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Flatwound Tension
- Thread starter Lo-E
- Start date
+1 I've been using LaBella low tension flexible flats and I think they are a terrific string. The tension is just right for me and they sound great on my P Bass.
Hi.
Interesting thread .. I’ve got similar impressions as yours although I’d say that the lightest gauge Chromes strings to me have a slightly lower tension than the SM-77, but by a tad only, I guess ..
I’ve also removed a set of JF344 from on of my P-basses and installed a set of almost new SM-77.
The neck required an adjustment due to the increased strings tension, the bass’ tone became darker but punchier.
I like it .. to such an extent that I’d like now to try the LaBella 760 FL
It will be interesting to hear your comparison. I expect the FL’s may exert less tension, but haven’t played the Rotosounds in quite a while. I usually find the FL’s similar to “average” roundwounds in tension, and can go back and forth with minimal adjustment.
I tried three flatwound sets last week that I had great curiosity about it: TIs, SM77 and La Bella 760FS.
I was a bit surprised to found Rotos and La Bella to not be the bridge cables most people talk about.
Perfectly playable, on par with Fender stiffness that I had on a P.
I think Chromes are much stiffer than all of those; but only string so far that I found unplayable was the LB Jamerson set.
Even TI flats I didn't found that floppy (obviously the most flexible of all flats), except for the A string, that really is. Didn't cared for its tone though, glad I didn't have to buy them to discover it.
I was a bit surprised to found Rotos and La Bella to not be the bridge cables most people talk about.
Perfectly playable, on par with Fender stiffness that I had on a P.
I think Chromes are much stiffer than all of those; but only string so far that I found unplayable was the LB Jamerson set.
Even TI flats I didn't found that floppy (obviously the most flexible of all flats), except for the A string, that really is. Didn't cared for its tone though, glad I didn't have to buy them to discover it.
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Hi TomB
There must be a difference between the two FL and FX:
FL = 043, .060, .082, .104
FX = 039, .056, .077, .096. FX seems lighter.
And even on the paper, the FX are Lighter than the JF 344 ( 043 - 056 - 070 - 100")
witch I have on two bass, and happy with them.
In term of flexibility, could you compare FX and JT ?
I am searching for the lightest gauge possible for my accoustic.
For the moment I have the JT. Have tested the LTF but find them not as fexible as the JT.
Thank's for your answer
I can’t, it’s been too long since I had any FX on a bass. My guess is that FX are firmer than the JF’s, given that Labella introduced the LTF’s to address that market. …but it’s just a guess. Others here may know more.
Yes
From Michael_T that I red just now, he says:
the 760FX would be stiffer in feel due to the hex core.
From Michael_T that I red just now, he says:
the 760FX would be stiffer in feel due to the hex core.
Talking about stiffness and resistance to breaking:
1) TI JF344: low stiffness and won’t break almost ever.
2) Labella DTF 760FL: medium-high stiffness and won’t break ever.
3) Labella DTF 760FX: medium-low stiffness and won’t break ever.
4) Labella LTF 4-A: medium-low stiffness and may break.
5) Pyramid Gold 45-105: medium-high stiffness and won’t break ever.
6) Fender 45-105: high stiffness and won’t break almost ever.
7) Dunlop DFSB 45-105: very high stiffness and will likely break (worst flats ever IME).
8) Rotosound SM77: medium-low stiffness and won’t break almost ever.
9) D’Addario Chromes 45-100: medium-high stiffness and won’t break ever.
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Thank's for your input.
Between
3) Labella DTF 760FX: medium-low stiffness and won’t break ever.
4) Labella LTF 4-A: medium-low stiffness and may break.
To your opinion, witch are the lowest stiffness ?
Thank's for your answer.
Between
3) Labella DTF 760FX: medium-low stiffness and won’t break ever.
4) Labella LTF 4-A: medium-low stiffness and may break.
To your opinion, witch are the lowest stiffness ?
Thank's for your answer.
Just to prove there’s no accounting for taste, I have to weigh in that I like Dunlop flats and have never broken one
.
My observations are based on the behaviour of strings installed on one bass and then moved on to other basses in order to find the best pairing possible.
I bought two packs of LTF 4-A .. in both cases, after the second bass swap, the A string started slipping on the tuning peg, ultimately breaking ..
Same “tests” have been carried out for the other strings models i mentioned in my post above.
If you put them on a specific bass and leave them there no issues.
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I use Chromes. 55-75-90-110 or 50-70-90-110 tuned down a whole step DGCF. I like these because I can buy singles to suite me. I strayed a couple years ago and tried Labella Deep Talkers and now am switching back to Chromes. I also have some Basses set up with Daddario XL Nickles in the same gauges and tuning. I have used Rotosounds and really like them but not available in singles. Ernie Ball Cobalt flats are still on my radar but I do not care for their Group 1 flats. For myself it is simplest to just stay on course with one string and make it work. This also saves me from having to replaces brass nuts and doing major setups.
I have three kinds of flats on four basses, and in terms of feel, they stack up like this:
TI Jazz Flats (on two basses) have the loosest feel.
Chromes are the stiffest of the ones I have.
Fender 9050 ML are in between the two in feel.
hope that helps!
TI Jazz Flats (on two basses) have the loosest feel.
Chromes are the stiffest of the ones I have.
Fender 9050 ML are in between the two in feel.
hope that helps!
Strangely enough, in view of the meaning of LTF, those with less stiffness into them between these two are the DTF 760FL IME.
I went from La Bella 760FL to LTF. That is the way to go....very happy with them.
I'd pretty much agree with this, with the exception of the Rotosound SM77s; I'd rate these as very high. Rotos are known as bridge cables for a reason (I still like them, though; their tone on a T-Bird is worth it, IMO). I actually have all these on one bass or another at the moment, so I'll add;
DR - medium (a touch less than GHS's P Flats)
Sadowski - medium (the original Blue Labels, anyway)...
The SM77 I have installed on my jazz bass, with its highly sensitive neck to high tension strings, don’t feel like bridge cables at all.I'd pretty much agree with this, with the exception of the Rotosound SM77s; I'd rate these as very high. Rotos are known as bridge cables for a reason (I still like them, though; their tone on a T-Bird is worth it, IMO). I actually have all these on one bass or another at the moment, so I'll add;
DR - medium (a touch less than GHS's P Flats)
Sadowski - medium (the original Blue Labels, anyway)...
Somebody in another thread suggested that they may be considered a cheaper alternative to TI JF344 and I have to substantially agree with this statement.
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