 times)

palembic · « **Reply #45 on:** June 03, 2004, 04:36:56 AM »

I didn't found TI Jazz flats yet in Belgium, OTOH I'm not THAT looking. Yesterday I ended up in the Leuven store where I usually go and the ONLY flats they had were Ernie Ball 105 - 50. So I decided to invest a bit in Broomstick and give it flats.
As you know Bonnie has Slinky Ernie Ball 5 string on her and to be honest ....I really like those. So I thoughtabout those flats ...what the heck (I had 'd Addario flats once) and I went for the Ernie Ball flats.
I put then on and ...well ...Broomstick is still that good ol' Broomstick put DEFINITELY sounding more stick than broom. Well ....fatter ...presenter ... I dunno.
The strings are relatively high tensioned I think so I was able to improve Broomsticks action so ...well ...what a neck ....playing a womans leg!!!

Paul the bad one

son_of_magni · « **Reply #46 on:** June 03, 2004, 06:27:09 AM »

Wiping down the strings... this is something I make sure to check when stringing an upright. I'm not sure why though because cello and violin strings are always clean. But since TI makes strings for bowed instruments they may use some of the same processes for their electric bass strings.

Anyways, from what I read in the last few posts, I can't wait to put them on. Besides the tone, I'm hoping they will reduce left hand finger noise.

Something I haven't heard mentioned is how they respond when playing harmonics???
SoM

adriaan · « **Reply #47 on:** June 03, 2004, 07:13:59 AM »

SoM, there's little finger noise with flatwounds, especially on a fretless - perhaps if you let them slip, or don't mute when letting the string come loose off the fingerboard.

Or are you talking about the 'fret clicks' we've been discussing elsewhere?

(Message edited by adriaan on June 03, 2004)

son_of_magni · « **Reply #48 on:** June 03, 2004, 10:54:59 AM »

Actually I was refering to the squeeks that you get if you slide along the string without lifting your finger completely off the string. You often hear it a lot on acoustic guitar. Ha, fret clicks, I don't seem to have that problem

I wonder if anyone still makes half rounds? I always used D'Adario half rounds on my fretless Fender P bass...

dadabass2001 · « **Reply #49 on:** June 03, 2004, 11:26:05 AM »

My first experience with TI Jazz Flats was this last weekend, and there was almost NO fretting finger noise. I was surprised how clean my slides sounded. I didn't see an increase in harmonics, although it seemed on stage that my G string fretted at 10th fret (F) was trying to take off ala Jack and/or Phil from the old feedback as a musical choice days.

Mike

son_of_magni · « **Reply #50 on:** June 03, 2004, 04:26:30 PM »

received the TI JF's today...

put them on...

um, wow...

dadabass2001 · « **Reply #51 on:** June 03, 2004, 05:47:39 PM »

Yeah!
That's what I'm talking about!

Talk to you again in 6 - 24 hours

(whenever you remember that the rest of the world still exists)

Mike

bob · « **Reply #52 on:** June 03, 2004, 06:00:36 PM »

Welcome to the club, SoM :-)

Perhaps in another day or two, once you get past the speechless phase, you can give us a slightly more articulate review - what you like most about them, how they compare to the High Beams and Alembics, etc. Be nice to hear some first impressions, while the comparisons are fresh in your mind.

flaxattack · « **Reply #53 on:** June 13, 2004, 11:13:06 PM »

where does one buy the t1's?
and what are the guages?

flaxattack · « **Reply #54 on:** June 13, 2004, 11:13:36 PM »

where does one buy the t1's?
and what are the guages?

David Houck · « **Reply #55 on:** June 14, 2004, 05:56:58 AM »

Flax; here is the site for info on TI strings:
http://www.thomastik.com/guitars/index.html

For bass, they come in three styles, Jazz Flats, Jazz Rounds and Power Bass. There is a limited selection of each. For instance, there is only one set of Jazz Flats for a 34 Five String; the gauges are .043, .056, .070, .100, .136.

I get my TI's from Steve Barr:
http://p219.ezboard.com/fthedudepitfrm18.showMessage?topicID=218.topic

You get also get them from JustStrings:
http://www.juststrings.com/thomastikinfeldelectricbassguitar.html

They are not inexpensive. So far I've only used the Jazz Rounds and only on a four string; but in my experience they maintain a good sound for a long time. For me at this point in time, the durability, feel and tone make the price worth it.

son_of_magni · « **Reply #56 on:** June 14, 2004, 07:16:28 AM »

Ok guys, I've been playing the jazz flats now for 10 days or so. It's time to give a more verbose appraisal. I only play fretless, and I only play with my fingers. And I don't pluck the strings, I strike them like upright bass technique. I also play upright and cello. I play jazz, funk, blues, fusion...

First off I should say that I didn't think that flatwounds could sound like this. Secondly it should be noted that they don't put out as high a harmonic content as roundwounds. But with the Alembic pickups it doesn't matter. I like a bright sounding bass, and I solo a lot. But with roundwounds I had the horn in my SWR cab turned down to about 1. Now with the TI's I have it up to 5 (halfway up).

Lows:
Nice solid sound at the bottom, I feel like my 18 finally has something to do. Still has warmth but has twice as much thump as the roundwounds. Very good sustain.

Highs:
Not as 'in your face' as roundwounds, but still a full rich sound. Very good sustain. Chords sound really sweet, especially with vibrato. It's definately easier to play cleanly without any string noise. But when I dig in I can still get that crackling attack.

In general they sound sort of like roundwounds except with a fat solid bottom and without the very top edge of the bite on the highs. Also moving my hand up and down the neck is really effortless (and silent). Another thing that I noticed right away, and surprised me a bit, is there is less drag on my right hand fingers striking the strings, seems to increase control somewhat.

I hope this helps anyone who might be considering shelling out the $$$
SoM

David Houck · « **Reply #57 on:** June 14, 2004, 10:20:09 AM »

Thanks SoM; I'm planning on ordering a set of flats for my fretless, just as soon as I get a few other projects out of the way.

flaxattack · « **Reply #58 on:** June 18, 2004, 11:33:30 PM »

well i tell ya... i looked at the t1s an d i dont like the quage offerinjd/ .136 is way too heavy for my liking and .119 is too light and the price seems high/ i love the dr high beams and i liked the overall sound of the status hotwires, but did not like the light guage of .040-.120.
but you can order custom guage sets and at $27 ea for 6sets delivered to U.S. i think i would do this - www.status-graphite.com

bigredbass · « **Reply #59 on:** June 19, 2004, 10:52:10 PM »

Strings, strings, strings . . . the eternal quest/question.

In a perfect world, I really like the T-I's. However, even here in Nashville, crawling with music stores, I can never find them. Even in this recording environment where tone is everything, I can't find them. It's just as well as they're just too expensive, despite how much I like them.

So, I always gravitate back to Boomers. They're reasonably priced, very even from set to set, and you can find 'em at any Mom+Pop music store out in Iowa when you're on the road. I have a soft spot for Rotos, but several weeks transit over the salt water on a container ship makes them real inconsistent for me. Some sets last, some don't; some sets just roar tone-wise, some are dead before I'm even through re-stringing. A real shame, but I don't run into this coming from Battle Creek, MI, where GHS is headquartered.

J o e y