Agree completely with this.
I'll assume with you that it is a camera perspective issue.
Definitely enjoy that bass! LL's have been on my want list for years!
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
La Bella Copper White Nylon Tapewounds:
- Thread starter SLaPiNFuNK
- Start date
Agree completely with this.
I'll assume with you that it is a camera perspective issue.
Definitely enjoy that bass! LL's have been on my want list for years!
Thanks. But trust me, it's just the pic. I looked back and see what you're seeing. In person there is no problem. The issue with the mag volume is likely due to the wooden shells, and the distance from the pickups. My tech confirmed that, and said when he can perform the surgery we will increase the mag gain on the preamp. Eventually I'll go to E-C tuning when my new Kinal bass is finished.
So I got a chance to try out a couple of sets of white copper tapes, so I thought I would share initial impressions....
Set #1 - Heavy gauge extra long white copper tapes - bought to replace 6 year old black tapes on my Rob Allen MB-2 fretless 5er. I really like the copper tapes on the RA. Less of an upright sound and more usable tones for me. The heavy strings are a bit thick for me, but I do like the round round-ish tones I am getting. More upper mids and overall brightness over the black tapes.
Set #2 - light gauge regular length white copper tapes - bought these to experiment with on my Fodera Monarch Deluxe 5er. Did a gig tonight and I am not a huge fan of flats on a modern active bass. Nice old school tone, but not my thing at all. Not enough articulation for me. Almost muddy. I will be going back to SS rounds on this bass tomorrow. Likely put the flats on my backup Peavey Millennium BXP 5er. I much prefer the lighter tension on the lighter strings. Might be too floppy for some, but it is perfect for me. The heavier gauge strings have a noticeably tight feel.
Also, I bought a set of LaBella light white tapes (not copper) for my 1974 P bass. I really like these strings on a P! They feel and look like flats, but also give me a more round round style tone. Keepers for sure!
Set #1 - Heavy gauge extra long white copper tapes - bought to replace 6 year old black tapes on my Rob Allen MB-2 fretless 5er. I really like the copper tapes on the RA. Less of an upright sound and more usable tones for me. The heavy strings are a bit thick for me, but I do like the round round-ish tones I am getting. More upper mids and overall brightness over the black tapes.
Set #2 - light gauge regular length white copper tapes - bought these to experiment with on my Fodera Monarch Deluxe 5er. Did a gig tonight and I am not a huge fan of flats on a modern active bass. Nice old school tone, but not my thing at all. Not enough articulation for me. Almost muddy. I will be going back to SS rounds on this bass tomorrow. Likely put the flats on my backup Peavey Millennium BXP 5er. I much prefer the lighter tension on the lighter strings. Might be too floppy for some, but it is perfect for me. The heavier gauge strings have a noticeably tight feel.
Also, I bought a set of LaBella light white tapes (not copper) for my 1974 P bass. I really like these strings on a P! They feel and look like flats, but also give me a more round round style tone. Keepers for sure!
I have a set of light copper tapes on their way from BSO for my Minarik. I love my super light gauge Precision Flats, but if these are a bit more flexible & aggressive in the lower register while still sounding full and woody I will be very happy.
Soundclips are likely to happen, it depends on when I feel like fixing my interface.
Soundclips are likely to happen, it depends on when I feel like fixing my interface.
I just received the light set of these strings yesterday a few hours before a gig. I strung them up, adjusted my action and intonation, and gave them a quick run through.
My initial impressions were that the strings sound fantastic albeit being brand new(I prefer well broken in strings), they are much more aggressive sounding than what I expected(though my bass makes GHS Precision Flats sound aggressive). If you have ever tried Labella HRS, these strings have a similar character with big lows and growly midrange, with the addition of a more thumpy & percussive attack.
I was a little off-put by the tension at first, since I have been using balanced sets for years now. The D & G strings have a lot more tension than the very flexible E & A strings, which made my slap bass wankfests a little awkward to execute, but it's hardly noticeable with fingerstyle playing. The strings still feel great, it will just take a while for my hands to adjust to the tension.
Flash forward to the gig last night. I play Psychedelic-Rock/Funk/Jazz/Metal with 2 heavy fuzzed out guitar players, and I had to turn off my compressor & put my bass into series mode to mellow out the tone, it was overpowering both of my guitar players during soundcheck. I was able to pull off all of my usual scale runs and double-thumb tricks with no problem, the strings are not perfectly balanced but they are still very easy to play especially when you have some adrenaline pumping through your blood.
TL;DR - I absolutely love the feel & tone of these strings, if they had more balanced tension then I would be even happier with them but it's not a deal breaker.
Here's a quick little demo I just recorded with parallel and series settings on my bass, plugged right into my computer. There is a lot of noise that is a combination of my bass's lack of shielding and my lack of a proper interface to record with right now, and my computer tends to cut a lot of lows. No EQ or compression is added, though I usually like to add a bit of both for my tonal preferences. I'll try to get a better demo up in the future.
My initial impressions were that the strings sound fantastic albeit being brand new(I prefer well broken in strings), they are much more aggressive sounding than what I expected(though my bass makes GHS Precision Flats sound aggressive). If you have ever tried Labella HRS, these strings have a similar character with big lows and growly midrange, with the addition of a more thumpy & percussive attack.
I was a little off-put by the tension at first, since I have been using balanced sets for years now. The D & G strings have a lot more tension than the very flexible E & A strings, which made my slap bass wankfests a little awkward to execute, but it's hardly noticeable with fingerstyle playing. The strings still feel great, it will just take a while for my hands to adjust to the tension.
