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BGRA: Thomastik-Infeld JF 344 (Jazz Flatwound)
| Manufacturer |
Thomastik-Infeld |
Model |
JF 344 (Jazz Flatwound) |
| Reviewer |
Kurt Kurosawa |
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| Experience |
36+ |
Item owned |
1-2 years |
| Review Date |
2003-03-22 |
Price paid |
$35 |
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Gauge | .043 - .056 - .070 - .100 |
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Material | Round steel core, nickel wrap. |
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Length | Long scale. |
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Other | Strings have layer of silk inside. |
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Proper setup is vital with these strings. They have a LOT of excursion
(travel) so if you don't give them enough neck relief and a high enough
action, they'll choke up on the frets and you won't hear their real sound,
plus the A string wants more breathing room than the rest. Fender
recommends .014" neck relief for a 7.5" radius neck; I give these strings
.018". Fender recommends 3/32" string height (measured at the 17th fret)
on the G string and 7/64" on the E; I give the G 3/32", the D 7/64" and
the A and E both 1/8" (my nut is cut very low, so you may have to go
higher than this). Of course, you're going to have to balance your
pickups, too (easier for P players who essentially have adjustments for
all four strings). This is the liveliest true flatwound on the market (if
you want dead flatwounds, try Pyramid Gold nickel flats instead; they are
truly dead but also have very fine tone and good "grunt"). I have played
these strings on three P-basses. It's an incredible string, unlike any
flatwound out there. Very different from all other strings. Covers a lot
more styles than traditional dead flats. Zero harshness; super supple;
loud with tasty hi-fi highs (if you're into that). Great sustain makes for
very fluid phrasing. Has "grunt" in spades, that low-end vibrant vocal
quality that's the P-bass trademark. Does a wonderful upright bass sound
(maybe because TI makes Spirocores for URB, and these sound a whole lot
like 'em, and everyone recognizes the Spirocore sound as an URB sound). A
very rich, chocolately sound that sings.
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| sound |
 | (100%) |
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| feel |
| (95%) |
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| life |
| (95%) |
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| value |
| (100%) |
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| overall |
| (100%) |
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