Cheaper alternative to La bella flat?

bullshark · #1 07-17-2008, 09:23 AM

Got a set of 760FL on my Jazz fretless, I love them. Now, I need a new set for my Precision, but the La Bella have gotten too rich for my blood.

So, any suggestion for a cheaper set similar in feel and sound? How about the GHS precision flatwound?

fourstringdrums · #2 07-17-2008, 09:27 AM

You change your flats?

Try Fender flats. They have the 9050FL set which is 50-65-85-100 and they're pretty nice. Nice and thumpy and close in sound to the Labellas I thought. The Fenders sound a bit more "broken in" out of the pack I think...just a tad.

They're about $27.

I actually have a set that I took off my Precision and didn't have on for that long so they're still new. You're more than welcome to them.

bullshark · #3 07-17-2008, 09:38 AM

Fender 9050 is what I had on the precision, but the D string just got bad. Don't know what happened, one morning everything on the D sounded ...weird (don't know how to describe it). I exchanged the strings with the ones on my fretless, and it was fine, put the 9050 back and still this weird sound so I know it's the string, not the bass.

I'll probably go back to the 9050's, they're cheap, available anywhere, sound good and decent feel. Just wanted to see if there wasn't other options for the non-millionaire.

Philbiker · #4 07-17-2008, 09:38 AM

Not sure how they do business in Canada, but Carvin branded flats are reportedly OEMed by LaBella. They are a fration of the price of new LaBellas.

bullshark · #5 07-17-2008, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philbiker

Not sure how they do business in Canada, but Carvin branded flats are reportedly OEMed by LaBella. They are a fration of the price of new LaBellas.

Found them on the Carvin international site, they're 22 bucks. I was ready to order, but then I noticed they charge 33 dollars to ship them here... Thank's anyway.

Reuben · #6 07-17-2008, 10:38 AM

http://www.webstrings.com/flatwound_bass_strings.html

tallboybass · #7 07-17-2008, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fourstringdrums

You change your flats?

Try Fender flats. They have the 9050FL set which is 50-65-85-100 and they're pretty nice.

+1

bullshark · #8 07-20-2008, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reuben

http://www.webstrings.com/flatwound_bass_strings.html

Just ordered a set of those, I'll see how they do, thanks.

jasper383 · #9 07-20-2008, 05:10 PM

Best La Bella prices I have seen:

http://imperialguitar.stores.yahoo.n...-la-bella.html

Carvin, as well.

bullshark · #10 07-20-2008, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasper383

Best La Bella prices I have seen:

http://imperialguitar.stores.yahoo.n...-la-bella.html

Carvin, as well.

Yeah, but they charge $20.00 to ship to Canada by UPS ground, which means UPS brokerage fee on top... makes them one of the most expensive place around to purchase La Bella strings for Canadians.

By comparison, justrings.com charge 5 buck to air ship a set here by USPS, and no tax or brokerage fee. Comes out way cheaper, but still too rich for my blood.

D.Don · #11 07-20-2008, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bullshark

Yeah, but they charge $20.00 to ship to Canada by UPS ground, which means UPS brokerage fee on top... makes them one of the most expensive place around to purchase La Bella strings for Canadians.

By comparison, justrings.com charge 5 buck to air ship a set here by USPS, and no tax or brokerage fee. Comes out way cheaper, but still too rich for my blood.

Lucky you, they charge $40 to Europe.

I seldom pay more than $10-$15 for PEDALS shipped from the US .. I have a bass comin here in a few days, neck and body parted to save shipping cost, grand total shipping fee: $55 ...

D.Don

bullshark · #12 07-20-2008, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D.Don

Lucky you, they charge $40 to Europe ( I seldom pay more then $10-$15 for PEDALS shipped from the US ..).

D.Don

Who? Juststrings or Imperialguitar?

D.Don · #13 07-20-2008, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bullshark

Who? Juststrings or Imperialguitar?

Juststrings

D.Don

bullshark · #14 07-20-2008, 05:52 PM

Crap, seems way excessive of them; I shipped a DVD from Montreal to Bruxelles by air for $4.50... almost ten time less for a similar package. Is that the only shipping option they offers? If so, it's clear they don't want Europeans customers.

SBassman · #15 07-20-2008, 05:57 PM

How about DAddario Chrome Flats?

bullshark · #16 07-20-2008, 06:01 PM

Don't know, I've read here they were way brighter sounding.

D.Don · #17 07-20-2008, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SBassman

How about DAddario Chrome Flats?

They're not bad at all, though I have so far nothing to compare them with, have had them on my fretless for about 3-4 months, and they are really nice and thumpy now but I get the feeling that they've lost some tension and am thinkin of putting something else on soon (flats or halfs) as I like hard tension.

D.Don

ausf · #18 07-20-2008, 07:09 PM

I'm going to Imperial tomorrow, the store is about 20 minutes from my place. I own a business that ships international. Let me make sure that the prices are the same as on the web, etc. and maybe I can help.

I spent a lot of time at the Forum back in the day, I'm always willing to hook up a brother from Mon ray all.

D.Don · #19 07-20-2008, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ausf

I'm going to Imperial tomorrow, the store is about 20 minutes from my place. I own a business that ships international. Let me make sure that the prices are the same as on the web, etc. and maybe I can help.

I spent a lot of time at the Forum back in the day, I'm always willing to hook up a brother from Mon ray all.

You are one really nice TB:er!!

D.Don

mrufino1 · #20 07-20-2008, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bullshark

Just ordered a set of those, I'll see how they do, thanks.

They are great, I have them on my bass right now and there are no problems, they sound and feel good, fairly stiff like labella strings. About to be replaced with TI's, but that is because the TI are totally different in sound and feel than any other string. I think the webstrings are close in sound and feel to the labellas, and may possible be labella, although webstrings won't reveal who makes their strings.