La Bella flats -- What do you like / dislike?

Mastermold · #1 05-13-2008, 09:57 AM

I've never tried them, looks like they offer both nickle and stainless. Would you recommend them? How do they compare to others you've tried?

GeneralElectric · #2 05-13-2008, 10:04 AM

I like the sound and the feel. However the silks, in my opinion, always seem to disintegrate on me which bugs me a bit. The tension is quite high, and I've played most of the LaBella flats at one time or another, though their regular sets aren't as high tension as Fenders in my opinion. I prefer the nickels and the Jamerson Signatures.

I would recommend them, and I've tried most of the flats on the market right now.

I must say though that I hate LaBella's customer service. I bought a set of LaBella Tapewound Flats and the A string was all messed up. Rough parts of the string, bits of the metal showing through. Not what one would expect from a $45 set of strings. So I sent them an email, got a response a week later asking for my shipping address to send a replacement string. Never got it. Sent a reply email a month later asking what the hold up was, and I never got a response. Kept sending emails, since no one over there answers the phone.

I eventually said f--- it, and told them I was extremely dissatisfied and I wouldn't buy from them again because of it and I've been using their strings for years. Lately I've been playing GHS flatwounds and they're a totally different animal and I really dig it.

Mastermold · #3 05-13-2008, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeneralElectric

I like the sound and the feel. However the silks, in my opinion, always seem to disintegrate on me which bugs me a bit. The tension is quite high, and I've played most of the LaBella flats at one time or another, though their regular sets aren't as high tension as Fenders in my opinion. I prefer the nickels and the Jamerson Signatures.

I would recommend them, and I've tried most of the flats on the market right now.

I must say though that I hate LaBella's customer service. I bought a set of LaBella Tapewound Flats and the A string was all messed up. Rough parts of the string, bits of the metal showing through. Not what one would expect from a $45 set of strings. So I sent them an email, got a response a week later asking for my shipping address to send a replacement string. Never got it. Sent a reply email a month later asking what the hold up was, and I never got a response. Kept sending emails, since no one over there answers the phone.

I eventually said f--- it, and told them I was extremely dissatisfied and I wouldn't buy from them again because of it and I've been using their strings for years. Lately I've been playing GHS flatwounds and they're a totally different animal and I really dig it.

Thanks for your thoughts. What about the GHS flats do you like better?

JKT · #4 05-13-2008, 11:16 AM

I have been using a set for about 6months or so now. LaBella Deep talkin flats.

I really like them. I really love the feel of them. My only small regret is that they for me, don't slap well. Not that that is a quality that flats are known for, I'm aware of that, but still sometimes I wish they would respond better in that area. For me anyway. For blues, ballads and fingerstyle funk they're awesome IMO. When somethin needs a spankin my 57 P-bass RI w/rotos is always within reach.

JKT

hbarcat · #5 05-13-2008, 11:24 AM

I've been using the LaBella Deep Talkin flats with an EMG P and I love the sound. I switched from the Rotosound flats and the LaBellas sound more rich to me.

JKT · #6 05-13-2008, 11:27 AM

I have been using a set for about 6months or so now. LaBella Deep talkin flats.

I really like them. I really love the feel of them. My only small regret is that they for me, don't slap well. Not that that is a quality that flats are known for, I'm aware of that, but still sometimes I wish they would respond better in that area. For me anyway. For blues, ballads and fingerstyle funk they're awesome IMO. When somethin needs a spankin my 57 P-bass RI w/rotos is always within reach.

JKT

Mastermold · #7 05-13-2008, 11:27 AM

Thanks for the imput, Gents!

How's the tension on LaBella's? I've got two reissue P-Basses I'd like to experiment with them on and I don't want to mess with the truss rods if I can help it. Right now I've got D'Addario Chromes 50-105 and the necks are fine, but before that I tried a set of Rotos and the neck started to bow by day two!

GeneralElectric · #8 05-13-2008, 11:36 AM

You'll need a truss rod adjustment with the new strings my friend.

I like the GHS Flats better because I needed a new set of flats quick. It cost me a grand total of $22 for extralong scale GHS Precision Flats. I did the string through option and while I had a little trouble initially setting it up on the peghead, it eventually settled down in a day or so.The sound compared to LaBellas is a bit different. The harmonics sound better to my ears and they ring out more clearer. The notes are a bit more defined and when you dig in the bass really growls!

When I initially slapped them on, they felt a little loose and "felt" weird. But in two days, they lost that "new string" feel, became a bit stiffer (but nowhere near as stiff as LaBella) and settled down. I'm actually liking the feel of them more than the LaBellas. A bit smoother in my opinion. They also sound nice and full when slapped!

Mastermold · #9 05-13-2008, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeneralElectric

You'll need a truss rod adjustment with the new strings my friend.

I like the GHS Flats better because I needed a new set of flats quick. It cost me a grand total of $22 for extralong scale GHS Precision Flats. I did the string through option and while I had a little trouble initially setting it up on the peghead, it eventually settled down in a day or so.The sound compared to LaBellas is a bit different. The harmonics sound better to my ears and they ring out more clearer. The notes are a bit more defined and when you dig in the bass really growls!

When I initially slapped them on, they felt a little loose and "felt" weird. But in two days, they lost that "new string" feel, became a bit stiffer (but nowhere near as stiff as LaBella) and settled down. I'm actually liking the feel of them more than the LaBellas. A bit smoother in my opinion. They also sound nice and full when slapped!

I'll give 'em a try. I've just within the last year gone back to using flats, and I've got D'Addario and Fender flats on all but one of my Fender basses and want to try something new. The only roundwounds I'm using now are on my Ricky basses.

pickles · #10 05-13-2008, 07:43 PM

Hard rockin steels and slappers are some of the best roundwounds money can buy (especially for 5-string), and labella flats are THE standard.

