Help with La Bella Flats for a Vintera Jazz Bass

[Personal Gsus]

Looking for a quick confirmation on whether the La Bella 760FS will fit on a Vintera II Jazz Bass.

This bass is standard 34" scale, no string-though-body.

The string spec states that the E string is 36.75" from ball-end to silk wrap.

Here's where I need some help... I would just measure the distance from the back of the bridge to the E post myself, but I don't actually have the bass yet––it's on order.

So if anyone knows whether this will work – or can otherwise can help me out without going to too much trouble, I'd appreciate it. Thanks!

 

[ahbass2500]

Do you already own the strings or something? Curious why you want to use these when the Labella 760F-MUS set exists for the Mustang basses.

 

[Personal Gsus]

Do you already own the strings or something? Curious why you want to use these when the Labella 760F-MUS set exists for the Mustang basses.

Do people use Mustang bass strings on a Jazz Bass?

And I don't have the strings yet, but I want them to arrive at or before the bass does.

 

[ahbass2500]

Do people use Mustang bass strings on a Jazz Bass?

LOL. Saw Vintera II and scale length discussion and my mind defaulted to Mustang bass. Sorry about that.

 

[Just Wrong]

Looking for a quick confirmation on whether the La Bella 760FS will fit on a Vintera II Jazz Bass.

This bass is standard 34" scale, no string-though-body.

The string spec states that the E string is 36.75" from ball-end to silk wrap.

Here's where I need some help... I would just measure the distance from the back of the bridge to the E post myself, but I don't actually have the bass yet––it's on order.

So if anyone knows whether this will work – or can otherwise can help me out without going to too much trouble, I'd appreciate it. Thanks!

Yes, they will work, but I would suggest the 760FL.

 

[Personal Gsus]

Yes, they will work, but I would suggest the 760FL.

I typically play .050-.105 in rounds – will the same gauge flats feel stiffer/heavier?

 

[JumboJett35]

Yes. I have a set of La Bella Gold Flats on my Vintera Jazz. Amazing strings.

 

[Personal Gsus]

Yes. I have a set of La Bella Gold Flats on my Vintera Jazz. Amazing strings.

Beautiful bass. Putting the covers on mine as well. Did you wire up the 2-knob concentric setup or did you get a drop-in?

Which gauge of the La Bellas are you running?

 

[Just Wrong]

I typically play .050-.105 in rounds – will the same gauge flats feel stiffer/heavier?

Yes, the 760FS will feel stiffer than 50-105 rounds.

People generally prefer the 760FL - there’s a whole thread dedicated to them if you search “760FL.”

That said, are you familiar with flats or the La Bellas in general? While they are my favourite flats (the 760FL) on a Precision, I do not like them on a Jazz. They tend to get very scoopy. If this is your first time around with flats or flats on a Jazz, I would suggest you look at more “modern-sounding” flats. The Fenders 9050L are popular with Jazzes.

 

[Personal Gsus]

They tend to get very scoopy. If this is your first time around with flats or flats on a Jazz, I would suggest you look at more “modern-sounding” flats. The Fenders 9050L are popular with Jazzes.

Lol, I've read the opposite in several places... that the Fenders are scooped and the La Bellas have more mids.

I guess it's all just a matter of perspective.

 

[Just Wrong]

Lol, I've read the opposite in several places... that the Fenders are scooped and the La Bellas have more mids.

I guess it's all just a matter of perspective.

If you say so, but anyone who says the Fender 9050s are scooped must have dialed back the mids somewhere in their setup. There's no way anyone could say that with a straight face.

The La Bella 760s might not be exactly scooped—it's been some time—but in my opinion and experience, they do negatively impact the natural midrange growl of a Jazz bass.

At the end of the day, it's your money. But if I were you I'd wait for others to chime in or search "Jazz + Flats" or "Jazz + La Bella." You might like it, and others, like Jerry Jermmott have used the Jazz + La Bella combo, but I'm not the only one who thinks it's not the ideal combo.

Edit: I'm talking specifically about the La Bella 760FS and FL. I've no experience with the aforementioned gold flats.

 

[JumboJett35]

Beautiful bass. Putting the covers on mine as well. Did you wire up the 2-knob concentric setup or did you get a drop-in?

Which gauge of the La Bellas are you running?

I took the neck pickup cover off 30 minutes after playing it the first time and now only has the bridge cover. As for the electronics, I bought this drop in on sale for $120.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...2U2BjJbbeCqzySDpZ2AaApYnEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

They are currently $160. They also have one with the series switch for $180. The all chrome knob options are $10 more respectively.

