La Bella question

[Shy Guy]

Is it ok to use the flats string-thru on a p bass? On the just strings site it says it isn't for some reason. Also would the long scale or xl scale be more suitable?

[One Drop]

Some will argue yes because they haven't had problems, but Labella specifically advises against stringing their flats through the body. I know for a fact many have had a string break from doing this, as they reported it happening on another board.

There is no real reason to risk it IMO, as there is no tonal difference going through body compared to top loaded.

Furthermore, what could be worse than breaking in a beautiful set of Labella flats only to have a string break, and then have to play an unbalanced sounding set until the new string breaks in?

Labella have been making flatwound electric bass strings for over 50 years. I have a feeling they have gathered enough experience through customer feedback to feel the need to caution potential users to a risk that might even lose them a few sales.

[Shy Guy]

What's the difference between string-thru and top loaded? Wouldn't both cause equal tension on the strings or am I just blowing smoke?

[superfunk47]

Originally Posted by Shy Guy

What's the difference between string-thru and top loaded? Wouldn't both cause equal tension on the strings or am I just blowing smoke?

String through puts a very hard break angle on them at the bridge, which Labellas aren't designed to handle. Just string em through the holes in the bridge, not through the body.

[GeneralElectric]

Originally Posted by superfunk47

String through puts a very hard break angle on them at the bridge, which Labellas aren't designed to handle. Just string em through the holes in the bridge, not through the body.

+1 It breaks the string core. You'd think they'd fix that problem 50 years later but no....

[thobbinghotrod]

I was planning on switching all my basses to LaBella's but I guess not. My VM Tele only has a string through bridge. So what other Flats can handle string through.

[Fender32]

Originally Posted by Shy Guy

Is it ok to use the flats string-thru on a p bass? On the just strings site it says it isn't for some reason. Also would the long scale or xl scale be more suitable?

My '55 P Bass has LaBella 760M XL (XL=Extra Long) flats on. The reason that you need XL length on a string thru body is so that the silk doesn't wind up sitting in the string nut !

Some normal length strings are just made too short to work properly on STBody basses. Similarly, XL strings don't really work on normal 34" STBridge basses, as the thick part of the string gets wound onto the tuner post and can easily snap.



Hope this helps.