LaBella Flats- odd "worble"

[FatCity]

I just put a new set of LaBella 760FX flatwounds on my 57ri P-Bass (raised A pole pieces). When I play the D or E on the A string I get a very noticeable "worble" sound. Does anyone know what that is and how to get rid of it?

fyi- tried to intonate. Maxed out the A string saddle and still sharp about a step.

Thanks in advance

[BluesWalker]

I hate LaBella flats, switch to something else.

[beyondat]

Sorry that I don't have any suggestions for your problem but i wanted to know how stiff are the 760FX's? I have a set on order and couldn't find any info on these. Thanks

[Ryan Mohr]

Sounds like the pickups are too high.

[markjazzbassist]

Originally Posted by Ryan Mohr

Sounds like the pickups are too high.

+1

give it a full setup since its summer and the action lowers considerably.

check the truss, then check the pickup height.

if not those, try another batch of strings, i got a bad batch of 760FS one time, switched to the FL series, and they were much more even and i didn't have problems.

[MIJ-VI]

Originally Posted by FatCity

I just put a new set of LaBella 760FX flatwounds on my 57ri P-Bass (raised A pole pieces). When I play the D or E on the A string I get a very noticeable "worble" sound. Does anyone know what that is and how to get rid of it?

fyi- tried to intonate. Maxed out the A string saddle and still sharp about a step.

Thanks in advance

Hi FatCity.

These symptoms sound like 'Strat-itis', a condition in which a string's harmonics are pulled out of tune due to being magnetized by pickup magnets which are too close to the strings.

As I understand it, Fender used raised pole pieces under the A string of the '57 P to compensate for the then inadequate strings which were available.

From '58 onwards P's had/have level pole pieces indicating that Fender had/has resolved the string problem.

Tilting the raised pole piece side of the pickup half downwards until all the pole piece tops are at a level which matches the radius of the fretboard would be one solution.

Getting regular P pickups would be another.

[Mudfuzz]

I've had the same thing happen with LaBella Flats on a bass without magnetic pickups. I've come to realize I hate LaBella strings over all, if it isn't one thing it is another, I always end up kicking myself after I buy their strings.

[king_biscuit]

I love La Bella strings, but their flats are pretty inconsistent. Out of the last three sets I purchased, all three had a bad string that I got La Bella to replace -- One E and two Gs. In other words, don't rule out a bad string.

[Ryan Mohr]

Originally Posted by king_biscuit

I love La Bella strings, but their flats are pretty inconsistent. Out of the last three sets I purchased, all three had a bad string that I got La Bella to replace -- One E and two Gs. In other words, don't rule out a bad string.

What was wrong with the strings?

[king_biscuit]

Originally Posted by Ryan Mohr

What was wrong with the strings?

The E string was apparently damaged during buffing -- the outer winding was cut right over the bridge pickup. G strings in other two sets had volume about half of other stings and were very rough to the touch.

[Billnc]

I believe I've had some strings where one of the inner windings was damaged causing the string to vibrate "wierdly".

[becker4567]

hmmmmm interesting! I pretty much only use LaBellas and love 'em. I use the FM's and never have had a problem with them. They take awhile to settle in, but other than that.....

[jasper383]

Originally Posted by beyondat

Sorry that I don't have any suggestions for your problem but i wanted to know how stiff are the 760FX's? I have a set on order and couldn't find any info on these. Thanks

That set is really light, very much in TI Jazz Flats territory.

I think the pickup height is the problem as well. If not, it might be twisted strings. Loosen the strings just enough to back them away from the bridge, and make sure the strings aren't twisted.

[Mastermold]

Originally Posted by MIJ-VI

Hi FatCity.

These symptoms sound like 'Strat-itis', a condition in which a string's harmonics are pulled out of tune due to being magnetized by pickup magnets which are too close to the strings.

As I understand it, Fender used raised pole pieces under the A string of the '57 P to compensate for the then inadequate strings which were available.

From '58 onwards P's had/have level pole pieces indicating that Fender had/has resolved the string problem.

Tilting the raised pole piece side of the pickup half downwards until all the pole piece tops are at a level which matches the radius of the fretboard would be one solution.

Getting regular P pickups would be another.

That's what I did with mine.

[Mastermold]

Originally Posted by Mudfuzz

I've had the same thing happen with LaBella Flats on a bass without magnetic pickups. I've come to realize I hate LaBella strings over all, if it isn't one thing it is another, I always end up kicking myself after I buy their strings.

Well but if you get a good set they last for 10 years so maybe it's worth it to try?

[One Drop]

One other thing it could be:

new flats sometimes don't break over the nut properly until a few days or weeks play. You can fix this by pushing down on the string on both sides of the nut to create a 'witness point'.

But I think it might be PUP height.

Anyway, I swear by Labellas and have never had a problem with their strings, or the flats they make for Sadowsky.

[BZadlo]

Originally Posted by One Drop

One other thing it could be:

new flats sometimes don't break over the nut properly until a few days or weeks play. You can fix this by pushing down on the string on both sides of the nut to create a 'witness point'.

But I think it might be PUP height.

Anyway, I swear by Labellas and have never had a problem with their strings, or the flats they make for Sadowsky.

+1. I recommend doing this with any strings rather than pulling on them.
Sounds like a pickup height issue to me.
I wouldn't blame LaBella. Chances are that it is something else.
I have never had an issue with any of their strings (which is not the case with a few other manufacturers).
You shouldn't have a problem intonating those strings though. The gauges are pretty small. I use the 760FH and have trouble intonating the E string (because it's huge) but, the others are fine.

[Low Main]

I have had to replace individual strings in LaBella flatwound sets before. LaBella is very good about taking care of it.

They usually want to have the defective string so they can check it out.

Sometimes, the winding layers will separate and you'll get some weird sounds.

Most problem with LaBella flats happen early on, not after months or years of using them.

The guys at LaBella will give you the sermon about how to correctly install their strings. You have to make a 90 degree bend in the end of the string before you clip it to length, or you can kill the string or loosen the core from the outer windings when you cut the string.

So do the bend, then clip off the unneeded extra portion of the string leaving at least 1/2 inch or so after the bend to go in the tuner post hole.

Also, transferring LaBella flats from one bass to another doesn't always go well.

I willingly put up with all this because I love the strings.

[zombywoof5050]

I've never heard of the 760FH. Are you sure that's what they are?

[FatCity]

Hi all,

Thanks for the replies. I tried adjusting the pickup height but it still did not solve the problem. I put an old TI flat that I had kicking around on and did not have the problem so I called LaBella and they are going to send me a new string.

Thanks again for your help!