LaBella tapewound arco-ability?

dwjazz54 · #1 09-08-2003, 04:35 PM

I was reading the Bass Player article on and listening to the new album of Ron Carter, and have absolutely fallen in love with that man's tone. While his playing ability is surely a large part of it, I noticed he uses black LaBella tapewounds (I can't think of any other double bassist who does).

I was wondering if these strings also have a decent arco sound. Does anyone have any comments on this?

Thanks,
Dan

**Francois Blais** · #2 09-08-2003, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dwjazz54
While his playing ability is surely a large part of it, I noticed he uses black LaBella tapewounds (I can't think of any other double bassist who does).

Mads Vinding and Buster Williams are other well known 7710 users. Harvy Swartz also used them on his Merchant Vertical EUB, although I'm not sure he still plays EUB at all.

I was wondering if these strings also have a decent arco sound. Does anyone have any comments on this?
Thanks,
Dan

I'm not good at arco but last time I tried they were very slippery. Maybe with a good dose of very sticky rosin...

oystein · #3 09-09-2003, 12:15 AM

Hello
If you think the spirocore strings are not arco friendly, then you should try bowing the LaBella 7710 black nylon wound strings. You have to use a lot of rosin to get a grip of those strings. I have a record with Mads Winding Trio and although I love his playing and his warm pizzicato tone, I can't stand the sound on the numbers where he does a little bit of arco.

regards Oystein Djupvik-Norway

greitzer · #4 09-09-2003, 12:44 AM

I believe Miroslav Vitous also used these LaBella strings on his solo albums in the 1980s (I have no idea if he still does). I thought his compositions and his playing on those recordings were beautiful, but I didn't like the arco sound on them.

**Francois Blais** · #5 09-09-2003, 07:04 AM

Vitous plays on metal LaBellas (7720's).

greitzer · #6 09-09-2003, 09:56 AM

Oops. Thanks for the correction, Francois.

BassBliss · #7 09-20-2003, 07:46 PM

does anyone know how these strings sound amplified?

MerryPrankster · #8 01-30-2004, 06:10 PM

my bass teacher has them on his jazz setup bass , and he has tried to bow them.......basically they will only catch if you move the bow very slowly...i guess it might be good , on 12 measure tied notes...