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Flats on a string-thru? Bad idea?

Labella had some problems with flats breaking when strung through-body, but the last I heard of it actually happening was years ago. They are probably just playing it safe now.

Yea, there's some warning sign on the La Bella Jamerson Strings Box that I bought some years ago that told not to use the strings with a string through body bass, which may break the strings or something.
But as I said, I'm glad, that I never experience bad things like string break etc while using them through body.
 
I just ordered some La Bella Deep Talkin' 760F-MUS flats thru Jason for my "new" MW Mustang which is string-through. I certainly hope that they are properly configured to be used on these without breaking!


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You have to order the string-through versions. They have a difference where the ball end, allowing more flexibility for passing through the body without possible breakage. If you didn't order that I'd call Jason and tell him you ordered the wrong set.
 
You have to order the string-through versions. They have a difference where the ball end, allowing more flexibility for passing through the body without possible breakage. If you didn't order that I'd call Jason and tell him you ordered the wrong set.

I asked about string-thru LaBellas for shorties, and I recall he only has long scales. The MW bass is 30" right?
 
It seems like I weigh in on this once a year or so - I have broken non-TB Labella flat E-strings by ignoring their warning not to do so - broke clean off at the ball. You've been warned!
 
I have a set of Ken Smith flats (think GHS makes them?) that I bought in 2001 and installed them on a MIJ 51RI until I sold it in 2006 for a custom shop 55RI and put them on that bass. I just took them off two months ago for rounds as I'm no longer into the flats sound anymore. Never once concerned about them breaking on those string thru's....
 
I have Rotosound Flats, short scale set, on my Precision Jr. Been on for about a year now. I love the sound - round, dry, articulate (very difficult to accurately describe the sound of a particular set of strings!). The G string has a lot of substance for a .40. They're stiff, but I like stiff strings.
 
I asked about string-thru LaBellas for shorties, and I recall he only has long scales. The MW bass is 30" right?


The MW Mustang IS a 30" scale, but because of the string thru design, it calls for a MEDIUM-length (32") set of strings. I ended up ordering La Bella Deep Talking flats because they were one of the few string makers offering a MEDIUM-length flat wound string.

After reading all of the positive reviews of the Deep Talkin' strings, I may be in for a surprise in tonal improvement over my "default" brand, which is normally Fender 9050 flats (they don't make a MEDIUM-length flat).

They are on back order currently at BSO.

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After reading all of the positive reviews of the Deep Talkin' strings, I may be in for a surprise in tonal improvement over my "default" brand, which is normally Fender 9050 flats (they don't make a MEDIUM-length flat).

They are on back order currently at BSO.

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I love the DTFlats. Jason just shipped me a set of medium scale 32" on Friday. I know he was out of stock on light guage. But he may have the medium guage in stock. I have the mediums on my 30" and they feel really good.
 
Anyone try stringing DR flats through the body? I have a set, and I'm thinking about using them on an M-2500, which has only two screws attaching the bridge to the body, making through-body stringing the better option. If this is a bad idea, I'll just use them on my Jazz V through the bridge.
 
I don't care what anybody says, I only string flats through the bridge. The flat wrap wire just isn't able to make the sharp break angle over the bridge saddles with deft aplomb. The straigher the string pull the better.
That speaks volumes. You should do what's best for you. But I've got 2 decades of LaBella, Pyramid, Fender, and TI flat experience that prove you're wrong.
 
Maybe it's true that doing any adjustments to the string-through (when detuning the strings all the way, to get to the pickup and such) there is the risk of the ball end moving one way or another causing it to be more likely to break? Although, on my P'51 no issues with Rotosounds, LaBella's nor Pyramids wich I use exclusively now : )
 
I just bought a Yamaha BB425X which has a string-thru angle of roughly 60°. It's not a 90°dropoff as most string-thru bridges are. Thinking to grab a set of LaBella flats in .045 - .105 + .128 guage. Anyone think this combo will be OK without breaking the strings? Thanks!