La Bella Deep Talkin flats for MIA Standard P-bass?

kristlik · #1 12-19-2007, 03:17 PM

I'd like to put some La Bella Deep Talkin flats on a MIA Standard Fender Precision: is this possible? And how do they sound?

I know you can't use the string-thru-body method for La Bella Deep Talkin Flatwounds: but I was just wondering if anyone had used them strung through the bridge, and how they liked them on their MIA Standard Precision?

Can you string the Fender Flatwound through the body?

How do the Fender and La Bella flatwounds a/b on a MIA Standard P-bass?

One Drop · #2 12-19-2007, 04:34 PM

Labella flats on a P are a classic pairing, they are made for each other if you want a lot of thump and a rich heap 'o low mids.

I've only played Fender flats on a Jazz, but I'm sure they are lovely on a P, too. They are voiced a bit differently than the LaBellas in a way I have trouble expressing- same ballpark but not identical.

As far as I know Fenders can go through the body; I've never heard a difference myself with top-loading compared to through the body, though.

BTW, I'm comparing Fender ML to Labella FL760; the Fenders in a similar guage to the .105 E string ones are much thumpier and have less top.

bthiemann80 · #3 12-19-2007, 06:18 PM

Go for it man. I just strung up my MIA jazz with the 45-105 760FS set through the body. So far so good, sounds great!

jasper383 · #4 12-19-2007, 07:12 PM

I have never noticed a difference between string through and not string through sound wise. String them through the bridge only, and don't worry about it. My two cents.

I would also recommend the lighter gauges of the La Bellas. The Jamerson set (the most famous set) is really, really high tension. He must have had bear paws for hands.

kristlik · #5 12-19-2007, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasper383

I have never noticed a difference between string through and not string through sound wise. String them through the bridge only, and don't worry about it. My two cents.

I would also recommend the lighter gauges of the La Bellas. The Jamerson set (the most famous set) is really, really high tension. He must have had bear paws for hands.

Yeah, I think I'm just going for the La Bellas through the bridge: I was more wondering if it was true of all Flatwounds, not to string-thru-body (as stated on the La Bella lable); or was this something only for La Bella Deep Talking flatwounds.

And I kind of do have bear paws for hands, so I rather like the heavier strings.

glwanabe · #6 12-19-2007, 08:02 PM

I've used both LaBella, and Fenders. Currently running Fenders on my standard jazz and my Geddy. I had the LaBella's on the Geddy for about two weeks, but they broke due to having been used several times. Great strings!!

I have used the Fenders on a Precision in the past. The biggest difference I hear between them is that the LaBella's have a bit more articulate top end with plenty of bottom but not as thumpy as the Fenders.

The Fenders have a bit more of an upper mid tonality to them. The Fenders thump without having to resort to any muting. They still sound good with some muting, but almost, to dead. The labella's take on the tonality of the Fenders to a certain degree with some muting, but they have a darker bottom emphasis. They are a bit more ariculate flatwound than the Fenders.

LaBella's are not as high tension a flat as compared to the Fenders, except for the Jamerson set. I had a set of the regular heavy LaBella's and found them easy to play. I find the Fender ML set easy to play as well. I had to tighten my trussrod just a little going from the Big Labella to the ML Fender.

I had a set of the big Fenders the .055-.105 set. I really liked those strings, and ended up giving them to a friend to use, there gone now. I'am going to get another set of them. The big set of Fenders is worth the extra tension to me. Those strings had a great lowend growl to them. I did not have to play them hard to get a nice tone outta them. You can also get a wicked low setup with them.

I have exchanged E-mails with Labella about through body stringing with their flats. They said, "Don't do it" the breakover angle is to sharp and will break the string. Maybe not immediately, but soon enough.

Fenders:
low cost, great sound, high tension, thumpy old school.

LaBella:
Great tone, easier to play, higher cost, more articulate overall.

I also like Rotosound Jazz flats!! There is a new set sitting in my drawer right now. They will probably go on my Standard jazz for the JPJ tone.

seanm · #7 12-19-2007, 09:41 PM

I have a set of LaBella FLs that have been on my P bass for a few years now. Great sound. I strung them through the bridge.

For my G&L I bought chromes and strung them through the body. No problems yet but they are not even a year old. I strung through the body for mechanical, not tonal reasons.

You can't go wrong with a P bass and flats.

mario222 · #8 12-21-2007, 03:15 AM

I have Roto flats on my P strung through the body, no problems. I have used other brands of flats too never had one break. Now the La Bella question...I haven't tried them through the body but it seems that most people talk about the warning on the pack and the possibility of them breaking if strung through the body, but I've never actually heard anyone say that they broke a string on a LaBella set after stringing up this way. So I ask... Has anybody ever had any problems stringing LaBella deep talkin bass strings through the body?

BobaMosfett · #9 12-21-2007, 03:48 AM

Yes, me. I had them on my MIA Jazz, wich only strings through the body. I used them for a couple of weeks, and I really started to like them a lot! Then one day I took it out of it's case on a gig and the E-string was broken. Lucky I brought another bass...

I now have TI's, and although I like them as well, They don't really have that vintage 'thump' I was looking for. So now I'm considering changing the bridge.

bad5x8 · #10 01-01-2008, 11:41 AM

I've strung the Fender 9050's through body on my 4 stringers for many years. Great sound. Never broken a string.

My Carvin 5er came with LaBella's strung through the body from the factory...
I guess they don't follow this rule. No broken strings in the past year and a half or so.

Looking to replace the strings on the Carvin, it's way cheaper to buy directly from carvin to get the relabeled LaBellas.

Is there a major difference in the string construction that truely prevents the through body approach with the LaBella's compared to the Fenders?

Blake

pbass2 · #11 01-01-2008, 03:22 PM

I have Labella flats on both my US Glaub and my 90's MIA Fender P.
To me, a P and Labella flats is the essence of classic bass sound.
I also find them to be the most "even" sounding across the strings flats, particularly noticeable in the studio. And I like a rather "stiff" feeling flat for recording anyway. Makes the whole bass just seem more "solid" to me.

The ones on the Fender have been on for years--they sound better all the time. Originally my MIA only allowed stringing through the body(which I think is silly they would do that frankly--why not have both options?) so I had a different bridge put on so I could use the Labellas through the bridge. In fact, it covered up the holes so I can't go through the body on that bass anymore, but I don't care----those strings are staying on that bass!

Hamrhed · #12 01-01-2008, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kristlik

I know you can't use the string-thru-body method for La Bella Deep Talkin Flatwounds

You cant? I just put these on my '53 P bass reissue (Sting) which is strung thru body, and they are great! Am I missing something- my Labellas are fine strung thru body

{Edit} However, I havent had them on very long- when they break I will report back

kristlik · #13 01-01-2008, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamrhed

You cant? I just put these on my '53 P bass reissue (Sting) which is strung thru body, and they are great! Am I missing something- my Labellas are fine strung thru body

{Edit} However, I havent had them on very long- when they break I will report back

Yeah, there is a warning on the La Bella string packaging, stating :

"Important note: La Bella flatwound strings are not suitable for use on instruments that require through-body stringing."

kristlik · #14 01-01-2008, 10:47 PM

Also, what length would you recomend for La Bella Flatwounds?

Strange question, but even though the Fender 9050s were the long (34" scale) length, they seem to be too long for my Precision. And the D'Addario Chomes are way too long (as well as having silk rapping reach beyound the saddle).

So do the La Bella Deep Talkin' Flatwounds in the standard 34" scale "Long" work on a MIA Precision?