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Deadening just one string in a set - LaBella Low Tension Flats

facetsquared

facetsquared

Supporting Member
Aug 8, 2022
563
1,717
#1
I have a set of LaBella Low Tension Flats on my Fender Precision - and they sound fantastic apart from the G. The E, A, and D have a fantastic thump to them - but the G is very treble heavy in comparison. It sounds as if the G is from a different set of strings altogether! Any ideas on how to deaden this string to bring it in line with the others?

I would normally just put on a different set of strings and avoid the headache - but the E, A, and D on this LTF set sound absolutely perfect and are a nice contrast to the TI flats on my other instruments.
 
#2
facetsquared said:
I have a set of LaBella Low Tension Flats on my Fender Precision - and they sound fantastic apart from the G. The E, A, and D have a fantastic thump to them - but the G is very treble heavy in comparison. It sounds as if the G is from a different set of strings altogether! Any ideas on how to deaden this string to bring it in line with the others?
Click to expand...
I recently learned the G on the LTF is actually hex core while the other three are round core. It also doesn't have the silk underlining like E-A-D, so it's not surprising it sounds different.

I would suggest you might want to try this trick on the G to see what happens...

JimmyM

Thread 'Eucerin Skin Cream Kills Strings DEAD!!!'

Nothing else even comes close for deadening flats. Eucerin Aquaphor does OK at it, but it's only OK. And forget the other medicated formulas. Plain white Eucerin cream is the ticket for making your new flats thumpy quickly. Store brand substitutes are fine as well, but some can be runnier than others.

Takes a couple overnight applications and wipedowns to really work, but the first application takes care of the worst of the zing while the second makes them sound like they've been played in by a sweaty person for a month or two. Even works on zingy-when-new Chromes. Results were more...
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#5
michael_t said:
I recently learned the G on the LTF is actually hex core while the other three are round core. It also doesn't have the silk underlining like E-A-D, so it's not surprising it sounds different.

I would suggest you might want to try this trick on the G to see what happens...

JimmyM

Thread 'Eucerin Skin Cream Kills Strings DEAD!!!'

Nothing else even comes close for deadening flats. Eucerin Aquaphor does OK at it, but it's only OK. And forget the other medicated formulas. Plain white Eucerin cream is the ticket for making your new flats thumpy quickly. Store brand substitutes are fine as well, but some can be runnier than others.

Takes a couple overnight applications and wipedowns to really work, but the first application takes care of the worst of the zing while the second makes them sound like they've been played in by a sweaty person for a month or two. Even works on zingy-when-new Chromes. Results were more...
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Click to expand...
Thank you for this tip. It’s maddening that one string is so noticeably different - especially when the three heavier strings sound so perfect.
 
#6
Mastermold said:
Wonder why they did it that way. Maybe too floppy otherwise?
Click to expand...
When there is only one layer of winding over the core wire without the silk lining in between, there's always a possibility of the core wire slipping under the winding. The hex core would minimize that possibility. The other three are multi-layered with silk lining, so less chance of the round core slipping.
 
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#8
Subbed, since I put new LTFs on my bass a week ago and noticed the same thing… got the thump I expected on the E-A-D, then I hit the G and TWANG!

My plan is just to play the snot out of them and hope they even out, because I really like the feel. Or maybe I’ll eat a bunch of fried food and practice scales on the G string without washing my hands. :smug:
 
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#9
A few TB threads that may indicate the timeframe for the G string construction change .In the years covered by the first thread (2014-2020) there is no mention of the G string being an outlier. So one would assume it had the silk stuff around the core still. https://www.talkbass.com/threads/ne...on-flexible-flat-series-bass-strings.1072563/


Fast fwd to 2021 and the initial poster asks if there has been some change to the G string, which now sounds 'twangy'.

D

Thread 'Have La Bella LTFFs changed?'

Have La Bella LTFFs changed? Recently ordered a pack of LTFF 4s and what arrived is a different cover and gauge of the A string is different, G sounds very twangy although that could just be because it's new...

Putting it together, the change in the G string construction possibly occurred in late 2020/ early 2021. Google AI ( which of course can be wrong) suggests that timeframe for the change
 
Last edited:
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#10
Prodigus Filius said:
A few TB threads that may indicate the timeframe for the G string construction change .In the years covered by the first thread (2014-2020) there is no mention of the G string being an outlier. So one would assume it had the silk stuff around the core still. https://www.talkbass.com/threads/ne...on-flexible-flat-series-bass-strings.1072563/


Fast fwd to 2021 and the initial poster asks if there has been some change to the G string, which now sounds 'twangy'.

D

Thread 'Have La Bella LTFFs changed?'

Have La Bella LTFFs changed? Recently ordered a pack of LTFF 4s and what arrived is a different cover and gauge of the A string is different, G sounds very twangy although that could just be because it's new...

Putting it together, the change in the G string construction possibly occurred in late 2020/ early 2021. Google AI ( which of course can be wrong) suggests that timeframe for the change
Click to expand...

That sounds about right. The set I put on my Stingray was NOS from pre Covid, according to the store where I got them. The whole set is consistent and the G sounds fine.

It’s been a while since I’ve checked with calipers, but I’m pretty sure the G is slightly thicker than the current set as well. Closer to 43 than 42.
 
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#13
michael_t said:
I recently learned the G on the LTF is actually hex core while the other three are round core. It also doesn't have the silk underlining like E-A-D, so it's not surprising it sounds different.

I would suggest you might want to try this trick on the G to see what happens...

JimmyM

Thread 'Eucerin Skin Cream Kills Strings DEAD!!!'

Nothing else even comes close for deadening flats. Eucerin Aquaphor does OK at it, but it's only OK. And forget the other medicated formulas. Plain white Eucerin cream is the ticket for making your new flats thumpy quickly. Store brand substitutes are fine as well, but some can be runnier than others.

Takes a couple overnight applications and wipedowns to really work, but the first application takes care of the worst of the zing while the second makes them sound like they've been played in by a sweaty person for a month or two. Even works on zingy-when-new Chromes. Results were more...
  • Like
Click to expand...

I’ve tried this method on new strings before. It does help, but just a little bit. It can take off some of the ‘new string’ snap, but you don’t instantly get 2-yr old strings.
 
#14
I don't know if your G bridge saddle will allow you to do this or not (string height) but you could try (don't know if it'll work) putting a little piece of something, cloth, rubber, leather in-between the G string and the G saddle notch that might kind of deaden the string somewhat. Hopefully, the G saddle has enough room to drop down lower for string height.

Other than that, what about a string mute just for the G string?

Sucks that your G string rings out too much!

Good luck.
 
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#17
facetsquared said:
Thank you for this tip. It’s maddening that one string is so noticeably different - especially when the three heavier strings sound so perfect.
Click to expand...
Once those gold ball end change to colour ball on LTF , I believe la bella also change their formula. Meanwhile the silk end on E string shown more string gap than the gold ball batch on tuning post.

I been use several set of gold ball version, never meet bright G issue at all.
 
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