Has this happened to you?

[noeinstein]

I like string through. If I ever break a string while installing I would find another brand.

Probably my solution too. Too bad, I was looking forward to trying these out. I may yet order a replacement E string and top load, but then I'll worry about losing ferrules.

 

[Killing Floor]

That would make me pretty crabby. Maybe see if they'll send you a replacement.

Seriously. Can't hurt to ask.

I just found this on the LaBella website in the FAQ section:

Only our Low Tension Flats and "Through Body" Deep Talkin' Bass flat wound bass strings (e.g. 760FS-TB) can string through the body without breaking.

To me this suggests they don't intend for their strings to be used on Fender Precision Bass. I have used many sets and never broken one but this is disappointing to hear.

 

[logdrum]

I had to resort to GHS flats for the one short scale bass I wanted La Bella because it is through body. Such is life. I asked fretnation.com if I maybe able to get a La Bella with those specs/ The only through body La Bellas I have seen are standard sets. They also warn you about wrapping the non silk portions, so I can not really use their normal through body strings as well

 

[Kukulkan61]

I found this warning fairly deep into labella's website:

"Do not use standard flat wound bass sets on basses that require stringing
through the body of the bass (or else they will break). We have Through-Body
"-TB" models for those basses e.g. 760FL-TB, 760FS-TB, etc."

I think something like this on their packaging would be helpful.

Live and learn, I guess

I've strung Fender Flats and Chromes thru body and they've never broke..

 

[noeinstein]

I've strung Fender Flats and Chromes thru body and they've never broke..

Yep, me too

 

[Lenny JG]

I like string through. If I ever break a string while installing I would find another brand.

Probably my solution too. Too bad, I was looking forward to trying these out. I may yet order a replacement E string and top load, but then I'll worry about losing ferrules.

Why would you change companies after using the wrong string from them when you can just buy the correct set?

I had to resort to GHS flats for the one short scale bass I wanted La Bella because it is through body. Such is life. I asked fretnation.com if I maybe able to get a La Bella with those specs/ The only through body La Bellas I have seen are standard sets. They also warn you about wrapping the non silk portions, so I can not really use their normal through body strings as well

Idk if they still do, but Labella was very receptive to custom orders by email for years. Especially if you buy bulk. Hell have Jason from fretnation put in a bulk custom order for you, he seems to be great at that.

 

[Killing Floor]

Why would you change companies after using the wrong string from them when you can just buy the correct set?

If it says "Bass" on the wrapper and it can't be used on a Precision bass (which happens to be a very popular model) unless you opt out of using it the way Leo Fender intended I (subjectively as a consumer) would have trust issues with them as a brand. It speaks specifically to the manufacturer not understanding the market.
Does that answer your question? If guitar strings said buried in the FAQ of a website that they can't work with a Strat I would have the exact same concern. It has nothing to do with the brand and everything to do with the brand trying to brush off a design miss.

 

[Lenny JG]

I mean, my strings say 'bass' on the package and are too big for most bridges and nuts... Most round core strings don't come w a crimp warning either. Some things you just learn from experience or from research. Labella make sets for through body, and sets that aren't... Idk if they're trying to brush anything off, but hey, I've ditched companies for less... Maybe..

If it says "Bass" on the wrapper and it can't be used on a Precision bass (which happens to be a very popular model) unless you opt out of using it the way Leo Fender intended I (subjectively as a consumer) would have trust issues with them as a brand. It speaks specifically to the manufacturer not understanding the market.
Does that answer your question? If guitar strings said buried in the FAQ of a website that they can't work with a Strat I would have the exact same concern. It has nothing to do with the brand and everything to do with the brand trying to brush off a design miss.

 

[GIBrat51]

Today I was putting a new set of Labella Low Tension Flats on my P bass. I started with the E string and when I applied some pressure to bend it at the witness point, it broke. That's never happened to me in the dozens of times I've done it before. These are expensive strings so I am even more surprised. Is this my fault or a faulty string?

Some basses that allow/require thru-body stringing have a shallower break angle over the saddles than others; thus, they're easier on flats. Also, some flats are more tolerant of thru-body stringing than others. So, some people can get away with stringing flats thru-body, and other people... can't. I have a sneaky suspicion that people who get away with stringing La Bella DTF's thru-body have a bass with a "shallow" break angle. I also have a sneaky suspicion that you don't. So, yeah; if you really want La Bellas on your bass, I think you'll need the TB flats. Or, you might want to try some other brand of flats. Personally, I only have one bass - out of 20+ - that can be strung thru-body. I tried that once - but not with flats. To me, it was kind of a PITA; but, if it had resulted in a noticeable tone improvement, I might have tolerated it. It didn't improve the tone one iota that I could tell. The bass (a Carvin LB-20) was re-strung as a top loader, and has been strung that way ever since. But, your bass is your bass; of course I'm not going to tell you what to do...

 

[Killing Floor]

I mean, my strings say 'bass' on the package and are too big for most bridges and nuts... Most round core strings don't come w a crimp warning either. Some things you just learn from experience or from research. Labella make sets for through body, and sets that aren't... Idk if they're trying to brush anything off, but hey, I've ditched companies for less... Maybe..

I hear you, @Lenny JG and I agree. I like LaBella DTF and use them on my favorite bass right now and I have never had a bad experience with a LaBella bass or guitar string. I'm saying it would put me off if I had a failure on installation. I wouldn't normally look up the FAQ on a website for any string except this thread made me curious. And I suspect not many players would catch that until they broke one, and that the manufacturer obviously thinks it is enough of a risk that they include the note on their website. I am sure they have their reasons.