LaBella Flats - One slightly rough string- Normal?

dagrev · #1 11-12-2009, 07:24 PM

Just bought some LaBella Deep Talkin' extra light flats (760FX). All but the the D area very smooth. It's not rough like a round or anything but pretty noticeably not as smooth as the rest. I've never bought these before, but I'm assuming this isn't normal for LaBella. Am I correct in this and should I seek a replacement?

I guess I could live with it but my concern is it might get worse as it stretches over time (or more annoying). Thought I'd check with the experts before calling the online dealer.

They sound great by the way.

Thanks

dagrev · #2 11-13-2009, 06:31 PM

I opened the second set I bought and it seems (w/out stringing it up on a bass) that the D on in that set is more rough than the others as well. seems odd to get two sets with an odd string?

I don't want to go to the hassel of returing one sent to just get another with the same string thing going on.

No LaBella people ever run into this?

dagrev · #3 11-13-2009, 06:32 PM

I opened the second set I bought and it seems (w/out stringing it up on a bass) that the D on in that set is more rough than the others as well. seems odd to get two sets with an odd string?

I don't want to go to the hassle of returning one sent to just get another with the same string thing going on.

No LaBella people ever run into this?

p-bass · #4 11-14-2009, 01:01 PM

I've never had any problem with La Bella strings.I bought a set of D'Addario Chomes that had that same issue...a rough D string.I returned it to Guitar Center and they replaced it,after I got a little aggresive with the guy at the counter...he didn't seem to think it was a big deal. I don't know about other Guitar Centers,but everybody who works in the Hollywood Ca.store is going to be a Rock Star next week so they really could care less about any customer service.

N.F.A. · #5 11-14-2009, 01:04 PM

I have never had a rough string in sets of LaBellas. So, in my experience that would not be normal.

mongo2 · #6 11-14-2009, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N.F.A.

I have never had a rough string in sets of LaBellas. So, in my experience that would not be normal.

+1

One reason I get LaBellas is specifically for how consistently smooth they are.

lowregister · #7 11-14-2009, 05:05 PM

I had that problem with groundwounds, my A is significantly rougher than the others, but that shouldn't happen with flats--when really there isn't a lot of roughness in the material process.

dagrev · #8 11-16-2009, 10:25 AM

Update--After playing Sunday when I opened the case to take the bass out when I got home I noticed the E string was broken at the saddle! (Not the rougher D.)

I strung it through the body as the LaBella site/brochure said this was no problem!

I'm easy on strings as anyone could be so that's not the problem.

mongo2 · #9 11-16-2009, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dagrev

Update--After playing Sunday when I opened the case to take the bass out when I got home I noticed the E string was broken at the saddle! (Not the rougher D.)

I strung it through the body as the LaBella site/brochure said this was no problem!

I'm easy on strings as anyone could be so that's not the problem.

Maybe you got one of the older sets that weren't made for through body stringing. Those strings can break if strung through the body.

One Drop · #10 11-16-2009, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dagrev

Update--After playing Sunday when I opened the case to take the bass out when I got home I noticed the E string was broken at the saddle! (Not the rougher D.)

I strung it through the body as the LaBella site/brochure said this was no problem!

I'm easy on strings as anyone could be so that's not the problem.

I thought Labella recommends NOT stringing through body with their flats.

I did see that they recently started offering flats designed for this, though i don't know much more about it than what was pointed out in another thread here somewhere.

RCCollins · #11 11-16-2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by One Drop

I thought Labella recommends NOT stringing through body with their flats.

This has always been my understanding

personally i don't mind a little bit of stick on new flatwounds. the roughness will surely disappear in a short time with use

dagrev · #12 11-16-2009, 02:33 PM

Good news Elderly's was great to me in how they handled this. They have just earned a repeat customer.

I talked to LaBella about the break and they said to NOT go through the body. Some do and take a while to get it there and it works for them, but they say not to. The odd thing is the brochure says it's okay to do this?? Guess the new one won't!

LaBella was great to talk to as well. Took a lot of time to answer and give a lot of info.

In the midst of a long conversation Robert at LaBella said something about not cutting the string first before putting tension on it. I've heard this before but can't find the how on it. I think some DR's are supposed to be done this way, that way the core doesn't move any. Anyone know the method on this?

----
Edit--This the info I was talking about: 3. Run the string past the tuning post. If the string is excessively long (more than 4" past the post), make a right-angle bend in the string and cut it off just past the bend. (The bend prevents the wrap wire from slipping.)
http://www.bassstrings.nl/stringinstall.htm

Pet Sounds · #13 11-16-2009, 09:34 PM

You might think I'm nuts, or just very cheap, but I've had the SAME SET of LaBella flats on my main P-bass for more than a decade, I wipe them off after every gig and they still sound great and appear to be fine.
I also have lighter LaBella flats on a Ric 4001 and a Jazz Bass. One of the strings on the Jazz (can't remember which) had a razor-sharp rough spot that sliced my index finger wide open. The very apologetic salesman at the local music store replaced it and I've had no other problems with LaBellas in the years since.