As for the strings, the Gold Flats are only available in 45-105 to my knowledge. They're brighter than the regular 760FL set to my ears.

 

[JumboJett35]

The Gold Flats are the same price as the other LaBellas. I will say they were a bit " grabby " at first and the way my skin reacted to the coating made my fingers smell like garlic. Two years on this bass now and they are perfect only getting better with age.

I love my Vintera Jazz, which one did you get?

 

[Personal Gsus]

The Gold Flats are the same price as the other LaBellas. I will say they were a bit " grabby " at first and the way my skin reacted to the coating made my fingers smell like garlic. Two years on this bass now and they are perfect only getting better with age.

I love my Vintera Jazz, which one did you get?

Thanks for the input, recommendations & links – very helpful & I appreciate it. I've been reading the 760FL mega thread, so I think I'm going to try those to start with.

As for the bass, I ordered the Vintera II '60s in LPB – should arrive on Weds or Thurs. I've got a tort guard and chrome covers to put on for maximum retro vibe. Also thinking about that drop-in concentric control plate as well.

 

[JumboJett35]

Thanks for the input, recommendations & links – very helpful & I appreciate it. I've been reading the 760FL mega thread, so I think I'm going to try those to start with.

As for the bass, I ordered the Vintera II '60s in LPB – should arrive on Weds or Thurs. I've got a tort guard and chrome covers to put on for maximum retro vibe. Also thinking about that drop-in concentric control plate as well.View attachment 7172639

Nice pick. The only reason I chose the Golds over the 760FL is for the color as it matches my bass well. In my experience you cant go wrong with any La Bellas. I can't say whether or not the electronics are different in the Vintera and the Vintera II but the drop in definitely made a big difference in the sound I was going for compared to stock. Either way you've already got a great bass.

 

[michael_t]

That said, are you familiar with flats or the La Bellas in general? While they are my favourite flats (the 760FL) on a Precision, I do not like them on a Jazz. They tend to get very scoopy. If this is your first time around with flats or flats on a Jazz, I would suggest you look at more “modern-sounding” flats. The Fenders 9050L are popular with Jazzes.

Lol, I've read the opposite in several places... that the Fenders are scooped and the La Bellas have more mids.

I guess it's all just a matter of perspective.

I agree with @Just Wrong, who is just right on this.

I've tried the La Bella 760FL and like them on my P bass but not on my Jazz.
I've also tried the Fender 9050L and liked them on my Jazz but not on my P bass. In fact, one of my J's is wearing the 9050L and they're not going anywhere.

Fender 9050s have the midrange character that suits the Jazz bass better with a semi-modern flavor instead of just thump and thud.

 

[murphy]

I typically play .050-.105 in rounds – will the same gauge flats feel stiffer/heavier?

Big time...You need to go much lighter!

 

[PlayTheBass]

I've tried the La Bella 760FL and like them on my P bass but not on my Jazz.
I've also tried the Fender 9050L and liked them on my Jazz but not on my P bass. In fact, one of my J's is wearing the 9050L and they're not going anywhere.

Fender 9050s have the midrange character that suits the Jazz bass better with a semi-modern flavor instead of just thump and thud.

Wow, this is my experience exactly. Did the same experimenting, same results.

 

[Chris Wilke]

Nice pick. The only reason I chose the Golds over the 760FL is for the color as it matches my bass well. In my experience you cant go wrong with any La Bellas. I can't say whether or not the electronics are different in the Vintera and the Vintera II but the drop in definitely made a big difference in the sound I was going for compared to stock. Either way you've already got a great bass.

+1 on 920D concentric plate. I dropped one in on a fretless PJ (it was a close enough fit on precision pick guard and kept me from having to add another hole.

I noticed a huge difference in tone but I changed the body, bridge and electronics at the same time in addition to adding the J pickup. Which one of these made the biggest difference besides the J pick up I am not sure but I am sold on 920D.

Regarding the concentric pots: it’s a bit more cumbersome to adjust the way the two knobs interact with each other - to me it adds to the charm, encourages experimentation and doesn’t get in the way of music making.

I have the series switch as well and I do find it useful sometimes, it’s kind of a turbo-OMG how much louder and bassier can I get button. But in some contexts it works well (you may need to dial the bass back on the amp).

 

[PBandJazzBass]

Just mentioning, I have TI Jazz flats on my Vintera II J bass and absolutely love them.

The La Bella Low Tension Flats may also be worth trying out.