Difference between LaBella Flats and Labella "Original 1954" (for urgent order)

[JACink]

I was supposed to order some strings from bassstringsonline.com before Christmas, but due to certain issues, I never got around to it.

I will be in the US next week, so I thought I would order them now and get them sent to the office (this way I save shipping to Spain).

However, I am slightly lost as to the difference between the "normal" LaBellas and the "Original 1954" (0760M). I am also unsure of which gauge to get.

The only experience I have with LaBellas (they are stupidly expensive here) are a set of the LaBella "Beatles Bass" (760FHBB) that I have on my short scale P bass. These are .050 .065 .080 0.100. I like these stings, but these are not available in the other sets I mention.

The strings are for a Squier Jaguar "Passive" bass, which I use to get the "P" sound more than anything else, and would like to stick with the Classic P sound.

Can someone please guide me?

Thanks.

(BTW, I stated in the title that this is for an urgent order, because I will only be in the US for a couple of days next week, and need them there in time).

 

[JACink]

@SLaPiNFuNK, how long does postage usually take in the US?

Thanks.

 

[Gorn]

Best to go with regular deep talkin flats. They're "normal" flats. Good for almost any application. The 43-104 set is a good place to start.

The 1954 set is super high tension and best for Motown type stuff. Not that versatile. Hard on the left hand. Great strings, but probably not what you're looking for if you liked the way the short scale set felt and sounded on your short scale p bass.

Where is your office? It generally takes 3 days for strings from bassstringsonline to get from Califormia to New York.

 

[Pier_]

I am slightly lost as to the difference between the "normal" LaBellas and the "Original 1954" (0760M)

first of all the gauge: 52-73-95-110, is really huge. they are not easy to play, the D and A string are really hard, and many basses will need a shim under the neck to have a proper and comfortable action.

I had them for a while, and I can say that the sound is "big", wonderful for blues, motown and vintage stuff with huge sounds: they were used by many players from Donald Dunn and Carol Kaye to Garry Tallent and the first John Paul Jones, or Joe Osborn.

I couldn't use them for modern pop music, for example. the short sustain was an issue, and even if they intonate perfectly, the attack of the lower notes sometimes is sharp (not rare with heavy gauges): they are things that in a blues/motown/vintage context are wonderful, but outside this world of vintageness, they are awkward.

I would prefer (as I did) some lighter flats, like the Thomastik JF344 or the Labella 760FL, or even D'Addario Chromes or Fender, to spend less, to have the best of both worlds.

my choice are the Thomastik. I would not go back to the Jamerson, unless I can afford a bass only for my Blues Brothers tribute.

 

[JACink]

Thank you both.

@Gorn Captain, our office is in Miami.

 

[Klonk]

I have played the 760Ms (Originals) and the 760FS (45-105), and currently have the 760FM (49-109) on a P bass. As others have said, the Originals set (760M) is hard on both hands, very stiff, and has quite short sustain. Perfect old school sound, but not nearly as versatile as the "regular" Deep Talkin Bass sets. I really like the 760FS set (black silk btw, if that matters for you), or the very similar feeling but slightly more modern sounding Sadowsky Black Label SBF45 set (silver/grey silk), which is made by LaBella and has the same gauges as the 760FS set. The 760FM (royal blue silk) is surprisingly easy to play given its rather heavy gauge, and I am sure the 760FL set is very good too if you prefer a lighter gauge than FM/FS, although I have not played it.

 

[JACink]

So I just spoke with BSO, and it seems that the only LaBellas that he has in stock and would be able to make it to Miami on time are the Medium gauge (.049-0.109) and the "Original 1954".

Is there anything similar to what I am looking for in another brand?

 

[JACink]

In the end I have ordered some GHS to try.

Thank you all again for your help (especially Jason who promptly answered my stupid amount of emails!)

 

[Klonk]

GHS are nice flats, they are also the same gauge (IIRC) as the 760FS set and several other sets, 45-105. The GHS will probably need some 6-8 weeks to settle enough for you to give a fair impression of what they will sound like for the next X amount of years. I like the GHS flats, to my ears they sound old school, and a bit "dirty" or "gritty" compared to the LaBellas or Sadowskys, which both seem clearer sounding to me, although the difference (as usual when discussing different flatwound strings) is subtle and subjective. The "grit" in them fits nicely when matched with a P bass, in my opinion.

Enjoy the GHS!

 

[butterfingers1]

I have these LaBella 1954 strings on my Squier CV early 1950s precision. It’s my “disposable” bass, unruly tone and baseball bat neck. These strings tame the tone and that neck is hard to play anyway. Sounds warm woody and thuddy like an upright acoustic.

After 3 months no out-of-the-ordinary neck bow or truss adjustments. Great workout for daily practice and exercises, everything else feels so easy to play after, like jogging with weights. I finally found a use for this unique bass guitar.