Why cant LaBella flats be strung through body?

[ModulusQ5-122]

I just pulled this from JustStrings site. I was about to pull the trigger on some labella flats to see what all the fuss was about until I saw this. Anybody know why?

La Bella Deep Talkin' Extra Long Scale
Important note: La Bella flatwound strings are not suitable for use on instruments that require through-body stringing.

[Smokin' Toaster]

Stringing through the body requires a much more severe angle than through the bridge or tailpiece, which is more of a straight shot. A roundwound string can take the bend, because the round windings flex more readily. Since a flat winding is wider, it could tend to seperate or slip under tension at such a severe angle.

I like flats, and I'll trade off any advantage I get stringing through the body of my Laklands for the sound and nice smooth feel of flats. I'm sure many others will disagree, and that's fine too.

[ModulusQ5-122]

I planned on putting them on one of my Laklands. So you are saying you would string them through the body anyway? or just string through the bridge?

BTW nice Jerry Scheff in your avatar.

[Matthew_84]

If you can put them through the bridge then do that, but watch out because the ferrules may fall out.

I have to go through the body with my bridge, and I didn't try Labella's because of that very warning. So I went with Chromes instead, but aspired for better so I tried GHS flats and see no reason to try anything else right now, but everyone's taste is different.

[Doctor Dirt]

It is takin a chance, on my 2006 USA P-Bass I broke the G. On my 1999 USA J-Bass I have no problem with using "deep talkin", I think the angle that the strings deal with has become a little sharper than in the earlier set ups. So it can work, yet other have had problems!! Doc.








............on my 2006 P I didn't even realize it had the newer bridge that gives you the option of running the strings traditional. I sucks getting old hahahaha!!!

[ModulusQ5-122]

Originally Posted by Matthew_84

If you can put them through the bridge then do that, but watch out because the ferrules may fall out.

I have to go through the body with my bridge, and I didn't try Labella's because of that very warning. So I went with Chromes instead, but aspired for better so I tried GHS flats and see no reason to try anything else right now, but everyone's taste is different.

Do the GHS come in extra long scale? I need them on my Lakland that is 35" scale.

[SLaPiNFuNK]

GHS flats are available in Extra Long Scale... 38" Winding Length... They are noted to fit 34-36" scale instruments...

[ModulusQ5-122]

Thanks guys.

[tsverrir]

Originally Posted by Smokin' Toaster

I like flats, and I'll trade off any advantage I get stringing through the body of my Laklands for the sound and nice smooth feel of flats. I'm sure many others will disagree, and that's fine too.

What would the advantage be of stringing through the body?

[JTE]

Originally Posted by tsverrir

What would the advantage be of stringing through the body?

In my experience, none. I used to BELIEVE that STB gave a slightly tighter feel, better sustain, and a more full sound. But I learned that was just my own preconceptions coming into play. I had two US Lakland 4-94s. So I did an experiment. But instead of trying to compare things with a lot of variables, like different basses, different times, etc. I did something that would eliminate almost all variables. I strung one bass with the E and D through the body, and the A and G top-loaded. The other bass was strung the opposite. Now I was able to compare the exact same set of strings on the exact same chunk of wood and metal at the same time. When the strings needed replacement, I reversed the order.

After doing this, I realized that there is simply no impact at all sonically nor physically with strings going through the body versus top-loading them. It was kind of a hard thing to learn because I'd been pretty adamant that I heard a subtle but real difference and thought I might have perceived a difference in feel. It was all in my head.

However, being a musician, I can still totally ignore reality and ascribe whatever I want to the way I attach strings. So, my Laklands all are strung through body. I do this because it's become habit as I'm pulling the old strings off through the body, I just automatically put the new on back on that way. Plus it keeps the ferrules in the back of the body from falling out. If I were to use D'Addario strings however, I wouldn't go to the hassle of getting the extra-long variety and would just put the regular long-scale ones on it top-loaded.

John

[GM60466]

The only luck I have had with flats trough the body are SIT Power Flats and Roto flats

[LaBellaStrings]

Hello ModulusQ5-122,

To help clarify the statement made on Juststrings.com. There are in fact some bass models that our extra-long Flats do work with. Some bass manufacturers drill a lesser angle through the bass of the body which puts less stress on any style flat wound string. To combat this issue we developed an E-string with a flexible tail. This flexible tail by the ball end of the string allows the string to make some of those harsh angles successfully with out snapping. I can also suggest our Quarter wound string that has a smoother finish than a round wound. This style of string can pass through any bass. If anyone is curious about how these strings sound, they can refer to any Meshell Ndegeocello album.I hope i have been some help in answering your question. All the best playing,
Eric Cocco
Vice President
La Bella Strings

[ModulusQ5-122]

Originally Posted by LaBellaStrings

Hello ModulusQ5-122,

To help clarify the statement made on Juststrings.com. There are in fact some bass models that our extra-long Flats do work with. Some bass manufacturers drill a lesser angle through the bass of the body which puts less stress on any style flat wound string. To combat this issue we developed an E-string with a flexible tail. This flexible tail by the ball end of the string allows the string to make some of those harsh angles successfully with out snapping. I can also suggest our Quarter wound string that has a smoother finish than a round wound. This style of string can pass through any bass. If anyone is curious about how these strings sound, they can refer to any Meshell Ndegeocello album.I hope i have been some help in answering your question. All the best playing,
Eric Cocco
Vice President
La Bella Strings

Wow thanks alot I really appreciate that. Im gonna have to give the quarters a look. THanks again!

[TomB]

Originally Posted by LaBellaStrings

Hello ModulusQ5-122,

To help clarify the statement made on Juststrings.com. There are in fact some bass models that our extra-long Flats do work with. Some bass manufacturers drill a lesser angle through the bass of the body which puts less stress on any style flat wound string. To combat this issue we developed an E-string with a flexible tail. This flexible tail by the ball end of the string allows the string to make some of those harsh angles successfully with out snapping. I can also suggest our Quarter wound string that has a smoother finish than a round wound. This style of string can pass through any bass. If anyone is curious about how these strings sound, they can refer to any Meshell Ndegeocello album.I hope i have been some help in answering your question. All the best playing,
Eric Cocco
Vice President
La Bella Strings

You've been VERY helpful. As someone who has broken an E-string ignoring your warnings, this is very good news. Not all Fender bridges allow the option of either top-load or STB (look at "turn of the century" Am. Std.). It's good to know LaBella has an app for STB. Now there's no reason I can think of to use any other flatwound product

[Sparkdog]

Originally Posted by JTE

In my experience, none.

John

Strange, but true. I've experimented with this a fair amount too and can't tell any difference whatsoever in tone, tension, or anything else.

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Flexible Tail Pictured: