La Bella 760FS-TB - dead B string?

[dcmk]

Hi everyone, I recently decided to try out flatwounds. I picked up the La Bella thrubody 5 string set and had them put on my Yamaha BB435 PJ bass.

I'm finding they sound great on EADG but the B string really lacks that midrange growl the other strings have when I play hard over the bridge pickup. It basically sounds muddy with little sustain and no midrange presence. I have already tried raising the pickup on the B string side with no noticeable improvement (although the other strings sound way hotter so I may keep it that way

Anyone have similar experience with this? From browsing old threads it looks like some people have experienced this with E strings from La Bella, so I wanted to get some other opinions before reaching out to the company. Thanks!

 

[michael_t]

I got my BB435 earlier this year. One thing I found is the low B sounded darker than the rest regardless of the type of string. Something that has worked well for me through some experimenting is a tapered B top loaded, while the other four can still be thru-body. I currently have DR Nickel Lo-Riders for EADG (thru-body) and the SIT Power Wound Nickel B with exposed core (top-loaded), and they seem to be working out fairly well for better tonal balance.

If you like the thru-body La Bella flats for EADG, what you might want to try is to get the tapered 128B and top-load it. You may be able to talk the La Bella customer service into sending you one for a tryout.

 

[michael_t]

 

[dcmk]

I got my BB435 earlier this year. One thing I found is the low B sounded darker than the rest regardless of the type of string. Something that has worked well for me through some experimenting is a tapered B top loaded, while the other four can still be thru-body. I currently have DR Nickel Lo-Riders for EADG (thru-body) and the SIT Power Wound Nickel B with exposed core (top-loaded), and they seem to be working out fairly well for better tonal balance.

If you like the thru-body La Bella flats for EADG, what you might want to try is to get the tapered 128B and top-load it. You may be able to talk the La Bella customer service into sending you one for a tryout.

Thank you so much for this reply! That's a very interesting point about the thru body B strings you've tried.

I bought my BB435 a few months ago and noticed it had the option of thru vs top loading, but I totally forgot about it- probably would have ordered the heavy gauge labella flats if I had remembered. I'm going to reach out to customer service though to be sure and see if they'd ship a single B string to Canada (they don't seem to ship outside the US normally).

 

[michael_t]

I bought my BB435 a few months ago and noticed it had the option of thru vs top loading, but I totally forgot about it- probably would have ordered the heavy gauge labella flats if I had remembered.

I'm always hesitant to put flats thru-body even on my 4-string P bass.

I'm going to reach out to customer service though to be sure and see if they'd ship a single B string to Canada (they don't seem to ship outside the US normally).

Let me know how that goes to see if this is a case of "it sucks to be a Canuck". (I'm in Winnipeg, so curious to find out.)

 

[jmlee]

I’ve given up on B-strings from sets of Labella flats; however, you can think like an upright player and sub in a B string from D’Addario Chromes or Ernie Bass Group Flats with excellent results.

 

[HaphAsSard]

It will have *a lot* less tension than the adjacent .105" low E, but you could also try the .118" low B from the La Bella Low Tension Flat LTF-5A set (no warning against thru-body for those), which I seem to have gathered is better-received than the regular Deep Talkin Bass Flat 128T, or you could be a pioneer and do the same with the .125" from the new Olinto Signature Flat OSF-5 set; then, either use the remaining 4 strings on a four-banger of yours, or resell it.

 

[winston]

It will have *a lot* less tension than the adjacent .105" low E, but you could also try the .118" low B from the La Bella Low Tension Flat LTF-5A set (no warning against thru-body for those), which I seem to have gathered is better-received than the regular Deep Talkin Bass Flat 128T, or you could be a pioneer and do the same with the .125" from the new Olinto Signature Flat OSF-5 set; then, either use the remaining 4 strings on a four-banger of yours, or resell it.

To my ears the LaBella LTF low B is on the flabbier sounding side on my Yamaha BB415 (same bridge shown in @michael_t 's pic above).

