Chromes - Why choose over LaBella?

[Mike Vee]

I have been using LaBella LTFs on my P-basses for a long time. I would say it's my favorite string for P-bass by far.

I got a new American Original Precision a few days back and decided to try super light Chromes (ECB80 / 40-95) this time around. So many people I love use them and I figured I would give them a try. I used Eucerin cream on them to deaden them a bit, and then all of my usual techniques for breaking them in faster (light stretching, super rough playing and and hard fretting up and down each string for a while) and they are feeling settled after a few days.

I like them (not love). They feel good. They sound, good. However, I see NO BENEFIT over LaBella LTFs. They are stiffer and slightly more difficult to play, they sound way more generic and vanilla, and are just the most BORING flats I've ever used!

So I ask you, the experts, why would anyone choose Chromes over LaBella flats? Is there a reason I should try to keep these on for a while?

 

[michael_t]

So I ask you, the experts, why would anyone choose Chromes over LaBella flats? Is there a reason I should try to keep these on for a while?

Strings choices are a matter of personal taste based on one's perspective on what sounds good and feels good. If you prefer La Bella over the Chromes, so be it. Nobody needs to convince you otherwise.

I do like vanilla ice cream, provided it has Hershey's caramel syrup on it.

 

[Mike Vee]

Strings choices are a matter of personal taste based on one's perspective on what sounds good and feels good. If you prefer La Bella over the Chromes, so be it. Nobody needs to convince you otherwise.

I do like vanilla ice cream, provided it has Hershey's caramel syrup on it.

The only thing I will say is that they are growing on me a little bit. I just switched back to another bass with LaBella LTF and they are feel sticky and a little loose in comparison. Plus, the slightly added tension makes playing right over the pickup a lot easier with the Chromes. Hmm, maybe I'll wait these out for a bit after all.

 

[michael_t]

The only thing I will say is that they are growing on me a little bit. I just switched back to another bass with LaBella LTF and they are feel sticky and a little loose in comparison. Plus, the slightly added tension makes playing right over the pickup a lot easier with the Chromes. Hmm, maybe I'll wait these out for a bit after all.

One's taste can change over time. Some strings have a tendency to "grow on you" if you're willing to give them enough time.

 

[Gorn]

They're often the only flats you'll find in a lot of guitar shops. I think that likely has a lot to do with their popularity.

 

[Just Wrong]

Because the LTF G string sounds so much brighter than the rest?

 

[michael_t]

Because the LTF G string sounds so much brighter than the rest?

Actually that's what happened with the Chromes (40-100) I once had on my Fender Jazz. 40G = bright (annoyingly so) and twangy; 100E = thuddy and undefined.

 

[Mike Vee]

Because the LTF G string sounds so much brighter than the rest?

only for a little while, and less on certain packs.

 

[Mike Vee]

Actually that's what happened with the Chromes (40-100) I once had on my Fender Jazz. 40G = bright (annoyingly so) and twangy; 100E = thuddy and undefined.

The Eucerin application took care of the D and G. These feel a LOT like Fenders now - very even tone and feel. The E does feel a little mushy/muddy though.

I made some EQ adjustment on my SVT and now I am liking these even better. They needed a little more highs and high-mids.

 

[eee]

I find chromes are best when they’re brand new, they have a pretty distinct clank that other flats don’t have. They tend to die unevenly, thuddy E and twangy G, which is when I change them. The clank is the best part about them! TI flats are my go-to for a “regular” flatwound sound

 

[Isaac_James]

I think a lot of folks like them for the ways that they aren't like more traditionally voiced flatwounds. They are brighter and clankier than LaBellas. If that's not what you're going for (and it sounds like you aren't if you put Eucerin cream on the strings) then they may not be the right strings for you. But... you also mentioned that they are growing on you - I would give them at least a couple of months as long as you aren't totally dissatisfied with them as it takes a while for flatwounds to break in, so what you are hearing right now doesn't reflect their fully mature sound profile.

I suppose another reason someone might like them over LaBellas is that they've got that nice blue silk wrap on them!

 

[Chris Doherty]

It's all subjective, but what you mentioned about playing over the pickup rings true to me. I use them for a lot of rock/pop music, compared to Labellas (ime) they're as deep but not buttery, as defined, but with a different top end clank. I've had them on a p bass for about 5 years now and they work for pretty much all my gigs.

 

[Shoreline Gold]

I've now put them on my Modern Vintage MVP4-62 (essentially a mostly vintage-spec P Bass). I'm firmly in "the bass chooses the string" camp. This bass has had SS rounds, GHS Pressurewounds, LaBella DTFs, and now Chrome 45-105s. The only ones that sounded good were the GHS, but now....Surprisingly the DTFs didn't sound as good as they do on my Highway 1 P Bass. But, the MV is my main bass now, and I play mostly flats, so I tried the Chromes. They're still in that slightly-too-bright stage, but I've played Chromes on and off for years, so I know they'll settle down somewhat with some use . I think they're what I'm looking for: real flatwound sound but just a liiiitttle more top end. The DTFs sound great, but I find I need more definition for some of the songs we do. The Chromes do have a sort of standard or routine kind of character, but that's actually a good thing sometimes. You can color the sound with effects and amp settings enough to still give you versatility. I don't know if all this helps--YMMV. Strings are so incredibly subjective, and descriptors (excuse me, I don't want anything that plays like "butter") as well, but I see that they're designed to appeal to a number of applications. I don't mind the stiffness. I prefer that strings fight me, and yet they are so smooth at the same time.

Peace!

 

[Killing Floor]

There’s no best

 

[Mike Vee]

I suppose another reason someone might like them over LaBellas is that they've got that nice blue silk wrap on them!

Haha for sure, that was part of the reason I wanted them to begin with.

 

[Mike Vee]

The Chromes do have a sort of standard or routine kind of character, but that's actually a good thing sometimes.

True, I get that.

 

[Dincrest]

Depending on where you live, especially in other countries, it's probably easier to get D'Addario Chromes than LaBella LTFs. So availability/ accessibility might be a factor.

 

[MCS4]

One bass player's "more difficult to play" is another bass player's "stiffer tension, just the way I like it."

I preferred stiffer tension strings when I was younger and prefer lower tension strings now. Both are just preferences, not objective pros or cons.

This is, of course, setting aside the fact that these two sets of strings sound different, so anyone could easily prefer one or the other solely on their tonal preferences.

I would also note that LTFs are pretty weird, as far as flats go. That's not an insult -- they are the flats I currently use the most -- but the tone and feel may turn off some long-time flats players from the outset.

 

[kodiakblair]

why would anyone choose Chromes over LaBella flats?

I got nothing.

If the kids went missing and a ransom note arrived demanding I use Chromes; I'd be looking into adoption

 

[deepestend]

I personally like LaBella flats better. They just feel a little bit more flexible and less hard under my fingers. But tastes do change over time and maybe that is where yours are at right now.