LaBella Flats or TI Flats?

Dub56 · #1 07-08-2010, 08:08 PM

Hey,

I'm pretty new to the world of flats.. I've used rounds almost exclusively since I've started playing bass YEARS ago. I've only tried one set of flats, and they were D'Addario Chromes. They were O.K. but nothing that really knocked me out.

I'm looking for a set of flats to string my MIJ '57 reissue P-Bass with, and I'm stuck between LaBella and TI.

I just want a good sounding, great feeling flat that gives a good funky, reggae-ready, and overall nice tone.

I'm hoping maybe some of you can shed some light on these 2 brands, and maybe tell me how they differ? That would help me out a lot in choosing.

Thanks!

RCCollins · #2 07-08-2010, 08:44 PM

you might find the TIs have too prominent upper mids for reggae. they are also too low-tension for many folks. I love 'em, but they're not for everybody, and they're not even all-purpose - they don't really deliver for "vintage" tone

the LaBellas sound deeper and thumpier and are much better suited for fat, tubby low-end BUT this is only after a considerable break-in period. they are high tension and will sound very crisp for weeks to months depending on how often you play them

for deep, tubby tone straight out of the box with less break-in time, my current favorites are GHS precision flats. I used to favor the fender 9050s but the "improved" set they make now is just awful. GHS Precisions are perfect for, well, a Precision, and they also cost about half as much as the labellas. a highly underrated string IMO

Johnny Alien · #3 07-08-2010, 08:45 PM

TI's are more mid-rangy and much lower tension than the LaBella's. My personal preference is TI's but LaBellas are great as well. If you can handle the tension TI's sound like no other flats.

tomshepp · #4 07-08-2010, 09:02 PM

I've used both, and prefer the LaBellas. You can dig in on them more than the TIs. Both get better with use/age.

fretlessguy · #5 07-09-2010, 04:05 AM

I too would have to suggest GHS Precision flats. They have the old school thump to them, and are not expensive to buy. www.bpstrings.com usually has the best price on them, and they usually go for around $20 there.
TIs are another good one, but they are the most "unflat" sounding flats I have played. They are wonderful, but they are in a league of thier own soundwise. Not the thing for reggae.

kasbrey · #6 07-09-2010, 06:35 AM

I have 2 sets of TI's that would be perfect for reggae. Once played in they get very old school, at least on my basses.

However I would go for the LaBellas but the FS not the FL set.
There's more than just the slight difference in gauge to these, the FS have a much more pleasing midrange IMO. Different strings entirely.

Kenny Allyn · #7 07-09-2010, 07:04 AM

I dunno I've tried both and the TIs can get a pretty cool old school "thump"

Listen through headphones or something more than the typical laptop speakers on this youtube ... and the bass sounds almost like a big hollowbody, when the camera pans over you see it's my Jazz with a maple neck

... I dig my TIs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg-Pf3hrOvM

4Mal · #8 07-09-2010, 12:46 PM

TI's or Chromes in my case. I don't dig the high tension of the LaBellas. Tonally the LaBellas are OK but noting special in my book as well. I find the TI's to be warm and 'woody'. I also like Chromes a lot. They are a little more 'steely' sounding and they are higher tension though not as high as the LaBellas. I'll generally let a bass decide which to wear for the better setup.

Mastermold · #9 07-09-2010, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Alien

TI's are more mid-rangy and much lower tension than the LaBella's. My personal preference is TI's but LaBellas are great as well. If you can handle the tension TI's sound like no other flats.

For this reason I find TI's really compliment the natural P-bass low mid tone. I prefer LaBellas on Jazz basses but TI's on Precisions.

zombywoof5050 · #10 07-09-2010, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kasbrey

However I would go for the LaBellas but the FS not the FL set. There's more than just the slight difference in gauge to these, the FS have a much more pleasing midrange IMO. Different strings entirely.

I agree that they're pretty different, moreso than one would expect for the tiny difference in gauges. But to my ear the FL set gives a whole lot more pleasing midrange than the FS set.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Mal

TI's or Chromes in my case. I don't dig the high tension of the LaBellas. Tonally the LaBellas are OK but noting special in my book as well. I find the TI's to be warm and 'woody'. I also like Chromes a lot. They are a little more 'steely' sounding and they are higher tension though not as high as the LaBellas. I'll generally let a bass decide which to wear for the better setup.

The high tension LaBellas you speak of must be the 760FM set or the 0760M 'Jamerson' set, which are indeed high tension. But the 760FX, 760FL, and 760FS sets by LaBella are all lower tension than the Chromes that I tried (the Chromes I tried are the 45-100), IME.

