LaBella Black Nylon flats...sound consistentcy from set to set?

jibreel · #1 10-09-2008, 11:52 AM

I use LaBella Black Nylon flats on two of my basses. These are indentical basses except one is fretless, one fretted.On one bass, they sound fuller than the strings on the other bass. The strings on the other bass still sound good but have more of a plastic/new string sound even though they are not totally new. I am not talking about the " plastic " sound that is inherent in nylon wound strings.

The ones I do not like as much are a little newer.

Has anyone who uses these strings noticed any variation in sound quality from set to set or with sets bought from different stores?

Maybe I am out of touch with the string break in period. It has not been my experience that nylon wound break in the same way as non-nylon wound strings.

Thanks much

envika · #2 10-09-2008, 12:06 PM

maybe they sound different because they're on two different basses?

jibreel · #3 10-09-2008, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by envika

maybe they sound different because they're on two different basses?

These are totally identical basses. One fretted, one fretless.

acubass · #4 10-09-2008, 12:30 PM

I had somehwat the same experience. I love nylons on my jazz, I tried them on my fretless jazz and was very dissapointed, they just seemed toyish and plastic.

Fretless Bill · #5 10-09-2008, 07:34 PM

I've used LaBella tapes on several basses and have one bass that I've had two or three sets of them on and I've found them to be very consistant. My guess would be what's making yours sound so different is more with the basses. I've only used them on fretless basses so I'm not really quallified to comment on how they otta sound on a fretted bass but I'm certain it would be different than fretless. Set up issues would come into play as well, mainly action height and the distance between the the top of the pickup and the strings. You may try moving your pickups closer to the strings on the thinner sounding bass and see if it fattens it up.

jibreel · #6 10-09-2008, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fretless Bill

I've used LaBella tapes on several basses and have one bass that I've had two or three sets of them on and I've found them to be very consistant. My guess would be what's making yours sound so different is more with the basses. I've only used them on fretless basses so I'm not really quallified to comment on how they otta sound on a fretted bass but I'm certain it would be different than fretless. Set up issues would come into play as well, mainly action height and the distance between the the top of the pickup and the strings. You may try moving your pickups closer to the strings on the thinner sounding bass and see if it fattens it up.

Thanks to all for any comments.

Here is the deal. The two basses are IDENTICAL except for fretless vs fretted which in my test does not matter and here is why. Both basses have the indentical preamp and piezo pickups. No mag pickups. All body/neck/build measurements are indentical. What I am comparing is the sound of OPEN strings so fretless VS fretted should not matter unless I am missing something here.

Again, thanks for all commnets. I could have just gotten one strange set.

fretlessguy · #7 10-10-2008, 11:06 PM

You could have a point there with the difference in age of the strings, although like you I would not have thought being nylon wrapped that would make that much of a difference.
I have used them (LaBella tapes) off-and-on with my acoustic bass guitars but only on my fretless ones (I have not tried them on my electrics yet). They have been pretty consistent in their sound regardless what bass I have them on.
I own a set of identical Carvin Bolt 5 electrics, one fretted and the other fretless. They have the same woods, electronics and set-ups. They both wear Fender 7250-5 .40-.115 sets. They do both have that same sound with the strings plucked open, but when played they do have a slight difference in sound when pressed down on the playing surface. I assume being on frets and on a fretless board will make a tonal difference. I doubt that may be your problem, but might be.
Then again, it could be the one package that got out on a strange day.

I hope it is resolved for you soon. Best of luck.

PilbaraBass · #8 10-10-2008, 11:10 PM

In 2003 I changed out a 1997 set for a new set...they sounded IDENTICAL...

not only was the sound consistant, the sound didn't even change over the years...

I am still using the set I installed in 2003.