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Flatwound help

Z

Zheel

Dec 6, 2024
5
0
#1
I would like to put Labella flatwound low tension (43-104) on my Yamaha trbx 174 (34 scale) but I'm not sure it will fit. I measured everything, the Labella website says the E string is 36 ¾ and that's about the same measurement from nut to ball ends, but the A, D and G strings are 38" and my guitar has a different arrangement of tuners than on a Fender for example, I have 2 on each side so the silk would already be on the tuner for the G string. If I take a medium scale set than is too short for E string since my string wound length is about 36 and the Labella from ball to silk is 34 1/4″
 
#2
Zheel said:
I would like to put Labella flatwound low tension (43-104) on my Yamaha trbx 174 (34 scale) but I'm not sure it will fit. I measured everything, the Labella website says the E string is 36 ¾ and that's about the same measurement from nut to ball ends, but the A, D and G strings are 38" and my guitar has a different arrangement of tuners than on a Fender for example, I have 2 on each side so the silk would already be on the tuner for the G string. If I take a medium scale set than is too short for E string since my string wound length is about 36 and the Labella from ball to silk is 34 1/4″
Click to expand...
The overwhelming majority of G strings, flatwound or not, do not taper because they can't, having a single wrap. This means that, past the point where silk (if present) starts, they're exactly the same as they are ahead of that point (until where the sole wrap ends and there's only the core under the silk). Moreover, they're plenty flexible enough to be wound around any tuning post without breaking. Silk is only cosmetic, and for model recognition. It also has a mildly protective function for (cheap) hardware, not for the string. In other words, get the standard 760FL and don't worry if the unsilked section of the G is in contact with the post: it'll be fine.
 
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#6
Zheel said:
I would like to put Labella flatwound low tension (43-104) on my Yamaha trbx 174 (34 scale) but I'm not sure it will fit. I measured everything, the Labella website says the E string is 36 ¾ and that's about the same measurement from nut to ball ends, but the A, D and G strings are 38" and my guitar has a different arrangement of tuners than on a Fender for example, I have 2 on each side so the silk would already be on the tuner for the G string. If I take a medium scale set than is too short for E string since my string wound length is about 36 and the Labella from ball to silk is 34 1/4″
Click to expand...
Well...
As others have said, the 43-104 La Bella Flats are the 760FS DTF's. Their low tension flats are the LTF4-A's; they are 42-100 gauge. As for the E string being shorter? Yeah, that's pretty normal for La Bella bass strings; several other company's strings, too. In the last 50-some years, I've used a lot of aftermarket strings. They're not always a perfect fit; the companies have no idea what bass you're going to put their string on, so they try to make them as universal as possible; emphasis on the "try". With a 2+2 headstock? Yes, you might end up with very little silk on one tuner - or, none at all. That's happened to me - more than once. The strings will almost certainly work OK, but only you can decide if the unsightly aesthetics of silk on only 3 strings, trumps how they play - and sound...
And, by the way; I use both those strings; Long scale 760FS's on an aluminum-necked Kramer 450B (with the 2+2 'tuning fork" headstock). I had no problem with the silks on that bass. I have the LTF4-A's on a G&L Kiloton lined Fretless Bass. While they play and sound great on that bass? It's a "silk on 3 strings" setup. The tuners are 4 in-line; the E string, even though it's shorter than the others, is a little too long for silk to show. For me, though, playability and tone wins out over aesthetics... :cool:
 
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#8
zombywoof5050 said:
43-104 = 760FL
45-105 = 760FS
Click to expand...
Yeah, you're correct. I always get them confused, for some reason - old age, maybe? I have the FL's on a Chinese violin bass (sounds pretty good, too), and the FS's on a '78 Kramer 450B "Lumie". They tame the ridiculously hot pickups - and sound really good doing it... :cool:
 
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#9
The 45-105 Rotosound has combined tension of 214lbf.
The 54's are likely up there in combined tension with the Rotosound 77's 50-110 set which has 253lbf total tension.

A custom set of Chromes I used at one point, gauges 50 75 95 110, had similar tension in my opinion, to the 1954's with a big TT of 241lbf, including a whopping 71lbf for the D2 ( the Rotosound 075 is a big 70lbf too).

Rotosound 77's
Gauges 45 65 85 105

E1/.105/44.70 lbf
A1/.085/53.58 lbf
D2/.065/58.67 lbf
G2/.045/57.46 lbf

TT = 214.41 lbf

Rotosound 77's
Gauges 50 75 95 110


E1/.110/50.78lbf
A1/.095/68.78lbf
D2/.075/70.92lbf
G2/.050/62.52lbf

TT = 253.00lbf

D'Addario Chromes XL
Gauges 50 75 95 110

E1/.110/ 47.00lbf
A1/.095/ 64.50lbf
D2/.075/71.80lbf
G2/.050/58.00lbf


TT = 241.30lbf
 
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