Thomastik Infeld

**eh6794** · 03-18-2016, 11:21 PM

So I just decided to see what all the hype is with these flat-wounds that cost twice as much as D'addarios. I usually get D'addario flat or rounds.

I guess I understand why these dead sounding strings are so much more with their luxurious packaging and red cloth wrapped around the end of them.

Am I missing something? I did just take a set of round-wounds off, so maybe I was used to the brighter sound, but I've switched back and forth D'addarios before and never noticed this dead sound...

**djelley** · 03-19-2016, 01:17 AM

To each, his own - but IMO yes, you are missing something. I LOVE Thomastik Swings.

**eh6794** · 03-19-2016, 01:24 AM

Like missing a couple marbles? haha Probably am

**kid335** · 03-19-2016, 02:45 AM

If you went from rounds to flats and are disappointed, it's not the brand. You just don't like flats.

**tootZ** · 03-19-2016, 03:09 AM

I use Thomastick since a long time, the last set for one year... and I'm very pleased!(never used roundwound on my archtop)
about prices (in Europe) d'Addario chromes (flat):14.65€ / Thomastick:13.70 (thomann, big german store on the web)
some local retailers sale TI for 20€!!(this is the shame)
I just make group orders with friends (so we can have a drink when sharing)
cheers

**vinlander** · 03-19-2016, 06:44 AM

It is a taste thing, TI strings sound dead out of the package just as I like them, while d'Addario "for me" start to sound good only after a bit of play time to tame that brightness down. Love the fact TI are much less stiff which makes them easier to play and they are nickel plated instead of stainless steel.

**LtKojak** · 03-19-2016, 07:03 AM

I've tried three brands of 12-52 flatwounds with my L5CES copy for a period of two-and-a-half years, being the TI Jazz Bebop set the last of the bunch:

1. D'Addarios ECG25 Chromes Flat Wound, (12-52)
2. Galli Jazz Flat JF1252 (12-52)
3. Thomastik Infeld Jazz Bebop BB113 (13-53)

Longer-lasting set: Galli Jazz Flat - Price € 13,00

Best-feeling set: Thomastik Infeld Jazz Bebop - Price € 18,00

Best bang-for-the-buck set: D'Addario ECG25 - Price € 10,00 (paid a long time ago)

The Gallis are very nice strings, and they last A LOT! I got over 24 hours of solid playing before I change'em because the intonation started to go a bit off, even though they still sounded good. For the record, normally, I get no more than 15 hours a set before the guitar just begs for the strings to get changed!

The TI set was a real surprise in feeling, as I'm used to D'Addarios Balanced Tension sets in my other guitars and this set felt no different!

Also, I couldn't really tell any increased tension compared with the others.

Tone-wise, the Jazz Bebop set does not really have a whole lot different footprint than the D'Adds or the Gallis for that matter; however I feel it gives a slightly "sharper attack" of the pick on the wound strings, adding a little bit of extra-articulation to complex chord-work just as well as to single-note runs and riffs, a welcomed "collateral damage" in my case, so to speak.

I still have some D'Add sets in stock, but once they're gone, specially considering the prices rose to € 16,00 a set for the D'Adds, I think I'm just gonna change brand to TI, now that the prices are more "affordable", LOL!

HTH,

**Max405** · 03-19-2016, 07:31 AM

It depends on the sound you want. If you characterize the sound out of the package as dead, then you probably like Chromes better. There are some guitars that chromes work better with. A more acoustic archtop sounds brighter using chromes. Chromes are the twangy jazz string. Ti's are the prototypical jazz sound. It's a matter of taste.
Nothing wrong with either.
Except maybe the chromes being a little tougher on your frets.

**DanielleOM** · 03-19-2016, 07:35 AM

After recently using GHS, and Pyramid flats, I thought the TI flats were rather bright sounding. I seem to get the best intonation with the TI set. I have some La Bella flats here that I plan to try soon.

**abelljo** · 03-19-2016, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by eh6794

So I just decided to see what all the hype is with these flat-wounds that cost twice as much as D'addarios. I usually get D'addario flat or rounds.

