Strings via Lakland Direct

[Arthur U. Poon]

Has anyone tried Lakland's nickel strings? (Yes, I did a search already. )

How do/did you like them?

I just ordered a couple of sets from Lakland Direct; pretty decent price IMO. My Lull has a 35" scale and I prefer to go through-body on it's B-string. There's not a lot of brands out there to choose from with a super-duper long B-string . I normally use the D'Addario XL170-5SL set, but the Lakland's are a couple of bucks cheaper, shipping included.

With my acid hands it doesn't make sense for me to pay more than $25.00 a set , so I can't cost justify DR's, LaBella's, etc.

But I've bagged up a bunch of my old sets, and I'm going to Home Depot soon to get the supplies to make a pvc/denatured alcohol string rejuvenator.

[Chunk-O-Funk]

I used the lakland strings for quite a while. I liked them and would say the are comparable to the D'addarios. I used the D'addarios on my four bangers for quite a while but have never put a set on my Lakland.

I did a thread a while back with some brands that fit the Laklands.
Another Lakland Question.

I've since switched to LaBella Slappers. Seriously, I can't tell you how much better these string sound compared to the Lakland and D'addarios. Of course the price is much higher though. I also have a set of Fodera strings I haven't put on yet.


I think if you like the XL's you will be satisfied with the Lakland strings.

[pickles]

They seem like GHS strings to me ... they sound good and have a solid/stiff feel. I found the low-E a little bit short on sustain (just like boomers), but the tapered B is great.

I like my hi-beams and labellas better, but the lakand strings are good quality and very affordable. Strings are just a kind of personal thing ...

[Arthur U. Poon]

Chunk & pickles,
thanks for the replies. After I've had a set of the Lakland's on my bass for a month, I'll be able to tell how they compare with D'Addario XL's lifespan-wise. I may just give the LaBella Slappers a try in the future. I've found them priced at about $34.00 a set (plus shipping) online. I used Hard Rockin' Steels on a Pedulla Rapture-5 I used to own years ago. As I can recall, they had a really good lifespan. I much prefer the sound of nickel roundwounds these days. Slappers may just be the ticket.

Thanks again,
- Art

[pickles]

Check this thread for a much cheaper place to buy LaBellas:

La Bella Slappers - anyone?

[Arthur U. Poon]

Originally Posted by pickles

Check this thread for a much cheaper place to buy LaBellas:

La Bella Slappers - anyone?

Thank you, what a sweet deal!!!!!! 3 sets of Slappers on the way!!!

[Deep]

DR's fit on my Lakland fiver when used thru-body with no problem. The conventional B with the set fits fine. But when I order, I ask for a Low-Rider 4 string set.....then ask for the tapered B that fits the Lakland.....it will be a Long-Neck B (which is a Low-Rider anyway, with an extra long taperwound end). Of course these are SS not NP.

[Chunk-O-Funk]

Originally Posted by Arthur U. Poon

Thank you, what a sweet deal!!!!!! 3 sets of Slappers on the way!!!

That is an awesome price, but I didn't see the EXL's listed. Just the regular SN45B's. If you want to string through the body they will not fit. SN45B-EXL are what you are looking for.

[Arthur U. Poon]

Originally Posted by Chunk-O-Funk

That is an awesome price, but I didn't see the EXL's listed. Just the regular SN45B's. If you want to string through the body they will not fit. SN45B-EXL are what you are looking for.

I noticed that too. I'd rather go through-body, but top loading is still fine by me. Especially for that price!

[Chunk-O-Funk]

Originally Posted by Arthur U. Poon

I noticed that too. I'd rather go through-body, but top loading is still fine by me. Especially for that price!

Yhea, me too.

[ErnieD]

Well I am hoping to try mine eventually
I called and placed my order by phone cause my CC info differed from my mail address. Everything went well, nice guy from sales actually called me back on a Friday around 4pm returning my earlier phone message. I placed that order on 9/1 or 9/8/06, I've forgotten, for 2 sets for my 55-01, nickles & SS, y'all are right, darn good price. My bank acct showed they got paid about 3 days later. This past Monday 9/25/06 I called one more time, after leaving a message and email midmonth with no reply, to say my strings have not arrived yet. Same guy in sales called me back again and said my mailing address label got mangled by post office and they got the strings back to them. He said he would mail em out again this past Monday and to expect them around this past Friday. No strings to me yet. Dont want to name names cause the guy seems to be honest in his story but I've played 3 gigs so far and wanted to have my new strings on for that. Dont feel like going to GC to buy a set and have my already paid for strings show up next day. I saw quite a few threads here awhile back saying that strings thru Lakland were out of stock. Hope they are not taking orders and waiting to get their strings back in stock cause I would have passed under those conditions, I expected my strings sooner. Just have to check the mail again on Mon and Tuesday and call em again if no strings arrive and see if I can just get a refund somehow, geez.

