New string choice for Gibsons

[gweimer]

Seriously, it must be something in the manufacturing process. There were also reports of TI flats being sticky at first.

I've been through a few sets and never encountered that.

[OldManC]

I didn't find any sticky either. Must be a chemistry thing.

Hey George, the first time I tried the TI jazz rounds was on your black TB I bought from you.  They sound great on that bass!

[Dave W]

I don't remember them being sticky either, though it's been many years --  I really dislike them so didn't buy again. But I do remember there was talk about it, how they could be sticky at first until played for a while.

[TBird1958]

In all seriousness I must be doing it wrong.

I put a set of TI Flats on my '89 Bird once...........just once, I sure didn't hear the magic - just me tho.

[Dave W]

In all seriousness I must be doing it wrong.

I put a set of TI Flats on my '89 Bird once...........just once, I sure didn't hear the magic - just me tho.

You're not alone. I bought a couple of sets after hearing all the buzz and tried them on several basses before giving up. Wide, blurry midrange with not enough fundamental. Definitely not for me.

[gweimer]

The first set of TI Flats I got had me adjust my action a little.  I had never played low tension strings before and they took a little changing of some small things to get the magic out of them.

[Dave W]

The first set of TI Flats I got had me adjust my action a little.  I had never played low tension strings before and they took a little changing of some small things to get the magic out of them.

That wasn't my issue at all. I had been using LaBella tapewounds on a couple of my basses, and they are very low tension.

[drbassman]

It's simply a matter of tightening the truss rod adjustment just a bit to flatten the neck out since the lower tension tends to let the neck relax a little.  Not a big deal.  Then, they sound great.  Don't know about magic, don't believe in it!

[dadagoboi]

The TIs are .043 .051 .068 .089  The 'Low Tension' is mainly a result of the thin diameter

You  can buy much less expensive strings of similar diameters and get good results, for example D'Addario EXL220TP Extra Light .040 .060 .075 .090,  twin packs for $24.98.  They are a smooth nickel roundwound.

I like the sound of fresh roundwounds. I'd rather change a decent set five times than play one expensive set five times as long, especially nickel which loses tone quicker than stainless.  Gibson pays less than $5 a set for their OEM strings, that's probably why they are so rough.

My favorite reasonably priced nickel Roundwounds are Ken Smith Bass Burners, around $22 a set.  Silk wrap at both ends, bright even tone and smooth.  Only available in .045-.105 but that's what I like in a roundwound.  Fairly long life.

Strings and Beyond is having a 15% off  Black Friday Sale lasting until Monday, including TIs.  Free shipping with $35 order.  I've been very happy with freshness, service and quick shipping.

http://www.stringsandbeyond.com/bagust.html

It's simply a matter of tightening the truss rod adjustment just a bit to flatten the neck out since the lower tension tends to let the neck relax a little.  Not a big deal.  Then, they sound great.  Don't know about magic, don't believe in it!

Lighter strings require LOOSENING the trussrod to attain the same relief as thicker strings.  It's basic physics, not magic.  I'm not saying you didn't have to tighten the trussrod when doing a set up but it wasn't due to the lighter TIs vs what were taken off.

[uwe]

Righty tighty - lefty loosy. I think it was more a case of that. Der gute Doktor surely meant loosening.

[drbassman]

The TIs are .043 .051 .068 .089  The 'Low Tension' is mainly a result of the thin diameter

You  can buy much less expensive strings of similar diameters and get good results, for example D'Addario EXL220TP Extra Light .040 .060 .075 .090,  twin packs for $24.98.  They are a smooth nickel roundwound.

I like the sound of fresh roundwounds. I'd rather change a decent set five times than play one expensive set five times as long, especially nickel which loses tone quicker than stainless.  Gibson pays less than $5 a set for their OEM strings, that's probably why they are so rough.

My favorite reasonably priced nickel Roundwounds are Ken Smith Bass Burners, around $22 a set.  Silk wrap at both ends, bright even tone and smooth.  Only available in .045-.105 but that's what I like in a roundwound.  Fairly long life.

Strings and Beyond is having a 15% off  Black Friday Sale lasting until Monday, including TIs.  Free shipping with $35 order.  I've been very happy with freshness, service and quick shipping.

http://www.stringsandbeyond.com/bagust.html

Lighter strings require LOOSENING the trussrod to attain the same relief as thicker strings.  It's basic physics, not magic.  I'm not saying you didn't have to tighten the trussrod when doing a set up but it wasn't due to the lighter TIs vs what were taken off.

Assuming the neck has a natural relief when then tension is released when higher tension strings are removed.  Otherwise, you make sense with your comments and I may have forgotten which way I turned the rod!  I can't remember squat these days!

[Pilgrim]

I'm the odd man out with my preference for Labella 760FL Deep Talkin' Flats....and the older the better.  I play the light gauge .043-.104 sets on most of my basses.

[Hörnisse]

I've pretty much gone all round core.  I used DR Hi Beams and TI Jazz Flats.  I find the TI's sound really good on P basses.  It did take some time to get used to the looseness but now I can't stand medium or high tension strings. 

[iamthatguy32]

How sad that I'm always the only guy that loves the way EB Cobalts sound. They're just so damned punchy in all the right places. You guys can keep your flats 

[uwe]

Horses for courses. I'm omnivorous. There is a place and a time for roundwounds and one for flats. And everything in between.