#11 05-13-2008, 08:03 PM

The La Bella 760FL set which is .43-.104 is my favorite flatwound set. As far as tension goes they are medium light and significantly lighter than the 760FM's. The Jamerson set is very high tension, heavy and I don't like them at all. I've found the 760FL's to have one of the smoothest surfaces available in flatwounds and the tone is just what I need, warm bottom and a smooth top end. I use the 760FL's on my 2 Wilkins Fretted P/J's and my Wilkins Fretless P/J. I also love the recorded sound because I get a good fundamental without the overtones that usually need to be removed with outboard eq. As far as the construction and silk goes, I haven't had a problem with it but I will say that I did have an "E" string that had some unraveling at the ball end but it didn't break or sound funny, it just didn't look right. I've been playing both roundwounds and flatwounds of most brands out there for 47 years now and the La Bella flats are still overall my favorite strings. Just my 2 cents.

George

Stumbo · #12 05-14-2008, 02:17 AM

La Bella Jamerson Flatwounds, .052w, .073w, .095w, .110w
Big, fat sound. Got to play them for awhile and break them in.
After installing them, I pull them quite to get some of the stretch out of them.

**Chef** · #13 05-14-2008, 08:54 AM

Like he said

well done!
I have these on three different P basses, and really like them a lot.
Great fundamental, clean present high end, and really slick feel and great med/light tension.

A bit of foam at the bridge, roll the treble off to about 60%, and you're golden.

Quote:

Originally Posted by X Wolf

The La Bella 760FL set which is .43-.104 is my favorite flatwound set. As far as tension goes they are medium light and significantly lighter than the 760FM's. The Jamerson set is very high tension, heavy and I don't like them at all. I've found the 760FL's to have one of the smoothest surfaces available in flatwounds and the tone is just what I need, warm bottom and a smooth top end. I use the 760FL's on my 2 Wilkins Fretted P/J's and my Wilkins Fretless P/J. I also love the recorded sound because I get a good fundamental without the overtones that usually need to be removed with outboard eq. As far as the construction and silk goes, I haven't had a problem with it but I will say that I did have an "E" string that had some unraveling at the ball end but it didn't break or sound funny, it just didn't look right. I've been playing both roundwounds and flatwounds of most brands out there for 47 years now and the La Bella flats are still overall my favorite strings. Just my 2 cents.

George

Pilgrim · #14 05-14-2008, 10:53 AM

I've used Labella Deep Talkin' flats on three or four basses, and the results have always been good. The tension doesn't seem unduly high to me, and there have been no neck problems on any bass I've used them on. I consider them to be my "go-to" string for bass.

The Labella Hofner Flats absolutely transformed my Rogue VB-100 Beatle bass from a tinny sounding mess (with the original strings) into a classic tone monster. I've never before heard strings make such a positive difference in the sound of an instrument.

One Drop · #15 05-14-2008, 01:45 PM

There is absolutely nothing that I don't like about DT flats. I prefer the 760FL set for most things, but the Jamerson set is extraordinary on the right bass and in the right musical situation.

There is no one string that can do everything, of course, and I prefer Sadowsky flats (made for by LaBella for Sadowsky to their specs) when I want a more aggressive and less thumpy string.

pointbass · #16 05-14-2008, 02:07 PM

I have the FM's on most of my basses, even the 7 + 8 strings (I supplement with single strings for the higher/lower end) and have used them for years. They are a high tension string, for sure, especially the FM's.

They do settle in nicely after a few gigs, and even though they are expensive they'll last for a long, long time ....

denton57 · #17 05-17-2008, 08:36 AM

I just went back to Labella DT. Had some on last year on a 62RI jazz and they had the best recorded tone I have ever had. The tension did mess with the tuner pegs on that bass, but I think it was more about the quality of that bass versus the string. I went back to TI's for a while on a couple other basses, but although they sound great, the tension is kinda weird for me. Also, the lighter guage of the TI's on the D and G string just didnt give me the full thick tone I was getting in the Labellas. Now I am back with Labella's, and very happy! No problems with the neck or tuners on my new 08 AS Jazz! In fact, I had problems with staying in tune with the TI's for some reason...they were always out when I checked it and I was starting to wonder about the new Fender tuners. So far, the Labellas are locked in tune. The D and G strings are full and thick tone wise as well.

I like the Labella alot more than the Chromes. They just have a noticeably better tone IMO. The Chromes are easier to find, but not in the same league as the Labellas according to my recordings over the past year.

unclekebm · #18 05-17-2008, 02:30 PM

760FL's on my 62' re-issue P, love'm!

pbass2 · #19 05-17-2008, 02:42 PM

Labellas are THE classic sound IMHO. Fingerstyle or pickstyle---Classic with a cap C.
I have VERY broken-in 760FMs on my MIA P, and my US Glaub. I LOVE them. It's hard to resist the temptation to put them on all my basses, but in the name of variety, I've restrained myself

I love DR Nickel Lo-Riders for my rounds these days, but I've never tried Labella Rounds---might have to give it a try . . .

Ryan Mohr · #20 05-17-2008, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbass2

Labellas are THE classic sound IMHO. Fingerstyle or pickstyle---Classic with a cap C.
I have VERY broken-in 760FMs on my MIA P, and my US Glaub. I LOVE them. It's hard to resist the temptation to put them on all my basses, but in the name of variety, I've restrained myself

I love DR Nickel Lo-Riders for my rounds these days, but I've never tried Labella Rounds---might have to give it a try . . .

Sorry to get off topic, but have you tried the SS Lo-Riders too?