I'm thinking of putting some labella flats on my new P, but I'm used to the 45-100 chromes. I've heard that the 760FS labellas are higher tension than the chromes. Would I notice this difference or should I go with the 760FL which I've heard would be more similar tension to the chromes?
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D'Addario Chromes and Labella Flats
- Thread starter Dr MacLean
- Start date
I don't know but any flat with higher tension than |Chromes is a flat I do not want on my bass ...just sayin.
I use the 95 Chromes due to tension issues.
I haven't used the FL's for a while but they are MUCH lower tension than the FM or FS.
I haven't used the FL's for a while but they are MUCH lower tension than the FM or FS.
I have Chromes 45-100, 760FL and 760FS. These Chromes are in between FL and FS, tension wise. I just checked, Chromes 45 on one bass, FS on other bass. You will notice the difference, FS have higher tension, but it's not night and day difference. At the same time, they have more balanced tension from string to string than Chromes. On Chromes, G and D are firmer, A and E are more flexible. FS are more even. I don't have FLs put on a bass at the moment, but from the memory, they have slightly less tension than Chromes 45.
LaBella's & chromes have virtually the same feel in terms of tension, but the LB sounds more "thuddy" (beefy in the lowmid), since they're stainless steel, and the chromes are nickel (which has a more even spectrum). For a P, I strongly encourage you to go for the LB. Like a signature here on the board says: "La Bella flats and a P-bass go together like Pizza & Beer", and I second that emotion!.
I had chromes first, but then changed to LB.
I had chromes first, but then changed to LB.
I swap Chromes and LaBellas around and I don't recall having to do any truss rod adjustments like I do when I go from either of those strings to roundwounds.
It's been a while since I went over to LaBellas from Chromes, but from what I recall of trying both FL & FS, I think you'll find FL feels more familiar to a Chromes 45-100 player, which I was. All three strings give a nice solid thump. Over time you might want to try out the FS's just for fun. At this point I'm only buying FL's, but I still have FS's on one bass and enjoy the fatness once in a while! Personally, I could never even consider the Jameson gauge.
Actually, the chromes are just that: more chromium in the steel mix, less nickel. The more the string is shiny, the more chromium in the mix; the more grey the string is, the more iron and nickel is in the mix, and the nickel is usually 1) plated on, like most conventional "nickel" round wounds, or 2) a defined part of the mix that makes a string "stainless," or for some strings, pure nickel wrap, which rubs off black on some players' hands.
+1
The Chromes I tried actually hurt my fingers. I love the LaBella 760FL set. Personally, I think the LaBella's sound better, but most flats players on TB seem to be Chromes users.
Same here.
In case lmfreeman9's post was overlooked, there is a lighter gauge option in the Chromes that I rarely see anyone talk about. D'addario calls them Super Lights, I think. E string is a 95. This should help those that say "Chromes" are too high tension.
In case lmfreeman9's post was overlooked, there is a lighter gauge option in the Chromes that I rarely see anyone talk about. D'addario calls them Super Lights, I think. E string is a 95. This should help those that say "Chromes" are too high tension.
Agreed on all counts! Like many I started out on Chromes and loved them dearly, but after seeing the 760s on sale at GC, I eventually gave in to the temptation.
And man, have I never looked back. The string-to-string balance and silky smooth feel is simply unmatched.
Well I've got a set of 760FS on order from juststrings now. Sounds like the right choice for me over chromes 
