La Bella Slappers - anyone?

I'm not a La Bella expert, but strings can be both "roundwound" and "taperwound", taperwound means that the end with the ball end on it is thinner than the rest of the string which makes it easier to fit them into the bridge. Some people also feel tapered E and B strings sound/ring better than normal strings.

By the way, I'm guessing English isn't your first language, be careful with the word "backside", as the most common meaning is butt! This used to be a pet peeve of an English teacher of mine.

^^^Right!

The Slappers are tapered near the ball and roundwound. I find this allows them to sit lower on the bridge. You can especially see the taper on the B and E strings in these photos.

I use Labellas on all my instruments....IMHO they're the best strings money can buy! Hope this helps

They really need to update thier website to describe each set they offer.

Is a "slapper" just the nickel version of a "super step"?

Well, slappers were $33 and super steps were $56 (seriously?!) ... so I ordered some slappers to try out.

pickles said:

Well, slappers were $33 and super steps were $56 (seriously?!) ... so I ordered some slappers to try out.

Click to expand...

Good lord, where are you buying them? Those prices are outrageous! Link Removed in LaBella's hometown sells all of their roundwound series for $15.55 in 4 string sets and $19.55 for the 5 string sets.

The Craw said:

Good lord, where are you buying them? Those prices are outrageous! Link Removed in LaBella's hometown sells all of their roundwound series for $15.55 in 4 string sets and $19.55 for the 5 string sets.

Click to expand...

OUCH!

Juststrings.com. Too bad its too late to cancel my order!

The Craw said:

Good lord, where are you buying them? Those prices are outrageous! Link Removed in LaBella's hometown sells all of their roundwound series for $15.55 in 4 string sets and $19.55 for the 5 string sets.

Click to expand...

Wow! Great price. I wonder if they carry any other gauges. I usually buy mine here...A little more expensive, but they carry all sizes:

http://bassguitarstrings.us/store/home.php?cat=300

Are LaBella strings hex or roundcore?

I'm not sure what the core is, but they are FLEXIBLE ... which is what I like about those other famous round core strings. Labellas are more likea string and less like a cable than anything else I've tried.

I just tried the slappers for a bit on my 55-94, and they feel super smooth and sound warm and mellow. GREAT low-B as usual from LaBella (I think they are the best in the biz, overall, for low Bs) They sound like a nickel string, and I'm a stainless guy (should have ordered super-steps), but they are still very nice.

As I posted earlier today in another thread, I just put my first set of LaBella Slappers on my Lull 5-string with a 35" scale. My B-string package reads "Extra Long" yet it's tapered end doesn't run over my B-string's bridge saddle when I string it through-body. No big deal, I'm not totally sold on the advantages of stringing through-body. I'm planning on talking with the folks at LaBella about this; they seem very friendly as super to work with.

But I ran nto a real problem when I was intonating my bass. I couldn't get the B-string to intonate. I moved the bridge saddle so far forward on my Hipshot bridge, it actually came unthreaded from the adjustment screw. Also, my remaining bridge saddles ended up in a really weird "pattern" that I've never seen before after my intonation was set. (BTW the only string in the set with a tapered string was the B-string.) The Lakland nickel plated 5-string set I had on also had a tapered B-string. I had no problems setting my intonation when I switched from D'Addario XL's to them.

Luckily I was had enough time to run to the music store and pick up a new D'Addario XL170-5 set and re-setup and intonate my bass before tonight's gig.

At this point I'm thinking about either staying with the Lakland strings or going back to D'Addario XL's. The Lakland's felt a little rougher to the touch, but they had a really impressive lifespan. I guess I'm a creature of habit, I still prefer the smooth feel and sound of the D'Addario XL's over any other brand of strings I've used. -And I've tried a lot of what's out there.

Interesting situation with the Slappers. I just switched to Labella Hard Rockin Steel M42B set (40-60-80-100-128) on all my Spectors. (35 scale 5 strings) I spent quite a bit of time with my Peterson tuner intonating the basses and I noticed that all the B string saddles were furthur forward than with other strings. I also noticed that the bridge saddles formed an unusual pattern but.......on all 3 basses the saddles formed the exact same pattern? The slappers are supposed to be the same as the Hard Rockin Steels, hex core-tapered B but nickel plated.

Wow! anyone have intonation problems with slappers on a 4 string Spector?

The Craw said:

Good lord, where are you buying them? Those prices are outrageous! Link Removed in LaBella's hometown sells all of their roundwound series for $15.55 in 4 string sets and $19.55 for the 5 string sets.

Click to expand...

I picked up 3 set of La Bellas (Hard Rocking Steel, Deep Talkin', and Slappers) for 40 bucks on Lemur.

And to the person who originaly posted- I haven't tried the slappers yet, sorry!

Just ordered a set, will let ya know how they go

My new Carvin SB 4001 fretless 4-string came with Carvin strings, .040 nickel roundwounds, made by LaBella. Don't know if they are custom made for Carvin, or more likely they are the LaBella Slappers.

Whatever, they sound great--deep lows, solid & even mids, highs not too jangly, don't want that for the fretless anyway. Great growl, plenty of mwah. If I wear these out, I'll get another set.

It is common for string "Manufacturers" to make strings for other "Brands" to the "Brands" specific specifications and out of different materials that meet the brands price point and specifications.

Just because company "A" makes strings for "B" does not mean the strings "B" sells are the same as "A"