Does anyone know of a flatwound string brand that can be strung through the body without braking?
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Flatwound Strings
- Thread starter gfh218
- Start date
Minor quibble: not all Labellas are designed for through-body, but there are Labellas specifically designed for it.
La Bella is the only company who explicitly warns against thru-body installation for their standard Deep Talkin' Flats.
Most people around here will tell you they've had no issues with their flats being strung thru-body.
I have used TI's, Chromes and EB Cobalts strung through the body and have never had any problems.
I think you can string through most flats but labella's winds are really close together and more probe to breakage, although it's not a guarantee.
The trick with putting flats thru-body is to leave them well enough alone once they're installed. Avoid uninstalling and reinstalling.
Unfortunately, my one experience with flat string(LaBella) breakage came in the middle of a gig. Don't want a repeat. Most unpleasant.
This is why it's always been my personal preference to top-load all flats regardless of brands. Whatever negligible benefits the thru-body installation may provide simply aren't worth the potential risk.
I do realize some basses only have the thru-body option, in which case it would probably be wise to stay away from La Bella DTF's (760xx), except for the thru-body (TB) version.
I've run D'Adarrio Chromes through one of my basses for some time with no issue. I put some RotoSound flats on my 6 string - but they didn't stay on or get a lot of play.
The BB734 has a unique thru-body design that allows the strings to be installed through the body diagonally from the saddle toward the bottom of the body with no break angle in between instead of the two break angles created by the traditional Fender-style design. I really like what Yamaha has done.
JeezyMcNuggles
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- Feb 23, 2018
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Well, it offers the benefit of not having a bass with no strings at all - if the bass is string-thru only. And, yes, they're out there... Otherwise? I agree with you..
I have two basses with through-body (JMJ Mustang and an MIA P) and I use chromes on both, never an issue. Also the JMJ came with Fender 9050s and those seemed fine, although I took them off pretty quick so who knows.
Cobalt Flat G string is the only string that BG01 will NOT accept as string through. Tried 2x with 2 different G’s and they both failed.
HUGE Thank You to EB for stepping up with a new set and a new G (that failed as well).
The new set is now on my Nordy
Weird, because TI’s, La Bella’s and Galli’s nickel strings are all a perfect string through - and I can switch back and forth with no issues.
Lesson Learned
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