Labella flats, extra light - weak low-E?

[jscomposer]

I thought the E string was relatively weak. Labella sent me a replacement, and it's the same thing. Is that just how they roll or do I have particularly ****** luck?

[TomB]

I've never had a problem with a LaBella flat E-string in any of the 3 gauges I've used. I did break one trying to string it thru-body but that's another thread.

[jscomposer]

Do you find the E string sounds different? Or do you find it completely even in tone and output?

I guess it's not that bad when I pluck lightly. I'm a guitarist so I'm used to digging in.

[bearfoot]

Might be the bass itself. I have a 30.5" hollowbody that doesn't physically resonate as much on the E. If the fundamental isn't strong, it shows even with pickups.

[petrus61]

Originally Posted by jscomposer

I thought the E string was relatively weak. Labella sent me a replacement, and it's the same thing. Is that just how they roll or do I have particularly ****** luck?

Same exact thing happened to me on light gauge deep talkin flats. Supposedly they "break in" but I don have the patience for that.

[jscomposer]

Originally Posted by bearfoot

Might be the bass itself. I have a 30.5" hollowbody that doesn't physically resonate as much on the E. If the fundamental isn't strong, it shows even with pickups.

It's a 5-string. And the low-B is stronger, too.

I just threw on Circle Ks and the E string is even with the other strings, so it's not the bass.

Could it be my technique? Are flats meant to be played with a light touch, plucked parallel to the body? I'm used to plucking towards the body, usually making the string clank against the last fret.

Originally Posted by petrus61

Same exact thing happened to me on light gauge deep talkin flats. Supposedly they "break in" but I don have the patience for that.

[SLaPiNFuNK]

You are comparing the sound of round wounds to flats.

Flats simply do not resonate like rounds...

But from you hearing the B string is stronger while at the same time not experiencing this with circle K strings... Did you press down on the E string over the bridge saddle to create a witness point? You don't need to do this with the B string since it is tapered, and the circle K strings are all tapered so they will not have this issue... This will cause extra lack of resonance and walker tone.

[jscomposer]

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

You are comparing the sound of round wounds to flats. Flats simply do not resonate like rounds...

That's why I asked about technique. Do flats players typically use a light touch? I can see using a light touch and subconsciously making a subtle adjustment, thereby not really noticing the weakness.

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

But from you hearing the B string is stronger while at the same time not experiencing this with circle K strings... Did you press down on the E string over the bridge saddle to create a witness point? You don't need to do this with the B string since it is tapered, and the circle K strings are all tapered so they will not have this issue... This will cause extra lack of resonance and walker tone.

Damn, you wait till AFTER I changed strings to tell me that? I was 99% sure I did--I even do that on my guitars--but just to take care of that 1% uncertainty, I put the Labellas back on and made sure to press down like you said. Same thing.