LaBella 760 flats question - variations

[armybass]

Originally Posted by tekdiver500ft

To revisit this one... I did get the Jamerson set, and they require a very careful setup. Not so much because they need so much tension, but because there is so much information in the strings that having something out of position will cause an overemphasis of a certain part of the note (fundamental, an harmonic, fret noise, etc.) rather than a good, balanced tone. However, if you set them up correctly, they are (almost) a joy to play and have more tone than any string I've ever used!

There is a reason they are not listed with the other 760 series strings... they aren't built the same, and they don't sound the same. Similar, yes, but not especially so, unless the tone is rolled way off on your bass.

Yes, they are high tension, but any modern (or reproduction) neck, and most vintage necks for that matter, can handle it with no trouble. I spoke with the luthiers at Elderly Instruments when I purchased the strings (sorry Jason, they were on sale, and the personal service was pretty mandatory this time), and they assured me that while it was theoretically possible to "ruin" a neck with these strings, they'd never seen one come in that was irreparably bent due to using Jamersons. That eased my mind, as I have a very playable 1.625" neck, and I really didn't want to ruin it just to try some strings. Anyway, yes, they are high tension. That doesn't make them unplayable, but you may have to think about your technique temporarily and/or develop some muscle in your fretting hand, and you get used to the higher tension pretty quickly - or at least, I did. It doesn't take much of a mute to get these to seriously thump, but if you remove the mute and speed your fretting hand, they will really sing. This is the first string I've ever had that I could play with no EQ at all, and they sound better with a flat amp than most strings do with a ton of EQ on them.

I flat (pun intended) love these strings! Try them, you won't regret it.

Great post! My negative experience with the Jamersons was on a particularly skinny "3 bolt" Fender AVRI 75 Jazz. I am sure they work very well on most basses.

[Ron G]

Originally Posted by tekdiver500ft

That doesn't make them unplayable, but you may have to think about your technique temporarily and/or develop some muscle in your fretting hand, and you get used to the higher tension pretty quickly - or at least, I did.

How long did it take for your hands to get use to the higher tension? I switched to RotoSound 77's and they have a higher tension than I'm use to.

[tekdiver500ft]

It took me less than a week, but I broke my hands in slowly... 30 minutes the first day, 45, then 60... now I can play for a full evening with no trouble, and they've only been on my bass for about two weeks. Frankly, the Rotosound 77s gave me more trouble.

[JimmyM]

Hey Fritz, the only Labellas I've used are the Deep Talkin' Flats in 40-95 or thereabouts, and the Beatle bass set on my Realistic violin bass. I found them both to have a very piercing high end that I never heard in any other string. Sounds like old Bert Kaempfert:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9Wx8BRjzoI

Do the Jamersons have that crazy treble response, too?

[markorbit]

I've tried the Jamersons, the FLs and the FS sets whilst searching for the perfect La Bella gauge for me. I found the FLs too thin overall, I really wanted to stay with the Jamersons but they are really tight, unwieldy and the novelty wears off quickly. I've settled on the FS set but every now and again I'll try the Jamersons... and eventually come to the same conclusion each time. Tension-wise, yes the Jamersons really pull your neck and sometimes just putting the strings on is a good workout for the day

[mjac28]

I have the Jamerson set on one of my P's and love them

[tekdiver500ft]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Hey Fritz, the only Labellas I've used are the Deep Talkin' Flats in 40-95 or thereabouts, and the Beatle bass set on my Realistic violin bass. I found them both to have a very piercing high end that I never heard in any other string. Sounds like old Bert Kaempfert:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9Wx8BRjzoI

Do the Jamersons have that crazy treble response, too?

No, they don't. They are a little bright for a few hours, but not objectionably so. I know your equipment and tone, so put your mids on 800 Hz, at 12.30, bass flat, treble at 11.30 and go to work. I like to mute as well, so I run a Steven Tyler silk scarf under E and A and let it float over the D and G. This gives me amazing thump and decent sustain. Tonal heaven!

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by tekdiver500ft

No, they don't. They are a little bright for a few hours, but not objectionably so. I know your equipment and tone, so put your mids on 800 Hz, at 12.30, bass flat, treble at 11.30 and go to work. I like to mute as well, so I run a Steven Tyler silk scarf under E and A and let it float over the D and G. This gives me amazing thump and decent sustain. Tonal heaven!

Sounds cool...I don't know if I could take the heavy gauge, but it does sound like it would rock, especially with the Steven Tyler scarf

[tekdiver500ft]

It really does, and if I want a little more upper mids or sustain, I pull it out. Fantastic mute, and I can take it out in under a second, or replace it in under five.