Flat Wound LaBella's: Low Tension Flexible Flats vs Deep Talkin' Gold

[bimple]

I am contemplating switching over to LaBella flat wounds, and I am thinking that either the Low Tension Flexible Flats or the Deep Talkin' Gold strings are the way I want to go, and was wondering if anyone had any input on which is better, and why. I have gold hardware on my bass, and think it would look nice to have gold strings, but I have heard that they can be a little stiff to play, and I have heard that the Low Tension flexible flats play like butter, and obviously I prefer tone over looks, but would like to hear other people's experience with these strings in order to help me decide

 

[badRocks]

I am contemplating switching over to LaBella flat wounds, and I am thinking that either the Low Tension Flexible Flats or the Deep Talkin' Gold strings are the way I want to go, and was wondering if anyone had any input on which is better, and why. I have gold hardware on my bass, and think it would look nice to have gold strings, but I have heard that they can be a little stiff to play, and I have heard that the Low Tension flexible flats play like butter, and obviously I prefer tone over looks, but would like to hear other people's experience with these strings in order to help me decide

I can't comment on the golds but I just put the low tension flats on. I love them. No noticeable difference in stifffness from the NYXLs I replaced. They got sticky for a little while but now they are smooth as silk. I'm loving them

 

[hotbass57]

I've been using Labella's LTF's for a couple years now. I have them on my jazz. The feel and tone are perfect. They don't really sound like your typical flats. Sound great with fingers and a pick. Slick like glass.

 

[bimple]

They don't really sound like your typical flats.

Thanks for the reply - in what way do they sound different?

 

[hotbass57]

Thanks for the reply - in what way do they sound different?

They are a little brighter on D and G, E has some thump. That's after two years on passive basses.

 

[Stan_da_man]

I have played the LTFs and currently have the Nylon White Tapes on my bass.

The LTFs are very similar to TI flats - a little more thumpy and smooth as glass. They will never get the classic flat sound but they are so effortless to play.

The white tapes are similar to black tapes. I have the 60-115 gauge which feels to me like 40-100 hexcore round tension. Again, super smooth and low tension - not LTF low but still quite supple and there is a bit of fight in the string. They are brighter than black tapes and to me are like a pressure wound string but have less finger noise, are easier to play, feel smoother and over time would get more thumpy than a pressure wound / groundwound ever could.

 

[Aidil]

I have played the LTFs and currently have the Nylon White Tapes on my bass.

The LTFs are very similar to TI flats - a little more thumpy and smooth as glass. They will never get the classic flat sound but they are so effortless to play.

The white tapes are similar to black tapes. I have the 60-115 gauge which feels to me like 40-100 hexcore round tension. Again, super smooth and low tension - not LTF low but still quite supple and there is a bit of fight in the string. They are brighter than black tapes and to me are like a pressure wound string but have less finger noise, are easier to play, feel smoother and over time would get more thumpy than a pressure wound / groundwound ever could.

thanks for the insights...

I've never used 60-115 tapes. I thought they are supposed to feel like 50-105 hexcore rounds...?

I have a bass with D'Addario (black) Nylon Tapewound 50-105 (and 135 low-B) which I think almost the same feel like 40-95 (and 125) Pro-Steel rounds EPS220-5 that I used to use. For sure they feel looser than custom 40-55-75-95 (and 132) set of Chromes that I have on another bass.

 

[DirkP]

I have the Jamerson Set on one of my Precisions. It's very much like the deep talking golds. And I use the LTF on my main Jazz Bass. The LTFs are among the easiest to play flats I know and I tried a lot. The Deep Talking strings are quite the opposite (but I still love them). The LTS sound incredible good, but the Deep Talking Strings are simply THE Jamerson sound.
It depends a lot on your playing style. If you're the keep it simple type and not play a lot of fast notes in different areas of your bass, the Deep Talking might be the route to go. If you don't have hands like Jamerson and nonetheless are a bass acrobat, you might better go for the LTFs.

 

[SPYD3R #9]

how the slap tone on LTF?
right now I strung my fender amdel pbass V with daddario chromes halfround, love the flats feel underneath, but kinda sticky, feel stiff on tension, and I'm not satisfied with the tone i got from chromes while slapping

 

[Kawai2g4b]

I guess I'm the one guy so far that has played with the DTF Golds. I used a 6 string set on an Aria Avante Steve Bailey fretless and got perhaps my favorite fretless sound out of them. They definitely cut through in the mids better and are very articulate at the point of attack.

I have a late 70s Fernandes Bomber that I have my LTF set on right now and they are definitely on the more thumpy side in comparison to the golds and the string feel is slightly smoother as well.

Either way, they are great strings and it will depend on which whether you want the brighter (golds) or the warmer (LTF) of the two.

 

[iiipopes]

To me, the LTF's are very easy to play and overall have the family tone. However, to my ears, they do lack a little of the heft of some of the other La Bella flats sets.

 

[michael_t]

daddario chromes halfround, love the flats feel underneath, but kinda sticky, feel stiff on tension, and I'm not satisfied with the tone i got from chromes while slapping

Just for clarification...

D'Addario Chromes = stainless steel flatwound.

D'Addario Half Rounds = pure nickel groundwound.

Two completely different strings.