Disappointing B String in La Bella Deep Talkin' Flats set

[jmlee]

I've really enjoyed La Bella DTFs over the years but never had a 5-string set. Recently I bought a set (760FL-B 5-String Long Scale Light 43-128) to try on my new G&L JB-5. The top four strings sound predictably great.

*However*, the B string sounds unfocussed, pitch-wobbly, and is really unsatisfying. It seems thicker than the nominal 0.128 gauge suggests and is tapered at the bridge: something of which I was unaware before buying. Despite all my best efforts to mount it well, eliminate any possible torsion, and get good witness bends at nut and saddle, the string is just not happening.

Anyone else have any better or similar experience with the B-string of this type?

 

[G On Bass]

Yes. I have the exact same issue with LaBellas and Sadowsky flats, which are similar. For whatever reason, maybe it's the taper, the B sounds way off compared to the most delicious tone of the other 4 strings. I've tried multiple sets and basses with the same result.

 

[Selim]

Same experience with both the La Bella & Sadowsky B strings. The La Bella B in particular, not useable past the 5th fret or so.

Ironically, the B on La Bella's low tension flats has worked out the best on my 34" scale bass -- the pitches are true for almost the length of the string.

Perhaps it's the light gauge - it's .118 - I wish it thumped like the other 4 strings, but the pitches are very clear.

 

[Hot Rats]

Yep. They even sent me a replacement B string and it was still the same. Initially I thought it was fixed, but ultimately it was not.

 

[jmlee]

Thanks everybody. Well, it seems it’s not just me. I managed to get a D’Addario Chromes B single today and am going to try an unmatched set. We do it all the time in DB, so what the heck?

Funny, but the D string on my daughter’s short scale bass (La Bella DTFs, not three months old) just broke while she was practicing quietly: the wire wrap around the ball snapped. It’s not been much a good La Bella week in this house!

 

[jmlee]

Thanks everybody. Well, it seems it’s not just me. I managed to get a Chromes B single today and am going to try an unmatched set. We do it all the time in DB, so what the heck?

Bingo! Just put the Chromes B on and it sounds great: rings true and in character with the other four La Bella DTFs, at least for now while they’re all quite young. We’ll see how they age. I’m planning on using the JB-5 in the pit band for Newsies at my daughter’s school and there’s quite abbit of B-string written. Seems feasible now.

A letter to La Bella is in order, me-thinks.

 

[thegroovemaster]

Bingo! Just put the Chromes B on and it sounds great: rings true and in character with the other four La Bella DTFs, at least for now while they’re all quite young. We’ll see how they age. I’m planning on using the JB-5 in the pit band for Newsies at my daughter’s school and there’s quite abbit of B-string written. Seems feasible now.

A letter to La Bella is in order, me-thinks.

What gauge B string for the Chrome set?

 

[jmlee]

What gauge B string for the Chrome set?

The Chromes B I put on was .132 gauge. Works like a charm and so far sounds like an integrated set with the remaining La Bella strings E—>G.

BTW: I had some brief correspondence with La Bella around problems with the B string in that set, including the mutual evidence from this thread. They offered me another B string, but were otherwise uninterested in exploring this issue.

 

[thegroovemaster]

I see. I have a 2017 AmPro P5 and I prefer TI Jazz flats the B string is .136 and it sounds horrible. I bought a set of La Bella LT flats and the B string is .118 big improvement. I'll save the other LB's for another 4 string, either my fretless Jazz or my 4 string P. Thanks for the input!

 

[thegroovemaster]

...

Ironically, the B on La Bella's low tension flats has worked out the best on my 34" scale bass -- the pitches are true for almost the length of the string.

Perhaps it's the light gauge - it's .118 - I wish it thumped like the other 4 strings, but the pitches are very clear.

+1 the same experience. Although I like the B string thump on my P5 it's perfectly fine. I prefer the sound of the B string to blend with the other strings not overpower it, like when playing a root, 5th, octave chord or arpeggio using the low B, IMHO the .118 provides a very nice useable sound up and down the neck period.