Me and probably everyone else would love to know the availability and price of the labella tapes for both the micro and the ubass, and if BSO will carry them.
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I don't have precise answers for all of it, but:
- When - soon after NAMM. I don't have something more precise than that.
- Where - I am not aware of any special distribution for these. Meaning, you should be able to get them from any good online La Bella dealer.
- How much? The price should be somewhat similar to what you see today with their existing tapes.
Sounds like Frank has the inside scoop on the La Bellas. I'll ask anyway at the show and let you know what they say, especially if I get something specific about price and availability.
The jury is still out but I'm finding any dragging on the strings to be a drag just like on my Ashbory. I want to try the Labellas.
This popped up in an unrelated string thread:
I'm sure (I hope at least) that applies to the micro set too.
The Micro has a 23" scale so I'd think the Labella 23"ers should work...right?
BTW, somebody had asked about requiring a hatch in the back to install Labellas or other "standard" style strings...during my string swapping I found that it's very easy for me to reach inside the MBass soundhole and install strings from underneath the bridge.
I have a Media NAMM badge this year and so was able to attend the media preview day at NAMM today. I snuck over to the Kala booth and played the new Thunder Reds.
The Thunder Reds are not sticky like Thunderguts. Sliding, however, is not really smooth, but it's doable. I have fairly dry skin and I think players with sticky fingers may have more trouble. So I'd say the Thunder Reds are somewhere in the middle between Pahoehoes and Thunderguts as far as tackiness. Still, a big improvement.
The E and A strings on the TRs are much thinner. I like them better. The intonation, from what I could hear, was really good as I moved up to the higher notes (I was playing a fretted U-Bass). I'll check the intonation again tomorrow when I can plug in and hear it better.
By the way, Thunder Reds are now available on the Kala website for $39.99. Here's the link:
http://kala-gear.hostedbyamazon.com/dp/B00HSV78PY
I'll also talk to the LaBella folks tomorrow and see what they say about availability of the tapewounds.
The Thunder Reds are not sticky like Thunderguts. Sliding, however, is not really smooth, but it's doable. I have fairly dry skin and I think players with sticky fingers may have more trouble. So I'd say the Thunder Reds are somewhere in the middle between Pahoehoes and Thunderguts as far as tackiness. Still, a big improvement.
The E and A strings on the TRs are much thinner. I like them better. The intonation, from what I could hear, was really good as I moved up to the higher notes (I was playing a fretted U-Bass). I'll check the intonation again tomorrow when I can plug in and hear it better.
By the way, Thunder Reds are now available on the Kala website for $39.99. Here's the link:
http://kala-gear.hostedbyamazon.com/dp/B00HSV78PY
I'll also talk to the LaBella folks tomorrow and see what they say about availability of the tapewounds.
The problem I had with the Silver Rumblers was not so much the sliding but the squeakiness that I would always get until I covered them with powder. I’m waiting to hear what others here who try the TR’s say about that aspect of the strings. Right now i’m pretty happy with the paehoehoes, but i’m always searching and hoping for something better!
Please notice on Kala's web site that they state the Thunder Reds require an new nut because the A and E strings are thiner than the UBass Pahoehoe's are.
I wonder how much the size of the nut slots matters. After all, the strings are sitting over the bridge with no slots at all. The only difference I can think of is the string alignment on the neck. Maybe someone else with knowledge and experience can comment.
The other thing I forgot to mention about the Thunder Reds is that they are pretty loose and feel soft. They're not at all tight, like the Pyramids.
I've had no issues using the TReds with the OEM nut on my MBass.
Anybody know the gauges on the Labella strings?
Another good question. Based on the picture on labellas Facebook, they don't look especially big.
Do these new LaBella tapewound strings have a steel core? Is that possible with 20" to 23" scale instruments? It seems to me that a string of that type would need to have a very high tension.
Jeff
Jeff
I was wondering if they'd be a shorter version of the bottom four strings of their regular 5 string tapewound set, i.e. 135/115/94/70 since if you measure off 23" from the bridge on a 34" scale bass it's at the 7th fret which is F# on a low B string...probably close enough to E to work.
LOL, I just noticed the serial of that MBass looks familiar, mine ends in 13-211.
