I believe I read that the Labellas are lower in actual tension, and in any case it's that old school Labella sound I'm now wanting. I've a more modern tone from the Chromes on my LB-100, which isn't quite right for some things I play.
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@Ricky Rioli - I've used both TIs and LaBella LTFs on an L-1000. Both sets were gentle on the truss rod. The TIs have a more focused mid and the LTFs had bigger lows with a little crispness on the top end that I didn't expect. I'd probably think the TIs would work well with the SB-1 pickup, but I prefer the LTFs overall. The TI fans will probably crucify me for saying this, but in my experience, the LTFs are better balanced in both feel and tone than the TIs. The TIs' E string is way more lively than the rest, which is the opposite of most other flats out there, and the .070 A string is way too light, IMO.
For what it's worth, my LTFs are currently on a P bass that had a maxed out rod when using some D'Addario XL .100s, and I couldn't get the neck straight enough. With the LTFs, I was able to back it off a half turn and it plays great.
For what it's worth, my LTFs are currently on a P bass that had a maxed out rod when using some D'Addario XL .100s, and I couldn't get the neck straight enough. With the LTFs, I was able to back it off a half turn and it plays great.
Generally speaking, with the gl basses I've had, the overall sound was better when i changed to flats. I had Chromes on my lb100, Labella Ltff on my jb2, and most recently put TIJF on my Wunkay. (But, no MFD pickups on any of those).
I really did like the sound of ghs balanced tension roundwounds on my Kiloton when i had it.
If I had to choose between the TI or the LTF set, I'd go with TI, but that's more down to my tastes. They feel better to me, and I like the liveliness of the sound. The LTF set is absolutely great for a vintage sound.
I really did like the sound of ghs balanced tension roundwounds on my Kiloton when i had it.
If I had to choose between the TI or the LTF set, I'd go with TI, but that's more down to my tastes. They feel better to me, and I like the liveliness of the sound. The LTF set is absolutely great for a vintage sound.
When I first had this bass, 2½ years ago, I fitted a set of the 760FM Labellas. Great strings, but two problems.
Firstly, Labellas sound better when moved a fair distance; a string-tickler like me doesn't really get the character going, and trying to give a 49-69-89-109 set of flats a good thwunk isn't my fingers' idea of a good time. Round-core 42-56-75-100.... worth me trying at any rate
Secondly, I didn't like the combination of MFD and old school flats, their qualities seemed to be tugging in opposite directions. This time round, it'll be all about the flats, and if I can't get the MFD to play nicely, I'll just replace it.
Firstly, Labellas sound better when moved a fair distance; a string-tickler like me doesn't really get the character going, and trying to give a 49-69-89-109 set of flats a good thwunk isn't my fingers' idea of a good time. Round-core 42-56-75-100.... worth me trying at any rate
Secondly, I didn't like the combination of MFD and old school flats, their qualities seemed to be tugging in opposite directions. This time round, it'll be all about the flats, and if I can't get the MFD to play nicely, I'll just replace it.
The LTFs will definitely be in the old school bucket. If that doesn't gel with the MFDs (or at least what you expect from them), TIs might be a better option. Replacing the MFD is an option, too, I guess, but that takes a little of the soul of the bass away…
Random fact I discovered while chewing on various thoughts: the slightly different location of the SB-1's pickup relative to a standard P bass means that it's in an entirely different place from the 1951 P bass single coil:
Nice Fralin Split 51 popped into a freshly-dug rout..... [/daydream]
Nice Fralin Split 51 popped into a freshly-dug rout..... [/daydream]
Been using the TI's on the fretless Lynx (helps tame that pups extended highs) but prefer EB Cobalt flats on my fretless L1000. I've had to learn to finger a little softer with the TI's .70 A. I like both with MFD's but most have DR rounds. Only LaBella flats are tapes on my fretless Godin Acoustibass.
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Wondered how odd a single coil pickup would look on a post-57 P-bass, and the internet, to my surprise, had the answer:
Erm.
