Labella black tapewounds? Comments?

natselection · #1 05-26-2006, 10:13 PM

Anyone tried these strings and really liked them? Do you reccomend them? i'm replacing the warwick strings on my fretless and i was reccomended these..but i wanna know more about them

seanm · #2 05-26-2006, 11:18 PM

I haven't tried the LaBella's, but I have tried the Rotosound's. I have a P bass and it does hum a bit if I do not touch the strings. Not really a problem while playing, but a bit annoying during practice between songs. Since the tapewounds are not conductive, touching the strings to stop the hum dosen't work.

You also lose some sustain. However, the tone is great. A lot more of a DB sound.

Lokire · #3 05-26-2006, 11:55 PM

I've tried the LaBella's, the Rotosounds (short scale ones anyways), and Status-Graphite's Tapewound strings, and of them all I really like Status-Graphite's the best. They're basically a standard gauge and have a really nice low tension (slightly lower than DR Hi-Beams). I love their tone and feel. The LaBella's are nice too, but they have a higher gauge and higher tension, which I didn't like as much. The Rotosounds I didn't like at all - they had an even higher tension and more of a thumpy, dull tone to me. Not necessarily a bad thing, just not for me. Closer to an upright, if that's what you're going for. Whereas the LaBella's and Status-Graphite's are have more of a roundwound tone that's nice and smooth.

Right now, I switch off between Status-Graphite's Tapewounds and DR Hi-Beams, depending on the tone I want for the situation.

lpdeluxe · #4 05-27-2006, 06:48 AM

I put a set of LaBella nylon-tape wounds on my Fender '51 P RI. I love their feel: you can really snap them and get a percussive sound out of them. I've not made up my mind on the tone. I switch back and forth between a G&L Tribute with Brite Flats and the '51, and they feel totally different.

I also have a split-coil P with the Brite Flats, and it sounds a little better than the '51, but doesn't have the touch.

Here's a link to a comparison between the LBs and TI flats:
TI / Labella Flatwound comparison

msquared · #5 05-27-2006, 09:38 AM

I've used both Labella and Thomastik Infield flats. Both are good in different ways and ideally I'd have a bass strung with each of them, but if I had to pick one (especially with a Warwick) I'd go with the TIs. Absolutely worth the money.

Philbiker · #6 05-27-2006, 10:10 AM

I have tried both LaBella and Fender nylon tapewound strings on my fretless basses. I very slightly prefer the Fenders, but I love them both. I believe the Fender strings are only available in four string sets.

IotaNet · #7 05-27-2006, 11:43 AM

These come standard on the Barker Fretless basses and they are a perfect match for that application. Warm & mellow sounding and very comfortable to play.

Regarding the Fender tapewounds, I have tried them and found them to be brighter sounding than the LaBellas.

As an aside, I have LaBella Deep Talkin Flats (not tapewounds) on my Yamaha (fretted) P-Bass and they are also excellent. I read somewhere on TB that the TI Flats and the LaBella DT flats are pretty much neck & neck from a feel/tone standpoint.

Philbiker · #8 05-27-2006, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IotaNet

As an aside, I have LaBella Deep Talkin Flats (not tapewounds) on my Yamaha (fretted) P-Bass and they are also excellent.

I'll take that ball and run with it.... I used to use LaBella Deep Talkin' Bass flats on my 5 string Dean Edge 5 fretless and I agree they are fantastic strings. Just as good as the DTB nylons in my book.

ghostintheruins · #9 05-28-2006, 06:11 PM

I had them on my Carvin BB70 for a period of time and they worked really well for the warm sound that I was going for.

corinpills · #10 05-29-2006, 04:21 PM

Hofner bass with black tapewound string+ Abbey Road and Let It Be bass tones. Some of Abbey road was on a jazz bass with regular flats, but all of Let it be has the black tapewounds. It's just a cool sound because it doesn't sound like every other bass track on the radio today. it's nice to do little thinsg to forge your own sonic identity.

**WoodyG3** · #11 05-29-2006, 05:09 PM

I have the LaBella tapewounds on two of my basses now. I like the warm, rich sound they produce. I find that, while they don't have the sustain of a roundwound, they ring out pretty well, and the higher notes sing well rather than thud like some other flat or tapewound strings.

BTW, you can get them cheap at the Carvin website. About $18 for a four string set, if I remember right.

IotaNet · #12 05-29-2006, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WoodyG3

... while they don't have the sustain of a roundwound ...

Woody -

That may be a function of the bass you put them on.

One of my favorite Barker Bass "demos" is to pluck an open E and time how long it takes for the note to totally decay. On most Barkers (with the LaBellas), the decay time is somewhere between 50 and 55 seconds.

IMO, that's pretty serious sustain!