My First Real Experience with Flats - LaBella

[Baird6869]

I have always avoided playing flats as I have always played metal, punk and more flashy solo type stuff.

I finally gave in and put LaBellas on my 1993 MIM P Bass as my band decided to add a reggae song (Bedouin Soundclash's Walls Fall Down) to our set list.

WOW! These strings sound amazing in the mix.

I was planning to use this bass for a song or two but I think I will use it on a few Stones songs, Soulman, some SRV..... etc.

I can't see NOT having a bass strung with flats!

[jasper383]

Try them with your metal/punk songs as well. It can't hurt, and you may be surprised at how different the music's texture becomes. It may be very much to your liking.

I think there is far too much conservatism in the bass/bass string world.

[Baird6869]

Originally Posted by jasper383

Try them with your metal/punk songs as well. It can't hurt, and you may be surprised at how different the music's texture becomes. It may be very much to your liking.

I think there is far too much conservatism in the bass/bass string world.

I think I would miss the twang on the high notes on my D and G strings but I am going to try it at my next jam later in the week.

I am playing a Jazz/Blues festival in Oshawa, Ontario on Saturday, so I guess I have a few days to figure out what bass to use for what songs!

[Phalex]

Just wait for it man. Once you play them for a month or more they get nicer and nicer.

[ROON]

I play metal, and a few months back I wanted to go experimental and try some flats. And you should have seen the guy at the counter's face. He's like;

"So what type of music do you play?"

"I play metal."

"..."

He just stared at me for literally about 30 seconds saying nothing... as if I was a complete moron for wanting to use flats for agressive music. Well guess what, I LOVE THEM!!! I whacked them on my Ibanez and man do they sound great. I only got a cheapo set of Fender flats, I can't wait to get a good set!!!

[lonote]

There's nothing wrong with Fender flats, I use them on my P-Basses but I use D'Addario Chromes on my J-Basses.

[BellBottomBlues]

I dump a 1954 La Bella set on each of my P-basses for thumpy goodness.

[Pilgrim]

Labellas are wonderful flats, and they get better with age. Congratulations on discovering them. (My faves.)

[hoosierdad]

I only use flats - and always get compliments on my tone. I have Fender Flats on my '59 PBass and on my 2001 USA Jazz. I have used Pyramids and Labellas and I like them too. The set on my '59 has been on for at least three years and the set on the Jazz is about 5 months old.

[ROON]

Originally Posted by lonote

There's nothing wrong with Fender flats, I use them on my P-Basses but I use D'Addario Chromes on my J-Basses.

Nothing wrong with them at all. It's just I only payed about $17 bucks for this set. I'd love to have a more expensive set... There was a packet there for $120!!! Now THAT'S just a little overkill.

[Baird6869]

Question.... how often do most of you replace your flats?

[hoosierdad]

Almost never. Like maybe every 5 or 10 years for me. And I play 'em. I do about 30 gigs a year + practice and studio time.

Originally Posted by Baird6869

Question.... how often do most of you replace your flats?

I change my La Bella 760FL's after they've had anywhere from 6 months to 2 years of use.

George

[lonote]

I replace mine when the instrument can't be intonated correctly...roughly once a century.

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by Baird6869

Question.... how often do most of you replace your flats?

Well, my 1963 P has the strings on it I put on in 1972 or thereabouts.

Bassically (pun intended), I don't change 'em. If they break, it's time for new ones...otherwise, leave 'em alone. I have only one bass with rounds, and they're 7 years old. I have eight basses in service (plus two in repair status) and all of them have strings that I installed when I got them - however long ago that might have been.

[Robynator]

I just put some LaBella Jamersons on my cheapo Peavey defret project, they sound AMAZING!!! My poor Jazz is going to be jealous now...

[billoetjen]

AAaaaahhhhhh...
LaBella Deep Talkin' Bass Flats.
The mediums or the Jamerson set if your neck can handle them. They really DO age gracefully. I almost hate them when I do change them (bout once a year). But then they settle down to a colorful, musical thump. And they sustain as well as anything else - depends on the bass and your technique.
Glad to hear you like them. And don't be afraid to stretch your use of them, you might figure out a way to make them work uniquely in whatever style you play.

[nasaldischarges]

Once i put rotosound rs77le's on my fender deluxe p-bass special, I never wanted to use any other type of string... and I play me some metal, mostly oldschool stuff though