For the people that keep calling LaBellas high tension, I strongly suggest you try some of the lighter gauged sets I mentioned.

Johnny Alien · #11 07-09-2010, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mastermold

For this reason I find TI's really compliment the natural P-bass low mid tone. I prefer LaBellas on Jazz basses but TI's on Precisions.

Interesting observation. I don't play Jazz basses but I could totally see where you are coming from. I think that I might prefer the same if I played Jazzes.

Dub56 · #12 07-09-2010, 07:14 PM

Some great opinions.. still tough to decide!

I also might add that I'm not ONLY playing Reggae, I love playing funk and all sorts of other stuff, I want the sound to be versatile and not just solely ok for playing deep, dub reggae. I'm used to playing rounds so I don't want something that has no character at all.

I'm thrown off by the tension thing, I'm honestly not even sure what tension I like on rounds I just know when I DON'T like it.

Johnny Alien · #13 07-09-2010, 07:30 PM

TI's are low tension for flats but pretty comparable to a set of normal rounds. I find the tension to be similar to a light set of D'Addario rounds.

lmfreeman9 · #14 07-10-2010, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zombywoof5050

I agree that they're pretty different, moreso than one would expect for the tiny difference in gauges. But to my ear the FL set gives a whole lot more pleasing midrange than the FS set.

The high tension LaBellas you speak of must be the 760FM set or the 0760M 'Jamerson' set, which are indeed high tension. But the 760FX, 760FL, and 760FS sets by LaBella are all lower tension than the Chromes that I tried (the Chromes I tried are the 45-100), IME.

For the people that keep calling LaBellas high tension, I strongly suggest you try some of the lighter gauged sets I mentioned.

This is critical. When you talk about LaBellas, which gauge are you referring to. I recommend FL or FS.

DavePlaysBass · #15 07-10-2010, 11:35 PM

In my opinion, Sadowsky 45-105s seem to have the best of the 760FLs and TI flats. They have a very cutting mid range like the TIs while maintaining a big bottom like the La Bellas. However, I have not tried the Sadowsky flats on a P bass which may change things.

Craig_S · #16 07-11-2010, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Mal

I also like Chromes a lot. They are a little more 'steely' sounding and they are higher tension though not as high as the LaBellas.

It really depends on what gauge LaBella's you're playing. The LaBellas I chose--760FL--are lower tension than the Chromes, by far. Chromes sound good, but nowhere near as good as the LaBella 760FL's, to me.

EDIT: I just saw this post

Quote:

Originally Posted by lmfreeman9

This is critical. When you talk about LaBellas, which gauge are you referring to. I recommend FL or FS.

+1

One Drop · #17 07-11-2010, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavePlaysBass

In my opinion, Sadowsky 45-105s seem to have the best of the 760FLs and TI flats. They have a very cutting mid range like the TIs while maintaining a big bottom like the La Bellas. However, I have not tried the Sadowsky flats on a P bass which may change things.

To me the Sadowskys can be likened to LaBellas tweaked slightly for modern tastes and sonic expectations while keeping their same inherent basic voice.

I was so used to using them on one of my Js I forgot how good they sound on a P. Getting that extra growl while still sounding fat and warm is a pretty exciting proposition on a P.

Both are gorgeous sounding, Labellas like maple syrup on a stack of pancakes, Sadowskys with an added side of bacon.

Mastermold · #18 07-11-2010, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig_S

It really depends on what gauge LaBella's you're playing. The LaBellas I chose--760FL--are lower tension than the Chromes, by far. Chromes sound good, but nowhere near as good as the LaBella 760FL's, to me.

I agree LaBella 760FLs are my favorite guage from them too. I've tried the FS set and while they thumped more (at least initially, the FL set catches up eventually) they lacked the note articulation of the FL set and I missed that. Never tried the heavy Jamerson set but I suspect it's got even less articulation.

On the Chromes, don't forget they have lighter guages too by the way. And their bright, airy tone can be better at cutting through the mix than LaBellas. It's a good idea IMO to experiment.

Mastermold · #19 07-11-2010, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Alien

Interesting observation. I don't play Jazz basses but I could totally see where you are coming from. I think that I might prefer the same if I played Jazzes.

Right now I've got TI flats on two Precisions (one's a five string) and LaBella 760FL flats on another Precision and a Jazz. I experiment with different strings, flats especially, and these are two brands/string sets I use a lot now after playing around with a bunch of brands. I know what to expect from them now so that makes them reliable for the tone/feel I'm after on a particular bass.