La Bella Flats Question

[bassboysam]

I had a set of 760FX and they sounded great, a little bright at first but once they broke in they were perfect. That lasted for a few weeks, then all of a sudden the E (and to a lesser extent A) strings died. They had no sustain left. Is this normal for these strings? I this what people refer to as "thump"? or was this maybe a bad set?

[iiipopes]

Yes, unfortunately. Try the new Fender 9050CL set instead.

[bassboysam]

Originally Posted by iiipopes

Yes, unfortunately. Try the new Fender 9050CL set instead.

i read that the new fenders are very similar to chromes. i am looking for a relatively darksounding flat.

tried the la bella, old fender, chromes, ghs and sadowsky. the la bella's were what i am looking for tonally, but the lack of sustain is a problem for me. Is there a string that has the tone of the la bella but with better sustain?

[markanini]

Yes my DTFs lost most harmonics within a 1-2 weeks after putting a new set on.

[JimmyM]

Unfortunately? Hell, that's what I want in flats!

[tylerwylie]

Looks like you want some 8 year old EB Slinkies instead

[Pilgrim]

I'm not sure what the problem is. Once a set of Labella flats has been on a bass for a few months, the sound becomes what it's supposed to be and you're good for at least a decade.

[bassboysam]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

I'm not sure what the problem is. Once a set of Labella flats has been on a bass for a few months, the sound becomes what it's supposed to be and you're good for at least a decade.

Right, I was just confirming what that sound is. I need something with more sustain than the la bellas. I think the Sadowsky flats were the closest to what I am looking for, unless someone has any other recommendation that I have not tried. Looking for a string heavy in the low mids with good sustain. Doesn't have to be a flatwound at this point. I'm trying out sunbeams on another bass, they seem promising...

[markanini]

GHS Brite flats medium would give you what you're looking for tonally

[steve9000gi]

I'm just curious: why do you need so much sustain? Do you have a lot of situations where you want to hold a note over several measures? Some find a lot of sustain to be an annoyance and use mutes with their flatwounds to reduce it.

Steve

[Drucocu]

what about halfrounds?

[Brick Top]

Originally Posted by markanini

GHS Brite flats medium would give you what you're looking for tonally

What he said! I have three of my basses strung with three different kinds of flats. Once the GHs Brites are broke in....very close to La Bella's.

[bassboysam]

Originally Posted by steve9000gi

I'm just curious: why do you need so much sustain? Do you have a lot of situations where you want to hold a note over several measures? Some find a lot of sustain to be an annoyance and use mutes with their flatwounds to reduce it.

Steve

yes and no, but when using effects, especially fuzz i find it sounds better with longer sustain. playing staccato notes does not really suit my band, i just like the feel and clear fundementals of flats.

Every set of GHS strings I have tried has been pure garbage so i hesitate about the brite flats, but they might be worth a shot. when you say close to la bella, do you mean just tone wise or do they also lose their sustain?

[JB696]

Weird. I've got a set of 4 year old La Bella's on one bass and 6 year old Chromes on the other. There is more sustain than I could ever want or need. One of my gigs is straight up jazz with LOTS of slow ballads. My sustain will ring steady for two bars , if needed. The only thing I can figure with these guys that have a lack of sustain is that it's not the strings. There must be something wrong with the bass. Try tightening up your neck screws and your bridge screws, they must be loose.

[bassboysam]

Originally Posted by JB696

Weird. I've got a set of 4 year old La Bella's on one bass and 6 year old Chromes on the other. There is more sustain than I could ever want or need. One of my gigs is straight up jazz with LOTS of slow ballads. My sustain will ring steady for two bars , if needed. The only thing I can figure with these guys that have a lack of sustain is that it's not the strings. There must be something wrong with the bass. Try tightening up your neck screws and your bridge screws, they must be loose.

I tried chromes with the same bass too, they did not lose the sustain like the la bellas.

[Handyman]

Any chance of getting a sound clip, so we can hear what you're talking about?

[bassboysam]

Originally Posted by Handyman

Any chance of getting a sound clip, so we can hear what you're talking about?

Unfortunately no, I no longer have them, just thinking if it's worth giving them another try.

[markanini]

Yes GHS BFs sound close to a fresh set of Labella DTF. IMO for max sustain and max fundamental nothing beats stainless steel groundwounds: Blues in A by RoadToNever on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free

[bassboysam]

Are brite flats ground wound? Also thinking maybe pressurewounds by GHS.

[Handyman]

I was just wondering, because even old LaBella flats seem to have plenty of sustain for me. I was just curious if something went wrong with the E string while it was on your bass. Some sort of flaw in the core or lower layer winding, perhaps?