Erm.
I like the EB cobalt flats on my Tribby SB-2. They sound badass with those pickups.
Coolio. I think those are what came on my Yamaha BB424X. The bass sounds amazing!
Using the very finest in visual editing software to indulge my daydream, two SB-1s converted to single coil (reaching back to their early 80s heritage, right? Right 
)
The blue extending the existing rout for the E+A half of the split; the red placing it beyond, where a trad early 50s single coil would go.
My feeling is that with the low tension flats, the blue position would be better for getting some freshness into the tone.
(Yes, I know I've made the pickups too fat. Never mind)
)The blue extending the existing rout for the E+A half of the split; the red placing it beyond, where a trad early 50s single coil would go.
My feeling is that with the low tension flats, the blue position would be better for getting some freshness into the tone.
(Yes, I know I've made the pickups too fat. Never mind)
Using the very finest in visual editing software to indulge my daydream, two SB-1s converted to single coil (reaching back to their early 80s heritage, right? Right
View attachment 7161786
The blue extending the existing rout for the E+A half of the split; the red placing it beyond, where a trad early 50s single coil would go.
My feeling is that with the low tension flats, the blue position would be better for getting some freshness into the tone.
(Yes, I know I've made the pickups too fat. Never mind)
I've always felt that having two single coils together in both the 50's and 60's position would be more useful (at least for me) than the bridge position. I was going to do that a year ago with a loaded body 1st gen SB1 I had purchased here, but the body was too heavy for me so I abandoned the idea. Adding the single coil right above a split P like the red one in a two pickup bass would be fun as well, maybe even more so. That way I could have both my old '56 and '62 P's in one bass. Had those two for 45 years each before selling them when I was changing to fretted/fretless pairs as I found I was grabbing my 1st and 2nd gen SB's first and those two paid for a small harem of pairs.
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Hi all.
I just read the good news that Greg at Rocket Music is going to be carrying Sadowsky strings, including the Black Label Nickels. I just got a used G&L with them, I really dig them.
Anyone else here have experience with them? I really dig what these strings did to the mids of the MFDs.
I just read the good news that Greg at Rocket Music is going to be carrying Sadowsky strings, including the Black Label Nickels. I just got a used G&L with them, I really dig them.
Anyone else here have experience with them? I really dig what these strings did to the mids of the MFDs.
This piques my curiosity. What would there be about a specific string or string type that would enhance mids or tame them a bit?
Not really what you were looking for, but always fun to share:
My Cimar Stinger bass.
deepestend
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That JB that I ordered a while ago came last week. The first one had a deep scratch or something that was basically covered by finish, but it was covered using the wrong finish. Seller exchanged it, new one came yesterday. Sound is excellent, feel is good, and the purple burst finish is stunning. There's still minor issues on this one, like they put the wrong length spring in the bridge (it was too short, I'm either going to stretch it or replace it. I hope the saddle will stay in place until then), and the occasional cosmetic issue, such as sloppy cuts around the truss rod access, a random dot of finish on the side of the neck, and I swear either the nut or the edge where the headstock starts isn't quite parallel.
I'm keeping this one anyway, I like it.
My 2 cents: based on my very limited data, production in Fullerton feels kind of rushed. Maybe they had a lot of backorders to process and maybe the fires caused some disruption to employees (Fullerton wasn't near the fires). I won't call the fullerton deluxe JB a value buy, or at least not as much as they used to be.
Edit: forgot to mention, the fretwork was excellent. I shouldn't just complain *all* the time.
I'm keeping this one anyway, I like it.
My 2 cents: based on my very limited data, production in Fullerton feels kind of rushed. Maybe they had a lot of backorders to process and maybe the fires caused some disruption to employees (Fullerton wasn't near the fires). I won't call the fullerton deluxe JB a value buy, or at least not as much as they used to be.
Edit: forgot to mention, the fretwork was excellent. I shouldn't just complain *all* the time.
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I was wrong, JB2 has the 1.5" nut width, never mind.
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