Flash forward to the gig last night. I play Psychedelic-Rock/Funk/Jazz/Metal with 2 heavy fuzzed out guitar players, and I had to turn off my compressor & put my bass into series mode to mellow out the tone, it was overpowering both of my guitar players during soundcheck. I was able to pull off all of my usual scale runs and double-thumb tricks with no problem, the strings are not perfectly balanced but they are still very easy to play especially when you have some adrenaline pumping through your blood.
TL;DR - I absolutely love the feel & tone of these strings, if they had more balanced tension then I would be even happier with them but it's not a deal breaker.
Here's a quick little demo I just recorded with parallel and series settings on my bass, plugged right into my computer. There is a lot of noise that is a combination of my bass's lack of shielding and my lack of a proper interface to record with right now, and my computer tends to cut a lot of lows. No EQ or compression is added, though I usually like to add a bit of both for my tonal preferences. I'll try to get a better demo up in the future.
Last edited:
I agree with Duckwater about the tension. Jason, any future on a "build your own" set with these like the other LaBellas? I think the standard E and A with a light D and G might be a great feeling set.
Sound wise, I'd put these somewhere between GHS Pressurewounds and TI Jazz flats. I've been playing TI's almost exclusively for a while, but these are making me rethink that.
I was unimpressed with the B string though. I might try a Sunbeam or a Jazzround B with the coppers on the upper 4.
Sound wise, I'd put these somewhere between GHS Pressurewounds and TI Jazz flats. I've been playing TI's almost exclusively for a while, but these are making me rethink that.
I was unimpressed with the B string though. I might try a Sunbeam or a Jazzround B with the coppers on the upper 4.
For a custom set like that it would be best to contact me directly to arrange the special order. I would charge the same as a standard set.
Good lord... In 3 months, 1/2 of these basses are gone. I sold the RA, Peavey and Hofner. I think I have a problem.The 3 on the left....
In any case, I am still loving the white tapes on my 1974 P. I don't see changing them any time soon. Great strings.
Anymore input from those who've tried these coppers? And anyone tried the standard gauge E & A with the light G & D yet? I'm intrigued for info due to the buying of strings for a solid fretless piezo-equipped old Godin I just aquired...
And these seem to be it!
And these seem to be it!
I've got the whites (not the coppers tho) on my 36" Fodera but haven't spent much time on it.
I was a little disappointed in the even the XL set weren't quite long enough so I put them on but the wrap ends before the nut on the E so...
I was a little disappointed in the even the XL set weren't quite long enough so I put them on but the wrap ends before the nut on the E so...
I think the copper is less magnetic. I think you will get more output with the white nylon nickel strings.
Hi Guys!! Does anyone knows if the light gauge will help me with my fretting hand, since I have the ligaments damaged on my left pinky. How is the tension compare (for example) with D Addario's tapewounds??
I've been using the La Bella White Short Scale light guage for about a year now on one of my basses and love em! Very easy on the fretting hand, low tension, very fast, lots of great tone with no lack of low end and a bit more mids and more highs than the Black tapes. I'd highly recommend trying them to anyone who is looking for less of a left hand work out and a sound somewhere between a broken in set of chrome rounds and a set of traditional tapes.
Hi Guys!! Does anyone knows if the light gauge will help me with my fretting hand, since I have the ligaments damaged on my left pinky. How is the tension compare (for example) with D Addario's tapewounds??
The coppers are a little less tension. I have tried EVERY Tapewound except Fender and I like the coppers the best. For the life of me I cannot figure out why many more bass players do not use them and I conclude its becaues they are not aware of them and tried them. I do not work for Labella and part of my motivation is that I do not want to ever see things strings get discontinued (I have an extra pair at home but my paranoid side tells me to order a few more).
List of reasons:
No finger noise (I never thought finger noise sounded like music and have come to detest it after I switched to flats and tapes)
No sticky grippy factor like flats can have. Even some of the black tapes can get a little grippy with humidity
Not quite as bright as rounds but brighter than most flats and brighter than black tapes (more modern tone than most flats and tapes but still retains low end and some thump)
Much less unwanted ringing and overtones from sympathetic vibrations - whenever I play other strings I notice this right away. Not sure why other than maybe the nylon coatting helps to stop some of this
They have a very nice warm sound. Not sure how to explain this but it makes me sound like I have a much more expensive bass and rig.
My guitar player quit complaining about my tone after I got these strings
If you use a pick there is less pick click as compared to other tapewounds.
They sound pretty decent with slap bass
No loss of low end as there was for me with the white tapes and the gold tapes
Much much less tension but not floppy. You can do trills, bends, slides etc. and your fingers and skin on fingers will not hurt at all. Smooth as butter
For some reason you can have super low action if you want to and not have hardly any fret buzz at all. Not sure why but again I think it is because of the nylon coating would not make as much buzzing noise as a round or flatwound surface. This makes solo bass and tapping sound much better than flats or rounds IMO.
These strings are really as close to my dream strings as possible. I know this is just my opinion.
This is great info, thanks for posting!
So looking at the entire La Bella line up can you place each string in order of...
Sounds most like a Flat............. to .............sounds most like a Round
(i.e. Blacks, white/silver, white/gold, white/copper)
Also, do you find tensions all about the same, or on a scale of high to low tension where would each tape fall?
Latest posts
-
-
-
The Bartolini BH2: Why Does It Sound So Dark? My EHB1265MS Experiments- Latest: Riff Ranger
-
-