FWIW the best flat Bs (not to be confused with their enharmonic equivalent sharp As ) I've used are DR Legends (as good as any roundwound B I've heard ever - great note definition, no weird overtones, playable all the way up the neck) and D'Addario Chromes. I quite like the LaBella 760FLs I recently got, but the G was defective (like a physical rattle on the open string, LaBella sent a replacement) and the E started out woolier sounding than the rest.

 

[G On Bass]

Hi everyone, I recently decided to try out flatwounds. I picked up the La Bella thrubody 5 string set and had them put on my Yamaha BB435 PJ bass.

I'm finding they sound great on EADG but the B string really lacks that midrange growl the other strings have when I play hard over the bridge pickup. It basically sounds muddy with little sustain and no midrange presence. I have already tried raising the pickup on the B string side with no noticeable improvement (although the other strings sound way hotter so I may keep it that way

Anyone have similar experience with this? From browsing old threads it looks like some people have experienced this with E strings from La Bella, so I wanted to get some other opinions before reaching out to the company. Thanks!

I stopped using LaBella flats because of their terrible B string on all my basses. I emailed them years ago about it and they basically said that no one had reported it being a problem. So I only use non-tapered B's now and they do not have that problem.

 

[BZadlo]

I have never heard a flat low B that doesn’t thuddy.

 

[Benny4P]

Same story for me... love the the Labella DTF 4 string sets, but their 128T B string didn't work at all. Same problem with the LTFs. I had much better luck with EB group flats and D'addario chromes.

 

[scuzzy]

find a chrome low B. i hate chromes, but their B strings do sound really good.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I've tried a few sets of flats with low B's and I think it's just generally hard to have a good sound low B flat. I would think that the width of the wrap has something to do with it and maybe making a thinner width flat wrap would allow the string to vibrate more freely. But that may also affect the overall feel of the set from string to string.

I would be inclined to try a different B-string from a "brighter" set as well.

 

[BarfanyShart]

I’ve given up on B-strings from sets of Labella flats; however, you can think like an upright player and sub in a B string from D’Addario Chromes or Ernie Bass Group Flats with excellent results.

Yeah, think like a DB player and embrace the fact that a string changes timbre when you triple its diameter. Find the string that rocks hardest in that position.

 

[micguy]

As strings get bigger, things change tonally. This happens a LOT to B strings - they're so big, they have a tendency to become dead. I think string makers think that using the same materials and winding techniques will make strings that sound consistent, but when it comes to B strings, that doesn't seem to work. I have one bass that loves Boomers, but...the B in a Boomer set sounds like....a flat - which to my ears, isn't what I want. Their 130 diameter Bassics B string is from a "brighter" set, but it matches the other Boomer strings sonically better than the Boomer 130. So, I buy a 4 string Boomer set, and a single Bassics B string - problem solved. I just have to live with one "missing" silk, but its a good tradeoff for a better sonic match.

The lesson here is don't be afraid to buy a 4 string set and a different B. The good news for you is that a lot of round, half round, or pressure wound B strings sound more like a flat than the set they usually come with. So, buy a few different B strings that aren't flats, and I'll bet you find one that works.

 

[dfp]

I’m experiencing the dull low B issue with a set of 5 string La Bella LTF, it sounds like palm muting when played normal… but I really like the rest of the set so I think I’m going to try a .110 La Bella Deep Talking Bass flat E string tuned down to B… maybe that hex core DTB tuned down won’t be too loose In conjunction with the LTF set. I’m not a fan of beefy B strings anyway, and I really want to keep it all La Bella, I love the highly polished feel of their flats…

 

[dfp]

Following up, I think I posted already in the La Bella LTF Love Fest thread, but I couldn’t get a single .110 DTB, so I settled for a .109 DTB (the .110 apparently is unique to the so called “Jamerson” set and no one seems to carry it as a single). Anyway, the .109 DTB tuned down to B is working for me with the rest of the set being LTF’s. Good match for tone, not dead sounding… tension is obviously pretty light but it’s in keeping with the overall feel of the LTF set. I can deal with it. YMMV, I’m sure it’s not gonna suit everyone.