I guess I understand why these dead sounding strings are so much more with their luxurious packaging and red cloth wrapped around the end of them.

Am I missing something? I did just take a set of round-wounds off, so maybe I was used to the brighter sound, but I've switched back and forth D'addarios before and never noticed this dead sound...

Like you I don't see a reason to pay so much more. I tried to hop on the bandwagon and used them for some time but ended up back with D'Addario. For flats I just like the smooth feel of DA much better. Later changed to La Bella because I like the gauge not available with DA and still there get a reasonable price and smooth feel. TIs are more expensive, maybe even give you a sense of a less generic feel and choice and a better option for your high end archtop. Might be placebo, but maybe not. Opinions are plenty so like you my opinion is they don't make the guitar that much better and don't last much more. So for me no real justifying buying them. Good to have variety for those who like different options.

**Cunamara** · 03-19-2016, 12:28 PM

D'Addario Chromes are stainless steel and very magnetic, so they produce a lot of punch through the pickups. For many people that is the things they like about them. And they are very reasonably priced and available just about everywhere. Those are significant benefits.

The TIs are not stocked in most music stores and, in the US, cost 3-4 times as much as the D'Addarios. They are nickel and this results in a mellower electric signal; the core wire is thinner which also reduces the signal. I experience the tone as more refined than the Chromes or Jazz Lights. I use the round wound BB113 set on my carvetop; the balance with the heavier trebles is beneficial on that instrument.

I have some D'Addario nickel rndwounds I am going to try when I change strings next. I am hoping they are good enough as they cost 1/3 to 1/4 what the TIs cost here.

**Marty Grass** · 03-19-2016, 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by eh6794

So I just decided to see what all the hype is with these flat-wounds that cost twice as much as D'addarios. I usually get D'addario flat or rounds.

I guess I understand why these dead sounding strings are so much more with their luxurious packaging and red cloth wrapped around the end of them.

Am I missing something? I did just take a set of round-wounds off, so maybe I was used to the brighter sound, but I've switched back and forth D'addarios before and never noticed this dead sound...

You are brave to post this here!

Chromes are the most popular and with good reason. The are cheaper yet durable and are quite ferromagnetic.

TI FWs have round cores, which cost more to use. The string tension with lateral displacement is less due to reduced friction between the wrap and the core. They feel lighter and sound brighter. They are less popular than Chromes probably due to the cost.

Both are fine.

If they'd sell a better pair of hands to play with, we'd have something serious to talk about!

Dutchbopper · 03-19-2016, 02:20 PM

I have used d' Addario Chromes for almost 20 years. Only this year did I switch to TI Jazz Swings. I got about 6 packs for free (being a Blogger has its advantages).

You guys are on the wrong side of the pond for once (guitar wise that is). A pack of TIs 012 is 14 euro here. A set of 0.12 Chromes is 18 euro. Tone wise I find the differences not very big (chromes are good strings) but the feel of TIs is so much better than that of Chromes that I will stick to them from now on. Really superb playing feel. And they are way cheaper to boot than Chromes where I live.

The string tension of a set 0.13 TIs equals that of a 0.12 Chromes set. A 0.12 set equals 0.11. So the string tension is way lower on TIs.

I'll still have to write a raving review of the TIs on my Blog though. Maybe they'll send me some more packs.

DB

**rob taft** · 03-19-2016, 02:42 PM

DB's response above regarding tension and feel is the primary reason I prefer TI's over Chromes. I use TI flats on my laminate or pressed top archtops but I prefer the warm ring and sustain of TI round wounds on my acoustic archtop with a floating pickup. That said, I use D'Addario pure nickel round wounds on all of my solid body and thin line guitars with one exception which is a D'Aquisto Centura Electric chambered which actually sounds great with a set of George Benson TI flats.

TIs used to be a reasonably priced albeit expensive string set until about 3-4 years ago when the price really spiked up. Non the less, I will continue with the TIs.