[Arthur U. Poon]

Originally Posted by ErnieD

Hope they are not taking orders and waiting to get their strings back in stock cause I would have passed under those conditions, I expected my strings sooner. Just have to check the mail again on Mon and Tuesday and call em again if no strings arrive and see if I can just get a refund somehow, geez.

I bet you're right. Their website said if the items ordered were out of stock, you'd be contacted. I haven't heard anything, but I placed my order to Lakland on last Friday night. If I receive an out of stock notice, I'll pm you. Luckily I don't have upcoming any gigs, -or a band right now for that matter, which sucks. .

[pickles]

Originally Posted by Arthur U. Poon

I noticed that too. I'd rather go through-body, but top loading is still fine by me. Especially for that price!

I strongly prefer strings-through-bridge on my laklands. I've tried again and again, but on both feel and tone I think it is better through the bridge.

Not saying you'll feel that way too ... but its worth trying especially given this price.

[ErnieD]

As per my earlier post my 2 sets of Lakland strings were MIA. I went out and caught mailman at the box today and asked him what could be the delay, over a month from IL to LA. He said he did not know, Lakland said last week they sent em out again cause they were ret to sender. Well, I was P.O'd and about to email/call Lakland when doorbell rings and its the mail slug, turns out he dug around and found em at the bottom of a pile. Get outta that damn truck once in awhile and sort thru your sh*t, sucka. So they are here now and I am confused whether to try the nickels or stay with the SS for my 55-01. Will the maple board react tonewise to each set differently? Will I loose funk, slap with the nickels? I sure want to get some relief on my fingertips, so maybe the nicks huh. Though I'd like to try the nicks on my Cirrus, pau ferro board. peace.

[Arthur U. Poon]

Originally Posted by pickles

I strongly prefer strings-through-bridge on my laklands. I've tried again and again, but on both feel and tone I think it is better through the bridge.

Not saying you'll feel that way too ... but its worth trying especially given this price.

I prefer going through the body as well, but I didn't see the EXL set listed I don't even an SN45B-EXL listed on LaBella's site, but their site looks a bit dated. I just got off the phone with the music store, great bunch of guys, BTW. They're not familiar with the SN45B-EXL site either, but they're going to get in touch with LaBella tomorrow. They're going to update my order to the EXL-B set.

[Arthur U. Poon]

My sets of Lakland strings arrived Saturday; I'll be trying them out later today!

[Arthur U. Poon]

Originally Posted by Arthur U. Poon

My sets of Lakland strings arrived Saturday; I'll be trying them out later today!

These Lakland strings sound really good! They have a meaty tone that I really like.

[64jazzbass]

I've tried and like both the Nickel and SS Laklands. You guys should try Elrick's new strings also. He sells them direct from his website as well. I'm not sure the scale length will go thru the body though?

[Arthur U. Poon]

My Lakland strings had quite an impressive lifespan. I replaced them with a new set of LaBella Slappers this morning. This is my first experience with the Slappers. Out of the gate, they aren't as bright as the Lakland's or D'Addario XL's, but they feel great, -really smooth and flexible.

One bummer is their tapered B-string doesn't have enough taper to go through-body on my Lull. But the package does read: "Extra Long".

When I corresponded with LaBella a few month's ago, they were super nice. After the Holidays I'll give them a jingle to find out if they actually make a Slapper taperwound B-string that will allow me to string through-body on my Lull.

[ErnieD]

Let us know how those Labellas work out. I put the Lakland SS rounds on my 55-01 and man they were zingy and harsh, put the Lakland nickels and I like them better, nice feel, good tone. I have some old SS round, Labellas, I think Super Steps??, not sure. They came on my Cirrus 6 that though rough on fingers, sound great on that bass. I have not been using one bass exclusively, rotating 4 basses, so strings are lasting me. The nicklels on my 55-01, going strong so far.
How'd you like those? Lifewise, tonewise, I see your gonna try something else now.