Serendipity: Thomastik Jazz Roundwounds.

[fretmeister]

In a bit of a rush I ordered some new strings. Saw the usual packet, ordered etc.

Delivery wasn't what I expected though - instead of Ti Flats, I had ordered Ti Rounds. I knew Thomastik made rounds but I didn't know they made "Jazz Rounds" in the same series.

 

My curiosity was stronger than my desire to send them back so I stuck them on my Sandberg. They are very flexible like the flats are. The wrap wire is a very small gauge so finger noise is very low for a round.

They also don't feel like other brands of nickels I have tried - I usually don't like nickels at all and stick with steels for rounds. These feel different. I have no idea if it's just because of the smaller wrap wire or if it's a different alloy mix, but I like them.

 

Thomastik claim they are supposed to be the same as the flats but with a bit more cut / top end. I think that's true at the treble end, but the low end is still closer to a round than a flat. Nevertheless they have a very nice balanced tone and are easy to play.

 

As usual, there's only 1 gauge option so that will either suit or not, but I like them and they'll be staying on the bass - and not just because they are as expensive as the flats!

Will be interesting to see how long they last compared to the flats.

 

I have a rehearsal on Saturday so I'll see how it goes.

[King Tut]

Always wondered about those!

[hooky_lowdown]

The best rounds you can get. Period.

[Clarky]

I believe they last for months if not years, based on what I have read. They are even lower tension than the flats at about 122 pounds per set vs 135 pounds, from memory. I have a set but my only issue is they need space to vibrate, being looser, and so the action has to be cranked up a bit (and the truss rod loosened). SO there is a bit of a trade-off between ultra low tension and higher action in my view

[fretmeister]

2 hours ago, Clarky said:

I believe they last for months if not years, based on what I have read. They are even lower tension than the flats at about 122 pounds per set vs 135 pounds, from memory. I have a set but my only issue is they need space to vibrate, being looser, and so the action has to be cranked up a bit (and the truss rod loosened). SO there is a bit of a trade-off between ultra low tension and higher action in my view

 

I could see that - but I often use D'addario Steel 35-95 anyway so my setup seems to be ok.

 

I will take some allen keys on Saturday though, just in case I play a bit harder and get some rattles.

 

[warwickhunt]

I love them!  I bought a load a while back when they were on offer but all gone now.    

The pair I've just taken off my main bass have been on for 7 years (40-50 gigs every year) and though they had lost a little top end they were still 'perfectly' useable.  I gave @LukeFRC the heads up to them and I think he's taken a shine to them.  

[fretmeister]

If I can get 7 years out of them then they might end up on some other basses too!

[warwickhunt]

5 minutes ago, fretmeister said:

If I can get 7 years out of them then they might end up on some other basses too!

 

They never started off as bling and bright as some strings but after losing the initial edge they just remain consistent.  

[LukeFRC]

52 minutes ago, warwickhunt said:

I love them!  I bought a load a while back when they were on offer but all gone now.    

The pair I've just taken off my main bass have been on for 7 years (40-50 gigs every year) and though they had lost a little top end they were still 'perfectly' useable.  I gave @LukeFRC the heads up to them and I think he's taken a shine to them.  

I bought the Infeld super alloys, not the jazz rounds!  

[warwickhunt]

2 minutes ago, LukeFRC said:

I bought the Infeld super alloys, not the jazz rounds!  

 

As you were @fretmeister... I was using the Super Alloys!

 

[LukeFRC]

11 minutes ago, warwickhunt said:

 

As you were @fretmeister... I was using the Super Alloys!

 

which are also nice strings... made by the same company...

[fretmeister]

Rehearsal complete.

 

I like them a lot. Despite the marketing spiel they do sound like rounds, but they do have a nice tone and they are easy to play. Treble can be grindy if the amp is a bit dirty and the treble control is up, but they have a nice mellow tone too.

 

Finger noise is impressively low for a round.

[Bunion]

On 10/05/2022 at 13:24, hooky_lowdown said:

The best rounds you can get. Period.

Apart from DR fat beams of course 🤣😂

[Clarky]

2 minutes ago, fretmeister said:

 

Finger noise is impressively low for a round.

Thats what I found, quieter even than DR nickel rounds like Sunbeams and Pure Blues. I suspect that is the basis of the flat's comparison in marketing spiel but they do sound like mellow rounds to me

[Owen]

They are very lovely strings. 

[ped]

How do you find them now after you’ve been playing them for a while? I’m tempted to try some whilst stocks of Elixir super lights pick up again. 
 

I always tune down to D and normally find that the 0.95 E string handles that really nicely (I play with a super light touch). I wonder if these would be ok? 
 

Do you have any pics of the strings up close compared to a ‘normal’ round? 

[fretmeister]

I'm really liking them.

 

I haven't tried drop D with them. I have a feeling they might be a bit floppy.

I'll try it when I get a chance.

 

There's some reasonably close photos in this thread

 

 

 

[fretmeister]

@ped

 

I tried drop D. It's right on the limit of floppiness. I play as lightly as possible and I use a ramp and I think I could get away with it. 

If you play harder or with a pick, I'm not convinced.

 

But the super long scale E is a 101 rather than the 89 so it may work quite well with buying that string separately.

[ped]

Thanks for trying for me. I think it’ll be alright for me actually so might get a set once I’ve got a backup set of elixirs ready