**vinnyv1k** · 03-19-2016, 03:25 PM

Nickel is far more fret friendly that stainless on frets too. Because TI's are round core you just can't install and clip the excess right away. You need to tune to pitch and wait a couple hours before you clip off the excess string or they can go instantly flat. The round core doesn't "bite in" like hex but if done correctly round core is far superior.

**JazzNote** · 03-20-2016, 02:42 AM

My choice for the TI swings is based completely on the playing feel they provide. I find them more sensitive to playing nuances than any other strings i tried over the years. Tonewise i don't feel that much difference to the others.

**LtKojak** · 03-20-2016, 05:43 AM

Originally Posted by Dutchbopper

I have to write a raving review of the TIs on my Blog though. Maybe they'll send me some more packs.

YOU SLUT!!!

I kid, I kid...

**skiboyny** · 03-20-2016, 07:56 AM

So interesting in hearing others opinions! I could never describe Thomastiks as "dead" Maybe its the guitars. I put them on, but I find them overly bright for the first few days. After that time passes I like them. Even after a few days dead is never a term I could use for these strings. The last set of chromes I tried was "dead" in comparison. Nickle has rich warm overtones that stainless just can't match. Try as I might, cause I hate the cost, and the gauging, but I can not find any string that I can say sounds or plays better... and the beat goes on

Originally Posted by eh6794

So I just decided to see what all the hype is with these flat-wounds that cost twice as much as D'addarios. I usually get D'addario flat or rounds.

I guess I understand why these dead sounding strings are so much more with their luxurious packaging and red cloth wrapped around the end of them.

Am I missing something? I did just take a set of round-wounds off, so maybe I was used to the brighter sound, but I've switched back and forth D'addarios before and never noticed this dead sound...

**DanielleOM** · 03-20-2016, 08:13 AM

One thing I am noticing with the TI flats is that I sometimes hear a weird little buzz / noise when I am lifting a finger off of the fretted note while it's sustaining. I am sure this happened with other strings but for some reason I seem to be noticing it more with the TI flat strings.

**vinlander** · 03-20-2016, 08:45 AM

Action without fret buzz is very dependant of a straight neck and tension.
Usually going higher tension means less movement of the strings and it helps compensate a not perfect neck relief or fret levelling. TI flats have less tension than most other hex core brand so they might require some truss rod adjustment and/or fret levelling on some instrument particularly those with very low action.

**DanielleOM** · 03-20-2016, 08:53 AM

Originally Posted by vinlander

Action without fret buzz is very dependant of a straight neck and tension.
Usually going higher tension means less movement of the strings and it helps compensate a not perfect neck relief or fret levelling. TI flats have less tension than most other hex core brand so they might require some truss rod adjustment and/or fret levelling on some instrument particularly those with very low action.

Interesting, I usually think of action and leveling, when plucking a string. Never occurred to me that it would first show up as an issue when releasing the string.

**stratcat** · 03-20-2016, 09:35 AM

I've recently switched to TIs from chromes and I feel like I've got 'the sound'.
I found the chromes too bright. I also went up a guage so they effectively feel the same. The extra string mass I am sure has helped with the sound quality.
I do miss the super smooth feel of the chromes, the TIs feel a little like a roundwound on the bass strings. I might try a set of Bensons next time. Now, they are expensive strings!

**sgcim** · 03-20-2016, 04:46 PM

I tried TI Swings once. I felt like i was playing bass piano wire. It was so traumatic, I just threw them out and got some TI Bebops immediately.

**jkstigma** · 03-21-2016, 02:35 AM

TI swings are my best flatwound strings
I love them

Thomastik Infeld vs D Addario Chromes Guitar Strings | eBay

**Para** · 03-21-2016, 06:53 AM

"Interesting, I usually think of action and leveling, when plucking a string. Never occurred to me that it would first show up as an issue when releasing the string."

Being lower tension the Ti's will need a little more air space to vibrate, when you are releasing the string you might be getting some string bounce against the fret you could try raising the action very slightly or have a little more relief on the neck.